“In my — where I come from,” she said, slowly, “the knights are lords of their own castles, though they owe fealty to Lord Argent. But you will not allow your lord to give you lands?”
“Maybe if I marry and have my own family…then I might agree to taking on some land on my own,” he mused thoughtfully, twisting to face her as he lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “But for just me, it seems rather pointless, don’t you agree?”
She blinked sleepily at him for a moment. “You wouldn’t have to ask your Prince to protect people for you. You could rent out the land to farmers and craftsfolk and villagers and give shelter to whomever you liked.”