I am the son of a king, and a son of a king I shall remain without ever taking my father's place: for fate has denied me my homecoming. Hence I pray my son lives that he can sit as master of great Peleus' house in my stead.

[In his day a king is quite a different thing from what Olivia imagines. His father does not hold absolute jurisdiction over the men of Phthia: he sets no laws nor metes out justice. It is his wealth and reputation that secure such a position of honor, and men may defer to his counsel but that is the extent of his reach. Nonetheless, the title is a worthy one to bear.

Achilles finds amusement in her apparent bewilderment and upon her he turns a teasing grin.]

Why are you surprised so?