I would go with "mistress" just based on the vibes I got doing the quest that involved that kid. Seemed to me like there was plenty of resentment and anger there towards his family and the world in general, and it was probably there or at least brewing long before anyone or anything got around to taking advantage of it... IMO it would explain a lot if he's growing up under the "stigma" of having been the child of a mistress and not the wife (particularly if the wife was still around at the time and there was infidelity involved) and is not being treated the same, or feels that he's not being treated the same. Even if there's nothing being said or done to him overtly, if dad cheated on his wife and got the other lady preggers, or just committed some "indiscretion" as a widower that resulted in a spare heir running around the palace, there is going to be gossip and staring and whispering and fingers pointing at you when nobody thinks you can see, there is going to be some angst, and kids will notice that stuff and pick up on the attitudes and emotional content of what's going on around them even when the advlts involved are in complete denial about it.

Now that is something of interest.

Anyone else encounter the hotspring bathers? They have that nice little camp, and they are always hanging out naked together. I find it hard to believe that they are not doing more than just bathing together.

I haven't managed to trigger that quest - guess I must talk to Hulda, then! Haven't thought about asking her about rumors after my first visits to Whiterun - and then my level usually is like 3 or something.

OH SWEET TALOS WHAT DID I JUST READ

They're just manly men who enjoy doing manly things together, as men. And if Talos saw fit to give them manly things to do and manly things with which to do them, then I say, who are we to judge?

I feel like I should start quoting that "Guy Love" song from Scrubs now.

You should really have a doctor take a look at that.

Well, the kid is technically listed as a Redguard, but doesn't look like a Redguard. In fact, all the kids look pretty much the same. I have my suspicions about all of them. Maybe one of those couriers have been busy....

IIRC if there is a "mixed" relationship in Tamriel, the child's racial characteristics come from the mother. So clearly these Nordy kids with un-Nordy parents are the results of Haelga's clandestine activities, which she has further covered up by adopting out her unwanted progeny to otherwise childless couples all over Skyrim.

That's probably why the only orphanage in the whole province is in Riften.

Thats one sneaky way of making sure that eventually some progeny gains the title of High King, but it sure works better than Potema's way

On the other hand, all kids look to be approximately the same age (or about 8-11, in my eyes), and there are, what, about 20 kids in the game (or more?), so unless she ate Tamriels equivalent to really strong hormons during a few years, I think there might be a little flaw in your theory.

If it wasn't for the fact that the racial traits are inherited from the mother, I would have blamed Balgruuf. But I think he's innocent this time.

There you go, trying to muddy the waters with your logic and your facts...

Spoiler

Like this?

Mention of Haelga reminds me. It was Svidi's discovery of love poetry from Svana to Sibbi that caused the breakup of Sibbi and Svidi's betrothal
Svana really is an empty-headed idiot. Haelga warns her Sibbi is only after one thing (Haelga probably says that about all men but this time shes right)