Next to him, Alaras had gone tense. He'd drained half a wine glass in a single gulp. Basren knew he was likely intimidated, and that Alaras was counting on the strikes against him in the king's eyes. Since Basren had intimated how his relationship with Sovele really was, of course Alaras would be aware of the possibility of jealousy on Sovele's part.<br/><br/>The rest of room may as well have been at the end of a telescope for all Basren paid attention to them. There was simply no way he could tear his eyes from Sovele. He had to watch him so very, very carefully. Anis seemed almost smug, of course, and Sovele was holding himself in check. The flicker of his gaze down to Basren's dance card--and of course he would, knowing what Alaras was about to do.<br/><br/>The exchange between lord and king was perfectly polite. Basren dipped his head in acknowledgement of both compliments, though he'd only been doing as instructed.<br/><br/>A servant slid into their peripheral to see that the royal family had wine, and Basren sipped his and set it on the empty tray as it passed by him. He fingered his dance card, after, flipping it to the back so that Sovele could see where he had penciled him into a waltz, after the third one Alaras had claimed on the front. It wouldn't be inappropriate after that, and he was somewhat desperate to have a moment alone with Sovele after so long, since he'd been so avoidant the whole week. Perhaps it would be a time to wish him well, even if it was in the middle of a crowded dance floor.<br/><br/>He hadn't presumed the same between Alaras and Sovele. He hadn't known what Sovele's mood would be on this very night. If he was going to be upset, then it was likely best if Alaras and Sovele were as far apart the whole night as they could be.<br/><br/>"Lord Alaras had no tailor, and was not aware of the fashion, so I lent him mine," he said, since Anis had mentioned how fine Alaras looked. He looked back at Sovele. "He cuts a fine figure, Your Majesty, don't you think?"<br/><br/>It was less<i>I told you so </i>and more<i>do you approve? </i>Basren had pitched his tone well, and hoped that Sovele wasn't blind to that, but he had no other way to word it, really. It would have to do.