The rest of the gala passed by like a lovely dream. Basren danced a few more times, but inevitably drifted back to spend time with Alaras. Basren fielded more social calls, and he thought he caught a glimmer in Alaras' expression that was gratitude. They would inevitably end up being invited together to dinners and smaller scale parties and teas. Everything that had been missing from Basren's life ever since he'd been old enough to attract anyone's attention in court. Sovele's attention had come first.<br/><br/>Would always need to come first, Basren realized, at least while he was close. He'd have to balance things very carefully if he wanted to enjoy his engagement.<br/><br/>If it came to that, he reminded himself. It wouldn't do to get his hopes too high, either.<br/><br/>The gala lasted well into the morning, as the best of them always did. Dawn had already crept in past the curtains when Basren and Alaras called for their carriage. Basren spent a long time in the carriage stifling yawns, doing his best to give Alaras the impression that he was young and vital and Alaras was infinitely more interesting than sleep.<br/><br/>Being walked back to his room was out of the question, lest someone start a rumor one of them had been invited in. But they lingered at the beginning of Basren's hall at in the royal wing. Basren produced a small<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fimg1.etsystatic.com%2F217%2F0%2F8999572%2Fil_570xN.1267482233_j07i.jpg&amp;hash=ad51c11e2613eb715b2651bcb90be5c7" href="https://img1.etsystatic.com/217/0/8999572/il_570xN.1267482233_j07i.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">green stone ring</a>and slid it gently onto Alaras' smallest finger. Alaras had a necklace with a small charm at the end, and Basren lifted the flat disk on the tips of his fingers to look at it. The stamped out leaf was simple but charming, and Basren's shoulders dropped with a smile as he glanced back up at Alaras. Greenery and leaves. Even their favors were somewhat coordinated.<br/><br/>"No. It's lovely," he said. "Thank you."<br/><br/>He bent his head to let Alaras slip the necklace around his neck, and the brush of his fingers against his hair and jaw sent a plunge of pleasure down Basren's spine. His glance up was almost shy, and he was careful to control his breathing. Their farewells were short, and Basren promised to send a card around with a more formal invitation to tea.<br/><br/>The next few days passed almost breathlessly. Basren got the invitations from the rest of society that he'd known he would, and he carefully vetted each offer with a mind for keeping Alaras pleased and without strain. He would bring a schedule to his tea, if Alaras didn't mind, and see if he agreed with Basren's planning.<br/><br/>The rest of him was carefully managing the increasing feeling of dread.<br/><br/>He'd done nothing to deserve Alaras' regard, and he was sure Sovele was not pleased now. Sovele had likely seen right through him, and would berate him for being selfish. He'd spend the next few years making up for it, because society was not likely to forget the time that Basren had been officially courted and the suitor not immediately run off. And Alaras would move on.<br/><br/>It took him a long time to decide when he might try to present himself to Sovele. Anis had sent him notes, feeding him information and telling him not to worry, but he didn't dare ask<i>her</i>if Sovele might be in the mood to receive him. Basren had to read between the lines, sneak glances from afar, try to calculate when his presence might be appreciated rather than an outlet for frustration.<br/><br/>He wasn't sure now was too late. Sovele had dined with Anis yesterday night, and Sovele's mood wouldn't be improved by that. It wouldn't be improved by the fact that Basren hadn't been there to soothe afterward, either, though it was anyone's guess if the queen had tried to tempt her husband to bed. Basren never risked walking in on them. He had once, and he thought it was the only time Sovele had seemed embarrassed.<br/><br/>He went early, in the morning, instead. His heart was beating rabbit fast, but he steeled his spine, made his presence known with a short knock, and then let himself in.<br/><br/>"Sovele?" he called softly. "Are you busy?"<br/><br/>Sometimes it was easier to rouse Sovele's cock in the morning than any other time. He wasn't officially engaged to Alaras yet, he thought, and Sovele would be furious if he ever refused him outright. He would just avoid Alaras knowing.<br/><br/>Sovele wasn't in bed, and Basren left the doorway to his bedroom behind for the private study. He thought he could smell a tray of breakfast and followed it to find Sovele at his desk, as he'd thought. Basren padded close to the doorway and gave a short knock to get his attention.<br/><br/>"May I come in?"