"He should have never presented his interest this early in the first place. That was your doing, I'm sure, dear wife. You acted too quickly. If you'd have come to me, to ask, I might have told you it was too soon. I'm not undoing your mess." Sovele shrugged. Anis had obviously decided Alaras was too tractable for her tastes, but that worked for him.<br/><br/>"They made quite the spectacle. Many people will be talking."<i>You</i>made quite the spectacle, he wanted to say. Basren spoke up, and he chose his words carefully. Either way, he was likely to offend one of them. Basren was smart, as usual, choosing to offend Anis. She turned her fury to the young man still in bed with her husband.<br/><br/>"Are you saying that Alarastian is a better choice over my brother, and that we should choose him simply because he<i>asked</i>first?" Anis demanded, though the King didn't give Basren a chance to answer her.<br/><br/>"When will Duke Evren arrive? We've much to catch up on," Sovele said pleasantly, not letting her avoid Basren's question.<br/><br/>"When the season officially begins. He has a wife to bury," she said, as was customary. No sooner, she was sure. Evren liked to be away as much of the year as possible, and with his wife's illness, he'd been given reason to remain with her the last several seasons. "I'm sure he's eager to make his return. I will tell him you are looking forward to it."<br/><br/>"No need, wife. I will write him straight away, to express my condolences. It is so soon, that I would excuse him another year. He must be grieving." Sovele didn't think even Anis could pull Evren's strings, not as confidently as she thought that she could.<br/><br/>"He has finished grieving. He mourned long before this. Likely, he feels relief," she countered. Just as Sovele would likely feel relief when he was able to put her into the ground.<br/><br/>"Keep your plans, Basren. We do not even know if he will be attending this year, nor will I take anything seriously until I lay eyes upon him again," Sovele said. Evren might very well take him up on his offer to remain away, though he was sure Anis had been sending letters to her brother. He'd have to try to recover some of them (if they could be recovered), or any future ones that might be sent. Anis left, and all of Sovele's pleasantness dropped away. He turned and struck Basren with the palm of his hand.<br/><br/>"This is your fault for not coming to me when she started her conspiring," he growled, uncaring that he might have marked his face slightly. It would fade in a day or so, and it was better that he make himself scarce between everyone for a period.<br/><br/>"Get out. Be happy you get to keep your plans for now." He was sure Anis was going to try to ruin them.<br/><br/>--<br/><br/>The days following the pre-season gala passed in a much simpler fashion for Alaras. He was a guest without so many people so answer to. He took the chance to gather any information he could, familiarizing himself with the servants, and any of the other guests that he could. Some expressed their surprise plainly, both that he would be interested, and also that Sovele had seemed somewhat agreeable.<br/><br/>Alaras was anxious the day came for him to meet Basren in his gardens. He wasn't sure what was said behind closed doors, or if Sovele would order Basren to try and discourage his pursuits. He certainly expected it. The King clearly wasn't ready to loosen his hold on the young man, and now he had a better idea of the whole situation. Sovele hadn't known because Anis knew he wouldn't approve.<br/><br/>Alaras wasn't hopeful, and now that he'd gotten used to the idea, he wasn't ready to navigate differently. He liked Basren. Not necessarily romantically, but he still wanted better for the boy. Anyone was better than Sovele, he reminded himself. Even if all he could offer Basren was a loveless marriage until he could get him away from the tyrannical kingdom. He dressed well, regardless. To impress, of course, a clear indication that his interest hadn't waned.