“Emet, wait,” Aleph caught up to his younger brother in the stables. After breakfast with his family, Emet had left in a hurry, obviously trying to avoid all of them. It was worrying for their usually affectionate brother. “Emy.” 

“What?” Emet asked as he turned away from his steed. 

“You’re upset,” Aleph said. He hesitated to reach out to his brother. Normally, it would be Emet who would easily initiate hugs with his siblings. “I wanted to talk to you, make sure everything is alright?” 

“Everything’s fine,” Emet said, and the smile on his face was stiffer than usual. 

“I thought you didn’t like to speak the way they do at court,” Aleph teased, earning himself a small genuine smile from his brother. “What’s wrong? I thought you’ve always wanted to marry Lady Loreza.” 

“I do want to marry her,” Emet said sincerely. He ran his fingers through his hair, kept short unlike Aleph’s, and breathed a deep sigh of exhaustion. “She’s one of my best friends in the world. I just–-I don’t like that our marriage has turned into another political move.” 

“It was always going to be a political move for you to marry the Head of House Silvestris,” Aleph pointed out. “You’ve known that for a while.” 

“Not like this!” Emet said, eyes blazing. He turned away from Aleph then, taking his saddle from the wall and starting to prepare his horse for a ride. Unlike before, he didn’t ask for Aleph’s presence for his ride. “You know what I’m talking about. Now, everyone will ask the same question she did, the same question you asked of me. And I don’t have any answers to give any of you.” 

“I’m not asking you to choose a side, Emet,” Aleph said. “And I never will.” 

Emet gave him a cold look. “You can’t promise me that,” he said. He gripped tightly on the reins of his steed curling it around his fist. Emet shook his head as if he was trying to clear his thoughts. “It doesn’t matter now. There won’t be a war.” 

“Of course not,” Aleph agreed. “Everything can be settled amicably. I’ll talk to Likha. We’re all family.” 

“Right,” Emet chuckled, his face clearing up from any of his earlier troubles. He seemed to stand taller, now that he wasn’t letting it all weigh him down. “Though I’ve never really met our uncle. Funny that I’ll be doing so at my own wedding, huh?” 

“Just don’t lie to him,” Aleph shot back with a laugh. “Uncle Arden will know if you do.” 

“I’ll remember that,” Emet said with a boisterous laugh. “Must have been difficult for you to get away with pranks against him growing up.” 

“You don’t know the half of it.” 

Emet pulled him into a hug then, squeezing tightly. “Thank you, Al,” he said as he stepped back. He boosted himself and sat astride his horse. “We’ll figure it out. We’re family.” Aleph gave him a reassuring smile at that. 

As Emet rode out of the stables, Aleph wasn’t sure which one of them was trying to convince the other. 

“The situation at court?” 

“There are several factions forming, as you’ve probably guessed, grandmother,” Khres said as he made his report. He looked to the empty teacup in front of him and tried to read the leaves at the bottom, as he composed his thoughts. “There’s the Hariqs led by the Queen herself. She asked me for a vision and to bring a message back home. She wants a marriage between the princess and our House, probably with Lachesis. The princess continues to be well-loved by the people.” 

Lady Helena gave a considering hum at that. “Lachesis will need to be thought how to act in court if we were to accept.” 

“Good luck with that,” Khres said with a smile. He squinted at the tea leaves, wondering if it was a snake or a dragon he was seeing. “The Aceros haven’t made much of a move yet,” he said, letting the cup clatter back on the saucer. He wasn’t sure what to say about his prince, but at his grandmother’s piercing look, he knew that it was impossible for him not to say anything. “Prince Aleph is hesitant to make any moves.” 

“A hesitant king will not make a good king,” his grandmother observed. 

“A hesitant king will be easier to control,” Khres shot back. 

“What else?” She demanded. 

“Most of the other nobles at court consider themselves neutral. They’re still trying to see where things will fall right now, but there is another faction forming. It’s worrying,” Khres said. “They want war, and they’ll probably support whichever side can give it to them.” 

Lady Helena nodded. “The Western Expansion,” she said. “And now of all times, the King summons his brother back to court.” 

“The Commander General is coming back to court?” Khres asked in surprise. He hadn’t heard anything about it before he left for their ancestral home. Did Aleph keep that information from him? 

“Aren’t you supposed to be my eyes and ears at court?” Lady Helena challenged. “But never mind that, tell me more of the Houses that fall in each faction, and we can decide on accepting or declining the queen’s offer.”

“As you wish, grandmother,” Khres replied jokingly. He laced his fingers together on his lap, trying to stop himself from reaching for the teacup again to attempt another reading of things that were happening at court. He tried to pretend that it didn’t bother him that there might have been a good reason for Aleph not to trust him. 

“Are you sure about this, love?”

Aleph looked at his lover skeptically, “If you know something, now’s the time…”

“Nope! I did not look at any tea leaves today. I have been so tired of reading them with the Grand Oracle since last week because she insisted I sit with her throughout the process. I just got back here today, you see, and now you are tagging me along to meet your mother’s relatives. Things are getting really busy for me,” chirped Khres as he walked with the crown prince. 

He stepped a little bit closer to whisper, “Shall I get used to this kind of life when you name me your consort, my dearest?”

He laughed after that, walking ahead of him as he left Aleph behind. Looking at his lover’s slim figure, if he were to wear Likha’s garments and jewels, Aleph was absolutely sure that Khres would look a hundred leagues more beautiful than his own sister. Not that Khres do not look stunning as he is at the moment.

Considering what Khres has just said, Aleph has been aware that a part somewhere deep down his heart has long since been more than willing to name his lover as his future consort and take him as his betrothed. Yet there was something else, too, that hindered him to finalize a decision.

He has been in love with Khres for so long. He will love him in the future too, even if Khres might see it otherwise in his visions. He has asked this of his lover before if Khres looked upon their fate as lovers.

As an answer, Khres only shook his head and kissed him deeply, speaking words that effectively calmed any concerns that almost left the prince’s tongue. Since then, Aleph had been careful about asking Khres about things that he could see with regard to their relationship.

When they stepped into the reception hall, a flurry of olive green dress and long light brown hair attacked Aleph’s midsection.

“Cousin! It’s so good to see you! It’s been so long.”

Aleph smiled and patted his younger cousin on the back, “Opal.”

She pulled away only to stand in front of Khres. Aleph saw his cousin’s eyes sparkle as she admired the young heir, “It’s Lord Prevoir!”

Opal then took a step back and bowed, giving Khres the common courtesy, “It is an honor to meet you again, Lord Khres. I am very glad you can meet me with Cousin Aleph today.”

Khres bowed to her, a hand over his heart, “The pleasure is mine, Lady Acero. To behold such beauty brought upon years we have been apart, you truly have grown into a dazzling gem. I feel honored to accompany you and the crown prince for tea this afternoon.”

Opal bit her lip as she blushed profusely. Aleph rolled his eyes, took his lovesick cousin by the shoulder, and led her to the couches. Aleph sat on one side, while Khres sat on the opposite. The young lady brushed off her cousin’s arm and then skipped over to where Khres was seated, latching on the young Prevoir’s side.

“Opal,” warned Aleph.

“What?” Opal fluttered her long eyelashes. “It’s been a long while since I last saw Lord Khres. I missed him. It’s your fault, cousin, you kept on talking about him in your letters.”

Khres chuckled, “So the crown prince made me a conversation filler when writing to his mother’s relatives. How scandalous, another young man’s name gracing the royal scrolls addressed to House Acero.”

“It is not like that,” bit out Aleph.

“Khres is really pretty,” grinned Opal as she looked up at Khres with her wide green eyes. “Can I marry Khres, cousin?”

“Never going to happen,” Aleph immediately replied as he poured tea into his cup.

Opal pushed her bountiful chest against Khres’s arm and pouted, “Can you see it in your visions? That I will never have the chance to marry you?”

Khres smiled as he patted the younger lady’s hair, “And I must regret to inform you that I was not able to myself in your future, Lady Acero. Not only are you one of the rarest gems in this realm and must marry someone who’s worthy, but you are barely of age to be married, my dear.”

“I am almost eighteen! People get married earlier than I do. The vassal houses have brides as young as sixteen,” scowled Opal as she folded her arms over her chest. “Both of you are too protective. I am no longer a baby.”

“I can see that,” said Aleph. “As your mother has made a bold choice of sending you here.”

“Mom told me I’m the best person to do this. As the future lady of Acero, too, this is a diplomatic visit.”

Aleph sipped his tea, “Alright, then, state your business, Lady Acero.”

Opal straightened up, “State of affairs back home seemed to be a little… tight ever since the king’s announcement. Many people are inclined to celebrate, which is valid, but a lot are also worried. They have been asking the same questions, cousin. What will happen to the house now, when they begin to feel the pressure coming from all sides?”

“Pressure?” Khres asked. “House Acero has nothing to worry about. The king’s decision is right since it is the king’s word. What is there to doubt?”

“Sure,” Opal agreed as she took her own teacup. “But now that Acero was suddenly put on the spotlight rather than the Hariqs who anticipated that announcement for a decade, there has been quite a commotion back home. Deals, offers, and proposals lined up on our doorstep overnight. House Vind and House Ilyn showed overwhelming support out of nowhere. Mother was concerned that perhaps this might implicate something else to the eyes of others.”

Khres nodded, “I understand where Aunt Jade was coming from. Families will do just about anything as long as it can bring them even just an inch closer to the crown.”

“Yes,” affirmed Opal. “Mother wants Cousin Aleph to lend us aid at this time, especially concerning two proposals coming from House Vind and House Ilyn. Both are for your hand in marriage, cousin.” 

The young Prevoir took his teacup, sipped it until completion, and then looked down at the scattered leaves before meeting his prince’s eyes, “Two offers of marriage for the crown prince. Both houses can benefit not just the crown, but House Acero as well. What do you say, Aleph?”

“Well,” Aleph said hesitantly. He thought of his father’s expectant look after he had announced Emet’s engagement. “I suppose I must consider it. Father will be happy.” 

Opal clapped her hands together. “Wonderful!” She exclaimed. “I’ll ask my mother to speak with them so that they can send you their offers.” 

“Great,” Aleph said. He met Khres’ eyes behind his cousin’s back and found the other man smirking at him. Despite his jokes about his own position at Aleph’s side, he didn’t look at all upset at the idea of Aleph getting married. “I look forward to it.”