Magic of the Marriage Market

There are certain benefits to being the eldest born, Alaric always knew his place in the world, he had clear guidelines and goals to strive for, and unless he died no one could take his eventual rank from him but the Queen. However, there were drawbacks. He was considered responsible for each of his seven younger siblings while his parents were on the Queen's Northern Island Expedition, and at least three of his siblings seemed determined to age him prematurely while they have a chance.

Currently it was Blair, Derbie, and as always, Farran. "Blair, do you know what time it is?" he demanded as his sister came home AFTER the sun rose.

"Too early to bear one of your tired lectures," she squinted at him, smelling of sweat and alcohol.

"You do realize your actions affect the reputation of this Family, yes?" he ignored her insult.

"Unless I try to assassinate the Queen our Family will be just fine," Blair's voice went harsh. "I am more than a bargaining chip or a reputation to maintain Alaric. You have to get married, you have to carry on the Count Briggs lineage; I can enjoy the fact that I'm old enough to go out and have a life. Anyone in a rush to marry me right now wants something while all I want is to experience life before I have to act like a responsible adult."

Alaric flexed his fingers to keep from balling them into fists, "you've finished schooling, you refuse to participate in the Marriage Market, you don't have a vocation despite working with the Alchemy Bureau occasionally, and you have nothing of value to fill your time with; so what is it you're experiencing? Endless hangovers and the lingering stench of the gambling houses?"

"I've never lost a coin at those establishments, and you know it," Blair's brag had less effect than she likely intended, Alaric knew she funded her gambling by using her magical ability to refill a cup.

"Blair," Alaric sighed, "I'm not asking you to get every part of adulthood right all at once, but I do wish you'd give yourself the respect of trying to get at least one thing right."

"You first, dear elder brother; maybe if I see how well you manage finding a partner I can follow in your graceful footsteps," she saluted him with a heavy air of disrespect and stomped up to her room.

"I take it Blair will not be joining us at the tailor's today," Derbie asked casually, dressed in simple clothes that would facilitate the day's endeavours.

"No, she seems to have once again elected to absent herself from the Social Events this year," Alaric confirmed.

They had been given the list and dates of each Social Event hosted by a Debuting Family, and with a month still until the first garden party it was the best time to pick a new suit. With Blair removing herself from the attendance list, it'd be Alaric, Calvin, and Derbie this year.

"Are you ready to go?" Calvin was waiting by the entrance, and Alaric had no clue when his younger brother had arrived.

"Quite, it'll be the gentlemen today," Alaric confirmed, "Edwina is with her mentor in the drawing room, Farran will be going with Gavin and Eniola to the library under Lady Brissa Sikali's care, and Hida is attending training so if we complete our fittings quickly, I shall reward you two with a special day out."

They loaded into the carriage, the journey from the Residences to the Cloth District fairly short. Given that the early March weather was still somewhat blustery he was grateful to get indoors swiftly. Tailor-street had a shop suitable for every purse and party, but Alaric's preferences had always been for Abernathy's. The entire family participated in the tailoring, and each garment was practical as well as aesthetically appropriate. He'd never be called a leader in trends, but Alaric was always classic, and it would suit his two brothers to emulate that style.

"My Lords, this way please," one of the younger Abernathys led them to the warmed sitting room.

Given the time of year, it should have occurred to Alaric that his would not be the only Family using the Abernathys, but the moment he spotted the four Ladies Ram he came to a complete stop. Derbie walked past him without realizing it but Calvin stood at his left and whispered, "would you have preferred Lady Ban for Derbie to get weak kneed over?"

Sometimes it was easy to overlook Calvin, in a Family of attention grabbing individuals he was the most ordinary looking, and the only one who listened more than he spoke. So, when he did speak up it was always with a purpose.

"Spare me his immediate infatuation with the one Debutante that fainted," Alaric felt safe confiding in Calvin about his opinion before falling silent to sit with Derbie at a couch.

"Here are the catalogues of the latest menswear, and I have a selection of fabrics and patterns you can peruse," an Abernathy laid the items out on the table and Alaric thanked him absently.

Most of the clothes were in the Briggs scarlet, though there were a few options on how to feature their Familial colour. Garden parties allowed for a more casual dress code; men's suits would be broken into a heavier, shorter jacket over a patterned vest, and a proper shirt. Trousers could be matched to shirt or vest, but never the jacket at that was a 'heavier', more formal look than a garden party called for. And to Alaric's surprise, the current men's fashions eschewed the cap entirely.

Given the trends and aesthetic, an entirely scarlet jacket wouldn't suit, so they selected a patterned vest in scarlet and gold filigree, with each brother choosing a different jacket and cravat style. Calvin liked a simple beige jackets with an ivory cravat, shirt, and trousers. Derbie picked a similar shirt and trousers but paired them with a black jacket and cravat. And for all that Alaric wanted to focus on selecting an item for himself, he was too distracted by how noisy the Ram Ladies were at their couches. Lady Aayina Ram was a year older than Alaric, so he hadn't witnessed her Debut, but he'd seen how the Social Market reacted to her chaperoning triplets at this year's. They drew far too much attention, not that he begrudged a Viscounty trying to find suitable Suitors, but it bothered part of Alaric's pride to consider that she may be successful at getting all three of her siblings wed while he still hadn't managed a single one. He respected Lady Aayina's fortitude even as he prepared to compete against her most ardently.

"Any luck deciding?" Derbie brought Alaric's attention back to his own requirements.

"Black trousers, white shirt, black cravat, white jacket," Alaric selected almost randomly, noticing how eye catching the sunset orange of the Ram Family was in all the colour swatches at their table.

Since Blair hadn't attended the appointment, none of the women's wear catalogues had been presented. Alaric could only wonder what current fashion trends the triplet Rams would wear to steal the attention at the garden party. He'd failed to establish Blair's future, Calvin hadn't seemed to realize his friend Danilo loved him yet, so Derbie was the one most likely to be the first Briggs sibling to Court and be engaged. Given that the Ram triplets were all sisters, perhaps it was for the best that Blair had no interest in attracting a Suitor. If only Derbie would be willing to accept a marriage of political value instead of asking for a chance to make a love match first; Alaric would have an easier time if he could get Derbie married into the Sikali Dukedom. Ladies Colena and Brissa were both adults and Family friends besides, it seemed inevitable that Gavin Briggs was going to marry Eniola Sikali once they Debuted as they were sweethearts already.

But for all that Alaric wanted to push for a political engagement, he loved his brother enough to hope he found the love match he desired. Even if it was with the hysterical Lady Ban Ruma. They'd met but once, and still letters flew between the two like clouds across the sky in the week since the Debut.

"Since we've successfully completed this task here, let us take our repast and then we shall attend the Bouts this afternoon," Alaric announced to his brothers as their measurements had been taken in the men's dressing room.

"The Bouts?" Calvin sounded surprised but excited, while Derbie looked wild-eyed.

The Bouts were mini battles put on almost like a play performance, only injuries could occur if the fighters were exhausted or incautious. These matches were often used as duels, pugilists battling for dollars and reputations. And the audience was free to bet on the matches but not interfere with them. It was a brutal, savage event but oddly satisfying in its own way.

And although it was rare for women to be involved, it wasn't forbidden. A fact that Alaric never considered while dining with his brothers and then escorting them to their seats to watch. But as he found the three seats that matched the tickets he purchased, Alaric was violently reminded that women could attend or participate as he found the Ladies Ram I the seats a row in front of their own. And because Derbie had Debuted at the same time as the triplets, it would be ruse to ignore them.

"Good afternoon, Ladies Ram," Alaric followed social protocol, offering a polite bow, "you know my brother Derbie, but please let me also introduce my brother Calvin."

"Aayina Ram," the eldest sister offered her hand to Calvin politely, "and these are my sisters Bahni, Chanda, and Deepa." Although identical, the triplets appeared to seek individuality in the jewellery they chose; earrings, necklace or bracelets. Aayina seemed to prefer rings, and Alaric tried not to watch the large tourmaline stone on her hand, the sunset orange expressing her Family but also suiting her brown skin and dark eyes.

"Great minds think alike, my brother Alaric also decided to show me the Bouts now that I am an adult," Derbie had the same easy charm their mother had, talking to the triplets since he was familiar with them.

"You do realize that the whole saying is that great minds think alike but fools rarely differ," Aayina didn't look offended despite her words, "so that is either a painful truth about both your brother and I, or an unintended insult."

"I lack the ego to claim status as a great mind," Alaric spoke before his younger siblings could seize the opportunity, "even if you would accept it, but I am certainly no fool." He hadn't intended to imply a heavy ego for Lady Aayina but somehow, he had while also suggesting she could be a fool too. Quite the diplomatic turn for a future Count.

"We can likely verify for ourselves that you're no great mind," Lady Aayina Ram smiled but it didn't feel friendly to Alaric, "but claiming not to be a fool is already proven to be a lie."

"Aayina," Deepa tried to whisper to calm her sister, but Alaric heard it as well, "try not to chase away all potential Suitors for us as well."

"Ladies," Alaric spoke to the Ladies Ram, "please take your seats and be at ease, we are here to enjoy a good show not become a spectacle ourselves." With the Ladies sat down, Alaric finally signalled for his brothers to sit. He might be foolish, but he wasn't intentionally rude.

Today's Bouts were a semi-historical recreation of Achilles and Hector's great battle, and the fighters were both stupendous; it should have been quite the memorable show. And yet Alaric spent the entirety of it trying to prepare a clever farewell so he could redeem himself for his earlier gaffe with Lady Aayina Ram. She sat in front on him, far enough away that any contact would be obviously deliberate, but still close enough that he could hear her discussing the mock battle before them. Although they all knew who won between these two historical characters, the Bouts left the conclusion up to the skill and determination of the fighters. Lady Aayina Ram was astutely analyzing the endurance and skill of Hector's fighter, but Alaric couldn't help interrupting her.

"You're wrong," he sat forward and spoke loud enough to be heard, "Hector's the more technical fighter but like the long ago man he's too cautious. Achilles will find a weak point and strike and it'll be over."

"Are you aware of the irony, Achilles will find the weak point?" Lady Aayina quickly recovered from his interjection. "And if you're so confident in Achilles, what are you willing to risk on it?"

"You're betting?" he as all too familiar with gambling thanks to Blair and her bad habits.

"It's only betting if you plan to lose, this I would consider my social duty. You've interrupted our conversation and given your opinion where it wasn't wanted nor requested; the least your bad judgement can do is buy us a round of drinks." Although Lady Aayina's words were critical, Alaric could see a twinkle of amusement in her eyes.

"And when Hector follows in the footsteps of hi온라인카지노게임, we'll all toast with a fine red," Alaric was used to his multitude of siblings, a little attitude was almost nice compared to the façade of civility.

"That you pay for," Lady Aayina insisted, and Alaric smiled as one of the triplets hissed at her.

The Lady's confidence and analysis in Hector were brilliant, but like Alaric had predicted he wasted an opportunity by being cautious and Achilles laid him out. Unlike the myth, this battle ended with no deaths and thunderous applause.

"Have no fear Lady Aayina," Alaric had already been unintentionally rude, now he was being impulsively familiar, "I'll pick a sweet wine to help balance the bitterness of that loss, and I'll pay for it too. That look on your face is entirely worth it."

Before she could reply, or Alaric could abscond, they all heard a booming, "Briggs!"

Alaric turned to face the loud voiced Borka Polumenta, one of Danilo's older brothers and a long Family friend thanks to Calvin's bond with Danilo. "Lord Borka, well met," he gripped the man's hand, unsurprised to see Danilo already at Calvin's side.

"You're keeping quite the lovely company these days Lord Alaric," Borka smiled as he shamelessly maneuvered for an introduction to the Ladies Ram.

"Lady Aayina Ram, may I please introduce Lord Borka Polumenta," Alaric played the role Borka was hinting at, introducing the eldest siblings to each other.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Lord Borka Polumenta," Lady Aayina sounded pleasant and friendly, and Alaric felt his nose itch at the sudden change. "These are my sisters, Bahni, Chanda, and Deepa Ram."

Alaric wasn't the only one to notice that as Borka politely took each sister's hand, he froze in place with Deepa's in his giant hand. It was as if Alaric could see the moment that they all ceased to exist to the pair as they stared at each other. It broke only when Danilo gave a fake cough before introducing himself. "I'm Danilo Polumenta, I hope you all enjoyed the Bout."

And despite having bet on the losing fighter, Aayina Ram looked triumphant, "losing a battle doesn't mean one can't still win the war."

If Alaric wasn't mistaken there'd be a Letter of Intent from Viscount Polumenta's House to Viscount Ram's House on the first day. Somehow Aayina had already managed to find a Suitor for one of her three younger siblings, while Alaric still had no hopes for any of his. He'd felt so confident a moment ago but could now only swallow his disappointment as he made polite farewells and took his brothers home.