Magic of the Marriage Market

In the current geopolitical trends of alliances and open exploration, Taroton had sent out five Expeditions under Queen Akiyama's name. Alaric's own parents, the Countess and Count Briggs, were in the dangerous North, while other Expeditions were exploring areas in the other cardinal directions. Marquis and Marchioness Ruma had recently completed their Expedition, an alliance made with Cador to Taroton's immediate western border. He'd heard the rumours every other informed noble had, that Queen Akiyama would be marrying one of King Kai of Cador's younger brothers, but since no announcement had been made yet, it wasn't confirmed. While the political sphere waiting on that, Viscountess and Viscount Ram were trying to broker the next alliance with Tashatia since they were just across the channel on the Eastern Continent. That alliance was less about settling conflict and more about cementing trade routes and exchanges. Duke Sikali was on an Expedition to the territories on the Eastern Continent's far shore; the Duchy of Pulu, the Kingdom of Pardue, and somewhere called Manur. And Duchess Hatsune was on a much longer Expedition to the Western part of the main continent; she was to establish if the Republic of Jechguk was a threat.

Logically, it was easy to determine that these Expeditions all indicated that Taroton was a stable, if driven, nation. It took a certain amount of monetary risk to try and explore, and an even greater risk to personnel. Although Alaric hated to consider it, there was always a chance that an Expedition could be lost, that his parents could be lost. Queen Akiyama seemed to anticipate the possible impact losing any and all of these various Expeditions and had chosen her representatives well. Every noble sent had at least one adult Heir. There were five Sikali 'children' ranging from Debuted to sixteen year old Eniola, who was all but married to Gavin already. The Briggs County would be devastated by the loss of either of Alaric's parents, and yet he had been well trained to take over and had seven younger siblings besides. Duchess Hatsune had one blood Heir in Aoyama, and an adopted daughter in Banika, but she also had two grandchildren already too. The Viscounts Ram had five daughters, and although Alaric had met Lady Ban Ruma, he had heard about her sister's pregnancy and her brother-in-law's injury, thus negating the ability to meet them.

Given how eager Derbie wrote letters to and received letters from Lady Ban, Alaric was starting to adjust to the idea that Aoki Ruma and her husband were soon to be his in-laws. He didn't even have a negative feeling for Lady Ban either, despite his initial concern over her nerves given that she fainted. But Derbie was like Gavin, Edwina, and their father; when they fell in love it was from their head to their toes. Obsessive might have been a better term for it, except that for each of them it somehow seemed to improve their lives instead of condemning them.

Though, to be fair, little Winnie hadn't announced her love for Lord Daro Korolenko, her mentor, so much as she had come to life in his presence in a way no other seemed to elicit. Alaric didn't begrudge his loved ones their obvious loves, in fact he wished they would succeed in their infatuations no matter how improbable, but sometimes he did envy them. As the eldest he had to aim for a partner who would make a worthy Countess, someone who could help him maintain and nurture both the Briggs Family as well as the Briggs Countship one day. That would require a first or second daughter of an equal or near equal standing, though a first daughter would require other Heirs for obvious reasons. Unless he was given a Letter of Intent from either adults Sikali daughters, or any of the other adult daughters of Countships, Alaric didn't have to worry just yet.

Especially since it looked like the first of the Briggs siblings to send a Letter of Intent would be Derbie Briggs. As much as Alaric had been spending time preparing his siblings for the upcoming Marriage Season, he'd also tried to prepare himself for it as well. Realistically there was only a few notable contenders. Firstly, he had to consider the fact that he was only attracted to women, and his status as Heir required that he continue the lineage or prepare a close blood relative to fulfill it. So, either one of the already adult second daughters of families at rank or higher than Count, or a first or second daughter from a lower ranked noble family. Again, only those already Debuted because he still needed time to officially Court his eventual Lady.

Alaric may not know much about being in love, but he did know he had no intents to rush Courtship once it did eventually happen. And even if he never fell in love, or even managed to marry and produce Heirs, he had enough siblings to easily appoint one of theirs if it came to it. Right now, his duty to both family and Countship was fulfilled by caretaking his younger siblings through their first steps in adulthood, or the preceding steps to that adventure.

A task that might be easier if his 'adult' siblings weren't so individually demanding in their own ways. Blair should have been the easiest sibling to marry off, she was smart, considered beautiful, and had an enthusiastic friendliness as her natural attitude. The only problem being that she also had no tolerance for anyone who wanted just one of those things. He couldn't blame her, but he did resent the fact that she got to live wild and free while he was bound by responsibility.

"Somehow you look miserable despite the marvellous weather and perfect Event," Danilo Polumenta remarked softly, as always found by Calvin's side.

"And you look marvellous as always Danilo," Alaric laughed at the criticism. His brother's best friend wore the soft, almost purple gray of Polumenta as his jacket, and chose a beige vest that looked remarkably well matched to Calvin's jacket, and he's also chosen ivory for shirt, cravat, and trousers.

"Thank you, but my comment stands; its such a lovely garden party so why so you look so ill content?" Danilo pressed.

"We have had almost a month of rain," Alaric pointed out, "and yet the sun chose to come out not only in time for today's Event, but just long enough before to dry everything out."

Calvin gave him and amused look but continued to be silent while his best friend pestered Alaric, "aren't both of those good things?"

"Yes," Alaric confirmed with a frown, "but this garden party is the first Social Event of this Season's Marriage Market." He wondered how neither Danilo nor Calvin seemed to understand, "the Ram Family is hosting a successful garden party despite terrible weather all month prior, for their triplet Debutantes, after one of them already accepted a Letter of Intent."

"Are...are you jealous?" Calvin sounded astonished.

"No," he barked at his brother, "I'm not jealous, I'm annoyed that it seems Fate itself is helping Aayina Ram out while she stands as her siblings' guardian."

Either Danilo and Calvin were better at masking their expressions than Alaric realized, or else they too didn't notice how close the Host really was. "I did not realize we were so close for you to address me with absolutely no honorifics, Alaric Briggs," Aayina Ram's deliberate continuance of his rudeness should have been expected. "But I must say it's concerningly hypocritical of you to speak as if we are close friends and yet also express your annoyance that I am not suffering enough difficulty for you."

"I do not wish you hardships," Alaric immediately rejected that misinterpretation even as he tried not to stare at how her garden dress enhanced her beauty. The Ram family colour was an orange like the opal gemstone, a softer colour than one thinks in terms of orange, and Aayina Ram wore a short sleeved gown in that exact shade. Her long, straight black hair was left held out of the way by delicate pearl hairpins that complemented her attire. Helping to break up the orange of her dress she'd chosen a wide bow in white to pair with pearls, and Alaric nearly lost his thoughts mid-sentence due to her appearance. "I merely worry that your absolute success will raise the bar so high that when it is my turn to Host for the Briggs Event, I'll be a sad comparison." And despite all his diplomatic skills normally, for some reason Alaric couldn't help continuing, "not only are you a year older than I am, this is your first Event as Host for any of your younger siblings."

"So, you don't want me to suffer, but you are hoping I don't succeed?" Alaric would have expected an offended tone to match her words, and yet Aayina Ram sounded more amused.

"You've already established a Suitor for one of your sisters," Alaric noted how Borka Polumenta hovered by Deepa Ram, the young Lady proudly wearing her Family's colour on her skirt, but the Polumenta gray hinted at in the embroidery on her white shirt. "Do you know how irritating the gossip columns will be for the rest of us eldest siblings trying to keep up?"

"Since you insist on being so direct, I shall do the same," Aayina smiled as if being friendly, "that sounds like a you problem Alaric. My sisters all want to be married and are willing to take love or politics as they happen. Maybe if you did a better job as an elder sibling you'd have less to fear from the social pages."

"I don't fear the social pages," he was getting irritated with how much she seemed to enjoy his discomfort, "and I am a wonderful elder sibling."

"Then why are you bemoaning my success?" she threw his irrational behaviour in his face. "If you don't like witnessing my triumph Lord Briggs," she managed to make a respectful term sound anything but, "then I suggest you carefully look away." She didn't bother to wait for his response, walking away while Alaric struggled to understand how he'd handled that so poorly.

"Here," Calvin handed him a glass of the chilled spring wine being served. "That was even worse than at the Bouts, you're terrible at flirting."

"I wasn't flirting," Alaric denied.

"We can all agree to that," Danilo added in helpfully.

"I wasn't trying to flirt either," Alaric continued firmly. "I just wanted to say that I feel as if this social year is heavily skewed in her favour."

"Alaric, you're my brother and I love you," Calvin sounded like it was a batter of patience to talk to him, "but you are blatantly ignoring the fact that we are BRIGGS."

Danilo was giving Calvin a supporting smile, as if he agreed with Alaric's brother's opinion. "The issue you have Alaric," he added in, "is that each of you could use your name to find a match easily. But not a single one of you is built to just take the easiest path, not even Blair – who I note is not in attendance."

"I want success and happiness for all my siblings," and given how close Danilo stood to his brother's side, he decided to be a little subtle, "I'm the eldest, I will do my duty. That means all my siblings can marry for love if they want, just like Derbie seems to be doing."

They all turned to look at the Debuting Briggs sibling. Derbie and Lady Ban hadn't arranged matching outfits and given that Alaric hadn't allowed a Letter of Intent yet, they couldn't wear couple's jewellery, but Derbie had instead selected a corsage of scarlet roses for he rand a boutonniere of Indigofera for him. And although it was appropriate and adorable, it was also almost cloyingly sweet to Alaric. As previously mentioned, Derbie walked around the garden party stations with Lady Ban at his side and even from a distance it was clear he hung on every word she said.

"Until you get married and have kids, Blair is your back up Heir," Calvin pointed out, not needing to add in that her utter lack of interest in relationships put a higher chance of Calvin having to be his Heir in an emergency.

"I'm certain our parents don't appreciate the early grave you seem to have put them in," his attempt at deflection failed as all Calvin did was roll his eyes.

Alaric didn't get a chance to respond, hurrying to follow after Derbie and Lady Ban as they walked further away. Calvin and Danilo stepped quickly with him, despite the moving crowds of people. The garden party was set up in three primary areas; a games zone where croquet bouts were played, the Touring zone where those wishing to view the spring garden and statuary could walk, and the relaxation zone where spring wines and light snacks were provided in shaded sitting areas. Music played from a quartet, lively music that helped add to the atmosphere instead of overwhelming the conversations. Derbie and Lady Ban were touring the garden but ignoring the flowers for the statues.

"Is Lady Ban a student of hi온라인카지노게임?" Danilo questioned at her animation.

"I know it's a statue of the Lover's Leap," Derbie's voice was audible as they crept closer, "you can tell because that's the cursed vine around his ankle trying to hold him in place, but I don't see the other lover that should complete this piece." Of course, Derbie knew about the Lover's fairytale in enough detail to recognize a statue of it, his brother was a romantic through and through. He had a good eye, like Edwina, but his love of art was limited to watching it instead of creating it, and Alaric suddenly realized that his little brother had already found a good job and a likely wife, and he'd been an adult for less than two months.

"If it's a recreation of Edmonia Lewis' style than the other piece is likely at the heart of the garden," Lady Ban's soft voice drifted to them.

Alaric knew the myth like Derbie did, he hadn't the first clue about the sculptor or style of the piece though. He wanted strong matches for his siblings and given Lady Ban's artistic knowledge he had to admit that she'd fit into their family and likely find a friend in Edwina. All the Briggs siblings had the same foundation of art, hi온라인카지노게임, trade, strategy, and combat, but as each found their individual talents, their mastery became more customized. Alaric's artistic mentoring ensured he could do his family proud if called upon to sing, but he lacked more than a general knowledge of the different art periods. Derbie's art lessons had probably been similar, enough knowledge to suit a noble but no specialized training; Alaric's parents were his Masters, teaching him how to be a Count, and Derbie had been focusing on purification fields according to the reports Alaric received. Lady Ban had clearly received a more in depth art hi온라인카지노게임 training.

"Oh, that makes a lot of sense," Derbie smiled, and Alaric watched his little brother hold Lady Ban's hand easily, "he jumps and she's at the heart, their 온라인카지노게임 in a nutshell."

Somehow that ease, the knack of finding who to love, was not a trait Alaric had inherited. Their parents may have been an arranged marriage, but they were undeniably, disgustingly in love with each other. Father loved everything with passion and enthusiasm, but especially mother, and thus far he saw that reflected in Derbie, Gavin, and even Edwina. Maybe even Calvin, in his own way, though Alaric still noticed that the two men with him hadn't become more than friends; yet.

"Is that Lady Edha Malani coming towards us?" he spoke loud enough for Calvin and Danilo to hear, letting Derbie and Lady Ban wander further away.

"Oh bother," Danil all but swore, while Alaric was more startled to see Calvin looking almost angry. "She wrote me a Letter of Intent and I don't know if my family has formally rejected it or not yet."

"The look on her face says yes they have but she doesn't care," Calvin was mad, Alaric could hear it in his voice.

Alaric might be frustrated with how well Aayina Ram's Garden party was going, but he'd put up with all the endless reminders of his short comings if it meant his siblings were happy. Derbie was getting a resoundingly boring sounding hi온라인카지노게임 lesson while holding hands, and Calvin may just realized that his friendship with Danil was far more precious than initially assumed. "Go follow Derbie, I'll distract Lady Malani," he encouraged. "And if you need to disappear," he emphasized to Calvin, "go ahead; there's only one way out of the garden so I can find Derbie or wait here."

Alaric didn't actually know if Calvin's magic could make anyone but himself vanish, but he somehow figured his little brother would make it happen. For now, he had to entertain a young Lady on the hunt for a husband. "Lady Malani, did you lose sight of Lord Faruq Malani already?"

Lady Edha Malani wore the yellow her family claimed, and Alaric couldn't help but notice that the daisy colour made her blend into the party a little too well. She looked like an ambulatory bush, her skirt had daisies on it, fabric flowers stitched to it, and even her jewellery was all abloom. "I haven't lost sight of Faruq, he's with Charu. I was hoping to speak to Lord Polumenta, but he seems to have run off."

"I was sorry to hear about your brother's passing; I had heard good things about Lord Bahrat and his loss is to Taroton's detriment," Alaric was intending to be kind but distracting.

Instead, Lady Edha Malani burst into tears and ran away from him, back towards her family and leaving Alaric startled and alone. But only for a heartbeat.

"You seem to have a way with talking to Ladies that leaves us quite overwrought with you," Aayina Ram, hostess of a very successful part, had witnessed this moment.

"Are you overwrought with me Aayina?" Alaric didn't know why he was being so rude.

"You aren't worth my wroth Alaric," she denied with a scoff. "And neither are you allowed to ruin my party or make a scene, not when Lord Borka Polumenta is Courting my little sister."

"You intend to push for them to marry before the Season ends?" his tone heavily implied it was too hasty.

"Of course, unlike you I will actually succeed in seeing my younger siblings Courted and wed before my parents return from their Expedition," she glared at him, shorter than he was but no less fierce. "The triplets Debuted this year, but I still have to be ready for Ekaja's Debut next year; if I can get the three girls taken care of before that it'll increate Ekaja's chances of a good match."

"Lucky that you have such eligible sisters then," he could compliment them no problem it seemed, but still couldn't help his rudeness to Aayina, "and that you only have four of them to contend with. Every year I will be escorting that next Briggs Debutant until I am twenty and six years old, or until my parents return, and I cannot use the novelty of triplets to help entice Suitors."

"Maybe the issue isn't with your siblings Alaric," Aayina insultingly implied, "after all, they're not the ones making Ladies cry at my party."

"You're not crying yet, and I suspect it'd take more than a few careless words to achieve it," that was almost polite.

"Earlier you wished for my failure, and now you want to see me cry," she shook her head at him. "The issue is most certainly with you, Alaric Briggs; good day to you then," she walked off, stride angry and proud.

Alaric couldn't help watching her retreat all the way until Derbie and Lady Ban returned from the heart of the garden. He had no idea where Calvin and Danilo had disappeared to though. It was safer to be a silent chaperone, so Alaric set about to be just that for the rest of the party.