Magic of the Marriage Market

Calvin heard the laughter echoing up the hallway late at night and following it to find Alaric and Derbie discussing with which of their mother's rings Derbie should use to propose to Lady Ban Ruma. If only he could tell them what he knew, that in truth it was a proposal to Princess Ban Taro, younger sister to Queen Akiyama and currently her Heir. It was a royal secret that only a few knew the true details of, the Hatsune's adoption of Lady Banika heling deflect suspicion. It was a complicated web of birthright and bloodline, but Calvin couldn't warn either his older or younger brothers about it.

Derbie would make a good Prince Consort, the Kingdom had certainly had worse rulers in its hi온라인카지노게임.

"I take it you're planning to make Lady Ban our sister-in-law?" he teased Derbie, looking at the jewellery spread out.

Mothers rings. A wide variety of bands, materials, styles, and decorations, no two the same but all of them flawlessly lovely. Given that mother had been a Fidalgo, there were plenty of suevite with the dusty brown tones the Fidalgo brown was known for, but also one right with a polished ironwood band instead of metal. He also spotted many rubies amongst the gold, silver and other metals; the closest gem to Briggs scarlet, but there were still plenty of other stones to pick from. Delicate amethyst, deep emerald, iridescent opal, even less expensive but more interesting specimen such as jade, tourmaline, and quartz. Most of the styles were Taroton, but he saw styles from Cador, Tashatia, and even the Southern continent. The Republic of Yang preferred ceremonial tattoos over jewellery, so Calvin wasn't surprised to see no rings in that style.

"Yes, did you want to read my proposal?" Derbie offered, holding up what looked like a perfectly written letter. It must be a second or third copy.

Calvin grabbed it carefully, reading it and getting a sense of Derbie's steady love for Lady Ban. He knew even her true identity wouldn't stop his brother from loving her wholly. Calvin wouldn't be able to stand it if the person he loved had lied to him deliberately for the entire length of their Courtship; an ironic reality for a man who worked as a spy and lied to everyone daily.

"This is good," Calvin complimented, handing Derbie his letter back.

"That's what I said," Alaric laughed, with the rings they had also started on a bottle of wine, so Calvin grabbed a glass and helped himself.

"So, I have the letter figured out," Derbie accepted their compliments, "but what ring do I pick?"

If Calvin ever had to propose, he'd probably buy a new ring in the person's style. Mother's rings were all beautifully feminine and dainty, and somehow Calvin just couldn't imagine picking one to propose with. Not that he had anyone to propose TO. Since Derbie was proposing to Ban, Calvin was tempted to suggest one of the amethyst rings; though nothing matched either Ruma indigo or Taro purple.

"You know Lady Ban best, which ring do you think she'd like?" he offered instead of his opinion.

"She loves antiques, pieces of our Kingdom's hi온라인카지노게임, and has an artists appreciation for fine details," Derbie immediately proved how right Calvin had been. He was sorting through mother's rings, narrowing the choice down. "She likes stones that aren't cumbersome, or too sharp," several more were disqualified.

But that still left almost ten rings to pick from, their mother had a lot of jewellery. And poor Derbie looked agonized at having to narrow it down further.

"How do you know you love Lady Ban?" Calvin asked, garnering almost identical looks of surprise from both brothers.

"I can't think of any one thing that properly contains all of it," Derbie seemed to be struggling to explain. "I saw her smile on our Debut night, and in that moment, I wanted to earn her smile again. And as we wrote each other, I couldn't wait to receive her letter as if it were a gift instead of pen and paper." Derbie looked at Alaric, as if for support but frowned; Alaric was clearly attracted to Aayina Ram but hadn't done anything about it yet, Derbie would find no support there. "Every time I'd go out, I'd hope to run into her, and when I saw her everything else around me faded away. And when I didn't see her, I'd miss her. I'd see things and want to show her, I'd read a book and know I had to share it with her because it made me think of her."

And as Calvin had hoped, while Derbie described his novel worthy love for Lady Ban, he was absently picking between the rings.

"And no matter how much time I spend with her, its never enough. I want to fall asleep with her, wake with her, eat with her, and spend the hours of my day with her. Is that terribly strange?" Derbie's hesitant tone made it a vulnerable question.

"I don't think it does," Alaric comforted, giving Calvin an almost amused look. "I've seen people in love that don't even realize it, but they display all the same traits. It's like you two seek each other out; I'm just glad you're aware you love Lady Ban and are taking steps to betroth and marry her."

"It does feel strange to be the first of us to get engaged and married," Derbie's admission wasn't a surprise to Calvin at all. "I always though I'd attend your wedding long before thinking about my own."

"Until you, only Gavin had an obvious lover," Calvin laughed, and Alaric nearly spat out the wine he was drinking. Maybe his brother was ready to admit the depth of affection he had for Lady Aayina after all, if that reaction was anything to go by.

"Yes, well Gavin and his sweetheart are their own issue to deal with, for now it seems you've narrowed it down," Alaric's deflection brought Derbie's focus back to the two rings left, but Calvin was all too aware of what Alaric alluded to.

Gavin had been sneaking out to see Eniola Sikali for years, but then Fabrizio Lazzarini had snuck in where Gavin had snuck out, so no one could turn a blind eye any longer. Not that Calvin blamed Gavin for Fabrizio's transgressions; Gavin was young, dumb, and in love, all the blame lay on Fabrizio's shoulders. Though Calvin also knew that due to Celinia Lazzarini's unfortunate passing only months ago, Fabrizio's punishment was going to be amended from 10 lashes down to 5. And he'd been withdrawn from the cohort Hida was training in, at least letting Calvin's little sister continue her Knightage training in peace.

"I could see her wearing either ring," Derbie's reflective tone pulled Calvin's focus, "this is an antique from when Briggs became and Countship, it's a star ruby and rare," red and gold and delicate, "but this is an original from the famous jewel smith known as Midas, and she'd love the nature of a one of a kind ring." Silver and gold and fire opal.

"Which one can you see slipping on her finger?" Alaric's pragmatism still managed to be poetic.

"This one," Derbie held the fire opal ring aloft.

"It's perfect," Calvin patted Derbie on the shoulder, happy for his younger brother.

"If she needs the ring resized, we can give her mother's jewel smith's information," Alaric once again had planned for all the details, "our parents had already given the go ahead to use any of their rings for our proposals, so you don't have to be concerned about that. Though I think we all sincerely hope their expedition will be over and their return have occurred before Hida could need to pick one."

Their parents were already into their second year of the Northern Island Expedition, and it made Calvin's heart sink to think of them being gone for another four or five years. He missed his parents, even if he was often overlooked by them.

"If I sent this tomorrow, do you think she'll accept?" Derbie hesitated.

"Yes," Alaric's response overlapped Calvin's "of course." Their confidence in Derbie was well placed.

Calvin knew his brother had sent the Letter of Proposal to the Ruma family already, it was socially required to have the family's permission before the personal proposal could occur. Like the Letter of Intent, Calvin, Blair, and Alaric had battled over the perfect phrasing to get the interim Marchioness Ruma's approval for Derbie to propose. She'd enthusiastically granted it, and only Calvin knew it was due to Aoki Ruma loving her younger half-sister, but also resenting her existence. Like any good, sordid tale, Dowager Queen Ebina had married and produced Queen Akiyama as her Heir. But after her Prince Consort had died, and once Queen Akiyama had taken the crown, Dowager Queen had started an affair with the still married Marquis Ruma, leading to Lady Ban's conception, birth, and careful dissimulation. Aoki Ruma had been four at the time, and although the Marquis and Marchioness Ruma were still married to this day, they had not been in each other's presence on purpose ever since but had pretended that Ban was the Marchioness' child to hide her heritage.

And still Aoki seemed truly happy that Derbie was proposing to her half-sister. Given the way their romance had evolved, Calvin suspected Ban would accept Derbie's proposal in one of two ways; writing a letter back or wearing the ring to the next Event. Since it was July and the Events were all but back-to-back, Calvin wasn't surprised to see Lady Ban wearing Derbie's engagement ring at the Sikali Ball only four days later.

Derbie and Ban were officially engaged.

And the first person Calvin could think of to go talk to about it was Danilo. The ONLY person Calvin cared to talk to about it was Danilo, and that realization hit Calvin like a loose floorboard in a comedy. Derbie describing how he knew he was in love with Lady Ban played in his memory like a mockery of how long it had taken Calvin to realize how it all applied to him. Could he be in love with Danilo?

Calvin shook the thought off at once; they'd been best friends for so long he was simply misinterpreting his habits. They met every work day and went to work together, worked apart often but always tried to align their end of days so they could unwind at a pub together before going to their homes. And just because Calvin couldn't think of anyone else, he'd rather find at any Social Even than Danilo, didn't mean he was in LOVE with his best friend; did it?

"Cal, you look so lost in thought I feel like I should mount a rescue," Danilo's voice pulled his attention, and for the first time Calvin felt flushed at his best friend's arrival.

He had to fight his errant thoughts back, all to aware of how handsome Danilo was in his formal Ball attire suddenly. Maybe it was ridiculous to feel unsettled now, his best friend had always been attractive, Calvin knew that. But now Calvin also couldn't help but think about what Derbie had said about knowing he was in love with Ban; how no matter how much time her spent with her it wasn't enough. And then Calvin was wondering what it would be like to wake up with Danilo everyday before he almost violently pushed that thought away.

"Did you see Lady Ban's engagement ring? Calvin weakly deflected.

"Yes, if I'm not mistaken, that's one of your mother's rings," Danilo smiled, handing Calvin a glass of expensive liquor.

"It is, Derbie sent her his proposal in a letter with it a few days ago, as you well know," Calvin tried to tease but his far too giddy imagination was now fervently chewing over what an engagement ring might look like on Danilo's finger. A thick platinum band with a line of ruby through the center would suit him all too well, and Calvin knew he was staring at his friend in dismay.

"I wonder when the truths with come out; that she accepted implies our Queen did as well," Danilo let Calvin stare at him.

"It won't matter, Derbie loves her no matter what her last name may be," Calvin forced himself to act normal. Or as normal as he could while his imagination focused on what Danilo's reaction to being proposed to would be like. Dan had rejected Edha Malani's Intent, maybe... Calvin violently shook the thought away.

They were now on the outskirts of the Sikali Ball, near the back wall and as over looked as the chandeliers; at the center of the ballroom all the couples and hopefuls spun about like flower petals in a dervish. "So, we both have a sibling who successfully found love, here's to Derbie and Ban, and Borka and Deepa," Danilo toasted Calvin with their liquor glasses.

Calvin almost choked on his, too busy watching how Danilo's throat moved as he swallowed his drink.

"Has Alaric realized he watches Aayina almost as much as she watches him?" Danilo remained oblivious to Calvin's epiphany.

"No, we will be locking them in a dark room together soon," Calvin joked, no longer in control of his errant mind as it pictured what could happen in a dark room with no witnesses. Not that Calvin needed a dark room, given his ability to disappear.

Danilo laughed, "I can't wait." He joked and Calvin gave a weak laugh. "I think her sisters are almost as eager for it as we are, especially as Deepa has told Borka that she can't get married before her eldest sister."

Now Calvin's brain decided to torment him by trying to visualize what it would look like to watch someone Court Danilo. A Letter of Intent written and accepted. His excitement and nerves over someone wanting him, and how all the time and little things Calvin had was used to doing with Danilo would disappear as his Suitor became his priority. And Calvin HATED it.

Hated how he wouldn't be able to start his day with Danilo.

Hated how he could imagine someone taking all of Danilo's time and attention.

Hating knowing he should be happy with being the best friend that still saw Danilo at work; he should be excited for his friend's happiness, but he hated the idea of anyone else being the cause of it.

In the matter of four days, Calvin shifted from being comfortable but oblivious to how much Danilo really meant to him, to all too obsessively aware of it. He was in love with his best friend.

"Dan," Calvin's agony didn't show in his voice or tone, but Danilo still seemed to sense it, "please don't hate me for this." He managed to strangle out before Calvin did two very reckless things.

One, he pushed the limits of his magic, willing to take any backlash that may occur for stretching beyond his ability as he turned not only himself invisible, but Danilo too. Two, he grabbed Danilo's lapels and crashed their mouths together in a rushed, illogical kiss as if trying to prove whether or not he was in love with Danilo by how he reacted to the kiss.

At first Danilo stood still, taken by surprise by Calvin's actions and his lips were passive under Calvin's seemingly unwanted kiss. But just before Calvin could let go, step back, try to act like his pulse wasn't dancing the waltz at FINALLY kissing that damnably teasing mouth, Danilo grabbed Calvin by the hair and held him in place.

Suddenly Calvin was aware that his back was to the wall, no place or desire to retreat as Danilo went from passively being kissed to plundering his mouth with eager intention as he held Calvin in place. Calvin's magic kept them hidden but Danilo didn't seem to care that it was a short lived veil as he pressed Calvin back against the wall, a firm line against him from mouth to chest, and down to hips. Every nerve in Calvin came to life at once, he almost didn't need to breath as he clutched Danilo just as tightly; friendship irrevocably altered as they passionately kissed.

It was only as his magical invisibility shattered around them that Danilo stopped kissing him back, stepping away only enough to seem proper as they both stared at each other with wild eyes, bruised lips, and tousled hair. "We have to behave in public Cal, so I know until your magic recovers, we have to take this to the gardens outside."

Danilo's voice was ragged, and Calvin felt his blood zing with excitement as he realized that Danilo not only didn't hate him for that kiss but wanted more. "Dan..." Calvin choked up, not sure how to say any of it, but his best friend gave him a familiar smile.

"You've always been mine Cal, you just finally realized it," Danilo teased with a satisfied tone. "Now let's go out into the garden and explore just how much I meant that."

Calvin had always felt that Danilo saw him like no one else ever did, now he was beginning to understand the true depth of that reality.

He was in love with his best friend.

His best friend was in love with him right back.