Magic of the Marriage Market

Six months after the Marriage Season began in the Capital, and the Briggs family had officially had an unexpected windfall of success in marriage matches. Alaric was about to marry Aayina Ram and make her Aayina Briggs, his future Countess and a woman he'd trust to call him out of his own head. Blair looked to be in a long Courtship with Earl Wignell, and Alaric had made peace with his best friend, Clayton, romancing his little sister; she'd make a decent Countess despite her façade of detesting socialization. Calvin hadn't made any obvious changes to his relationship with Danilo, but Alaric wondered if that'd change soon; neither man stood to inherit so they would be Lords Briggs-Polumenta together. Derbie would become Lord Ruma-Briggs, supporting Lady Ban's higher ranked Marquis family. Edwina was marrying her Lord Daro, becoming Lady Briggs-Korolenko before she headed off to the university. And little Gavin had been privately married by the Queen, their young Sikali-Briggs family already set to flourish in the Capital.

But today was his wedding day, the Taroton tradition simple and holding ancient roots. Before a couple can wed, they submit a Letter of Marriage to the Queen, via the Diplomatic Bureau; if their marriage was approved, they receive a signed marriage license from the Queen. On the wedding day, the Couple prick their ring fingertip and place the blood on the deal. After that, they are considered wed. Alaric knew it was different for the common class, they simply started to live together and were considered wed, but he didn't have to worry about that practice today.

Along with his siblings, Alaric's wedding day was also shared with one of Aayina's; Deepa was marrying Borka Polumenta and becoming Lady Ram-Polumenta. Four weddings were being hosted at once, each couple given a private area to complete their blooding while a great feat awaited them for after; all respective families were in attendance for the feast, of course. With three Briggs getting wed, that meant three Suitor families, and then the additional family for Deepa's Suitor Borka. It was just short of a Social Event, thankfully the Queen's own marriage to the Cadorian Prince Royal, Levi, helped keep the gossip columns too full to waste space speculating about his family.

Queen Akiyama was only 30, coronated by her own mother, Dowager Queen Ebina, at 20 years old. In the last ten years, their young Queen had skillfully molded Taroton into a modern, thriving Kingdom, but had made no indication of who she was as a woman. No lovers, no friends, only a rumoured half-sister who was her unknown Heir. She'd established her Expeditions to other nations, and they as a Kingdom were already seeing a ten-fold of benefits returning for it. Resources, workers, talents and skills, innovations...Alaric was aware of it as the interim Count Briggs; their coastal Countship guaranteeing participation in international trade. But he'd still been surprised by the Queen choosing to wed the Cadorian Prince Royal to help cement the alliance with their closest neighbors. Aesthetically, Alaric could see how the man was attractive; he had a rugged handsomeness, red hair, and clear green eyes so bright they felt inhuman. And given the Cadorian fashion of skin bearing menswear, he had quite the popularity amongst those attracted to men's clavicles, but outside of that Alaric knew almost nothing of the man who was now the Prince Consort.

But his seal next to Queen Akiyama's on his wedding licence was elegant and official.

"Why am I not surprised to find you frowning at our marriage licences?" Aayina's voice pulled him out of his bemused mental meanderings. "You're determined to act the old man even though you're younger than I am."

"I'm not acting, nor even angry, just trying to adjust my brain to the idea of so many marriages happening so close together; I feel like we're on the precipice of some great change," Alaric couldn't put his messy thoughts into clean expressions, but still Aayina seemed to understand.

"You are about to become my husband, that is quite the change," she teased, seeming more at ease with it all than he felt.

"I'm excited to marry you, I look forwards to being husband and wife; I'm just trying to convince myself this is all real," he looked at her, the scarlet of his family suiting the rich reddish brown tones of her skin.

Although she was leaving the Ram name behind, Alaric and Aayina would act as chaperones for her sisters until Bahni was wed or 25. So although he was no longer required to chaperone for three of his own siblings, he was gaining three new sisters to fill those spaces. Aayina's youngest sister, Ekaja, was Debuting next year.

"Can I pinch you?" Aayina asked with a dangerous glint in her eyes.

"If I say yes, do you promise to leave a mark?" he smiled as he grabbed her arms to pull her into a kiss. And he tried not to yelp when this simply allowed her direct access to his backside.

That would leave a mark.

"Are you ready to bleed for me?" Aayina didn't leave the circle of his arms to ask.

"Vicious woman," he taunted, walking with her under his arm so they could stand before the two licences. One would stay with them and one would be stored in the Archive of the Information Bureau. "Price your finger and show me your love," she demanded, not hesitating to stab the provided little pin into her own finger, and imprint both pages.

Alaric followed suit, not knowing if there was any magic involved in the bloodied certificates, but still feeling the effect of them all the same. He was now married, the woman at his side likely far smarter than he was, and certainly more capable of keeping her wits, and yet she'd still chosen to marry him. Aayina grabbed his suit jacket lapels and pulled him into a fierce kiss.

His wife.

Alaric suspected he had a less than charming smile on his face but couldn't wipe it clear, "you're stuck with me now Aayina," he warned.

"How will I ever survive?" she laughed at him and curled her arm through his. "Let's go see how everyone else is," she led him from their private moment to an Estate filled with jubilation and people.

Derbie and Ban were already seated, the Ruma family absent due to the impending birth of her niece or nephew. They didn't seem to mind the absence, focused on each other as Derbie kissed Ban's bloodied finger as if to heal it. In between them and the next newlyweds, Calvin and Danilo sat looking far too guilty to not have been caught at some shenanigans. Next to Danilo, his brother Borka sat with his new wife Deepa, and the other Ram sisters sat clustered between them and Aayina and Alaric. On their other side, Blair and Hida kept making loudly blunt statements and being shushed by Edwina and her new husband. Daro's family had only sent his sister, Celestyn, to represent them, so Alaric had taken the opportunity to sit her with Gavin and Eniola. His youngest brother was a natural caretaker, and even if Celestyn was eight years older than Alaric, and nearly twice Gavin's age, he'd help her feel included.

It was customary for each family to toast the newly weds, and despite hosting this mega-wedding, Alaric was himself excluded for obvious reasons. So Blair stood up, the next eldest, and although she still acted willful and provocative, she'd come home drunk far less frequently and Alaric had hopes of a decent speech. "I shall start with the obvious congratulations to all the now married Couples," she lifted her wine glass and smiled as everyone else lifted theirs. "May you all have long, happy marriages, healthy children in your lives, and as much love as you can get from each other." It was a little risqué but tolerable, so Alaric gladly cheered her and took a drink.

THAT was the mistake.

He'd had a simple, if boring, table red served. Somehow, Blair had managed to replaced his drink with the clear, almost spicy liquor favoured in Hinikia and Alaric nearly died as he drank it like wine instead of aggressive spirits. Thankfully, she spared the guests and new spouses, but Alaric could tell by their grimaces that his siblings gave that, except for Edwina, she's altered their drinks too. Even little Hida gave a grossed out face.

"Blair, this tastes like paint thinner and chili paste," Hida complained loud enough that Alaric knew Aayina heard it.

"Pinky," Blair laughed and finished her glass before continuing, "one of these days I'll find an alcohol you like and I'm going to enjoy watching you learn."

"You swapped their drinks?" Aayina figured it out, having no issue talking across Alaric so she could join the conversation.

"If a cup is close enough to empty, I can refill it with a different liquid now," Blair sounded smug but Alaric didn't have to call her on it.

"I think I'm glad to miss out on this family bonding experiences," Edwina commented from Hida's other side.

"Don't worry Eddy, I can still replace your fruit juice with pickling juice," Blair promised sweetly.

"That'd actually taste better than this does Winnie," Hida described helpfully.

"At least you didn't do this to our guests and your new in-laws," Alaric muttered so she'd heard him.

"I'll ease my new brother and sisters into it gently, today is their free pass; tomorrow I strike at will," Blair took Hida's glass and finished it for her.

"I'm going to need to keep a careful watch on my drinks, aren't I?" Aayina asked, sounding amused.

"Good luck with that, I've never managed it and I've had years of practice," he was going to enjoy seeing how Aayina handled Blair.

"As if I'm not better at everything than you are," Aayina immediately retaliated, "just because you failed doesn't mean I will."

"Can I ask Blair to put some of that in my glass?" Chanda asked Alaric across Aayina.

"If you want to risk it," Alaric didn't see the point in arguing, it'd happen sooner or later anyways.

"You don't even like wine Chanda, you may not like this," Aayina worried over his sister.

"I'd be more worried if she DID like it," Hida spoke loud enough to be heard.

"Pinky!" Edwina, Alaric, and Blair all tried to shush her.

"Fine, choke and die," she grumbled and sulked.

Thankfully, the next speech was going to start, Lady Celestyn standing from her seat. "Although I must confess that I am jealous, I've been engaged for a long time and yet my baby brother is married before me, I couldn't be happier for him and you all who wed today." She lifted her glass; Alaric hoped it still only held wine, "to your long and joy-filled lives."

It was a decent toast, and Alaric was glad because he'd felt as if Count Korolenko disapproved. He'd picked up on the eldest Korolenko's attempt to use the feast for Winnie as a way to catch a Suitor for Daro, but outside of her age Edwina should be seen as an ideal candidate. Though Alaric could understand it as an eldest sibling; Daro was a fine man, but his age had all but precluded him as a man Alaric would have considered for his sister. But they looked so HAPPY together, so Alaric was happy for them. Lady Celestyn seemed a bit shy, sitting quickly now that her speech duties were complete.

Glasses were refilled; some by servants but Alaric knew to be suspicious of Blair having a hand in it too. Bahni and Chanda Ram stood up together, one looking at Aayina while the other looked at Deepa, and as if to purposefully unsettle, they spoke in unison, "we are so happy to see our sisters find love with such great men, and we're excited to celebrate our new in-laws finding love as well. It is so thrilling to see the kinds of futures we hope for ourselves one day; cheers," they lifted their glasses and Alaric felt paranoid as he sniffed the glass before drinking it.

Beside him Blair laughed and Aayina watched, seeing if it was safe to drink. His wife may be new to Blair's antics, but she was a clever woman; Alaric really liked being able to call her his wife. "Normally, you glower like you want to challenge people to a duel," Aayina remarked, "now you're smiling like you lost what little sense you have."

"We're married," he replied as if that was all there was to say, but to him it really was. "Yes, we are, and you better be ready for me to hep whip you Briggs' into shape," Aayina, of course, had an immediate response.

"We Briggs' my dear, you're a Briggs now too; interim Countess," he kissed her shoulder as he reminded her, and although Aayina's darker complexion made it harder to spot, he knew his wife was blushing.

"I'd tell you two to get a room, but you already did that," Blair quietly teased him, and Alaric's flush was all too obvious.

"People in glass houses Blair," he taunted back, going to take a sip of his wine.

"I'm a virgin Alaric," her blunt assertion made him choke anyways, "Actually, I think only me, Farran, and Hida can still say that, the rest of you are wanton," she insulted with a broad grin.

"Such role models," Hida's commentary was loudly sarcastic.

Thankfully Winnie quieted the their youngest sibling down, her own cheeks an embarrassed hue.

"There's really never a dull moment with the Briggs around, is there?" Aayina thankfully seemed amused by it all.

"If I am lucky, I have an easy sibling; but sometimes I am very unlucky and I have a family full of hard to handle siblings," he wished he was exaggerating.

"Try dealing with triplet sisters all experiencing womanhood at the same time," Aayina laughed at their commiserating, "five daughters and a wife, my poor father."

"My parents are at least equally burdened," he enjoyed seeing everyone so happy looking, even if it was for just one night, "though now I wonder if we'll have just daughters like your side, or more of a mix like mine?"

"I'd like a mix," Aayina smiled as she admitted it, "though now that I say that, watch us end up with all boys just to buck the trend."

"That'd make you the Queen of our family," Alaric could picture it; Aayina mothering a pack of wild Briggs boys. He hoped they'd have her fearlessness, and maybe one of them could have his eyes.

"I already am, husband," Aayina sounded offended.

"I need to get you a crown," his grin was probably inappropriate for public, "maybe I can talk you into wearing it, and ONLY it."

"Maybe if you get on your knees and...beg," Aayina quickly out maneuvered him.

Before all the blood could leave his brain, Alaric had to abruptly refocus when the Estate butler hurried to his side. "What's amiss?" Alaric knew the man would never interrupt unless absolutely necessary.

"Her Majesty, Queen Akiyama, and her Prince Consort have arrived, sir," the butler warned in a tight tone.

Why the daylights was the Royal Couple here?

Alaric couldn't worry about it, he rose to his feet and smartly tapped his wine glass with the side of his knife to call all the attention to him and silence the feast. They all looked to him, likely expecting a speech or something simple, "I am honoured to belatedly announce the attendance, and arrival, of our Majesties Queen Akiyama and Prince Consort Levi."

His butler's timing was impeccable, Alaric's introduction coincided with the Queen's entrance. She commanded every eye in the room without having to utter a word, and Alaric heard all the guests stand to bow or curtsey as etiquette required.

The Queen had arrived.