Doves and Peacocks
Outside the courthouse
Anio and Cathia watched Ruthenia freeze between them, her eyes going wide. They were briefly puzzled until, following the line of her gaze, they discovered the subject of her staring to be their cousin Aleigh. There was, at once, no doubt between them about her opinion of him.
Ruthenia was not the first whose fancy he had caught, of course, and there ought to be no shame in it: several men and women had come to adore him throughout the time he’d spent in the public eye.
Of course, most of them had done so from a great distance, and it was beginning to appear to them that she might be the first to have even a trace of a chance at being reciprocated.
They couldn’t say they had expected this girl, ex-criminal and recently-made hero and saint of Astra, to become in any way interested in him. Ruthenia seemed pragmatic enough, and did not look the sort to entertaining simple fancies. And it would seem, also, that she did not particularly like the Arcane class--or so they understood from the combination of what they’d seen of her, and what they knew from the palace rumours. She and Aleigh had been cordial with each other, but not intimate, when they had attended their wedding in Spring.
Yet there could be no other meaning to Ruthenia’s wide-eyed look, as she gazed off through the golden sunlight at the Luzerno brothers, than either terror or hopeless adoration.
It wasn't the first they'd heard of it. Aleigh had seemed very distracted lately, ignoring his novels and writing in his journal with increased fervency. He had even consulted the couple on one occasion, asking after the process of their attachment. Although his behaviour had puzzled them previously, it appeared to them now that the cause of his changed attitude must be she.
The two exchanged smug smiles, and then Cathia gave her a nudge. "Does His Highness not look terribly discomfited?” she said. “The poor boy. Ruthenia, you must go remedy his mood at once."
Ruthenia glanced back at them, and gave no more than an eager nod before making off, all too hurriedly, in his direction.
Anio and Cathia glanced once again at each other and chuckled. They watched with increasing pleasure as Aligon excused himself, leaving the two alone. When the two talked, they could look at nothing and no one else.
“How do you rate their chances?” said Cathia.
“I think they could be very happy,” replied Anio, “so long as one of them finds it in themself to speak up before it is too late.”