"I haven't seen your speech," Alter whispered.

Arwen was oiling his hair to make it sleek and smooth, not a strand out of place.

"That's the suit you came in. You didn't bring a spare?"

Alter fired back, "You look ridiculous in that tailcoat."

"Thank you, I do look good."

They walked down to the first floor and opened the door beneath the stairs. The Mordecai house was made up of two parts, a facade and the home, though Alter had always been unsure which was which. They entered a ballroom brightened by candlelight from the two large chandeliers that hung from ceilings painted in soft pastel tones depicting the joyful season of spring.

Arwen gulped his champagne, "I have a speech."

"Bullshit."

Arwen paused a waiter and switched his glass, "Cheers to spontaneity and strokes of genius. Are you sure you don't need a nap?"

"Shut up." Alter flicked his ear.

Arwen noticed and chastised him. "Conserve your energy, Alter. Do not enhance your senses so often. You're still hurt. That was a nasty blow you took. I winced when I heard the crack."

Alter replied curtly, "Don't worry about me." He did, however, diminish his hearing to its normal capacity. Voices once screaming were now muffled and faint.

I'd forgotten what it was like.

Arwen grabbed Alter, "Look!"

A crowd of young men surrounded Aeres, vying for her attention, showering her with praise.

"Get the rat poison. Those useless fools are clamoring for death."

Alter chuckled, "You push me to marry so quickly and yet change your mind with Aeres."

"It is not hypocrisy, Alter. Look at them, look at how they look at Aeres. Their eyes are full of lust, they cannot control themselves. I do not want a scoundrel like that. I do not need a weak son in law."

"Lower your voice."

"I will not retract what I said."

"And I'm not saying you're wrong. You do not want these people to overhear and change their sons' behavior to the point you cannot see through them, and then Aeres may really marry a scoundrel."

"Then I must find her a bride. A nice girl who knows better than to dabble in our family's affairs."

Alter steered Arwen to a group eager to meet him, "You're getting ahead of yourself."

"Why don't I find you a nice-"

"Hands off my youth, damnit! Do you want to be a grandfather that badly? You should've had children earlier, old man."

Arwen grumbled but resumed his smiling demeanor as people lined up to talk with him. Alter took Aeres away from the brats and rejoined her with her father.

Alter wandered out of the house to the garden. Caterers bustled to and from the kitchen and lawn, carrying silver platters of cheese spreads and fruits and meats they laid on long buffet tables. It was impolite to eat before the guests, but surely nobody would mind if he had a little snack.

"Alter."

A lady in a sky blue dress snapped her fan, "What are you doing out here all by yourself?"

Zsofia Brunner, wife of Tobias Brunner, Governor of Arseny's Central Bank.

Alter bit back a curse, "A bit of fresh air does wonders, Mrs. Brunner."

"Call me Zsofia. Come, enjoy the party with us, Alter."

"Gladly."

He took her arm and went back inside.

Zsofia plucked two glasses of wine from a passing waiter and offered one to Alter.

"Thank you."

They had a few sips, and then Zsofia made conversation, "Alter, where is your family? They must have been invited to this lovely party."

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"I'm representing my family."

"Oh? Well, isn't that nice?" Zsofia lifted a hand to whisper to Alter, "Is it true Edwin's engaged?"

Wine slipped into his airway.

He had a coughing fit. Zsofia patted him on the back. When he recovered, he asked, "Where did you hear that?"

"My husband, you remember Tobias, had dinner with Wilamar a week ago, and your father all but said his eldest had found true love."

This was being blown out of proportion. Edwin did fall in love. He fell, hitting his head so hard he booked an entire hotel at a beautiful coastal town, then proposed to her on the restaurant balcony overlooking the sea at sunset. It was a beautiful moment. I was there. Edwin forced me to be his cameraman and capture the moment of proposal. I was forced to hide my large body underneath white tablecloth for hours until they arrived at the balcony, and when the glass doors, which Edwin had specially customized for this occasion to allow people to see out into the balcony but not into the restaurant, closed, I left my hiding spot, body horribly aching, set up my camera and with the help of the staff, who were exhilarated beyond belief as if it was their own engagement they were immortalizing, slowly opened the door, and I captured the moment Edwin got down on one knee and proposed to his love with the sun as their witness. It was a moment that would warm even the coldest of hearts, the staff declared, and Edwin, in a jolly good mood, gave generous tips, spurring them on as they lavished applause on the couple and ensured the two had a magnificent dinner. When we returned home, Edwin got into a shouting match with Father as our youngest sister, Heidi, helped the girl find a wedding dress. The Carlebach family has a way of talking without showing emotion, unless extreme. Mild smiles grace our face to communicate we are not angry. When Father informed Arwen Edwin had found the love of his life and was engaged, he was not happy, but distraught, irritated and enraged. People mistook Father's words for pride and happiness.

Alter was content to let the misunderstanding continue. It was Edwin and his betrothed's responsibility to convince Father to bless their union. Mother felt ambivalent, but supported the couple because she saw her and Wilamar in them. Father explained this was exactly why he disapproved of them. As soon as those words left his mouth, he knew he gravely misspoke. Edwin, Alter, and Heidi burst out laughing as Mother dragged Father into a separate room for a private chat. Their marriage was stable, they loved and showed each other affection in their own way. Alter knew why Father disliked Edwin's bride. She had little presence. He could not remember her name, let alone remember what she looked like, and he wondered what about her had captured Edwin's attention so succinctly. Father believed Edwin deserved better.

"My brother is engaged. Their wedding will take place next spring."

Zsofia tightened her grip on his arm, "Oh, that's wonderful news! You must ask Edwin to send the Brunner family an invitation. It would be an honor to attend their wedding. If I may ask, who is his intended?"

"I haven't met her."

Zsofia's eyes fluttered, "Ah," and she snapped open her fan, but the narrowing of her eyes betrayed her thoughts. A nameless girl marrying into a powerful family? High society would speak poorly of them, and eviscerate their love.

Alter caught her wrist and gripped it in a tender manner.

He bent to her height and said, "He found true love, so who are we to judge?" Alter kissed the back of her hand, "Edwin is my beloved brother, my dear Mrs. Brunner. Know who you are speaking to."

Zsofia fluttered her fan. She understood. "Edwin must want to be as intimate as possible before introducing her to family and friends."

"Yes, that must be it."

Zsofia murmured in a rueful pining way, "How good it is to be young!"

A roar of laughter drew their attention.

"It seems," she pivoted, "Arwen has chosen his heir. Aeres Mordecai. Her staunch mind comes from her father, but her composure reminds me of Carmen." Zsofia raised an eyebrow as she looked at Alter, "Not only that, her beauty is unrivaled."

Alter groaned. "The lady is too young, Zsofia, you know that."

She rapped her palm with her fan, "Marvelous! I shall introduce you to my granddaughter."

The people lingering around them hurried to mention their own daughters, nieces, even sons and nephews, for Alter's stoic interactions with women made it difficult to tell his preferences. He fended off the proposals without thinking, repeating the same words and adding humor to not offend.

"I'm sorry, I'm married to my work."

People admonished him. "What has Arwen done to you? We must ferry you away from him. Do your parents know you've become enamored with work?"

As this continued, Alter listened in on the conversations around him. Elin spoke with owners of a mining company, discussing the potential loosening of some regulations to boost production. Carmen was deep in conversation with a group of international business owners. The Santaella Corporation has a long, storied history not just in Arseny, but in their country of origin, Espada. Apparently, multiple companies had moved operations out of Espada because its monarch cracked down on industry, intent on reversing progress. The nearby Kingdom of Lorendum repressed businesses as well, and the exodus was swift. Sommier's ill relations with neighboring small sea bound countries made establishing offices a risky investment.

"Come to Arseny," Carmen said.

Across the room, many a politician fought to speak with Arwen to let him know they had come and that they supported the National Party and, most importantly, him. Meeting Arwen once during this party was an achievement that could save their souls from damnation. Then, between the staircases that spiraled up to the second floor, Alwena Mordecai entered the ballroom aided by the last arrivals. Arwen appeared by her side. She pecked his cheek and left. He stood on the step, a head above the rest, and lifted his glass.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for traveling all this way to attend this party, a celebration of friendship, a meeting... to reaffirm our camaraderie for the greatest truth, an ideal traced to the foundations of Arseny...an idea our country prospered and prevailed upon."

Arwen walked, the crowd parted, and candlelight, once faint and dispersed, abandoned their positions to rally around and illuminate him, and only him.

"It is the heart of Arseny, what makes it good. The duty of government...the duty of citizens... is to defend the heart. However! In our moment of weakness wrought by war, enemies thought to harm our institution. They broke the barricade made weak by our own and nearly slew the heart."

Arwen glared. His livid stare struck fear into the minds of those it seized.

"These physical threats are gone... but temptation remains. It is my sincere belief that everyone gathered here today pledged their very being to this basic tenant, and by doing so, may live, fulfilled."

He swirled the sparkling liquid, bringing the glass to his lips.

"In pursuit of happiness."

All raised glasses and murmured, "In pursuit of happiness."