The next few days around the mansion were hectic. Alister had to chat with so many of his relatives that he really didn’t want to, and his mother roped him into helping her with paperwork, and his handwriting was still atrocious so she kept correcting his form every two minutes. Wisteria had another chance to contact her mother, which she greatly enjoyed, and apparently her mom had gotten some new boyfriend who Wisteria wouldn’t shut up about.

They were preparing for the feast that Amaiara demanded they have before the caravan left for the nation’s capital, which was set to be held that day. Alister and Wisteria didn’t have anything to do at the moment, servants handling everything, and Wisteria didn’t get to hang out with Decan or Darrius since their mother had pulled them away for last minute shopping.

Wisteria was sitting in a comfortable wooden chair, dressed in a light grey corsetted gown that made her waist look tiny and her hips wider than possible. It was the fashion of the time, they supposed, but neither Alister nor Wisteria were a fan of it. She looked so uncomfortable as a servant behind her roughly coiled her normally wavy and gently curling hair into tight ringletts.

Alister had on a heavy black coat and long grey vest beneath it, both of which were engraved with fine stitching all throughout, and a white ruffled longsleeve shirt below it all. He felt like a dressed bird. His breeches only made it to his knees, which met with light grey stockings to completely cover every inch of skin. Thankfully, he had convinced his mother not to do up his hair in some strange fashion, but to leave it in a ponytail like his father tended to do. However… he lost the argument on the shoes, and was wearing small black dress shoes with a square toe and slight high heel to them. They were markedly uncomfortable. His father had given him an ashwood cane with imported ivory inlays as an accessory to the outfit, which he kept fiddling with as he didn’t know what to do with it.

“The local weather is far too warm for pomp like this…,” he grumbled.

Wisteria, as uncomfortable as she looked, merely shrugged, “I think most of the event will be indoors… and it’s not surprising that the nobles want to maintain typical appearances. You should get used to it. You’ll have to wear something like that to the funeral as well - ow!” The servant apologized softly, but continued her work on her hair. “I wonder if my mother’s new beau would think this sort of stuff is odd…”

“You keep talking about him! What do you even know about the man? He could be perfectly fine.”

“I… I know. I just… I don’t trust it!”

“You wouldn’t trust anyone. Your mother needs her personal time as well.”

She made a face like she had smelled something gross, “Ew. I know! Shut up! I’m… I’m happy for her. Really. I’m just worried. She’ll be expected to attend events if she’s working for the duke… that’s all.”

“Uh-huh. Sure.”

“She said his name was Sir Alexys Roan Baytr… he’s from a knightly family. My mom isn’t usually into knights though! Or any nobles. She doesn’t trust them!”

“A knight is a rather low noble though, Wisteria. I’m sure it’s fine,” he sighed.

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“I knoooow! Ow… But, I mean, what if he hurts her? She said he was travelling. He could just be there to… to use her for some easy entertainment before he moves on!” she grumbled, folding her arms.

“You’ve said this… for the third or fourth time…,” he wobbled his cane side to side, “And I’ll say again, your mother can handle herself. She’s a strong woman. She’s probably just taking the opportunity to have her own fun while her daughter is out of the house. I can’t imagine it’s easy to court someone when you’re a single mother.”

“I. Know.”

“Then why do you keep worrying about it?”

“I can’t help it! She’s never just gone and courted anyone!” Wisteria tossed her hands up, earning a light chastise from the servant, “Sorry. With… what I told you about before about my family, we don’t really tend to date lightly. I can’t imagine what he’s done to catch her eye like this.”

“It’ll work out fine. She can manage herself, Wisteria.”

“I just don’t know what it means from here, I guess. I know she’d not let him boss her around, she’s quite strong and capable herself, but… I suppose I’m just worried overall. Part of me worries he’ll take her from me,” she sighed, “I know that’s silly. I just don’t want any more unrest in my family than we’ve already had.”

“She only just started dating him. By the time we return, they might not even be together anymore. It’s no use fretting over it,” he offered, smiling softly at his friend, “We have a party to worry about. Think of that instead.”

“Right, right,” Wisteria looked down at her little heeled shoes, “This is going to be exhausting. Why in the world did the guardian beast decide to do this? Is it really just for food??”

“Maybe? The beast has been around for generations, so who knows her motives. Usually creatures like that are strange,” he shrugged, “Amaiara, though intelligent now, likely started off as a normal beast, and then gained sapience. If she’s lived this long, then she’s probably quite smart by now.”

Alliana knocked on the door and peeked her head in. She was dressed in a regal blue and grey gown, her brown hair done up in a high bundle with a small tiara cresting her head, looking very much like a duchess of her stature. “Are you two ready to go?” she asked as she stepped into the room. She offered Wisteria a fan for her use as the girl stood up.

“Yes Auntie,” she said, smiling up at her, “You look wonderful!”

Alister nodded, “You look very fancy, mother. It’s weird seeing you this dressed up, though. I don’t enjoy this mess.”

“I know you don’t. You and your father both… neither of you see the fun in events like this. You haven’t had your debut yet, but when you do, you’ll have to attend things like this much more often, so I suggest you get familiar with it, even if you don’t enjoy it,” she sighed, but smiled again at Wisteria, “You look wonderful too, dear. Absolutely beautiful. The ringletts compliment the gem sheen, it makes you look so regal. The boys will hardly be able to take their eyes off you, I almost worry for the noble girls.”

The two walked together, chatting as Alister dragged his feet after them. He was dreading this.

Alliana paused to turn back to Alister and crouch in front of him so she was looking in his eyes, “If you don’t know what to do, just stay close to me, okay? Parties can be very overwhelming at first, and you’re still very young… physically… so if it gets to be too much just follow me or your father. No one will question it since you’re a young child.” She stood and set a hand on Wisteria’s back, “Can you manage yourself, Wisteria? If you get overwhelmed you can leave whenever you want to, you’re not required to be here like Alister is.”

“Don’t worry Auntie, I haven’t been to any noble parties in a long time, but I used to like them when I was little. I should be fine,” she said, beaming, “I’m actually kind of excited for it.”

“Well that makes one of us at least,” Alister sighed, “I’ll… figure it out, mom. Don’t worry about me.”