Alinore had just wrapped up a meeting with a particularly irritating nobleman and sat down to deal with the papers on her desk when the knock and familiar voice broke the peaceful silence of her office. A moment passed, in which she closed her eyes and rubbed her temples, her elbows resting on the wooden desk in an unladylike manner that only made an appearance in solitude. Perhaps if she stayed quiet Alden would simply go away.

She had enough of a headache already brewing without letting another one into her office.

Alas, he was not so easily deterred, so she admitted defeat and rose from her seat. Opening the door, she welcomed her younger brother in with a smile. “Alden, what a surprise.” Alinore stepped aside to let him in, then closed the door behind him - though not before ordering some tea, of the particular blend that helped to soothe life-induced headaches. She drank it often. “I would have expected you to be busy at this time of day. Are they not working you hard enough?”

Indeed it was. How unfortunate. She would have arranged to be out of the castle had she known he harbored intentions of dropping by unannounced.

Dispassionately, now that his back was turned, she watched him flounce into her office as if he owned the space and sprawl across a chair, but by the time his age found hers, a more palatable expression had replaced it. “Biscuits, too,” She confirmed, having relayed the amendment to the servant. With far more elegance, if she did say so herself, Alinore crossed the familiar space and took the seat across from him, leaning back in the chair with her legs crossed daintily at the ankles.

“I’m pleased to hear your training is going well. Are you involved in these new assessments as well?” Just as word of the ball had spread, so too had word of the military’s corrective actions. She eyed his outfit for a moment before nodding. “I see.” Evening was, unfortunately, many hours away. “I seem to recall you enjoy this particular shift. I assume you’re looking forward to today’s?”

At twenty three, Alden was far closer to childhood than Alinore, but that hardly meant that he had to act the part. By the time she was his age, she had already established herself as a respectable and formidable member of court beyond the importance granted to her by their family name – and here he sat, clapping with delight like a boy without a care in the world. In a way, he was. Alinore had certainly pulled in enough strings to help him into his position as royal guard that she considered his promotion a result of her own merit as much as his.

With a pleasant expression frozen on her face, she listened to her brother’s reassurance that he lived up to the high standards set by their name. “Of course,” She responded lightly, inclining her head slightly. “Father would expect no less.” With Alden, Father would see no less either. Such was the injustice of womanhood in Nevermere.

His quip about the sunset had her lips twitching upward, though whether the display of amusement was genuine or not would be up for him to decide. “I’m afraid they do,” She agreed, taking another sip of her tea. “I seem to recall you were especially intrigued by the sunrises and sunsets when I first arrived in Arynn Frey. Do you still have that little painting I sent you?” It had been a relatively easy gift to acquire and send to him in one of their letters: the reds and golds of an ocean sunset painted on a piece of parchment with enchanted ink that brought the entire scene to life.

“Come now, Alden.” Alinore gave him the long-suffering look that every older sister mastered by the time she began her mandatory training. “Do you truly believe that I would miss such an event unless it were absolutely necessary? Of course I will attend next week’s dinner.“ After all, the proper images had to be maintained. “Has Father shared with you who he has invited?”

A knock at the door signaled the servant’s return with their refreshments, and soon enough, Alinore and Alden found themselves with a pot of tea and an array of biscuits before them. The former elegantly poured herself a cup of tea while the latter chewed on his biscuit like an animal. Years of experience aided her in concealing her disdain behind a pleasant smile as her brother enthused about the little painting. “I’m pleased to hear that you have kept it after all these years. Perhaps one day you will accompany His Majesty to another kingdom and be able to see such a sight with your own eyes.”

Doing so would get him out of her hair as well, for it certainly seemed as though he would be there for the foreseeable future. “King Cassian has decided that I would better serve him closer to home for the time being, so I’m afraid that you’re stuck with me until he changes his mind.” Or, more accurately, she would be stuck with him. During her time in Arynn Frey, Alinore had missed Nevermere greatly, and in doing so, she had forgotten the experience that was interacting regularly with Alden Thornhill.

In this, absence was the only way the heart grew fond.

More often than not, Alinore suspected that their father had invested all of his energy toward raising a proper heir in her, and when Alden was born, the relief of having a son to carry on the family name had overwhelmed any intentions to hold him to the same standard. Or perhaps her brother was simply less capable. Both explanations were equally likely.

“Undoubtedly,” She agreed, the corners of her lips twitching upward. “However, if you could inquire after the guest list for me, I would greatly appreciate it, Alden.” Honestly, to show not a single ounce of interest or concern for who they might have to entertain - well, the long-suffering insult to injury was nothing new, at least.

As he spoke of visiting the other kingdoms, Alinore sipped at her tea with every social nicety that her brother lacked while he ate his biscuits like a barbarian. “Indeed. When you travel, I should hope that every kingdom you visit will live up to your expectations.” It wouldn’t be that hard.

Of course, she did not find his enthusiasm at the prospect of her remaining in Nevermere particularly surprising. She weathered his excitement with a smile and cautioned, “Only as long as you do not neglect your own duties.” Which would hopefully only become more numerous as he settled into his new role. Another bracing sip of tea before stepping further into the role of caring big sister. “Now, may I ask how you’re spending your time these days, Alden? When you’re not working, of course, seldom though that may be.”