Eyes lifting to begin her way through the large, stately home, she caught the servant woman still staring at her. "What? Have I forgotten something, Rose?"

"No, my lady," the middle-aged woman replied, practically bursting. "But your father would like to speak with you. He received a letter about you today."

This was obviously different than usual, given Rose's reaction to it. The servant couldn't read, so she could have only gotten her excitement directly from Longwei Meng himself. They received letters of outreach from time to time, other noble families asking if they or their children could court Meiying or one of her brothers. Most were rejected, given her father's high standards.

"He's in his study, I presume?" Meiying asked, slipping out of her shoes so that her aching bare feet could cool against the smooth, stone floor. Rose nodded. "Father?" She knocked twice on the open door as she stepped just inside the frame, leaning against it. "Rose told me you wanted to speak with me?"

"Yes, yes, sit down, my dear," Longwei said, gesturing to the chair opposite his by the fireplace. He snapped the book he'd been reading closed, and lifted a piece of parchment from the table next to him, offering it to Mei to read. He sat back down and watched her read it, the excitement as clear in his eyes as it had been Rose's earlier. Mei took the parchment with some hesitation, but scanned it. It was short and sweet. Straight to the point, just like the man himself.

"Father...about Commander Hadrian Usher," she began, the reticence clear in her tone.

"Yes! The Captain Commander of the Nevermeran military! A fine man, with a strong career, a good family name, and a connection to the Delaney's. What more could we ask for?" He sat back in the chair, proud and boastful even in his moments of silence. "It took him some time to decide to settle down, but I shouldn't be surprised that he sought you out once he had decided."

"That's precisely what I would like to speak with you about father, and given what happened with Lieutenant Aldrich Abbott, I feel you should at least hear me out."

Longwei observed her for a minute, clearly already a little annoyed that she was raining on his parade. "Fine, fine, speak your mind. Do you dislike him? Mei, it's unlikely you're going to find any noble man who has not had dalliances before his marriage."

"It's not that, father, not precisely," she corrected. "In fact, I do not object to the man himself. We have enough in common, we're close enough in age, and I respect him greatly, but --"

"But what? What else is left?"

She met her fathers eyes, bold brows raised, and he looked away, an apologetic wave to say he would let her continue. She nodded. "It was not necessarily common knowledge, but he and Lady Kennet Caern previously had a relationship. He asked for her hand, and she rejected him. Really...very recently." Her lips pursed as she settled back into the chair. "If we accept his invitation without seeking her approval, I'm afraid it may compromise my relationship with her, and therefore my position."

Longwei took this into consideration for some time, his eyes on the fire rather than his daughter. "And why should Lady Caern mind, given that she rejected him?"

"I do not know what caused her to reject him, but I'm certain it was not as simple as my summary made it to sound."

"I see," he sighed. "Regardless, if she is the one who ended the courtship without marriage, she cannot expect him to remain unwed and we cannot make our decisions based on her feelings. Should you marry the Commander, you may decide to give up your position anyway. He'll want heirs, and a pregnant woman should not be as busy as you are."

Meiying's mouth dropped open, then closed again. "Father--"

"Would you choose your job over a family, Meiying? Much longer and you will be un-marriageable. I'm sure it's not what you would like to hear, but I cannot continue on thinking that my daughter will be alone when I'm gone. You should put family first. By supporting the Commander, you would still be supporting your Kingdom."

"The letter is a mere request to dine together, Father," she responded, stubbornness still supporting her statements. "Don't you think it's a bit too soon to speak of marriage and children? The Commander likely has many noblewomen he can call upon."

"Then I expect you to be your very best when you meet with him, and have your mother choose your dress. The ones you choose are far too simple." This time, when he waved his hand, it was more definitive, as if he were done with the conversation. "I will wait a day to respond to his request so that you can speak with Lady Caern about it, but I will be giving him my permission regardless." For a long few moments, Longwei was quiet. Long enough that Mei thought he was finished and nearly stood, until he turned his eyes back to her. "This is our chance to bridge the division between our family and what we have been seeking, Meiying. Our loyalty and dedication to the Kingdom and the Crown is absolute, but we still remain just on the outside. It is unlikely that the remaining Delaney's will reach out, and the only Thornhill boy is much too young. The Commander is your best option, and as you said, you do not object to the man. So you will do what you can to attract him."

Longwei picked up the book he was reading, flipped to the page he'd left off on, and began again. For a while she sat in silence, watching him. He said no more, only continued to read, so finally she stood up. "Yes, father," she said, nodding to him as she placed the letter back on the table beside him and exited the study.