Dione hummed under her breath as she held her pen above her letter. She was debating on what to say, wanting something witty and charming for her gentleman caller from Taengea. She’d never be truly serious about him, but it was fun to send letters and accept his gifts nonetheless. She needed something to distract her from the reality that she was currently living in. She sighed, leaning her head into her hand as she scuffed one of her slippered feet across the floor. Perhaps she could convince him to send her chocolates or ….

At that moment, Adrestus barged in -- causing the delicate blonde to jump in her seat. She swayed as her illness -- the one that made her prone to fainting -- swelled like a water skin fit to burst. He’d come out of nowhere, without warning of any kind and she opened her mouth to scold him but then she caught sight of the tears. She gripped her chair, steadying herself and taking a deep breath. Her displeasure turned into concern, her pen tossed to rest on the parchment and her caller forgotten as she rose to her feet, pushing away. ”Adre?” She murmured, following him as he pressed himself into one of her walls.

It’s just so unfair. I don’t understand.

Confusion flitted across her face, her green eyes narrowing as her brother sobbed again. She reached awkwardly for him, never having been quite the mothering sort. She was good at managing people, but not necessarily mothering them. Her fingers brushed along his arm, too short to reach up into his hair to smooth at it -- and finally, he told her what in the world had brought him to her in such a state.

Dione groaned internally, some of the concern fleeing as he explained the complicated emotions around Marietta of Antonis. She was one of the royal houses, and arguably an excellent match for her brother in theory but Dione had thought that they had not matched well at all. Marietta was quite different from what she had expected Adrestus to be interested in. She gave her brother sympathetic pats as he gestured and lamented the loss of his courtship with Marietta.

”Of course not, Adre.” She said with another dispassionate pat, like he was a child who had just learned the sky was blue and not green. ”Dating within the royal houses strengthens our position within Athenia. Courting Marietta was a strong move, a good one -- but you can’t…” She paused, trying to think of how to say it gently. She found that her dear brother was so sensitive when it came to women, but he’d move on relatively quickly she was sure. She’d just have to hear about it every day until he did. ”You can’t be upset that it didn’t work out. Perhaps it was for the best...I didn’t think Marietta was the strongest match you could make anyway.” Not when there was an unmarried princess in the Xanthos house.

It was really unfair that the ruling house only had eligible women.

She pulled away, feeling that her attempts at comforting had come to an end. She sighed as she returned to her letter desk and sat down, picking up her pen again ”Perhaps Marietta meant that you need more experience in running the household, brother.” She murmured, returning her gaze to her letter. ”Yes, you own the ship and the crew but those are things of your youth...you’ve returned home to learn how to take the reins of our noble house from our father.”

She paused, before continuing. ”Marietta is part of the royal houses, and she’s grown up with various figures of responsibility…” She laughed, shaking her head. ”Not that I’m saying you’re irresponsible, you wouldn’t have what you do if you were some...some swaggering playboy who didn’t want a lick of responsibility but...Adrestus, you…” She frowned now, turning to meet his gaze. ”Please do not take me the wrong way, I love you very much and if I could give you the desires of your heart then I would but...you have not spent your life learning to be the Lord of this house. It’s never been what you wanted, we both know that. I think Marietta was afraid you might not be able to handle the responsibilities you’d have in a royal house if you find a noble one so...so…” She waved her pen as she spoke. ”Undesirable.”