Her heart softened at the soft moan from Selene. She remembered when they were younger, all of them as Georgios and herself had watched them growing up in Macendia. Back when the girls were younger and Evelli herself was less uptight on marriage.She didn't truly start pushing for it till when Selene hit a marriageable age of seventeen, and even then it was mild until Nana got into the market for a husband. In recent years, Evelli had been almost unstoppable in her force of finding each of her daughter's a secure home... but as the sun hit on the golden hair of her eldest, her heart softened as, for a brief moment, she allowed herself to remember those mornings she'd groan as Evelli woke them up for the day.

But she had no time to dawdle. Nostalgia was for the yesteryears.

As Selene pulled herself upright, Evelli bustled to pull the rest of the sheets off, and took a post next to Selene. Instinctively, the mother's hands went to pull the plaits out from their ties, smoothening the golden locks out as she spoke. Unlike herself, her eldest had been the image of her father, which sometimes Evelli wondered and guessed, was why Georgios was so fond of his eldest. Olympia and Theodora had taken after her, but it was Selene who was often rumored to be blessed by Aphrodite herself. While her chest burst with pride with that, it had also sometimes made her wonder if that was why the Crown Prince Zacharias had delayed his offer of marriage.

Until he kicked the bucket, that is.

Using her fingers to smoothen out any knots which had formed through the night and straighten up the mess that the hair was from a night's sleep, Evelli cocked her head to her daughter speaking, and frowned at the lacklustre news delivered by the blonde. The princess? Why bother with the princess when she could be entertaining the prince himself? Evelli was all well and happy that Selene was playing the part of the perfect hostess... but surely she should be focusing her efforts on the sibling that mattered? Relationships between in laws can be fostered later after the marriage had been secured!

Her eyes had flickered down when the soft skin of her daughter's touched hers, as if she wanted to check for a ring by instinct, but her attention flicked to Selene again at the round off to her words. For a moment, Evelli all but blinked at Selene blankly, before she found her words quickly. "I hope your promise of entertaining the princess is with her brother in tow, Selene?" Evelli blurted out. At the back of her head, she could almost hear Georgios scolding her, but she could not help it. Olympia was now a Queen. Selene had a chance too, now. Must she let it go?

"That may be all there is to tell now, but do not let that be all there is to tell at the conclusion of his trip here, Lene." Using her own to give the blonde's hand a squeeze in earnest. Her heart fluttered at the idea of her two daughter's married to a King, or a future monarch. Perhaps that could be enough security for Imma and Nana, especially when Theodora was slated to marry the son of the Taengean prince? Would that slake Evelli's need to ensure security for all her daughter's then? She did not know, but she was trying her best. Fussing until the hair was golden and smooth, only then did Evelli stand up again, biting at her lip before she spoke.

"You know I only want the best for you, right Lene?" she asked once, her emotions in a bit of a turmoil. It was odd, somewhat, the way in which Evelli found her emotions at forefront of late. But she suspected it had much to do with recently having to hand the security and protection of her daughter off to the King of their kingdom, in light of the Creed attacks. Between Olympia's safety, Theodora's wedding, Georgios's illness and ensuring her youngest two was taken care for, Evelli's emotions were frayed, in all honesty. "I'll be returning to bring your Papa back in time for Theodora's wedding... it would be nice if we can start preparing for another in the meantime, once Theo's is done." This time, there was no hint or subtlety involved. Evelli's point was clear as her eyes looked straight at Selene's, a hopeful smile playing on her lips.

As their brood got larger, it always became harder and harder for Evelli to spend time with each of her offspring. But she was no absent mother, and in between helping her husband to run the household and the province he was in charge of, Evelli somehow found the time to spend with each of her daughter's as the years passed, or bring the whole family out for time together. Combing through the blonde locks she had until all tangles had been smoothed out of them, she paused when Selene did, as if she was questioning her words. And in the same vein, Evelli questioned herself too - should she push further? Selene had always been a tricky one. Georgios protected his eldest as if she was a treasure, but Evelli kept expounding to her husband that they could not be around forever to see to her safety and protection. A husband would be the best guarantee.

A crown prince, even better.

But with how she continued as if she hadn't hesitated, Evelli had merely frowned, but let the subject drop. Arranging the golden locks on her daughter's shoulders, she pursed her lips, considering the younger one's words. Selene was not wrong, to watch over the crown prince's sister would do a great deal in terms of her reputation to the prince, and prove to the family that Selene had all the upbringing and breeding of a fine lady. But that came at the expense of not spending time with the prince, precious time that Evelli knew would eventually beholden the prince to her daughter.

"He should find himself fortunate to be in your presence." she huffed in return, her obvious biasness for her daughter's showing as she straightened slowly. She had been rather woozy of late when she sat up straight, as if all the blood was rushing from her head. Yet between caring for Georgios and running between all her daughters, Evelli had found little time to ask for a physician, especially when she found herself weary and tired. It was something she was putting off for now until she got Georgios back in the capital with the rest of the family. So instead, she merely moved slower as she stood up to move to a side so she could properly look at her daughter as the other spoke again.

Eyes following Selene as she handed her the water, Evelli took it but made no move to drink, as she replied "We have focused on Theo and her wedding for the past month, and Pia and her baby have all the focus of the palace and the Queen Mother. You, my sweetheart, are the one I've not focused on, and I do wish you would find the same as your sisters." she murmured. Yet her insistent tone was replaced by something more gentle and loving as Selene brought up Zacharias again. In truth, Evelli was quite certain that had the Creed not came when they did, and things not end as they did, it would've been Selene's betrothal to Zacharias they prepared for now, perhaps even a double wedding for both her eldest.

But as fate and the Gods would have it, her eldest was dealt with shock after shock in her life... something Evelli never wanted for her. "Do not equate what had happened to Prince Zacharias to the anger of the Gods, Lene. It may be something he had done, but was nothing of your doing." Placing the filled cup on the table, she took her daughter's hands, squeezing it tight. "Be your kind self, I never told you not to. But at the same time, do not let him leave without a promise, my dear. You are the most sought after lady in the Kingdom, he would be a fool not to see the treasure that you are."