Chapter 559

Lucien grinned as Eris closed his eyes, pressing the tips of his fingers into his forehead as he gave a heavy sigh. "It can't be that bad." Lucien grinned even more widely as Eris sighed again, still not looking up.

"Tarquin continually asks me when the Handfasting ceremony will be."

"I see…" Lucien didn't even try to wipe the grin off of his face. Eris looked up then, eyes narrowing at the expression he found on Lucien's face.

"He says he needs adequate time in which to choose his outfit."

"He intends to attend then." Lucien was still grinning.

"Evidently." Eris replied. "Perhaps I should send invitations out and happen to mysteriously misplace his."

"You want to start a war with the Summer Court?" Lucien asked, "Because that's how you would do it…"

Eris tilted his head, appearing to consider it and Lucien laughed. "I suppose I could think of a better way than not inviting Tarquin to a party…"

"I'm honestly surprised that Helion hadn't asked you the same question."

"I assume he just figures he'll be invited because our mother will be there."

"Right…" Lucien nodded, "So, you're not even pretending that this Handfasting is fantasy…" He grinned again when Eris noticeably paused.

"I … well… I mean… I suppose… eventually…" Eris sighed again and then swore. Lucien just watched his brother for a moment, taking in how vastly different this side of Eris was to anything Lucien had previously known. "He even asked in front of Nera…"

"Tarquin?" Lucien asked, and Eris nodded. "Well," Lucien thought about that, "Isn't that a good thing?"

"How so?" Eris narrowed his eyes again, "The look she gave me…"

"Well, it would show everyone, especially Nera, that Tarquin, the High Lord of the Summer Court no less, approves of, and is even excited by, the prospect of the High Lord of Autumn being Handfasted to a Lesser Faerie Female." The words seemed to take longer to sink in than Lucien had expected, but after several moments Eris' face changed and he turned to look across the Throne Room toward Tarquin.

"I hadn't thought of it that way."

"No…" Lucien supposed Eris had been far too distracted by his own mortification at the fact that others were interested in his personal life to have thought about it any other way.

"Do you think Nera considered that?"

"Likely so." Lucien replied, especially considering she had been concerned about that very topic only hours before. "I think Tarquin probably even did it deliberately."

"That would be a kind thing to do if so." Eris murmured, looking back to Lucien.

"You should probably set a date then." Lucien grinned once more, "Because Tarquin is no doubt already deciding on what he should wear, and likely some of the others are as well. You know Rhysand likes to make a statement…"

"Everybody is making assumptions about who is being invited." Eris griped, but Lucien could see the hint of a smile at the corner of his brother's lips.

"Well, you have to invite all the Courts." Lucien replied, and Eris raised an eyebrow. "Think of the statement you will be making with Nera being a Lesser Faerie. Inviting everyone would show that you are proud… and would set a precedent that would have ripple effects across the whole of Prythian."

"Yes…" Helion's voice agreed as the High Lord of the Day Court approached them, smiling widely. "Who would have ever thought that the Autumn Court would be the one leading the way in such an important social development."

"Certainly not I." Lucien muttered, and Eris inclined his head.

"Nor did I expect to be the one doing it."