"I..." The question makes him go rigid. What is he going to do?
For a moment his face falters before it's replaced by blankness. He could push against it and test his family's tolerance. He's sure his aunt will have no troubles, but his father and brother have more control over the family shares. If they wanted to block him out and prevent his eventual claiming of the Counselor seat for their family when Rebecca finished, they could.
All it would take is a misstep. But he's not sure how he could force himself to go through with an arranged bonding. His father's been dying to push him into one to be of 'some use to the family business.' Where would that put him and his potential? There's no male prospects from well-off Komarran families that his father would consider and hell, no guarantee they'd even be interested. When did his life become such a mess?
no subject
For a moment his face falters before it's replaced by blankness. He could push against it and test his family's tolerance. He's sure his aunt will have no troubles, but his father and brother have more control over the family shares. If they wanted to block him out and prevent his eventual claiming of the Counselor seat for their family when Rebecca finished, they could.
All it would take is a misstep. But he's not sure how he could force himself to go through with an arranged bonding. His father's been dying to push him into one to be of 'some use to the family business.' Where would that put him and his potential? There's no male prospects from well-off Komarran families that his father would consider and hell, no guarantee they'd even be interested. When did his life become such a mess?
"I don't know," he answers quietly.