Theron looked quite calm on the surface, but he was still calculating something.
When he used Malaya back then, his intentions were quite obvious. He needed a cover for his movements—a reason to be at the Purple Scale Teahouse and an alibi following Yonowai’s death.
Of course, he had thought about what it would mean to choose Malaya as well. He had known Malaya was a Vermouth back then, so why would he choose her specifically?
The answer was obvious as well. He knew that as a noblewoman, she couldn’t control her own marriage. In addition, her personality was quite soft and pliable, so it would be easy to get in and get out without too many strings attached.
Although she would be sad for a while, that wouldn’t be because she had actual feelings for him. Instead, she would just feel bad about not reciprocating.
While there was a chance that she could fall for him… what did that have to do with him?
With how docile she was, she would be unlikely to pursue it because she wouldn’t want to disappoint her parents.
An overprotective elder brother, though… that was out of his calculations. Even he couldn’t account for everything, least of all for such a thing to appear right here and now.
Unfortunately for him, Malaya was terrible at hiding her emotions, and even worse at lying. Depending on how close she was with her brother, she was one session of questioning away from spilling everything.
But that would also depend on how “overprotective” they were talking.
“I actually haven’t known little brother for long, but we are kindred spirits. I believe we vibe together quite well.”
“Oh? You call him little brother? High praise, high praise indeed.”
Aeryn looked toward Theron again, his smile deepening.
“Theron, is it?”
Theron smiled. “Yes, that’s me. I’m sorry, I’m not sure if I know you. I’m not familiar with most here; this is my first time in such a setting, please forgive me.”
“Not to worry,” Aeryn chuckled. “I am Aeryn Vermouth, Core Disciple of the Luminiscent Moon Sect. I am Malaya’s elder brother, I’m sure you know her.”
“I do, I do,” Theron nodded without missing a beat while Malaya turned as red as an apple. “Malaya and I managed to claim three Credits together at an academic stream debate. She played a huge role, carrying a little First Year like me.”
Malaya’s lips parted to refute, but her tongue didn’t seem to be working properly right now. She just kept jamming her covert fingers against her brother’s waist, but that only made Aeryn press on all the more.
“Oh? Is that where you know her from?” Aeryn blinked as though in surprise.
Theron blinked. “Yes, of course. That, I believe, is when we first interacted.”
“Have you taken a liking to my sister, Theron?”
This time Malaya yanked on her brother’s arm hard.
There didn’t seem to be anything malicious in Aeryn’s words, and the banquet was still lively. The music continued, the dancers moved, and the mood was good.
But there were still quite a number paying attention. Who could miss something so interesting?
The two sisters of the Ashenvale Clan giggled, but didn’t say too much.
As for Thalrix, he was sinking his sharp silver teeth into a huge leg of meat and seemed to be the only one that truly didn’t care.
What surprised them all, though, was that Theron’s reaction was quite quick and didn’t carry the slightest hint of nervousness.
“What is there not to like about your sister? She is beautiful, demure, and has a heart of gold. It is unfortunate that I have no fate with her.”
Even Aeryn was a bit taken aback.
To Theron’s side, Sigil was grinning ear to ear like some sort of proud elder brother while Malaya almost hit her head against her plate of food. She would have dove beneath the table if she wasn’t sure that that would make the situation even more embarrassing for her.
Aeryn recovered quickly, a dangerous smile spreading across his face.
“And what do you mean by that?”
Theron tilted his head to the side in confusion as though he didn’t know why Aeryn was confused.
“I’ve spoken to Malaya about it quite plainly, I was open with how I felt. Unfortunately, she isn’t at liberty to control her own marriage. I do not want to come between her and her Clan, so what else can I do but take a step back?
“My parents died early, I have no family or background, I can only build one myself. Unfortunately, Malaya cannot wait for me to do such a thing. That is not her fault, but mine.”
Aeryn didn’t reply immediately, but the danger in his smile faded. It seemed that he had jumped to an improper conclusion.
Throwing a glance at his little sister and seeing her face buried beneath her hair, her ears poking out like two steaming hot tomatoes, he was caught between laughter and guilt.
A silence fell for a moment.
“What a useless conversation.”
Thalrix interjected, meat juices falling from his lips and chin like blood. He spoke with his mouth half full without regard for anything.
“If you want to fuck a bitch, then fuck her. Once the rice is cooked, what can her brother say? Sounds to me like you’re a pussy.”
Theron’s gaze slowly turned to Thalrix, who was half devouring his food, half looking at him.
“Just look at a certain princess consort that’s here. She only just now realized that distancing herself from her reverse harem was probably smart. Women these days don’t care about their reputations anyway, so why should you guard it for them?”
A flare of rage surfaced on Thessa’s face before she buried it just as fast as it came.
“Oh my, oh my, I’m sorry. There’s not enough food here, and when I’m hungry, my mouth runs on its own. But I really would be too embarrassed to send my princess consort here if she couldn’t even take a main seat. What an embarrassing woman.”