Matarys turned his eyes away from the center of the hall. "What do you mean?"
John rolled his eyes briefly. Matarys knew it was not directed at him. "This. Everything."
Everything being Valarr's nameday ball itself, no doubt. Grandsire and Father had it arranged in hopes that Valarr would find a good match among the eligible omegas in attendance. It was a concession, with Valarr wanting to choose for himself than having one arranged.
If it had been the latter, Matarys was certain that Valarr would have been already betrothed to Lady Kiera of Tyrosh some years before.
Political reason aside, she might even prove to be a good match for Valarr. She embodied the grace and beauty of an omega, and after hearing her speak kindly and gently even to servants, Matarys knew she wasn't lacking in queenly character either. She was perfect on paper already.
Except his older brother had already chosen, long before he'd been a boy of seven.
"I meant," John spoke again, mistaking Matarys' silence for confusion. "We clearly already have our next queen."
At the center of the hall among the dancing pairs, Valarr had their eldest cousin Daeron hand-in-hand. There was a fond smile on Valarr's face, brighter than any light in the hall.
"Yes, well," Matarys attempted, "Maybe they'd rather go through it formally."
"What, your brother's impromptu visits and presents to my prince not enough of a courtship?"
"Impromptu visits?" Matarys did not hear of them before. "Valarr?"
"Oh hush, Younger Prince." John snorted at his surprise. "They are always chaperoned and not so late at night to be scandalous. Can't say the gifts are all without intention, however."
Because Valarr was the kind to be thoughtful with his presents. Still, Matarys did not doubt one bit that what he'd given to Daeron were befitting an omega being courted by an alpha. "And how did Daeron receive them?"
"Like an obtuse omega who couldn't grasp that he already has the eyes of the Crown Prince's heir," John replied flatly. It was almost irreverent, the way he spoke of the prince he served. Matarys was of the mind to reprimand him if he didn't know that was how Daeron and John speak with each other. Even Valarr was initially confused at the brazenness and audacity of Daeron's omega-in-waiting.
But Matarys found him honest and genuine if not beautiful himself with his dark hair and Valyrian purple eyes of a Lyseni. Not that he would admit it aloud, of course, though princes like him were not meant to dance with omegas-in-waiting. Matarys hoped the flush on his cheeks were not noticeable.
"That's just how he is," Matarys said. "My brother said that Daeron is far too kind if a bit clueless at times. Only makes him more fond, I think."
"No wonder." Agreement flashed across John's face before something conspiratorial appeared. "How about this, Younger Prince--if my charge and your older brother are not betrothed before the moon turns, we do something about it. By we, I mean the two of us, on our own."
Matarys could think of nothing else easier than nudging his own older brother and cousin to the right direction, preferrably each other's. Nor could he think of anything else as wonderful as spending time with John. He grinned. "You're on."