So so so Aranessa. And those fuck ass ages. Julien is 29 and Aranessa married Thjazi 18 years ago (months may vary). There's no way Aranessa was 11 when she married Thjazi. So where does "childhood friend" come into play? Because even a 7/8 year age difference gets to be staggering.
What if, as the Lady of House Royce, she spent time in Faerie. Which isn't a stretch. The fey gave the House Royce and their descendants this connection in the first place. It would make sense for her to go, to spend time in her family's castle in Faerie.
Time is weird in the fey wild.
The first time she goes she's six. She's the same age as Julien. And for Julien, she's only gone for a month. But when Aranessa comes back she's a little taller, a little more proper. It was a year for her.
A year isn't crazy. A six and seven year old can still be playmates. And when it happens the next year, Julien being seven, Aranessa jumps up to nine. It's still only been a month but now there is a widening gap between the two of them. Eight and eleven. Nine and thirteen. She's thirteen, she should be going more often. Twice a year. Ten and fourteen and fifteen. Eleven and sixteen and seventeen and oh. She's out run him.
Her real birthday comes and she's 18. It's a whirlwind, losing her. Losing her to Faerie then losing her to Thjazi. The handsome roguish soldier no more than 20 years old. Julien couldn't help but hate him. And when he broke her heart a year later, it only vindicated him. It's how you get a 13 year old ready to fight a rebellion. A 17 year old taking down the leader of that rebellion.
Idk. Just a thought
