Arim watched Aada from the corner of his eye. She certainly seemed to be getting along famously with the King of Drake. Putting aside his concerns as her brother, he could certainly see the wisdom, not to mention to the benefit to Cinnabar, to such a match. Drake was a powerful nation, they were lucky Aada was the one who had caught his eye. He didn't need Bastien in his ear to push the point. Of course, he wasn't going to raise the subject until he could be certain of Moloch's nature. Arim wasn't about to see his sister married off to a tyrant, no matter how beneficial it might prove to Cinnabar.
"A pity... I would welcome you and your brother into my kingdom with great honor. Perhaps the Circle of Magi will change his mind," Moloch told her with a smile, "Your presence would bring new light into my kingdom."
Aada could feel her cheeks begin warm. She was used to compliments back home. She was the Crown Princess, the heir assumed. The courtiers were tripping over themselves to pay compliments to her, but they were the hollow words of sycophants, they held no real meaning. It was rare that someone, well, someone like Moloch paid compliments to her. "Perhaps it would," she replied, "Change his mind," she added when she realised what she had said. "A new perspective can't hurt." She took a sip from her wine, searching for her grip on herself. She prayed to whichever deity deigned to listen that her cheeks wouldn't begin to colour. She was used to the game at court. Moloch's words shouldn't be affecting her as much as they did. And yet, she did not dislike this feeling that fluttered in her, too close to ignore but not close enough to name. She turned Moloch's words over in her head and smiled despite herself, "I doubt your kingdom is so dark."
Arim watched the exchange between his sister and Moloch. He watched the way the smile danced onto Aada's face as she and Moloch spoke to one another. They might not always have seen eye to eye, might not always have been close, but he loved his sister. This was, he realised, the most at ease he had seen her be in a long time. Not just in her surroundings, but in herself. Perhaps King Moloch would prove to be a good match for Aada beyond politics.