“If I were, do you suppose I would have asked you to return with me?” His daughter would always be his first priority now, though even in that he made sacrifices. Much of her upbringing was left to others and even if he trusted them, had chosen them himself, it was not the same. This time while she was young was a finite thing, one he would never be able to reclaim, and it did take its toll to be spending it here.
“I always figured that you enjoyed teasing me. Was that the sign I should have been searching for?” This time around he asked for her hand in a more literal sense, extending his palm-up with the intent of guiding her from the balcony. If they were going onward with this discovery, he only thought it right she be along for any trouble it did stir up. He was relatively certain the region was no longer specifically patrolled, but even if it were, he would be granted access now. The real question was whether or not they would be the first with the idea.
“What is one’s ability to breathe against fashion? I have a feeling our next Queen will change much of those norms in short order. And I assure you, I discourage the inclusion of anything with so many laces and clasps in your wardrobe.” He gave the corset a disdainful glance.
“If only that stopped everyone from their protests. The longer you are at it, Avalynn, the easier it will become. I do hope that is the case. I would enjoy having you here with me more regularly. I do not expect it of you, though.” The more allies he had in this place, the better, but it seemed unlikely to outweigh the strain of another unstable marriage. Going home needed to be a thing he looked forward to. The light at the end of the tunnel. He could handle whatever Court had to throw at him, but he needed a safe place to recuperate at the end of it.