"If I accept, will you present it as House Olarion's support for Princess Selienne?"
The question sat between them longer than she'd meant it to, though Gregor didn't look as though he minded the wait.
She knew what she was asking, even stripped to its plainest terms. Elias Selcourt's ties to the First Princess weren't a secret anyone bothered keeping; half the Academy could have named them without trying. Lucien held the wider advantage regardless, had held it since before Clubs Day, and held it more visibly now that House Vayne had put its name behind him in front of the whole recruitment field. Olarion had stayed out of the contest entirely, on her father's standing order, through every season of it so far. She had no authority to move the house one inch toward either side. That had never stopped anyone from reading her the way they wanted to.
Gregor set his pen down.
