Listening, Aera pulled her arms through her gloves, leaving them untied, as it was hard to do while wearing her dress, the sleeves of the gown too restricting. From the corner of her eye she watched him as he spoke about this woman who had helped him learn to walk in the daylight. From the tone of his voice and the minor tension of the muscle in his neck, she could tell it was a tender memory, this girl called Layne. She wouldn't press it.

“They’ll be missing you downstairs, won’t they?” Taris had asked, turning the subject away from the woman.
With a sigh, she gave him a sad smile. "Unlikely." She pulled a coin out of a drawer and held it to the maid. "Thank you, Dara, your assistance is appreciated." The maid bowed and left the chamber, leaving the door open. "They'll all be focusing on the matches. Anyone who does notice I'm gone will only have done so because they'd like to make some cruel jest in my direction, and they'll just tell it to their closest companion and have a laugh in my absence."
Her purple eyes took note, suddenly, of his rather obvious lack of clothing and she glanced to the door, suddenly realizing they were alone. And that he wasn't wearing much. Slightly embarrassed, she turned to look out the window. Her chambers was on the second story of the western wing; a room she had requested specifically, and Kentaro, still thrilled over her having accepted his proposal, had made the arrangements. It had the best view of the city down the hill and she enjoyed watching the people below, although it tormented her heart to do so. "The salve, if you leave it on, will heal your skin quite fast. Faster, if you've got the elf skill in fast healing already." She cleared her throat, her mind running over his skin again, remembering the scars. "Also, if you rub it over your skin before going into the sun, it will help prevent the sun's effects well. I'll give you the jar as a gift. I can easily obtain more."

She turned to face him once more, containing her blushing, and leaned on the window sill, crossing her arms before her. "I would like to apologize for my husband's behavior. I've never seen him act this way." Her face held shame. "He never used to have an issue with elves. Or if he did, he hid it a lot better than he does now. Although it might be the wine. He normally doesn't get this drunk." Her eyes went to the side as she mentally pondered what could be causing Kentaro's behavior. "Sometimes I wonder if he would be a better man if I had never married him, or even left him, now." She snapped up her eyes in shock at what she had said, hoping no one from beyond the open door could hear her.