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Marcel had come along, overeager when he'd been offered something he'd wanted so badly for so long, putting his foot in it and probably hurting Gilbert more. He'd potentially destroyed any chance they might have had together. He started to laugh, although there was nothing remotely funny about it. "We're engaged to be married."
    "What?" Gregory stared at him.
    "Berti and I," Marcel was still laughing and found he couldn't really stop. Everyone was staring at him now like he'd gone mad, which he might have. "We're engaged to be married, the emperor has decided it. And here am I, a mess of unrequited love, and he's heartbroken because ..." Then Marcel wasn't laughing anymore as he struggled for a word that properly expressed the amount of anger he felt when he thought that someone had been loved by Gilbert and treated him badly. "Some bastard left him."
    "You two are getting married?" Sushil repeated as if he really couldn't believe it.
    "I'm sure it will work out. You two have known each other for a long time." Gregory clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't give up hope now. I can guarantee you that he loves you more than he ever did Tristan."
    "Yes, just not in the same way." Marcel shook himself, trying to pull himself back together before he completely lost all control over his emotions. "So show me the rest of the college while I'm here."
    "Sure." Gregory grinned at him and gestured at the rest of the building. "It's coming along nicely; I think Riku did a gorgeous job planning it out, and of course you'll want to see the mathematics wing where you'll be teaching."
    "Not much to see quite yet." Yujia crossed her arms over her chest, looking amused. "The builders have barely started on that section."
    "Still might as well have a look," Gregory said cheerily, and led the way.
    *~*~*
    The first thing Marcel did the next morning was go to his mother.
    She was not at her townhouse, and the servant who answered the door informed him she had gone to work at her office. Marcel headed across the city towards the imposing stone building that housed the Emperor's High Court of Law.
    The building was huge, housing dozens of offices and courtrooms where hearings took place. Marcel had been in and out of the building his whole life, though, and navigated the halls filled with bustling robed lawyers, clerks, and assistants with ease.
    The office of the Chief Magistrate, the Marquise de Montespan, was large and would have been spacious if not for the bookcases that lined every wall, parting only to make room for windows. The most imposing mahogany desk Marcel had ever known took up space in the center of the room. In front of it stood the marquise, reviewing a stack of papers with what looked to be a junior magistrate about Marcel's own age.
    Marcel paused in the doorway to watch.  
    The marquise's grey hair was pulled back from her face in a tight bun, and she wore flowing black, still in mourning for his father even after three years. With her left hand, she leaned on a silver-headed cane. She looked tired, he thought, but still as formidable as always. She looked up and spotted him.
    "Ah, my son." She waved him in, and the junior magistrate turned towards him as well, giving him a curious look. "Lord Marcel de la Mont de Anges."
    "My lord." The young magistrate bowed as best she could while holding an armful of case files.
    "No, please, none of that." Marcel gave her a smile he hoped was friendly and encouraging.
    She gave him a tiny one back before making for the door as fast as she could without outright running. Probably relieved to be able to get away from the marquise's scrutiny.  Marcel knew the marquise's reputation for strictness and uncompromising attitude when it came to getting even the smallest detail correct was legendary among the magistrates. She was especially strict on the juniors and they all dreaded having to present any of the documents they had drafted to her.  The poor woman was probably delighted at the excuse to