The idea sounded reasonable.
That should have been Aerin's first warning.
"We need structure," Lady Merrowin said, standing before the council with the confidence of someone who had never tripped over a throne. "A clear process. A controlled environment."
"I like controlled environments," Aerin said quickly.
Lord Halbrecht nodded. "An orientation, then. Introduce the candidates to palace life, etiquette, expectations."
"Yes," Merrowin agreed. "And to His Majesty."
Aerin's soul attempted to exit his body.
"In bulk?" he asked weakly.
Merrowin smiled. "Efficiently."
The Harem Alarm, mounted near the ceiling, gave a pleased little ding.
"I don't like when it agrees with you," Aerin muttered.
The Grand Reception Hall had been transformed.
Rows of elegant chairs. Refreshment tables. Decorative banners. Enough perfume in the air to overwhelm a small army.
Aerin stood on a raised platform at the front, clutching prepared notes.
Smile. Wave. Speak clearly. Do not trip.
He repeated this internally like a prayer.
The doors opened.
They just… kept opening.
Women poured in.
Noblewomen. Scholars. Warriors. Priestesses. Merchants. A suspicious number of women wearing colours that matched his eyes.
Aerin's notes slipped from his fingers.
Cassian stood to the side, arms crossed, looking entirely too relaxed.
"Deep breaths," Cassian murmured. "You've faced worse."
"I've faced frogs," Aerin said. "This is worse."
Lina stood near the back, observing everything with unsettling calm.
The hall finally settled.
Hundreds of eyes turned to him.
Aerin stepped forward.
"W-welcome," he began. "Thank you all for coming to—uh—this."
Strong start.
"This is an orientation," he continued, "not a competition. Please refrain from… aggressive courtship."
Several women looked disappointed.
The Harem Alarm flickered.
Aerin swallowed.
"There will be rules," he said. "Boundaries. Personal space."
Someone in the crowd raised a hand.
"Yes?" Aerin said cautiously.
"What is your favourite food?" the woman asked.
"I—what?"
"So we can cook for you," she clarified.
The alarm buzzed.
Another hand shot up. "Do you prefer poetry or music?"
Buzz.
"Do you like confident women?"
WEEEOOOO.
Aerin panicked.
"PLEASE FORM A LINE," he shouted.
Silence.
Cassian coughed to hide a laugh.
Lina buried her face in her hands.
Things got worse during refreshments.
Aerin attempted polite conversation with three candidates at once and accidentally agreed to attend two separate private dinners scheduled at the same time.
One woman challenged another to a duel over seating proximity.
A third tried to sit on the arm of his chair.
The Harem Alarm rang so often it began to sound tired.
"THIS IS NOT A DATING MARKET," Aerin cried.
"Yes it is," someone yelled back.
"No it's not!"
"It literally is," said Halbrecht from the side.
Aerin nearly fainted.
Then—
A woman stepped forward.
She was calm. Plainly dressed. Brown hair tied simply back. No jewellery. No dramatic flair.
"Your Majesty," she said politely, "may I ask a question?"
The hall quieted.
Aerin nodded gratefully. "Yes, please."
"What happens," she asked, "if none of us are chosen?"
Aerin froze.
He hadn't considered that.
The alarm remained silent.
"Well," he said slowly, "I suppose… life continues."
The woman smiled. "Good."
She stepped back into the crowd.
The alarm gave a soft ding.
Aerin stared after her.
"Who was that?" he whispered to Lina later.
Lina shrugged. "Didn't catch her name."
Cassian leaned in. "Interesting though."
Aerin frowned. "Why?"
"She didn't want anything from you."
The alarm hummed.
The orientation ended in chaos.
Two fainted.
One proposed.
Someone stole his notes.
Aerin escaped to the corridor, leaning against the wall.
"I can't do this," he said weakly.
Lina handed him water. "You survived."
"Barely."
Cassian clapped him on the shoulder. "You were honest."
"That's not enough."
Lina smiled faintly. "It might be."
Down the hall, the calm woman from before passed quietly, unnoticed by everyone else.
The Harem Alarm gave one quiet, thoughtful click.
Aerin didn't hear it.
But the story had already noticed her.