[Potironette]

Kellan laughed freely, the emptiness of the air getting to him. It was just Jei and him here. Outside the house and free from its confines. Right by the perimeter where the stones were falling. It was the most at ease he'd felt all day.

Kellan ruffled Jei's hair, "Don't worry about it."

As he noticed Jei, reddening face, Kellan felt a prickling heat creeping up his neck. It was quite simple, Kellan felt, to explain to servants that this was merely an act of brotherly affection. But, somewhere in his chest, he felt a little tightening. Kellan had rejected all the letters from the society ladies he met so far. If the servants saw, they might really start talking. And word got around. It was a big house, but a house full of people nonetheless.

As Kellan felt that tingling sensation enter into his cheeks, he wondered, half anxious, if it really was just brotherly affection.