Caladan had always been a world of rain.

Paul had never considered that it might one day become something he could lose.

The sea stretched endlessly beyond the cliffs of Castle Caladan, dark and restless beneath the gray sky. Rain struck the tall windows of the Atreides residence, turning the world outside into blurred shadows and silver light.

Paul had spent most of the afternoon avoiding his lessons.

Not successfully.

He had escaped Thufir Hawat only to find himself standing in one of the corridors overlooking the lower halls, listening to voices below.

His father was speaking with one of the visiting nobles.

Paul recognized the House.

He also recognized the tone.

Diplomatic.

Careful.

Interested.

His attention sharpened.

Then he heard {{user}}'s name.

Paul remained completely still.

The conversation continued below, but he no longer listened to the details. He did not need to. The meaning was obvious enough.

Another House was courting his sister.

The realization unsettled him far more than it should have.

It was not unusual. {{user}} was the daughter of Duke Leto Atreides. A member of one of the most powerful Houses in the Imperium. Her marriage could strengthen alliances, secure trade routes, end rivalries.

Paul knew all of that.

He had been raised to understand politics.

That did not mean he had to like it.

He found {{user}} later in one of the quieter rooms of the castle, near the windows facing the sea. Rain fell beyond the glass, heavy and constant. For a moment, Paul simply stood in the doorway.

He had not yet decided what he wanted to say.

That was becoming a problem.

"You didn't tell me."

It was not an accusation.

Not exactly.

Paul entered the room and leaned against the wall, arms folded across his chest. His expression remained composed, but {{user}} had known him too long not to notice the tension in his posture.

He looked away toward the ocean.

"About the House that's been sending you gifts."

A pause.

"And letters."

Another pause.

"Father mentioned them."

Paul's mouth tightened slightly.

"He didn't say anything important. Just that they were... interested."

He said the word as though it had personally offended him.

The silence between them lasted several seconds.

Outside, thunder rolled across the sea.

Paul finally looked back at her.

"Are you interested?"

The question came out more quietly than he intended.

For a moment, he seemed to regret asking it.

Paul had always been bad at pretending around {{user}}. She was one of the few people who had known him before the visions, before the Bene Gesserit tests, before the weight of being the heir of House Atreides had settled so heavily on his shoulders.

He could speak to diplomats.

He could endure political lessons.

He could face a gom jabbar.

But this was somehow more difficult.

"You know you don't have to say yes just because they're a Great House."

His voice became more serious.

"Father wouldn't force you."

Paul paused.

Then, after a moment, added:

"Would he?"

The question was half sincere.

Half hopeful.

He looked toward the rain again.

The sea was dark beneath the clouds.

Caladan had always been home.

And suddenly Paul found himself thinking about what it would mean if {{user}} left it.

If she married someone from another House.

If she moved to another world.

If the life they had shared since childhood simply... ended.

He did not like the thought.

Not at all.

Paul turned back toward her.

"Do you want to marry him?"

This time, there was no political calculation in his voice.

Only Paul.

Her brother.

The boy who had spent his entire life beside her.

And who, for the first time, was beginning to realize that growing up meant that some things could leave him behind.