In the grand scheme of things, Tech supposed he could have had it worse. A lot worse ㅡ but he was hard pressed to think about that now in his current situation.

"You're acting like it's a death sentence," Hunter told him, amused by the look on his younger brother's face. "You're not being asked to go to the gallows."

"May as well be," he muttered in answer as he surveyed the sprawling mess before him of color and light. It was a ball, and a grand one at that ㅡ but he couldn't even enjoy it.

Not when he knew why he was here. That this had been thrown in his honor ㅡ a flimsy excuse to get others to attend. Marriageable others, the heavy intent had been. People around his age of prosperous upbringing ㅡ all he had to do was pick one that was at least agreeable to marry, perhaps produce an heir, and that was it.

It may as well have been his own march to the gallows. It wasn't that he didn't like the idea of marriage, but that was a someday. Not a now.

Hunter shifted beside him. "You're not going to get anything done just standing here," he said, then grasped Tech by both shoulders and shoved him down a couple of the steps from the dais. "Go on. At least be social."

Tech rolled his eyes and straightened his clothes before he continued, resisting the urge to sigh. He just had to get through tonight, that was all. He could do that. Probably.

Hopefully.