[Day 6 - Late Evening] Nightcap

[Zeno Thul]

He nods to that, taking a drink.

"The festivities are very nice. I've been enjoying them with my daughters. As for the marriage arrangements for the twins, I have not paid much attention to be honest. It would be nice to have that connection with Panteer, but if a Thul married in we'd likely end up getting mud slung about trying to steal the throne. Like we'd want to invite all the houses to join forces and depose us," he says shaking his head.

[Aurilie Alde]

She took a sip from her new drink and nodded. "House Panteer have spared no expense when it comes to entertaining both the visiting Houses and the guests. I take it that much of the fair grounds have their attention perhaps? If not, I'd really recommend it. As for the twins, I haven't had the pleasure to speak to either them or much of the ruling family. Well, I did play Huttball and volleyball with Prince Gaul but I think I managed to see him drink more than I've been able to catch a few words with him. Since I haven't taken part in the affair as a suitor, I have to admit that much of the publicity surrounding it has gotten away from me, only hearing bits and pieces from a few suitors here and there. The twins are apparently charming, at least."

[Zeno Thul]

He nods. "My wife spent a great deal of time with planning and organizing for the festival along with the royals. I've been making an effort to enjoy as much of it as I can. And the twins are charming. It's always nice when I get a chance to talk with them, but I am trying to stay out of their way here. They don't need to hear from me."

[Aurilie Alde]

"That's right, I believe I've seen her accompany the Queens' retinue and she did generously lend her stable of thranta some nights ago too. It would explain why I've seen her around so often. My apologies for overlooking that and I should at least give thanks where credit is due for a pleasant Festival thus far. While I haven't talked to many guests here, I think they only have pleasant things to say so far." She said with a raise of her glass before taking a sip.

"If they weren't scarce before, I'd imagine they will be in the future when they narrow down their options. I confess I haven't kept track of the decision-making...I believe there was a mention that an officer might be in contention?"

[Zeno Thul]

"I'll be sure to let her know that her hard work is appreciated. Thank you for your kind words." Zeno takes another drink, raising the glass to Aurilie.

"I honestly have no clue who is in contention for anything. I stopped paying attention when my house was placed under investigation. But the twins and the queen hardly need me watching to figure it out," he says with a smirk.

[Aurilie Alde]

"Oh, of course, you had other things on your mind." She said simply on the matter as the topic of the house arrest was brought up. "I suppose at the end of the day, it might not be so earth-shattering who the ultimate candidate might be. It is unknown if either child will be finding their way to the throne. Just leave it to the galaxy to find something else that might impact Alderaan more."

[Zeno Thul]

"We'll just have to hope whoever ends up on the throne has a mind for peace," he says with a nod.

[Aurilie Alde]

"That will likely be the case. I think all of the suitors have proven themselves upstanding people by now, any peculiar characters would have been weeded out by now. Although, we are in a mostly formal setting and people are on their best behaviour. I'd think that seeing people under adversity likely says more about them in any other situation."

[Zeno Thul]

"Well, I imagine there is probably an aspect of resources and experience to it as well. Certain people have access and training to participate in this sort of thing. Others are more outside the standard expectation. And it continues to perpetuate keeping those that belong above those that don't. Probably why you don't see many non-humans heading houses. They just don't get opportunity."

[Aurilie Alde]

Aurilie found herself looking at Zeno and then hands. "Yes...that is true. I'm sure the excuses will be both tradition and lineage as far as the reasoning goes. It doesn't change the fact that Alderaan has always been a bit conservative and insular to perhaps many others in the Republic. I know that House Alde is very much like this but it seems House Panteer doesn't stray too far."

[Zeno Thul]

"It's like that in the Empire as well," he says. "With a preference for both human and Sith species. The problem is everywhere really, and we can all do better."

[Aurilie Alde]

Aurilie looked a bit thoughtful before speaking once more. "Of course, this is only in the dealings of a royal marriage. I don't think that just any human would be handed this opportunity without some notable ties or connections. It could very well sooner go to a worthy adoptee than any human on a lark. At least, that is a real possibility and I cannot speak on the Queen's behalf or know her full opinions on the matter. I don't think we restrict non-humans from decency or basic rights like the Empire."

[Zeno Thul]

"Legally no, but laws that focus on family lines tend to exclude based on species by their nature. Honestly, it's one of the things I appreciate about my Deathwright family. For generations the heir was determined based on merit, anyone in the family being allowed to compete and the head switching between bloodlines and resulting in new ones. We let anyone that passed an entrance exam and completed flight combat training to be part of the family. But even then, the opportunity for any non humans to get into the house was hard because of the crap they had to deal with in life before trying. But we had more than most other mostly human noble houses. Though that isn't saying much."

[Aurilie Alde]

"I suppose there are more opportunities found in operating as a meritocracy and would likely make sense in a family closed tied with the military. When it comes to governing a House and most of Alderaan, it is likely far more of a complicated affair than just passing it off to another bloodline. It would require great reforms here, admittedly. It is unlikely to see a change here, unfortunately. I imagine the Queen wishes to continue to show some stability with tradition. We just have to assume they are also the most qualified in that case too."

[Zeno Thul]

"Indeed. I'm not looking for a change like that to happen anytime soon. In the Deathwright histories we used to have one ruling line. That changed pretty suddenly and quickly with a fair amount of bloodshed. The first few changes were decided by duels and fights. Eventually it became a dogfighting tournament which led to us becoming a producer of elite fighter squadrons. But the true moral is that I am not looking for bloody revolution that such drastic change entails. Gradual is better in this climate."

[Aurilie Alde]

"Is that something you're looking to achieve or a goal that House Thul might share as a whole?" she asked curiously before taking a sip from her brandy. "Admittedly, something would be difficult, especially when I imagine that change like this might even take several generations. Even when you can grasp a foothold, it would ensure that it's maintained long enough for future generations. Potentially, the results could only be seen in the ruling family than just the individual Houses."

[Zeno Thul]

"No, I have no designs to alter the family structure. I follow my wife's lead on all that. But... I wonder if it might not be worth it to try to build a new vassal on that model to see how it would work here on Alderaan."

[Aurilie Alde]

"Something like that does exist to some degree within the military," she brought up. "I admit, there is a good degree of nepotism that plays a role there to ensure that certain sons and daughters are advanced to their intended place but prized soldiers and those who've shown a great talent for leading are hardly left to sit beneath notice. Not the same structure as royalty, yes, but does work in a parallel structure as far as the Republic is concerned."

[Zeno Thul]

"And how often are those prized soldiers married or adopted into families, eventually falling under those same rules of bloodline and lineage? The ADF is fine, because it does not answer solely to the families and so they need it to be merit based to function well. But consider some novel possibilities... like a noble family organized around education, where the head of the family was the dean of the highest school they run. Where those trained in their schools were invited to the family upon graduation. The family made up of professionals of all types. The school system funded by the families other endeavors built by their many professionals. Tuition free for any non-noble and a large percentage of capacity reserved for those that are not part of a house..."

[Aurilie Alde]

Aurilie narrowed her eyes slightly. "Most families are made up of professionals of all types already, I doubt any Alderaanian sitting around and merely basking in the glory of their House gets exactly the same respect as one who is trying to seek ways to better their family or the Republic at large. People of note do often end up in the orbit of many family's attention, being inducted into social circles and potentially marrying in the family. I suppose it's less explicit than your suggestion and something that perhaps happens more than chance than by design. I suppose I've been to some other worlds where such individuals are brought into vassal families for their service and eventually considered for membership for larger families, was that something like what you were proposing earlier?"