He still worked hard, not wanting to depend only on Lianrin smuggling valuables to him, Alysanne was still doing her best to catch up with the older children in father Ambrose's lessons and her efforts were still utterly ignored by her father.
When she brought home a poem without a single mistake, complete with a commendation from her teacher, Dorian didn't even raise his head from his tapestry.
School however gave Alysanne much more than just an opportunity to learn. It brought her into contact with village children and gave an opportunity to make some friends.
She was almost immediately drawn to Alvin, the priest's ward. She admired how good he was with his letters and how many stories he knew, but perhaps more importantly he was quiet enough not to make her feel threatened. And being an orphan himself, there was a chance he could understand her.
When not working to please father Ambrose, they spent hours playing together, reenacting all the stories they both loved to hear, about knights and ladies, but most of all about magic and scary ghosts out to get justice.
Meanwhile, the Lorimer family was struck by another blow. The aging Lord Lothar died peacefully, leaving his title to his only son.
He was buried next to his second wife, with father Ambrose conducting the ceremony. Liam swore he would make his father proud, while Lianrin just stood there, dreaming about the next time she would see her secret lover.
Nothing changed in the Arell household.
Time was passing, but even growing up, Alysanne and Alvin stayed as good friends as before, always having something to talk about.
And Dorian didn't see any reason to change anything about his ways. If anything, he grew more and more reckless, confident of his good luck, Lianrin's willingness pushing away even the last remnants of restraint.
Despite father Ambrose's teachings, Alysanne grew to see nothing strange about his father kissing somebody else's wife in front of the house...
...or doing much more in the privacy of their home.
The priest may have told her a thousand times her father was not a good model, but it was hard to judge something she had seen enough times to grow accustomed to.
And then, at last, Alysanne's birthday came.
She made the cake herself, determined to do this right and excited about not being a child any more. She even invited father Ambrose to share the moment with her.
The priest cheered as Alysanne blew out the candles, while Dorian tried not to look too bored.
He appreciated the cake, though and when the priest complimented Alysanne on her baking skills, he begun to appreciate having a growing girl in the house. As least when she was finally old enough to work properly.
The priest considered lecturing Dorian, but in the end he decided against it. Everything seemed peaceful at the moment and starting a conflict could make things worse. Especially when Alysanne was old enough now to be almost independent.
Fortunately for Dorian, Ambrose had no idea about his secret affair.
That didn't mean the affair stopped existing, though. The lovers took no notice of winter or even of Lianrin's progressing pregnancy.
Dorian wondered for a while whose child it was and if there was any way to tell, but Lianrin told him not to worry. Even if the baby was his, Liam would never know. And he wouldn't be able to check anyway.
Instead of worrying, the pair went back to enjoying the limited time together. With the baby on the way, it was becoming more difficult for Lianrin to slip away from the castle unnoticed.
Even Lianrin's brother, normally not the most prudent of people, tried to warn the pair to be more careful, but they ignored him completely. Talen didn't really care for Dorian, but he loved his sister and just hoped her lover's stupidity and ambition wouldn't drag her down. Even if she was the one who initiated the relationship and who kept pushing to go forward.
After all, Liam was not known as the most forgiving lord, even if it had not been for his and Dorian's prior relationship.
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