Aldrin was relieved to hear Rhys speak almost in favor of Isabel becoming the Crown Princess. The girl was sharp, Aldrin thought, and he observed that she herself had a keen eye for things just by the way she looked around the room, as if trying to memorize everything. He was aware of her warmth of spirit when she laughed and grabbed his finger over her cradle. He was aware of her determination whenever he saw her tiny face scrunch up while she tried to sit up on her own or tried to pull herself up to her feet using the side of a chair or the leg of a desk (never mind that she was unable to walk yet so letting go was normally accompanied with falling over and the successive crying from the pain that accompanied her little bottom hitting the marbled floor.) If he could continue to allow her to grow into the woman she could be: a woman like Alys...if he could support that, he knew that Sundaril would not be in the mess it had been in with Alyna.

God blast that woman's corpse, where ever it was.

And the ironic thing was that no one in the room knew that Alyna's blood flowed through Isabel and Alys both, freely as Listonese blood did. Alys was partly Sundrili through her great-grandmother, almost capable of pulling out the line of succession and saying that she could take Sundaril's throne. That was, if Alys didn't love Aldrin and if there was an actual reason for it. There wasn't and she did and he could think of ways to prevent any of the Howards from claiming Sundaril anyway.

Grandfather clause on this new law, of course.

"Well, your sister and I have much in common then," Aldrin said to Rhys, smiling and chuckling slightly. He paid attention, crucial attention to the rest of what Rhys said, his eyes losing emotion when Rhys admitted that Liston's throne could come to Alys and Isabel themselves or even Aldrin (since he had married Alys). In fact, in Ophelia had no children at all, Aldrin was next in line and could be crowned a king twice over. Indeed, all this time, Sundaril (for the past year anyway) had been closer to taking over Liston than vice versa and Aldrin had been completely unaware of the fact. But was he disinterested in the fact?

He remembered Ophelia: her violet eyes, her dark black hair flowing behind her as they played in the courtyard as children. She was an awkward child, an awkward adolescent, and very much just awkwardly shaped as an adult as well though the extremes of it disappeared as she grew. And yet, she had been his Phi, his uncrowned queen of Sundaril until he married Alys. Their closeness was almost as if they were twins and he loved her so much that being separated from her, even if it was for the good of Sundaril, was hard on his heart and heavy on his shoulders. Some people noted that Aldrin wasn't as quick to laugh as he had been when Phi visited court again. Others said he delved into his family now more than ever, replacing the void Phi had left behind her with Alys's embraces and Isabel's giggles. Seeing Phi grow up beside him and being her protector meant that he could not wish harm on her at all. In fact, he would do anything to prevent her from it. However, he didn't like her husband, not in the least.

So if harming Edward meant gaining Liston and potentially hurting Phi's future and feelings in the process, could Aldrin do it? He thought over it for a moment, even as Michael Redalan cut into the whispers and quiet discussions with his own theories and ideas. Still, Aldrin's thoughts were shelved on Liston and it's potential jewel added into his crown as he listened to Michael. What needed to be focused on was the here and now and that included Isabel's inheritance.

"Thank you, Lord Ambassador. I shall think over your words tonight and discuss it with Alys," he said, before turning full attention to Michael Redalan.

The duke had much to say, but that didn't surprise Aldrin in the least. He had a way of hitting things on the head and showing blunt opinion and honesty in the face of any court sycophant. The result was that Aldrin liked him and certainly liked him enough to consider him a potential husband for Aoife. "A Steward, sir?" he asked, wanting for clarification, "And who would such a man be? I do not doubt that there are well-intentioned people in the world, Duke Redalan, but at the same time, I am well able to see that half the people in court, if not more, are looking out for their own interests and who's to say these people do not cover themselves so well that we accidentally pick one of them? Besides that, I'm unsure what country would ever invade us. We're an island country alright, but the only countries with navies to rival ours are people such as the Listonese and the Espanians."

He paused, making sure everyone was on the same page as him before continuing, "And the Espanians will be allied with us if Isabel is betrothed to the Espanian prince Carlos. Liston won't touch us. I understand that Prince Edward loves his sister, as I love mine, and I have no doubt that, like me, he would hesitate greatly to harm his sister or her daughter. Isabel has Howard blood and Seraphin blood, make no mistake of it. You can see it on her features for all that she bears Seraphin coloring. For her Howard blood, the people of Liston would give pause before ever touching Sundrili soil and for her Seraphin blood, the people of Sundaril would stop invaders in order to protect her. But to elect a Steward to watch over her is a sword in itself for the man we elect could have only his own interests at heart, and conspire to mute Isabel's words at court or in her own realm. Who is to say he will not try to take power, this Steward?"

He arched a brow, asking the question of everyone. "I fear not Espania or Liston. I fear not Farengalia either for they are currying our favor at the moment. I fear more our courtiers in our country for what they might see Isabel as if a position as Steward can be lorded over her. It's a grand precaution...but who's to say it will not backfire on the princess herself?"