Truthfully, Cassian couldn’t even be honest with himself about what he wanted. He couldn’t name it, if asked directly. He hadn’t many prolonged relations with women, either - little beyond an evening rendezvous anyway, which did little to inform him of the qualities in a wife that truly mattered. So the idea of  ‘narrowing the pool’ so to speak, to people that had already passed the Valenduris family’s selective taste, certainly could make his life easier.  He’d simply have to figure this out as he went along, at any rate. May as well meet what the world has to offer.

“That sounds like a terrific way to go about this,” Cass agreed readily, leveling Meserimus a grateful expression. Archimedes seemed to have something to say about it too, but he kept his attention on his grandfather. “A place to start may be all that I need. I trust your judgment - and you know she cannot be any kind of vapid wallflower to survive in our family…” It would make things much easier as well, to have a more curated experience that relied less on taking time from work or… awkward encounters with past flames. No doubt Cass wouldn’t get out of these obligations or risks entirely, but then at least at those events he would have more of a singular focus. He did better with a goal in mind.

“Ha – perhaps one of your favorite recent graduates. I’m sure you would be pleased to have someone with similar passions to yours in the family,” he took a sip from his glass, eyes sparkling with amusement over its rim. Anyone who can get along well enough with Mes to carry his favor would surely be good enough for him, Cass decided privately.

“I’m very grateful for this help grandfather. I admit I was feeling a bit like a man lost at sea.”

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