“I think we’ve always been bound,” he says gloomily. “We just didn’t know it at the time.” He’s learned recently just how structured his life has always been. All of his playmates were carefully chosen for him; he never had an opportunity to form friendships organically. It’s all Father’s doing.

“But at least we do know each other.” It’s true. Mother had been plucked from an obscure dukedom and married to a much older man in a language she didn’t even speak when she was younger than Joss is now. He counted himself lucky that if Misa was going to be his wife, at least they have a genuine affection for one another already. Suddenly, he wonders if he has Mother to thank for his relative good fortune.

“I hope you will not be unhappy as my, er, wife. You’ll be a princess. A rather minor one unless my cousin dies childless, but...”