Lien,
Let me start by saying that first off, I love you too, and that if I make a muck of this guardian thing sometimes it’s not because I don’t care.
I’ve thought about the situation some more, and though I don’t like it to say the least, you really cannot sing to him at the burning – but may visit Eriit in the tower if 1) the Order approves and 2) I come with you.
Being a noble comes not only with privileges but also responsibilities, and one of those is to uphold a proper image. Singing a song to a commoner mage boy when he’s on his pyre is not something I can in good conscience let you do. Your reputation is under constant assault because of your activities in the Southside, and this would do nothing but fan the fires. If you wish to sing to him in the cell, I will play for you.
I must ask that in general you be more careful of your reputation, at least for Her Royal Majesty’s sake if you care not for your own. As a member of the Court, what you do reflects on her, and she is feeling troubled and embattled at the moment. I barely managed to buy off some rumormongers in time to stop a story that you were a prostitute employed at the Happy Harem; I did not manage to stop rumors that you’re addicted to the sugar cubes and that you’re sleeping with all of Southside. Please, just… be careful.
And don’t worry about Bryne. He and I are alright; he understands why it needed to happen, and I don’t think our friendship is going to suffer unduly from it. I didn’t kick him out solely as a punishment, but also to lessen any chance of temptation between the two of you – what with your bedrooms being right around the corner from each other.
I just want you to be happy, Lien, I truly do. Taking drugs, playing with boys, running away, getting in fights or getting drunk… none of these things truly cure unhappiness. They dull the pain for a little while, and you can get into a slump where you think that’s the same thing. But eventually it all wears off, and you’re left with the same problems you had before – only often worse because of whatever you did while drunk or high.
To truly be happy, you have to figure out what it is you want and enjoy in life, and what it is that you don’t. We’ve talked of finding you a husband, but we’ve never talked of finding you a vocation. Granted, as a noble, there are many things it would be inappropriate for you to pursue – but there are also many things that would be fine. I think it might be helpful for you to have a constructive aim in life, and it would give you a skillset of some sort that would be useful when it comes time for you to rule Strongjaw. We can talk about this in person, but think about it?
Still your guardian,
-Ari