“Were he, the great Lord Steldor, another man, I might have spent the afternoon smiling.”
In this quote, Cayla Kluver uses the character of Lord Steldor to illustrate a point about the protagonist's feelings towards him.
“Were he, the great Lord Steldor, another man, I might have spent the afternoon smiling.” - Cayla Kluver
Reflecting on this quote from Cayla Kluver's book, consider the following questions:
In this quote from Cayla Kluver's novel, the protagonist expresses her discontent with spending time with Lord Steldor. The mention of who he is, "the great Lord Steldor," indicates his status and importance, suggesting that the protagonist feels obliged to entertain him despite her lack of desire to do so. The use of "smiling" implies a forced act of politeness rather than genuine enjoyment, highlighting the strained relationship between the two characters. This quote showcases the tension and complexity of their interactions, hinting at underlying issues that may be explored further in the novel.
In today's fast-paced world, where appearances and status often dictate our interactions and relationships, the words of Cayla Kluver still hold true. The character's longing for a simpler, more genuine connection with someone speaks to our own desires for authentic connections in a world filled with superficiality. As we navigate through life, let us remember to seek out the relationships that bring us joy and fulfillment, regardless of societal expectations.
“Congratulations Lord Steldor, Princess Alera, my sympathies.”
“He [London] also wanted to warn her against befriending the young man." "And did she stay away from him?" Steldor pressed, his eyes narrowing, and I suspected he already knew the answer. Destari wavered for an instant, reading Steldor's expression, but in the end answered straightforwardly."No, Your Majesty, she did not.”
“Your not God, Steldor.”
“It's not good, is it?"Galen's reply was convincingly nonchalant. "I've seen worse.""Yes-on a dead man."Galen averted his eyes for a moment before giving a reply. "Don't talk like that.""Sorry.""Don't apologize, either."Steldor gave a wry laugh. "Would you mind telling me what I am allowed to do?"Galen couldn't suppress a smirk, thought it was laced with sadness, as he recognized the beginning of one of their classic bickering contests."Sure-you can shut your trap."Steldor was smirking, too, then he grimaced, arching his back as unexpected pain shot through him, and new drops of sweat materialized on his forehead."Steldor-" Galen started, humor lost, reaching toward him with undetermined intent. Steldor smacked his hand away with as much vigor as he could muster."No," he growled, gritting his teeth. "Ignore it.I don't want to think about it."Galen nodded, thought he looked uneasy. "Just tell me what to do," he said in a small voice. "Tell me to shut my trap again.”
“Images of him continued to plague me, unbidden and cruelly tantalising: the mesmerizing blue eyes that compelled me to share with him my most private fears; the feel of his thick, untidy hair as the sunlight split it into myriad shades of gold; the soft laugh that touched my soul; his aloof but unpretentious manner; his confident assurance that I could make my own choices. I shuddered at the thought of Steldor's attitude toward me, for he saw me as only a woman, relegated to supervising that household, planning and executing social events and raising the children. All he really wanted was my presence in his bed, which made me all the more unwilling to comply. Steldor's glance made me uncomfortable, his patronising laugh made me cringe, his condescension frequently led to my humiliation. In Narians arms, I had felt extraordinary happiness; in Steldor's I felt trapped.”
“Ah, Galen! Late as always, I see," Steldor said as he took note of his friend's entry into the room. "I'm never late," Galen returned. "You should know by now that the party doesn't begin until I'm here.”