Words are inadequate

When I googled "Candlebud", there was a third reference: Allistar and Illista again; Allistar is a social climber, and Illista conspires on his behalf.
"Does she? Does she go so far as to help him bring to the Consort rare flowers of which she is fond, such as candlebud?"

So...we perhaps infer from this that Allistar is having an affair with the Imperial Consort. I don't remember enough to say how that fits into the larger plot.