Chapter 331: The opening act
Cass had a feeling that he should be feeling...more reverence for the display of power and wealth. Honestly though, he had more of a visceral reaction when he walked towards the High Priest than when the King arrived with his wife and son.
The guards were flanked on either side of the doors at the top of a set of stairs that curled around and down towards the thrones. A few trumpets played a short little tune and a completely different announcer with a fucking ridiculous floppy hat came to stand in full display. He held a scroll, like the other announcer had, but this one was clearly edged with gold, and glimmered in the faint light that filled the ballroom.
He was stern faced as he announced the King and Queen entering and all of the nobles bowed.
Cass and Fiona took their time. Not because they were being disrespectful, but because Cass wanted to see the face of the man who was trying to test him, and Fiona sounded like she had run a mile. She was breathing harshly. This was...probably a lot for her.
Cass forced her, gently, to fold at the waist like he was. He could tell she was upset, and it probably would have been a good idea to have Lady Ava near her right now but it was actually probably a good thing that they were apart right now. He had no idea if they were doing this because they knew that Fiona and Lady Ava were involved, or for some other power trip reason, but Cass felt that they must have gotten wind somehow.
Probably from the piece of shit that was monitoring them at his estate.
The King made a grand show of entering, covered in thick, purple colours, enough jewels to fund several school districts where he came from, and a crown that looked so heavy that Cass wanted to knock it off on principle. He had the same eyes as Fiona, a dead give away about her lineage, and dark, salt and pepper hair. It showed that he was on the older side. The only good thing Cass could say about him is that it was clear he attempted to take care of himself and wasn’t bloated like portraits of Kings and Queens of his time were like.
The Queen wasn’t any better. She was blonde, brown eyed, with a snide look about her that said she knew she was the second most powerful person in the Kingdom. Hypothetically. She wore this garish bright pink number that made her look like a child, not a grown woman. It was disgusting to see, and Cass wasn’t able to control his face.
Fiona snorted, turning her face away slightly.
"Cass, stop it! I can feel them looking at me!" Fiona whispered behind the hand that was covering her mouth. Cass composed his face a little bit, but he was sure his eyes gave away how grossed out he was.
"Why is she dressed like that? Does the...King like children?" Cass stage whispered to Fiona and watched as her eyes that were a copy of her father’s shot wide and she turned, hiding her face in his shoulder. Cass felt his body burn at the contact, and came to a startling realisation that it wasn’t just men that caused the simmering in his body to shift. He had kind of hoped that was the case, that his body would take into consideration his own preferences, but as Fiona leaned on him, he felt his body begin to shiver as the simmer became aggressive.
"Cass! Shut up!" Fiona hissed, composing herself quickly and pulling away from Cass. Cass turned his attention back to the trio at the front and found the Crown Prince staring at him. He looked like his Mother, and a mix of another man that was not the King. He had the blonde hair, a clear sign that he didn’t belong to the King, and his Mother’s brown eyes. He dressed more like the King though, not his child-like Mother.
He was staring at Cass, and Fiona, with a calculating look full of hatred. Cass slowly raised a hand and gave a little wave. His face flushed and he jerked his gaze away from Cass.
It was just as the King sat down and the other two followed suit that the King scanned the audience for the people that he wanted to check on. Fiona, Lady Ava, and that was probably it. He saw Lady Ava first, all excitement and glee on his face as he planned what he was going to do once he sold the future Saintess.
He continued to scan the audience, continued to have that gleeful look on his face, until he saw Fiona. And who she was attached to. Cass gave another wave, but this time, wasn’t able to prevent his lips from curling up into what must have been a bone chilling smile for the King.
His whole face froze, dropping into an expression full of confusion, and fear. Cass then blew him a kiss, and the man literally jumped like he thought Cass had actually sent it to him. Cass rolled his eyes and then pointedly turned his back to the royal family with Fiona on his arm. Fiona let out a shuddering sigh.
"Is that a good idea?" She asked softly and Cass snorted.
"Fiona, sweetheart, who is on your arm right now?" Cass asked, not glancing at her as he scanned the crowd for someone he wanted to see. Duke Vespertine. He needed to speak to him, see what his plan was. Make sure that they were on the same page still.
"S-Sweetheart? You’ve never called me that before." Fiona was scanning the audience on her own. "With all of these people around?" She asked and Cass felt his lips twitch.
"I have to. You saw how Lucian just...does what he wants. I need to make it seem like we all do that." Cass muttered quietly, and Fiona twitched, before she made a soft sound that sounded suspiciously like a laugh.
"Ah. I see." She paused for a second, trembled, and then spoke again. "Darling." Cass could feel his face warm and Fiona let out a giggle. Muffled, of course, but that didn’t make it any easier.
"Fuck you." Cass declared and that pushed Fiona over the edge. She fell into a fit of giggles, and Cass was glad to see her laughing. He turned back to the task at hand, and found the Duke speaking to...a man who looked startlingly like Lord Ridgewood, just aged up 20 years.
Cass was almost a little bitter that Lord Ridgewood would age that well. Or maybe not. He could get the shittier end of the stick.
The Duke Ridgewood saw them first, his body stiffening as he caught sight of Cass, and Cass just smirked. Then, Duke Vespertine caught sight of them, and his eyes widened slightly. He wasn’t in his priest uniform, instead in a beautifully crafted cream suit with fine embroidery all along the edge to show off his wealth. His hair, normally hidden by that strange hat he wore, was combed back.
Cass could admit it. He was handsome.
Of course he was. He was Edgar’s father.
Duke Vespertine didn’t fucking hesitate. He immediately turned to Cass and Fiona, a wide smile on his face. It was almost comical if Cass couldn’t tell that he actually meant it, which was wrong for a completely different reason.
"Oh! Lady Fiona, Lord Blackburn! I am so glad that you two could make it." His eyes smiled as he looked them over. His expression faltered slightly at what Fiona was wearing. No one else, besides the royal family, was wearing purple. It was clear what the King was doing, and the Duke’s expression shifted to one of such visceral annoyance before smoothing back over that Cass wished he could do the same.
Oof. He could feel his heart racing. That was a cool trick. He should learn how to do that. It might be villain coded, but he could be a ’reformed’ villain. A bad guy who fights for the good of the people?
He just needed to not steal from the hero party.
"Lord Blackburn. You look...tame. I like this outfit on you." Duke Vespertine said and Cass snorted.
"Thank you for your pleasantries, Duke Vespertine. You don’t need to try too hard. I went with something on the more mild side today. I’m not feeling great, as you know. I take the last week off every month for my health." Cass said it loud enough that everyone could hear, and he got to watch as several of the guests looked away, uncomfortable. They all knew.
Had probably all mocked him. Cass fought the smile that wanted to touch his lips. Serves them right to feel uncomfortable about teasing a chronically ill person.
"I was unaware it was for health reasons. If you are pushing yourself to attend, Lord Blackburn, I’m sure the King would give permission for you to leave." It was Duke Ridgewood who spoke, since Duke Vespertine did not want Cass to leave. He needed Cass to help save the Vespertine family, essentially, and Duke Ridgewood was making it clear where he stood.
Cass turned his gaze towards the older man, and took his time examining him. He let the silence hang between them, let it grow awkward. The man didn’t flinch. Didn’t let it known that the silence bothered him as Cass checked out his gem buttons, his jeweled sword handle, the fine leather that kept everything together. He was a trophy for the King. Didn’t he understand? The fool would be tossed aside, just like Duke Vespertine was at this moment because the King thought he had found someone better?
Cass let out a heavy sigh, and Fiona’s grip on his arm tightened, before relaxed, leaving his skin alone.
"Have we met?" Cass said casually, throwing a bomb into the room. The gasps that went around were audible, loud, and devastating. Even Duke Ridgewood couldn’t recover from it. His eye twitched as his jaw hardened. Cass tilted his head to the side slightly, scanning the man slowly. "I mean, I can guess who you are, but I’m not certain. I’m Lord Cassian Blackburn, husband of the hero of the Kingdom, Lady Fiona Adderberry." Cass held out his hand, his free one, and the man stared at it.
Cass knew that he thought Cass was a demon. He was, but not by his choice. He was sure that he’d gotten a debrief from his son, who he then threw out for going against him. What was with all of these shitty fathers? Fuck. Made Cass glad he didn’t have parents. He could completely avoid that kind of disappointment since his sister had never let him down like that.
The man was staring at Cass’ offered hand like it was an actual snake, or something absolutely revolting. The longer that Cass’ hand hung in the air, the more Cass fought the urge to smile.
"If you continue this way, you’re going to hurt my feelings. What? Afraid I’m going to bite?" Cass teased, and watched the man stiffen more. A few more gasps sounded behind him, and even Duke Vespertine looked uncomfortable. Cass gave a soft laugh, pulling his hand back. "Well, that’s not my problem, now is it? Tragic that you made your allegiance so loudly, my Lord. Well, it was nice speaking to you, whoever you are." Cass said dismissively before turning, taking Fiona with him.
She was shaking.
"Cass! What were you thinking?" She demanded quietly as they left the two Dukes. Duke Vespertine was keeping it together, but he was sure it was only because he was an excellent liar.
"That I don’t know who he is." Cass said loudly, no hesitation. "Isn’t it the right thing to do to introduce yourself? Even if you don’t like someone. That’s just plain rude. No manners." Fiona choked.
"You knew who he was!" Fiona hissed.
"No, I don’t. I don’t tend to know losers." Cass told her, and watched as Fiona’s jaw dropped. Cass wasn’t quiet either. Now he was on full display, being a damn brat because he could. It was the least of what the Ridgewood family deserved given that they attempted to have him killed.
Societal embarrassment was the least of his problems, given it was a 70/30 split depending on how the King behaved that this group would even exist in a few hours.