Chapter 229: Father dearest
Lucian had been right about how fancy the carriage that Vespertine had sent to pick them up in. Never mind that they already had a carriage that they could have used, it was clear that the man wanted to show off.
It was like the carriage he had seen back at the mansion ages ago. Fancy, lots of decoration and carving. Looked like it belonged in a different era with most of the carriage being bright, almost shocking colours that made Cass’ eyes hurt. He knew it was the times, but damn it, it was fucking hideous.
"Is he wanting to embarrass me?" Cass muttered quietly as he stared at the carriage. Lucian laughed beside him.
"Hmm. Not sure about that. It’s rather clear it’s from the Vespertine family though. Isn’t that the crest on the doors of the carriage?" Lucian asked, pointing to the door in front of them and Cass nodded. Yup. That was the crest for the Vespertine family, loud and proud.
Cass wanted to run his hand over his face out of frustration, but instead, he just shook his head and stepped towards the carriage.
Lucian darted for the door before Cass could even get close enough to touch it and opened it for him. Cass blinked, surprised by his action but Lucian just smiled.
"It’s not proper for you to open your own door. I don’t want to be lectured by your guards later." Lucian joked, but Cass just stared at him. Lucian shifted awkwardly as Cass continued to stare at him before Cass climbed into the carriage. Yeah. Sure. Lectured by his guards.
Cass just sat down inside, sighing as Lucian climbed in after him and had enough sense to sit across from him unlike yesterday when he had tried to sit next to him. Cass remained silent, looking out the window at the street below and the expressions on people’s faces as they caught this ultra fancy carriage next to an inn.
Rumours were going to spread, and he wondered how quickly they would get to his grandfathers’ ears.
It was as he was having those thoughts that Sir Forsythe climbed into the carriage, closing the door and sat down next to Lucian. Cass blinked a few times as the carriage began to roll and Sir Forsythe leaned over, passing Cass a small trinket.
It was a flower.
It had a weight to it. Even though it looked like a regular daisy, Cass could tell there was something distinctly magical about it. Cass stared at the flower in his palm as Sir Forsythe began to explain.
"It’s from Ser Hune. She said she made it last night. A little protection charm for a fairy. She wanted you to have a good day as well." Cass felt the tension in his chest that he wasn’t even aware of loosen slightly. That was kind of her.
He really hadn’t expected her to give him anything like this, but he guessed there was some kind of solidarity in being two fairies in the big city. Cass stared at the flower, his lips turning up slightly.
"She really didn’t have to." Cass said quietly and Lucian chuckled.
"She’s rather fond of you. Probably sees you as a younger sibling or something like that. Fairies live for a long time." Lucian the dragon said. Fairies lived a long time? He really needed to look in the mirror sometimes.
Cass fiddled with the flower for a minute, but he carefully tucked it away into the little pocket near his heart. It felt like that was the right place to put it, and when he looked up at Sir Forsythe, he had a rather soft look on his face.
"Did anything else happen in the dungeon that I should know about?" He asked and Cass blinked before he nodded. He reached into his little side bag and pulled out the ring that he was planning to slide on now. He had no idea what was waiting for him at Vespertine’s home, and he’d rather be safe than sorry.
"I got this." He told him, handing over the ring for him to look over. Sir Forsythe took it, no understanding in his eyes.
"I...see." He said and Cass chuckled at the flat way he said it, turning the ring over as if seeing it at different angles would reveal its secrets.
"That ring suppresses holy powers." Cass told him. "Or, at the very least, the person who is wearing that ring feels less of the impact of holy powers on their body. We tested it in the dungeon since I was near Lady Ava." Sir Forsythe’s eyes widened as he handed the ring back to Cass. Cass then reached into the bag and grabbed the gloves as well.
Sliding the ring onto his finger, he attempted to put his gloves on, but Sir Forsythe and Lucian reached out to help. Sir Forsythe gave Lucian a look, practically putting him in his place as he moved over to sit beside Cass and help him slip the gloves on, then hopped back to sitting beside him.
Cass shouldn’t laugh. Really, but this was quite humourous to him. Sir Forsythe felt like an angry dog, barely controlled by the leash around his neck. Lucian was only skirting him out of respect, or maybe because he had his own leash around his neck.
"So this is going to help you?" Sir Forsythe asked and Cass nodded.
"As long as I don’t get caught. This type of ring is rather rare." Cass told him and Lucian sighed.
"Because demons usually hoard them, keeping them to themselves." Lucian’s comment had Sir Forsythe’s eyes widening.
"What? Why are you wearing that then? That’s practically declaring that you’re-"
"What am I supposed to do? The likelihood that they are going to bless us is very high, and I would rather not be so ill in front of the high priest that I’m then grabbed and thrown into jail, no questions asked." Cass said casually even though his heart was thumping in his chest at the idea. He really didn’t want that to happen. He’d already died once, he didn’t want to do it again.
"They wouldn’t get that far." Lucian assured him calmly, but that didn’t help Cass in the slightest. It didn’t make him feel good that if he got found out, a dragon was going to destroy the temple.
He was pretty sure that was a bad ending. Not what the fuckers in charge were looking for from him.
As if to make a point, the mark on the back of his shoulder pulsed and Cass stiffened. It hadn’t done that before, but they were now basically on their home turf. Cass should expect some rather strange behaviours. The fact that nothing had happened until now was a big deal.
"That’s great, but there is also a balance that needs to be maintained between all society, Lucian. You can’t just...dragon your way out of everything." Lucian huffed, crossing his arms.
"Why not? I’m a dragon, and it’s worked so far in my favour." He shot back and Cass raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, has it?" Lucian’s expression froze at the way that Cass said those words. He grew flustered, about to defend himself when the carriage came to a stop. Sir Forsythe was ready to open the door for them when someone else got there first. Another guard. Sir Forsythe got out first, then Lucian, and then Cass.
They were greeted by some rather polite-looking servants who were all politely smiling at them.
"Welcome back, Lord Blackburn and...Lord Draken. It is wonderful to be able to greet you like this. Pardon my absence last night, otherwise I would have greeted you then." It was a butler, and Cass wasn’t sure about him. He nodded at the older man’s greeting, but he didn’t like the look in his eyes.
"It’s no worries. Is everyone else here?" He asked and the butler nodded.
"Yes. They are already in the dining hall. Shall I show you the way?" He asked and Cass nodded.
"Yes." He had to fight really hard to not say thank you. That wasn’t Lord Blackburn of him. That was all Cass, and he hated that he had to be rude, even if it wasn’t considered rude for the people of this time.
Cass followed after the butler, the man cheerfully chatting away about the history of the home that the Vespertine’s had built for themselves. Cass could practically see the wealth dripping from every corner of this place.
It was actually almost as decorated as the mansion they had back near the forest. Vespertine probably hadn’t complained about the state of the place because it had felt like home. Huh.
The dining hall wasn’t too far away, and soon the trio were at the doors. Cass ordered Sir Forsythe to wait here, and he nodded, taking up a spot near the wall as the butler announced Cass and Lucian.
He opened the door and Cass felt a chill run down his spine immediately. The room was dead silent. That could only mean one of two things.
One, they had gotten into a huge fight, and no one was talking to each other, or two, someone else was in the room. Cass’ suspicions were confirmed when a male voice that he hadn’t heard before spoke up.
"Ah! If it isn’t little Lord Blackburn! What a wonderful person to meet so soon in the morning. Come in, my dear boy. It has been ages since I last saw you." Cass felt Lord Blackburn shiver inside of him, and Cass didn’t need to be a genius to put some of the pieces together.
Vespertine family house, early morning, little Lord Blackburn? It had to be the Head Priest, Edgar Vespertine’s father and Lady Ava’s adoptive father.
Fuck. A boss battle right from the start? What the hell?