Chapter 249: Hey, look at us, eating at the same table
Lunch was actually pretty good. Someone on his side, probably Sir Forsythe, had sourced a bottle of the ’liquor’ for Edgar, so that was waiting for him at the small table with all of the other food. Cass hadn’t realised that there were a few smaller tables around the one that was set up because he’d gotten too distracted by the main table when he’d walked in, but that was where most of the rest of the food was sitting.
Edgar had looked relieved, and a little upset at the sight of it, but Fiona hadn’t hesitated to open it and give it to him.
No glass, no cup, just the whole ass wine bottle.
Edgar had chuckled as he sat at the fancy little table, a wine bottle in his hand, his clothes ruffled and his lip probably stinging.
"The tabloids would have a field day." He said, mostly to himself and Cass nodded.
"They would. Local pretty boy is back to his debauchery days in his wife’s own backyard?" Cass shook his head, clicking his tongue. "The title practically writes itself." Edgar stared at Cass in shock, as did Lucian. Fiona just shook her head, getting the rest of the food ready since she had sat in the chair that was closest to all of the food. Cass felt that was intentional so she could do this.
Lady Ava was hiding her smile before her hand.
"You think I’m pretty?" Edgar asked and Cass was a little annoyed that was the first thing that he realised about what Cass had said.
"You know you’re pretty. Don’t fish for compliments." Cass told him and Edgar swallowed.
"This and that are completely different. I am objectively handsome. I was going to be that whether I chose that or not. Pretty? That’s not something I get called much." Edgar said. He hesitated for only a moment, before he continued speaking. "That is something I think others would use for you more often, if they weren’t terrified of the consequences." Cass felt his jaw tighten as Fiona and Lucian smiled.
"Well, Eddie isn’t wrong." Fiona said lightly, carefully. "You are the prettiest of us all. Including me." Cass narrowed his gaze at her while hers sparkled as it met his. "That’s why I suggested that you should wear a dress. At least try it on once. I think it would suit you." Fiona said and Cass felt himself make a soft noise of protest in his throat.
"No thank you." He declined sharply. "I don’t like cross dressing. I don’t see a problem with it, I just don’t like it." Cass clarified and Fiona smirked.
"You’ve never tried." She told him and Cass leveled her with a look.
"On my ’vacation’, I did. It didn’t suit me." Cass told her coldly and Fiona’s mouth opened in surprise, before she leaned forward.
"What? What did you wear?" She asked and Cass sniffed.
"It doesn’t matter." Cass told her and Lucian’s chuckle had him glancing towards the dragon who was watching him with fond eyes. His orange eyes were practically crescents of pure contentment. He seemed to be pleased just sitting next to Cass and watching him. In fact, it was at that moment that Cass realised he was between Edgar and Lucian, with Edgar between him and Fiona, and Lucian between him and Lady Ava.
"It does. How old were you? A teen, a babe? Did you have the same pretty features?" Lucian asked and Cass opened and closed his mouth. He sighed.
"No. I was plain. More like Sam than anything else. I also had poor eyesight." Cass told them and that seemed to surprise the whole group. "I was also stronger. Physically. I fought a lot." Cass admitted, a little proud about that.
Lucian’s grin reached his eyes as he stared at Cass. Fiona was very similar, only she didn’t stop setting up the table.
"You know what? I’m glad you were able to do so, given the state of your body here. Did you win?" She asked, and Cass felt a deep pride that she got it. Cass nodded.
"Undefeated." Cass admitted, a little smug. "I was really good with my hands, and I was smart as well. Since it was just the two of us from a young age, I worked as well. Had no plan for...more education beyond what was standard." Cass told them, a slightly bitter smile on his face.
"Is that why you’re good with fashion now?" Edgar asked, and Cass took the dig for what it was. He was right. Lord Blackburn had a terrible fashion sense. Cass sighed.
"Yeah. That is the reason. I did a lot of sewing work when I was younger since there were no questions asked as long as you were fast." Cass admitted and Lucian looked a little upset hearing that. Lady Ava was the one who nodded slowly, more understanding than everyone else.
"I did the same thing before my powers awakened. To help out my family." She said. She flushed. "I probably wasn’t as good as you were, since it sounds like you were great if Eddie praised you." Lady Ava said and Edgar leaned forward.
"Okay, get this-"
The rest of the lunch was consumed with easy, light conversations that Cass felt were a little forced at times, but also, necessary. They had all just gone through something relatively traumatising, and now they needed some down time. They all knew that they were going to be called by the nobles at some point, they had just dropped a bombshell on the temple, and Fiona wasn’t in the best state right now.
Cass was basically making his first step into becoming an actual problem for his grandfather, and Edgar may or may not be homeless and had just lost his best friend. Lucian was just a bum, so he seemed fine, but Lady Ava had this little twitch in her eye that denoted that she wasn’t holding up as well as she was putting on.
Overall, it was a pretty good lunch, and Sir Forsythe only came by to say he was heading out about three quarters of the way through their lunch. Cass was also able to eat quite a bit of the food, after Fiona reminded Lady Ava not to bless all of the food, but her portion. Even Fiona’s.
Lady Ava’s face had flushed at having to be reminded, but she looked actually apologetic when she met Cass’ eyes shortly after the reminder.
Lucian was acting overly affectionate with Cass the whole lunch, to the point that Cass got so annoyed with him that he slapped his hand away, but the man just smiled, almost taunting Cass to punish him. Cass almost gave into temptation at one point, but glancing over at Edgar who was drinking out of a bottle had really calmed him down.
He didn’t know why it did, but it just put a stop to the feelings he was having inside. Calmed him a little.
They were just packing up with Cass heard footsteps and a little gasp before a knock sounded on the backdoor.
"This is so beautiful, my lady!" Ser Hune gushed as she took a few steps out into the garden. Cass watched as Fiona flushed, her cheeks turning a nice pink shade at Ser Hune’s compliment.
"Thank you. I appreciate the warm words. Uh, Cass, did you introduce us?" Fiona asked and Cass blinked, before he realised that he hadn’t. He turned, gesturing to the couple behind him.
"Ah, I believe I have failed you in that regard. Fiona, and everyone else, these are Sir Forsythe’s friends from the academy, if I’m remembering correctly?" Cass glanced back at them and found Ser Hune smiling while nodding. "To the left, the gentleman is Sir Sanders, and to the right is Ser Hune. They are married." Cass told the group and Ser Hune sighed.
"Our Lord forgot the most important part. We’re both fairies." She said proudly and Cass felt his lips turn up slightly.
"Ah yes. Forgive me. Ser Hune and I share a connection through blood. I also forgot to thank you for your gift, Ser Hune. It was quite thoughtful, and I feel it probably helped me today." Cass told her and Ser Hune glowed. She smiled widely at his words and waved a hand.
"It was nothing, my Lord. Anything to help out a fellow fairy." She said, before she turned her sparkling eyes towards the garden around her. "Is it alright if I poke around a bit, my Lady? The city is just so draining that I-" Fiona waved a dismissive hand.
"No need to call me a lady, Ser Hune. I’ve been a mercenary a lot longer than I’ve been a lady, and please, take your time. I understand how draining the city could be after witnessing how terrible of a time Cass had inside of the dungeon." Fiona told her warmly. She turned her gaze to Sir Sanders as well. "You are also free to enjoy yourself." She told him and Sir Sanders nodded, a little more like Sir Forsythe.
"Thank you. We both appreciate it." He told the group. "We’re sorry for intruding on your time. We were just coming to check up on you and let you know no other visitors have come by, but we have noticed some more people lurking outside as if trying to catch a glimpse inside." Sir Sanders glanced around outside. They were quite secluded back here and he nodded.
Fiona sighed, shaking her head.
"The damn press here is so insistent! I’m glad we moved to the countryside in their terms. I would be in a scandal involving beating them up otherwise." Fiona grumbled and Cass shrugged.
"What’s stopping you from doing that now? Who are you trying to impress? It’s your privacy, and not only that, you’re the hero. They should back off." Cass told her and Lucian stared at Cass in slight surprise before he agreed.
"Cass is right, Fiona. You don’t need to kill anyone, just rough them up." Cass had a feeling his version of rough them up and Cass and Fiona’s version were completely different. At least he didn’t suggest killing someone. It was a low bar, but he made it. This time.
Fiona laughed at them.
"Absolutely not. I’m barely respected as the hero now. How would that help me?" Fiona asked and Cass was honest with her.
"They think you’re a pushover, which is why they thought they could get away with treating you the way that they did. It should be any day now that I’m going to be flooded with requests, concerns, and general platitudes because of their own actions. Honestly, it wouldn’t hurt you as much as you think to beat up an idiot that got too close. They think of you as a beast they have tamed. You need to prove you have claws." Cass told her, and felt everyone stare at him. His face flushed as he cleared his throat. "In my opinion."