Cass, Edgar and Gideon weren’t about to let Cass’ family enter the capital without the best treatment available.
While his Aunt had been busy getting everything ready, like the procession into the city, working with the royal family to follow a particular route and who was going to escort them to the castle. It was the Ridgewoods, of course, much to his Aunt’s dismay. Cass told her to bear with it and save the embarrassment for later.
There would always be time later.
Cass had been plotting with Edgar, Gideon and Mr. Collins to get their own welcome ready. It wasn’t in collaboration with the King, but Cass did let him know that he wanted to do something for family members who were so important to not just him, but his Mother.
The King didn’t need to know that his Mother had been removed from the family line because of her actions against Cass. That wasn’t important. What he did need to know was that Cass was asking for formal permission to enter the Palace and help arrange the rooms for his family.
That meant that while his Aunt was out with her people, Cass was out with his people at the palace. It had been a rather strained few days before the festivities, but it had been well worth it. The shock on the King’s face when Cass had shown up personally so that the King and his people couldn’t bully Sam and Mr. Collins was worth it.
It was even more worth it when Cass found that the man had tried to follow Cass’ suggestions, but had failed miserably. Cass took some pity on him, not being rude when Cass told him that he had done a good job, but his family lived in the forest.
They would need far more than just a few potted plants to feel comfortable in a space.
To the King’s credit, he wasn’t offended by Cass’ words. Probably because Cass wasn’t trying to be offensive. Instead, he just got the work done. He wanted his family comfortable while they were away from his side. It was less about the King’s reputation and more about their care. They had spent a lot of time with Cass, and even if they were away from his side for a short time, he wanted them to feel loved and cared for even here.
The King was rather impressed by Cass’ attention to detail, and how Mr. Collins and Sam worked together perfectly and managed to execute exactly what Cass wanted without complaint. Mr. Collins was even able to source some of the rarer plants that Cass wanted through a connection he had.
Yeah, a ’connection’. Cass had a feeling he knew exactly who Mr. Collins’ connection was, and he was fairly certain that they would be doing some ’connecting’ as payment later.
The servants were giving Cass strange looks since he wasn’t normally spotted around town, and it was also strange that the King kept strolling by to make sure that Cass was okay, everything was going smoothly, all of that.
It worked out in the end. The rooms that the fairies had been assigned looked like forests by the time Cass was done. Glowing spaces full of vibrant plant life. He did explain that once the fairies arrived no one else was going to need to tend to the plants. They would need water before they arrived though, and Cass left.
Hoping that the servants followed his instructions.
Now Cass stood in his finery, waiting for his family to arrive along with the other important nobles who wanted to greet them. They couldn’t wait at the beginning of the procession since that was against the noble rules or some shit, so instead he had to wait with the other nobles.
That included all of the Dukes, the King, the Queen, the crown prince, and the other high rank nobles that made Cass’ stomach churn.
He didn’t mind though, not today. They wouldn’t be able to make him mad because he knew that his presence alone bothered them. He also could hear every word that they were whispering about him and the others.
It had caused quite a stir when Fiona hadn’t shown up with them. It was clear that it confirmed the rumours, just like Cass and the others wanted. Even Duke Vespertine asked if they were okay. He even seemed genuinely concerned, but Cass remembered he only really cared about the heroes. He wasn’t asking because he cared about his son’s feelings.
He was asking because he cared about Fiona and Cass. That was it.
His grandfather was avoiding him, as was Duke Ridgewood. After all, his more important sons were escorting Cass’ family. He didn’t need to concern himself with Gideon anymore, or else Cass would put an end to his family line.
The King was also nervous, so it was only Cass, Gideon and Edgar who were calm.
Edgar looked like more of a prince then the crown prince, and Cass knew that the others could tell as well. Even with his special hat on, his looks couldn’t be hidden by a small shadow covering his eyes. Even the regular people around them were glancing at him, their faces flushed.
It had to do with the almost white outfit he was wearing. He had gold accents, gold trim, and his buttons were the same blue that matched his eyes. His jacket was in the style of this time, but his pants were different. Crisper, closer to the body. They showed off that while Edgar was slender, he wasn’t going to blow away if a gale came through. He was sturdy. Handsome, and tall.
Cass had selected the outfit. Maybe to brag a bit about the men he kept at his side. He’d also selected what Gideon was wearing as well.
Gideon was in a darker blue outfit. It was a knights uniform, since that was what Gideon preferred to wear. It had gold accents like Edgar’s outfit, but had space for the sword that he wore on his hip. His suit was more muted to highlight the pretty scabbard that Cass had gotten the man. Cass could also tell how Duke Ridgewood recognised the sword and scabbard. Cass almost snorted at the sneer that he gave Cass and Gideon when he thought they weren’t looking.
With Gideon dressed as a knight and not as a noble, it was expected that he would wear the crest of the family that he served. Normally it would be his family. The Ridgewoods. However, Gideon wasn’t wearing the crest of his family on his lapel. He was wearing the Blackburn family crest because Gideon belonged to Cass. He’d declared it publicly, and he was going to own what he had done as well.
Cass might have realised that it was incredibly problematic to own another person, but Gideon needed someone to own him for now. For his own protection. Otherwise both Duke families would try to sweep in and steal him up. Cass would not allow that, so he belonged to Cass instead.
Did it kind of leave a bitter taste in his mouth that he also technically belonged to his grandfather? Yeah. That was disgusting, but would be remedied soon. Cass was working on it.
What was Cass wearing? Well, only something Sam would put him in.
Cass wasn’t in alignment with the other two men. They looked like they were loosely paired together, and then there was Cass. It was made worse because Cass was standing in between the two men, each of them relaxed on either side of him but it was a protective stance.
Cass was in black and red. A classic look that Sam had insisted on. He said it would be good to contrast his family, and tragically Aunt Alysora agreed with him too. She wanted to see Cass in full Cassian Blackburn gear, and Cass was a fool who was unable to resist it after Ailia said that she wanted to see it too. So had Taniora.
Cass didn’t realise how easily he was bossed around by the women in his life. It was a good thing he wasn’t sexually attracted to any of them or he might find himself chained up as a breeding horse. The thought made him laugh, and he kept it to himself.
He had a feeling that if either Edgar of Gideon heard that, it would not go well. It would be even worse if Lucian caught a whiff of it.
Cass was in a newer villain outfit. Done in a similar style as Edgar, but in the complete opposite shades. Cass was primarily black, with a white dress shirt, and red buttons that matched his eyes. The trim for his outfit wasn’t gold, but instead black. He didn’t get shiny colours like the others. His shock of white hair was enough.
His shoes were shiny, his body in good condition, and he was anxiously waiting for his family to arrive so that he could greet them. They had hidden their outfits from him, so out of pettiness Cass had done the same.
They hadn’t been angry at his childish behaviour and instead had welcomed it. They had said it would be a welcome surprise. Cass regretted everyday that his grandfather was a mean old man who couldn’t let bygones be bygones. If Cass had been raised by them, how different would Cassian have been? What life could he have lived?
Cass tried not to think about that too deeply.
The sound of the people lining the streets grew louder and Cass stiffened. That could only mean one thing. They were getting closer.
Cass could hear the music the whole time they had entered the city, but as they got closer he could hear it better, picking out the words. Cass felt his heart ache, his chest squeeze as he heard the music of his people. There was a longing there that he had no idea how to control this strange feeling, just that it was consuming him entirely.
Edgar reached out, squeezing his shoulder.
"It’s okay." He whispered, and Cass glanced at him. Edgar’s blue eyes were warm, his face soft, loving. "We’re all here." He promised. He knew that they had gone with the ’haven’t seen each other in a long time’ angle for safety’s sake, but Edgar was being far too sweet. It was like he had a connection to Cass’ soul and emotions instead of Lucian.
"I’m fine." Cass countered and Gideon chuckled.
"I’m sure you are." He said, no mockery in his voice. "You’ll be better soon." He told him, his green eyes warm. Cass refused to look at either of him, his face warming at the tender care they were showing him. They could not be acting like this out in the open.
Not when they were trying to spread the rumour that Fiona had miscarried. He did not the rumour to spread that she had miscarried out of shock that her husbands were fucking each other. Knowing how cruel some of the people here were, that was a very real possibility.
Cass’ breath stuttered as he caught sight of the procession finally. His family were...magical. Beings who couldn’t even be compared to humans.
No wonder the humans had called his Mom a demon. If she was more charming then these fairies, she must have caused quite the stir.
They were dancing, singing, playing instruments, all while a protective border was formed around them by stern-faced, pretty fairies. Gender was...well, optional as far as Cass could tell, since all of them wore something that covered their chests and their groins.
Smiles, music and laughter. That was the complete opposite of what Cass had grown up in. Then, at the front, in a crown made of Taniora’s tears, his Aunt marched. Head held high, smile on her lips, and so beautiful Cass didn’t think she was real. The first move had been made in a game that the others didn’t even know had started.