"But I don't want to meet her!" Cassius yelled.
"But what is so wrong about meeting Lady Hawthorne? It's just a small trip to visit one of your potential trifecta candidates," the queen argued.
"Why are you insisting so much upon this meeting?" Cassius questioned again.
"Her name is in the preliminary list that I've prepared. She's pretty, educated, and well-versed in Waltz, Sicilian, and Chivonian. She can also play the harp and the piano," she saw the bored look on Cassius's face and scoffed, "her list of qualities doesn't end there. Do you wish to know more?" The queen asked.
"No," he answered bluntly.
"Please, Cassius," the queen placed her hand over her swollen abdomen, gently patting it with great affection, "please listen to your tired, old mother once. Don't make me stressed in this condition. It's not good for the baby," she said sadly.
"Mother, you don't have to use that tone," Cassius said.
"You're eighteen now. I worry about you," the queen answered.
"Fine, I'll leave for Findara in an hour and meet with Lady Hawthorne and her family. Stop worrying about me," he said.
"I'm a mother, Cassius. I'll not worry about you. Anyways, make sure to take your brother and that guard you're so fond of as well. You cannot be left alone with Lady Hawthorne unsupervised because you know what that would lead to," the queen said cheekily.
"Enough, Mother. I'm already meeting her for you. Please do not pull my leg more," Cassius bowed in front of her and left the room.
An hour passed in a blink, and before Cassius realized it, he was being seated inside the carriage that would take him to Findara.
Eryx stepped inside and was about to take the vacant seat next to Cedric when his wrist was suddenly grabbed, and he was yanked backward. He automatically stumbled down on the seat next to Cassius and eyed him scornfully.
"What was the meaning of this, your highness?" Eryx asked disdainfully, whispering so that only Cassius could hear him.
"You're my guard, so you'll be accompanying me, not my brother. He already has several people to look after him. He doesn't need you," Cassius said.
"And whose thoughts are those exactly, your brother's or yours, your Highness?" Eryx asked.
"Why are you arguing so much? You want to sit beside my brother so bad?" he asked angrily.
"I just saw the vacant seat beside him first, so I decided to sit there. I didn't put a lot of thought into it, your majesty," Eryx said.
"Oh, really? It's not because you prefer him over me?" Cassius chuckled dryly.
Eryx rolled his eyes at his incriminating questions. "What? Where is this coming from, your highness?"
"I have seen you two exchanging glances multiple times. You also stay back after the duels and spend time with him," Cassius said.
"So? I like talking with his highness," Eryx shrugged.
"Well, too bad. I don't condone you talking to him," Cassius said.
"Your Highness, you don't own me. You don't get to decide who I talk to or want to spend my time with. And why exactly are you meddling with my relationships with others? Do you now have a problem with me? If so, say it clearly," Eryx asked.
"Why do you persist in arguing with me? Is my brother's welfare so important to you that you would go to such lengths? I must ask, are you engaging in some kind of taboo relationship with him?" Cassius demanded, his voice laced with anger.
"Eryx and I are merely friends, your highness. I can assure you that any suggestion to the contrary is wholly unfounded and untrue," replied Eryx, his tone serious and measured.
"If that is the case, then what am I to you?" Cassius asked, his expression darkening. He placed his hand on Eryx's shoulder, his demeanor intimidating and domineering.
"You are a person whom I have had the opportunity to work with, your highness. Nothing more, nothing less," replied Eryx, his voice firm and unyielding.
Cassius regarded him coldly. "I see. Your true colors are starting to show, it seems," he said icily.
Cassius felt something throb in the pit of his stomach when Eryx scooted away from him as far as he could and turned his head in the opposite direction. After a few minutes, he saw him talking to Cedric. They made eye contact, and Eryx glared at him.
He wanted to say something, maybe even apologize, but his pride made him shut his mouth and look to the other side.
Eryx was tired and itched to get out of his task. He had been trailing behind the duchess and the prince for the past hour, listening in on their superficial conversation about their hobbies. He distracted himself by observing the beautiful meadow around him.
The meadow was wide and open, sloping gently down to a cosmic-blue river. A copse of cypress pines flanked on one side, with a thicket of peaceful beeches standing guard on the other. Apple trees ran through the center of the garden, casting a lake of claw shadows onto the grass.
The sun washed the garden with a golden glow, and the sugar-frosted coating of winter melted from the grass. Birdsong filtered in through the glass. The dawn chorus erupted at daybreak as flute-throated thrushes sang their joy.
They had finally reached the dancehall, which was a lone building at the corner of the Hawthorne mansion. On pink-pebbled cement, its title was painted in azure blue that matched the depth of the background shade yet stood out well. As they entered, a soft procession of piano chords and the tuning of a violin was heard.
Eryx noticed that the facade of the building was pink, the other walls being a more ordinary shade of white. And inside, except for the pink swing doors, everything was a shade of light blue.
Lady Hawthorne's mother's quick eyes behind the horn-rimmed glasses; the light thin hair and the narrow face beneath; the lips full and loose shut and the lower one pink and shining from the bites of her teeth; the forked veins in her temples throbbing plainly enough to be observed across the room.
"Gwyneth, my dear, are you ready?" she asked as the young girl bowed.
Her daughter's behavior contrasted with hers. Lady Hawthorne was a lean, petite, and timid young girl. Her frank, grey eyes, the little nose turning pertly outward; the molten red hair, curling like the tendrils of a pea vine. She wore a regency ball gown with a very high-waisted bodice, from which the lightweight fabric teased the ground below her feet. The neckline of her gown was cut square and very low, along with small puffed sleeves that barely covered her shoulders.
"Your Highness, may I have the honor to dance with you?" Lady Hawthorne asked, her voice filled with a mixture of nervousness and excitement, her deep bows punctuating her words.
Cassius gave a curt nod, but inwardly, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions stirred within him. Jealousy churned in the depths of his being as he glanced over at Eryx, unable to resist the magnetic pull that drew his gaze. While his eyes drooped with an air of indifference, his heart betrayed him, throbbing with an unwelcome burning sensation in the pit of his stomach. He pushed aside these feelings, forcing his attention to focus on the orchestra.
The middle-aged men, positioned on the stage, commanded Cassius's gaze. His eyes settled on the violinist closest to him, whose fingers caressed the strings with purpose and finesse. The pearl-tipped bow glided smoothly, its movement tracing the chalky rosin, producing an enchanting melody that permeated the air.
As the first beat of the music resonated, Cassius and the duchess gracefully stepped forward, their movements perfectly synchronized with the rhythm. He took her gloved hand in his, intertwining their fingers, and their bodies began to sway in a pendulum-like motion. At that moment, they danced as one, their steps guided by the melody that enveloped them.
From his vantage point, Eryx observed the prince's elegance and poise, unable to tear his gaze away. A mixture of admiration and longing welled up within him as his mind wandered, imagining himself in the duchess's place. He yearned for the closeness and undeniable chemistry that seemed to radiate between Cassius and his partner. The prince's delicate touch, the glint in his eyes, the way their bodies moved in perfect unison during the danceâEryx longed for a connection like that, a moment of pure intimacy that transcended mere fantasy.
In Eryx's daydream, the prince's gaze held a mischievous glimmer as he smirked, twirling Eryx and pulling him closer. Their chests lightly collided as they moved back and forth, their steps perfectly synchronized. With each turn, their gazes locked, and an unspoken desire smoldering between them, isolating them from the rest of the world.
Driven by his own suppressed desires, Cassius unconsciously drew nearer to Eryx, his movements becoming more deliberate. Eryx's cheeks flushed, his eyes darting downward in a mixture of bashfulness and anticipation, his body instinctively leaning toward the prince's chest.
Their faces inched closer, breaths mingling, foreheads touching. In that moment of tantalizing proximity, their eyes fluttered closed, their lips only centimeters apart, aching to bridge the gap that separated them.
The raucous applause suddenly pierced through Eryx's reverie, abruptly pulling him back to reality. The duchess and the prince gracefully bowed, signaling the end of their dance. Cassius tenderly kissed Lady Hawthorne's hand, a gesture that soured Eryx's mood.
Seeking solace, Eryx left the ballroom and wandered into the garden, his mind still swirling with conflicting thoughts. Lost in his own turmoil, he found himself abruptly pulled into a secluded corner. Panic surged within him, ready to escape his lips, but before he could speak, Cassius's hand silenced him.
"Hey, calm down, it's me," the prince's deep, sultry voice reassured him. Eryx's racing heart began to steady as he relaxed, turning to face Cassius. Disheveled, the prince's shirt hung loosely, his unbuttoned collar hinting at the intensity of their encounter. Leaning against the wall, trapped by Cassius's hands, Eryx found himself gazing into the prince's piercing blue eyes.
"What do you want, your highness?" Eryx's voice barely registered as a whisper, his body overwhelmed by the prince's proximity. His mind raced, trying to comprehend the sudden shift in their dynamics.
Cassius's forehead gently pressed against Eryx's, mirroring the intimate closeness they had shared during their dance. His piercing blue eyes locked with Eryx's brown orbs, a mix of curiosity and vulnerability shining through. Unspoken words hung heavy in the air, begging for release.
Eryx's breath hitched at the question, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. He could feel Cassius's warm breath against his skin, their foreheads touching in an almost tender manner. The prince's eyes wandered, briefly fixating on Eryx's lips before returning to meet his gaze, a playful glimmer dancing within.
"I... I don't harbor any romantic feelings for your brother," Eryx replied, his voice wavering slightly. His heart pounded in his chest, unsure of how Cassius would react to his admission. Every fiber of his being yearned for their connection to transcend the boundaries of society and expectations. "If you still believe that, Your Highness, you're mistaken."
Cassius remained close, his proximity only intensifying the internal struggle within Eryx. The prince's nose brushed against Eryx's, and he inhaled sharply, savoring the scent that was uniquely Cassius. Subconsciously, Eryx licked his lips, a nervous gesture that did not go unnoticed by the prince.
"I'm going to kiss you," Cassius declared, his voice laced with determination. His eyes bore into Eryx's, seeking consent within the depths of their connection. "If you don't want it, you better start running now."
Eryx's mind swirled with a mix of astonishment and desire, a whirlwind of emotions that threatened to consume him. Every nerve in his body screamed for this forbidden intimacy, for the taste of Cassius's lips on his own. Unable to resist any longer, he mustered the courage and seized the moment. With a sudden surge of boldness, he gripped Cassius's collar, pulling him closer until their lips collided in a passionate, long-awaited union.
Time seemed to stand still as their mouths moved in perfect synchronization, their internal turmoil finding solace in the embrace of the other. The world around them faded away, leaving only the sensations of their bodies pressed against one another, the intertwining of their fingers, and the unspoken promises exchanged through the language of their lips.
In that secluded corner, they discovered a forbidden sanctuary, where their desires were free to intertwine without the weight of their roles and responsibilities. In the midst of their stolen moment, Eryx and Cassius found a temporary respite from the world that sought to keep them apart.
But as the echoes of their kiss lingered, they heard a crashing sound, and reality seeped back in, tugging at the edges of their consciousness. They reluctantly pulled away, breathless and wanting, their eyes locked in a mixture of longing and uncertainty.
The sound of footsteps slowly decreased in decibels as the onlooker fled away in the opposite direction.
"I think someone saw us," Cassius said solemnly.
"Your Highness, what will we do now?"
A/N
Hi thanks so much for the read! If you enjoyed please leave a vote or a comment that's the best way to support me! Thanks so much xx, Anne.