Chapter 25 Royal Etiquette's
Caleb
"You know I completely understand what you did but then I still wish I could have been there." Sam was babbling. Either more so or on par with Jason's babbling. Not that Caleb particularly minded Jason babbling. He looked cute when he babbled.
He learned well enough through his sister, that it was better to let a person babble until they burn themselves out.
"Does he know what we're having for dinner tonight?" She asked while hoisting herself up. "Gosh I can't say I've ever worn jeans before."
Caleb was standing near the bedroom door with his back to her. Samantha was well hidden by some three piece foldable... thing. Caleb's mind was too busy elsewhere to notice the cream patterned room his sister was staying in. A cream patterned matching dress was casually thrown over the top of the foldable thing. Caleb could still hear her hopping on one foot.
Samantha must have caught on because Caleb immediately froze. Icicles felt like they were forming at the back of his neck. "Oh Caleb... no... he doesn't know does he?"
"Doesn't know what?" Caleb snapped himself out of it by having to visibly shake himself. "We're having pizza? Forgive me but it completely slipped my mind. I was too busy coming up with the perfect way to propose."
"He doesn't know we're skipping the usual royal etiquette's?" Sam said with some distaste. She wasn't what anyone would call an average Princess. Caleb had seen enough girls in school who would be more than willing to take her place, but he also knew his sister would never step aside. She loved her country too much.
"Awwww, I completely forgot to mention that. I need to call him."
"Aw man, my baby brother is engaged! Who would have thought?" That in turn made him pause. "And look at you! You're blushing! We should have everyone to set up the dining room like we normally do. Just to mess with him a bit."
"You haven't even met him yet and you're already trying to mess with him. I can still find ways to protect him from you." He said.
"Try me!"
Caleb left the room before his sister threw herself back on the bed struggling once more. She'd probably gotten a pair of jeans two sizes too small.
Caleb began to search for his phone but realized too late that he'd left it in his room. When he found it, he made sure to send a text message to check on Jason. He couldn't help the tugs on each corner of his lips. Jason was most likely freaking out, though his responses seemed fine enough. Caleb made sure to reassure him that everything would be fine. They were having pizza so there was no need obsess over silverware anymore.
He was sure he could see Jason sighing in relief, even though there was no way he could see it. Jason did send a smiley face as a reply. Caleb went on to say that it would only be his mother and sister they would be dining with. There was no response for a full five minutes, and now Caleb was starting to get antsy. Caleb was already dressed up, silver blazer, white button up, black slacks, hair styled to look professionally messy and shiny black shoes.
Caleb was too busy having a fantasy of inviting a wide eyed Jason to his room upstairs. The house would be empty so they could get away with it. Caleb would invite Jason into his outstretched arms and he would undoubtedly come willingly. He'd make sure to cradle Jason's head by his chest while gently talking to him. He'd hold Jason there for as long as he could.
Not that it really mattered but Caleb's bed had custom made cravings that almost resembled a painting. A landscape.
Fifteen minutes passed when Caleb received a photo. Jason was all prepped and ready to go. It had a caption stating that Caleb was getting a sneak peek. The tugs took place at the corners of Caleb's lips once more. Jason had gotten a haircut. His mousy brown hair was combed over. Like Caleb, Jason appeared to be wearing a button up white shirt but it came with a skinny black tie. A black suit jacket seemed to sag over his shoulders from the way he took the picture. He founding himself smiling whenever Jason smiled. The way Jason smiled, it made his eyes sparkle. He'd recently shaved too. Caleb wished he could touch that baby face of his, at least once tonight when no one was watching. Then again anyone could watch for all he cared.
He felt very strongly about never having to hide his feelings for Jason.
Another photo arrived and this time it wasn't of Jason, but his mother. She had her curly black hair tied at the back, with a sparkly silver dress. She looked great from what Caleb could tell... but she had a hand outstretched to block the camera. Caleb laughed out loud at this. This was going to be an interesting night.
A knock on the door brought Caleb's attention. He sat with one hand over the left knee and waited.
"Please excuse my intrusion sir." Caleb had seen this man around the house. He was obviously American since he kept his eyes mostly to the floor. Odd, to think that most Americans seemed to think that they were obliged to bow as if they were under the rule of Caleb's family when that wasn't the case at all.
Caleb nodded for the man to proceed anyway.
"I apologize again if I've interrupted anything but sir this came up last minute." Now Caleb was starting to feel uncomfortable for making someone look uncomfortable. Knowing that there was something going on last minute didn't help matters either.
Caleb expressed none of this. "Proceed."
"We have a few extra guests." Uh oh. "Your, excuse me, your brother is downstairs. He's to dine with us." Caleb didn't bother correcting. "And the other is a friend of yours, so he says."
Before he could get the words out to ask who. A tall figured stepped into the doorway. The young man had serious looking eyes, chiseled cheeks and jawline, black hair, and a bit bulkier from the last time Caleb last saw him. The newly crowned King of the Netherlands had decided to finally grace himself with his presence.
Jason was sure to love this.
At first, all Constantine could do was stand in the doorway, like he wasn't sure what to do with himself. Caleb felt his whole body freeze in place. Surely, he knew too? Didn't everyone?
What was he going to say to Tim? He realized too late, that he never did explain things back at the palace.
Constantine brushed his knuckles over the door frame. "Can I, uh, come in?"
Caleb didn't trust himself to speak, so he nodded instead.
Was one of his best friends about to treat him differently? How was Augustus and his own father going to react? All these questions had his heart racing, and not in the same way Jason made his heart race. Jason... at least he'd have him to help him get through this dinner.
Caleb didn't realize the man who brought Constantine to his room was leaving after announcing that several members of the Parliament had just arrived too. This was doomed to become a disaster!
Constantine crossed into the room. He picked a leather recliner against the wall. There was still distance between the both of them but Caleb could tell, the crown had changed a young man into a full grown man. He didn't have to wear a crown to prove he was different. It was the way he carried himself. Constantine walked like he was walking on air and he carried a cane in one hand.
The suit Constantine wore was a 3 piece. Constantine always favored the scratchy looking sort. This one had a matching jacket and vest that was a light brown with dark checkered lines. His slacks were simply black. His shoes on the other hand had an extra shine. As if what he wore made any real difference. The man was a good looking sort. He could wear rags and still walk on a runway with his head held high.
Constantine sat, but his piercing gaze remained unrelenting. Caleb thought about looking away, but he was raised to be better than that.
"So... I'm engaged now." It was lame, but Caleb was still clueless on how to get the conversational ball going.
The ball was in Constantine's court now so...
"I've heard." Was Caleb imagining things? Because it sounded like if Constantine came with subtitles, the words would all be in cursive. "We've all heard, but that's not the only reason I'm here."
Oh yeah? Caleb wanted to say. He would have, had it been like it was in the good olé days. Back when they all attended the same school. That was a whole other lifetime. That Caleb, was an entirely different person now.
"I came first because I missed you. It's been a while." Caleb felt his heart clench but still didn't trust himself to speak. "Congratulations by the way. None of us saw that coming." The latter could have been cruel but the look in his eyes suggested otherwise. "I'm here mostly to show my support. I am on your side of course."
At this Caleb felt himself paying more attention. "What? Here? I should have known there was a reason some of the Parliament members decided to drop by unannounced!" Constantine raised his hand to silence Caleb but Caleb's mind was rushing too fast to pay any mind.
"Couldn't that have waited? All I want is for Jason to have a nice meal here with me. I just got him relaxed."
"Stop."
And Caleb did stop.
"You're making this sound worse than it really is."
"But, but-"
"But nothing. It will be brought up at the table. That much is certain."
"You know what? You're right." Caleb said. He was already thinking ahead. He had invited Jason's best friends. Jason didn't know, but Caleb wanted to surprise him. He invited Jasper too, even though he wasn't a 100% comfortable with the idea of having the guy in the same room as his fiancé. He went as far as inviting an acquaintance of Jason's. Karrishea. He also made sure to invite Zoey, despite that they hadn't spoken in over two weeks since he got outed by the paparazzi.
He hasn't even seen a single golden hair from her head.
So Caleb would have plenty of supporters around him. Even if that meant if he too had to step down. The downfall, he wasn't sure how Viktor would handle it all. The weight of all, the attention and expectations... Caleb was starting to see things from Augustus's point of view. At the very least, Augustus could have attempted to be kinder.
Caleb just hoped everyone would show. If not for him, but for Jason.
"Jason doesn't know!" He was standing, and was now reaching for his phone.
"Caleb stop." Constantine still looked regal, even calm. He watched Caleb jump up on his feet but Constantine remained sitting. His eyes were calm, always calm. In all the time Caleb had known Constantine, nothing ever seemed to rile him up.
"But Jason doesn't know!" He was already typing in the code to his phone.
"He's probably already on his way." Caleb paused, looking to Constantine. "He. Will. Understand."
Oh god, he hoped so.