Chapter 570: Who is good enough?
Cass didn’t get to make Gideon do that because as soon as the dance finished, his Aunt and the other fairies were announced. That also meant that Cass was alone as his family entered the ballroom. No Edgar, not Gideon, just Cass, a glass of champagne, and a heat in his chest.
His Aunt and the other fairies hadn’t dressed informally in the house when they were staying with him, but they hadn’t dressed in their finery either. They had made themselves comfortable, as Cass would have expected of them.
Cass had a feeling that if they had arrived when he wasn’t in a dungeon he might have seen them in the kind of finery that was greeting his eyes right now, minus the crowns and necklaces that declared their intent.
All of the fairies were smiling, which made their already pretty features even harder to look away from. They all smelled good too. It was like the moment the door opened and the fairies stood in the doorway, a fresh, calming scent washed over the room. It was very impressive, and Cass didn’t know if it was magic or not.
He also had no idea if that was a normal thing, since he hadn’t noticed it at all in his own home. Maybe because of the nursery tree he didn’t notice it because they were already doing something similar. Cass was uncertain, but he didn’t care that much.
Cass slid his gaze around the room, trying to pinpoint where everyone was. Edgar was still with his contacts, Gideon was still next to the Queen who had a rather fascinated expression on her face. Gideon looked a little more severe. He honestly looked like how he used to be around Cass before everything blew up.
Duke Vespertine was speaking to a few priests and other nobles nearby, and Duke Ridgewood was doing the same. Cass couldn’t see his grandfather, which was pretty alarming. He knew the old man wouldn’t miss something like this. Ever.
The King was still on his throne and the crown prince was moving around the ballroom speaking to every pretty woman he could see. Cass wanted to roll his eyes. As far as he knew, the crown prince was already married but maybe he was trying to add to harem or whatever the hell they called it here.
Despite Cass knowing a lot, and reading a lot, he hadn’t liked those novels that much so he had avoided them and also avoided getting to know their terms. So as far as he knew the crown prince was forming a woman-only army.
Good for him, Cass guessed. He took a long sip of his champagne, knowing that it would be a while before he could speak to his people. The fairies had come into the room and people hadn’t been as scared of them as they were scared of the hero party. They had gone right up to them and had begun speaking to them.
It was a surprise his people, Cass could tell, but he also knew that they weren’t going to turn this kind of attention down. Cass just chuckled, shaking his head as they broke off into smaller groups, blending in with the humans.
Cass even caught Byron, the man who normally blended into the background, being accosted by a few nobles and pretty people. Cass could tell that he was annoyed, but it was his Mom’s hand on his arm that was keeping him mellow. Cass was sure that he kept mentioning that he already had a partner. He would have liked to move closer to try to listen in on their conversations except a hand on his shoulder shook Cass from his happy observation.
When Cass turned, he felt his happy mood evaporate.
The eyes that stared back at him were old, cold, and one that struck fear into Cassian’s body. Cass tensed, his jaw tight as he met the gaze of the man that had ’raised’ him in his father’s place.
"Grandfather." Cass said. It was only polite given that they were blood related, but he watched the other man closely. His eyes tightened around the corners. It was a small sign, but still a tell that told Cass he did not like to be called that by him.
What the hell else was Cass supposed to call him? Emperor of Evil? Never mind. He’d probably like something like that.
"Cassian. If we could have a word?" He asked and Cass felt his spine stiffen. He knew that going to a secondary location with this man was probably not a good idea. But he had magical powers. Worst case scenario? He could defend himself. He was far stronger than he used to be.
Cass plastered on a fake smile and watched as his grandfather twitched in confusion.
"Of course we can, Grandfather." Cass said. He nodded, and surprisingly gently tugged on Cass’ arm. He pulled him off onto a balcony for some privacy and Cass noticed two things. How everyone was watching them, curious, and how his grandfather wasn’t traveling alone. He had a few of the Blackburn knights with him. Men and women who had stood by or helped participate in the abuse of Cassian.
Cass knew that the reaction he was having wasn’t his own. His body was breaking out into a cold sweat. Fear making his body shake slightly. Cass would not blame Cassian for his reaction. Cass hadn’t grown up with such bullies, but he also hadn’t been backed into the same kind of corner as Cassian had. Cass could have fought back most times, and while he had needed to bow and accept certain conditions when it came to work, the people who truly bullied him didn’t hire him.
It was the one saving grace that Cass had to his name.
The balcony looked familiar as Cass was pulled onto it, but he didn’t think it was the same one that the hero party had brainstormed on at the last ball. He just assumed they all kind of looked the same.
The doors closed and Cass found himself in a three versus one situation. He wondered what his grandfather wanted to say, and wondered if he wanted to speak with his words, or the fists of the guards next to him?
Some of his worries were answered when the two guards stood at the doors, preventing others from coming in, and preventing Cass from escaping. As soon as they were out of the eye of the public, the soft smile on his grandfather’s face that was all for show disappeared.
This was the first time that Cass had spoken to his grandfather like this since he had taken over Cassian’s body and he had no idea how he was supposed to act in front of him. Subservient? Antagonistic? Cass wasn’t sure. He just watched as his grandfather gripped onto his cane, scowling as he looked out over the gardens and then back to Cass. He closed his eyes, shaking his head.
"What are you even thinking?" He demanded, spitting the words at Cass. Cass blinked.
"What?" Cass asked dumbly. He had no idea what the man was asking of him. He scoffed.
"What are you thinking about allowing the fairies to come into the city? Don’t you remember the chaos that they caused the last time one of them was here? Don’t you remember the shame that they brought onto this family?" He snarled and Cass stood there. Stunned. He was truly surprised that this was the angle that his grandfather was going for.
He was mad that the fairies were here? He was mad that Cass had any affiliation to them? God, he was such an asshole. It was a very, very good thing that he had no claim in the house that he’d bought with the nursery tree.
"You do know that I have fairy blood in my veins along with the Blackburn family bloodline as well, right?" Cass asked. It was clearly a surprise to his grandfather that Cass pointed that out. The man froze, his angry expression contorting further as he turned his fierce gaze towards Cass.
"How could I ever forget the damn witch who tainted our bloodline. Every moment I look at you is a reminder of that." His face, already wrinkled, contorted with more anger and disgust as he scanned Cass’ whole body. "Look at you. Not even a spec of the Blackburn legacy lives on in you. Not a single strand of black hair, not our telltale orange gaze. You’re a damn disgrace, but I thought since I’d raised you personally that you wouldn’t do this to me." Cass swallowed thickly.
His hands shook. One response, the fear, was from Cassian. The anger was all Cass’. How dare he speak to Cassian like this? It should not be a surprise to Cass that he was blaming Cassian for everything. It was a classic sign of a bad parent, or bad family member. Cass could only imagine how his father had been raised under this man. Still, that didn’t mean he wanted to let this man get away with it.
"Do what to you, exactly? As far as I know, I’ve helped us broker a working relationship with a race that we’ve been in on and off again wars with for years. Decades, even, and you think that’s disgraceful? Are we not a Ducal family? Are we not supposed to be doing things to benefit the Kingdom? Why are you speaking as if I’m doing something that is wrong? How is trying to go for peace wrong? I kill enough things with my own hands in the name of this fucking Kingdom and the damn hero party, and the moment I try to do something peaceful is the moment you haul me out and lecture me?" Cass raised a hand, running his shaking fingers through his hair. "I can’t believe this." Cass muttered.
His grandfather seemed shocked that Cass would talk back to him. That didn’t last long, however. His expression darkened, growing even more cool and calculating.
"Doing something for the Kingdom, huh? Something peaceful? Are you an idiot? Fairies are nothing but trouble. Inviting them into our capital is not only foolish, but plain stupid. You are inviting an enemy into our home, our territory, and then supplying them with the weapons to harm us. Don’t think I haven’t heard about what you’ve been doing in the palace, young man. Disgraceful. You’ll always be nothing like me and everything like your mother." It was a low blow, one that shouldn’t hurt.
Cass knew that his mother wasn’t a good person. He’d found out the truth, but Cassian didn’t know nor did the man before him. He was just making prejudiced guesses because he was a bigot and an asshole.
Cass let out an explosive sigh that morphed into a laugh. His grandfather gave him a hard look as Cass tossed his head back and laughed. Cass shook his head, not even surprised at this point.
"Is that all you can say?" Cass asked, leveling the man with a hard look of his own. "That I’m nothing like you and only like my mother?" Cass’ grin wasn’t kind as he stared at the man. "Sorry to disappoint you, grandfather, but I am far less like my mother than you think and far more like you then I think you’re comfortable with." Cass’ smile was bitter. "After all, my dear wife is going through an unimaginable pain and yet here I am. At a party celebrating the family that you consider so beneath us. Celebrating bloodlines, and how pure they are. Did you know who my mother came from before you said she was beneath you?" Cass asked him. He watched his grandfather’s jaw harden. That was an answer on its own.
"Does it matter if she comes from a good family in her kingdom? It means nothing here." His grandfather said, his hand white against his cane. Cass smirked.
"So not even the blood of a princess is worthy of the Blackburn name? Understood, grandfather." Cass told him. His grandfather looked pissed, but what could he say? He knew that he was right, which was why the old man wasn’t talking back right now. Cass shook his head. "I have to get back to the party now, grandfather. As always, it was so pleasant to chat with you." Cass gave a rather fake, flourishing bow, turned, and waved his hand.
It was a simple move, but a powerful one. It moved the two guards away from the door and opened the doors on their own. It was a clear sign to his grandfather. Cass might let him get away with some things, but not everything anymore.
Cass didn’t even look back as he stepped back into the ballroom.
