Spirit Animals - The Assassins Throne

Chapter Six | Cassian |

It surrounded him, the sheer intoxicating atmosphere practically suffocating his lungs. The golden clad walls and the fine velvet drapery seem to almost cave in on him. And the people, oh all the people. All the upper class of Eura in one room, with their fine gowns and robes, creating a monstrosity of color before his eyes. They laughed in their shrill high laughs and wore their fake gleaming smiles, like cheshire cats. Cassian pulled at his high collar again, as if it would do him any good.

Cassian had always hated his mother's lavish and frivolous balls. They were often very boring and unnecessary to Cassian, but he knew it was always just another way for his mother to show off the royal family's expansive wealth and luxury to all her court. The sheer nerve of that woman.

Cassian peered down at the guests from his throne on the raised dais. Although they all tried to dress as different from one another as possible, what with their ornate jewelry and extravagant clothes. Cassian couldn't help but see the same people no matter where he looked.

His mother seemed to only have two qualifications to attend one of her balls, be pretty or be extremely wealthy. As those were the only two types of people Cassian could see, pretty noble ladies giggling and fanning themselves or some rich high-status officials who seemed almost as bored as himself.

Cassian surveyed the dance floor below, the music from the musicians was starting to give him a headache. As soon as the thought of going outside for some fresh air crossed his mind, his mother was suddenly making her way towards him, a handsome finely dressed man following her. As soon as she caught Cassian slouching on his throne her brows narrowed and her mouth pressed into a disapproving smile, glaring with her amber eyes as if to tell him to fix his posture. Cassian immediately straightened his back and stood to greet the man her mother had brought to meet him. As they approached, Cassian noticed a young girl no older than him also accompanying the man next to his mother.

"Lord Warren, this is my son, Cassian future king of Eura." Cassian only merely acknowledged the Lord as he made a curt bow.

"Your Highness, it is an honour."

"Surely not as high an honour as meeting my mother I assume?" The Lord seemed to be a little taken aback by Cassian's abrupt comment. His sharp and handsome face seemed to contort into a confused, shocked, and almost semi-understanding look as he pondered the right words to respond with. Cassian couldn't help but grin at his own smugness.

"Why, it is an honour to meet you both. Most aren't even lucky enough to meet one of the Euran nobility, let alone two." Cassian's mother let out her annoying little laugh at the Lord's words, placing her hand dotingly on his stiff arm. Cassian's eyes widen at the realization of what his mother was doing.

Although Lord Warren was handsome he surely wasn't his mother's type. He came off as more stoic and professional to Cassian than compared to his mother who was known as a very haughty and conceited woman. Cassian recognized the familiar childish glint in his mother's eyes and knew from the moment she must've seen him she was already taken by her own lust. It was almost expected just from the young Lord's crystalline blue eyes and curled dark brown locks, his mother would certainly want to keep him around in her court.

"Cassian I would also like you to meet Lord Warren's daughter, Lady Delia Warren." Cassian's eyes immediately found the girl lingering beside her father as she stepped up and gave him a deep curtsy, her rich purple gown pooling around her.

"Your Highness, it is truly an honour." As the girl rose she gently lifted her hand towards him as if expecting him to kiss it. Cassian wanted to scoff at the insolent girl's ridiculous gesture. Who did she think she was? He was the prince of Eura, he didn't have to kiss anyone's hand, especially the hand of someone that was so obviously beneath him. He was about to tell off the girl for being an idiot, thinking he would accept her disrespectful offer when Cassian caught his mother's eyes staring daggers at him. She didn't take her eyes off him as she inclined her head forward, gesturing for him to accept the girl's hand. With a begrudging sigh and a dramatic roll of his eyes, Cassian brought the girls hand to his lips, in turn making the girl blush madly.