Chapter 488: Spoken for...

Leonce nodded as he looked around at the crowd while the applause began to wane.

"Yes, yes, we are very fortunate to have an Imperial Presence in our midst," he said with a chuckle,

"Fortunate indeed.

Well, the night is still young, so how about we keep the festivities going before we bore ourselves with serious topics, huh?"

A chorus of laughter followed Leonce’s words. The guests didn’t seem particularly bored yet. They had good wine in hand, and many were enjoying splendid conversation, so they were happy to let the good times roll.

Conversations resumed then but Caius kept his eyes on Leonce, trying to get a read on the man who was now talking with Duncan Acheron by his side once again. Caius noticed Duncan looking in his direction but paid him no mind. All things considered, Duncan didn’t really matter here.

It was clear to him why Duncan was here rather than one of the actual Imperial Princes/Princesses: because the Imperial Family could hardly be bothered to make an actual appearance, so they sent a representative from one of the branch families.

Don’t get Caius wrong, Duncan still carried a lot of responsibility and authority. To anger him might as well be to anger the Imperial Crown. However, if he was the best the Imperial Family could care to send for representation, then Leonce Duval’s Function might actually be struggling for relevancy more than Caius had ever thought.

While the crowd didn’t seem to be on the same train of thought—there were no murmurs specifically about Duncan all around—Caius had to think Leonce was well aware of this... conundrum. That was why it was interesting that the man looked so... calm through it all. The smile he wore, the way he carried himself, it all just made him feel like someone still very much in control.

With a bow to Duncan, Leonce began to leave the Hall through the special entrance he had come through, allowing ten Prince to finally join the guests, getting bows and acknowledgment all around. None of it ever lasted though. It seemed like the guests were simply doing enough to respect the authority Duncan carried before getting back to whatever they had been doing. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Duncan frowned after this happened for the sixth time. He understood why it was happening. When he won the ’lottery’ of representing the Imperial Family here, he had at least accepted the reality of his station; That it was temporary.

But the fact that he understood it and was trying his best not to throw a tantrum didn’t mean he was happy about any of it.

Still, as he was in such need of an outlet for his frustrations, he quickly picked a target— The youngest of the guests here and so far, the most disrespectful;

The purple-eyed boy.

Caius felt Lyanna’s hold twitch around his arm and he looked at her with concern.

"What is it?" He asked her gently and in a low voice.

Alexia and Elenor heard him though and were now paying close attention. Lyanna glanced at them and there was a purse on her lips that said more than her words ever could.

"Nothing," she said, "I just— need some air. I’ll see you later, My L— I mean, Caius."

She released his arm then and didn’t look happy to do so as she walked away, her guards sticking close. Caius had been around Lyanna enough in the past two weeks to know the look in her eyes was from getting a ’feeling’— A change in the Astral plane. He also knew that she was leaving to investigate that feeling.

"Alright," he told her, "Take care."

He watched her leave with a frown and that didn’t change when someone was suddenly blocking his sight from Lyanna’s back. His frown only got deeper as he looked up into the face of Prince Duncan Acheron and then he looked confused.

"Good day to you," Duncan said eyeing Caius like he was sizing him up.

Duncan was pretty tall. Caius was only taller by about two inches but the Prince didn’t let that put him off.

"Your Lordship," Alexia and Elenor said as one. The guards with them bowed deeply as well.

"Good day to you as well," Caius said slowly in response to the greeting and then added tacked on like he might have almost forgotten,

"Your Lordship."

Caius wasn’t even trying to be disrespectful. He just found himself in a bit of a sullen mood because he was worried about what Lyanna might have sensed and his worrying gaze at her walking away had gotten interrupted by a face he didn’t at all care for.

Still, it was not good to be so agitated. He wasn’t even particularly fearful of repercussions... He just felt it more prudent to keep his emotions more— hidden.

"What’s your name, boy?" Duncan asked.

"I assume this is a test, Your Lordship?" Caius asked lightly, his tone suggesting that his identity should have been obvious. After all, the Hellsingers had a very distinct uniform even among the many Guards in the Hall. There was also the tiny insignia of the Von Helsing Family crest on his lapel.

Of course, all of those details could have easily been missed. And just because Caius was standing close to the Hellsingers didn’t mean they were here to protect him. Really, Caius only suggested with his tone that it should have been obvious who he was to attempt to trip Duncan up a bit following such a confident and annoying approach from the Prince.

When he saw Duncan blink hard, Caius knew he had succeeded.

"What?" The Prince asked with a split second of confusion.

"Caius Von Helsing, Your Lordship," Caius said with a bow then, after getting what he was after.

Duncan frowned and then quickly collected himself as he laughed.

"You are Caius Von Helsing?" He asked in what sounded like disbelief,

"The famous Lochxen First year?"

"Oh, I doubt I’m that famous," Caius said.

"Oh, you are. Much too famous I say. By the way the rumors spoke of you, I expected... more," Duncan said with a smirk.

"Did you really?" Caius asked with a little smile and a tone of disbelief of his own before he added,

"Well, I’m sorry to have disappointed you."

Caius took a sip of wine then, his eyes darting off to the side as he spread out his senses—as best as he could without shifting—to catch a whiff of Lyanna.

"Oh and who is this ravishing beauty?" Duncan said then and Caius didn’t need to look to know he was talking to Alexia,

"The boy has such a fetching date?"

"I’m his cousin," Alexia corrected, "Alexia Von Helsing."

"Oh my, how could I have been mistaken. Now actually strike me a Von Helsing. Such fire in those black eyes. Such depth of magic, strength, and character... I have heard much of Von Helsing Women. So fortunate to finally meet one," Duncan said and the sound of his kissing the back of Alexia’s hand was almost as loud as the sound of him kissing her ass.

Caius paid it no mind. But he did hear Alexia chuckle.

"You’re too kind," she said dismissively.

"Perhaps, at a better time, away from the crowd, we could meet and discuss much better," Duncan said.

"And what will we discuss?" Alexia asked lightly, "Combat techniques. Sword forms, Spear forms...?"

"There is more to life than battle, my dear," Duncan said in what Caius assumed was an attempt at an alluring tone,

"Surely, you are not averse to leisure."

"Oh," Alexia said in a tone that sounded as though she had only now understood what Duncan was getting at, and then looked regretful,

"I’m afraid Your Lordship, but I am spoken for.

If the conversation were about battle though, I’d be more obliged to partake."