[color=#b97703]“Hopefully you won’t have to,”[/color] Cas laughed when Iris said she couldn’t imagine going through all the sample drinks. [color=#b97703]“The goal here was just to have a good time, not make anyone sick.”[/color] When he finished speaking, he finished off the rest of his glass and slid it to the edge of the table with the empty margarita cup. Almost as soon as he did, Martin was on his feet to make him a second cocktail at the bar. The servant knew the prince almost always had more than one when he visited, so he didn’t want to keep him waiting longer than he had to. It was bad form to delay any member of the royal family their gratification.

Used to the treatment, Cas paid him no mind while he hurried to fill up the next round. [color=#b97703]“I may have been called that once or twice,”[/color] he held up his hands in a guilty gesture. [color=#b97703]“But I prefer to think I know how to have a good time.”[/color] He was well aware that the media ate up his party going habits. Most princes and princess who came before him were far more concerned about their public images, so they had kept away from anything that could sully their reputations. Many of them had kept away from the public altogether as well. His father would have liked to see him do the same, but he didn’t consider himself above the other high borns in the capital. He hadn’t even chosen to be the next king. If he could have picked his own fate, he would have wanted to be part of a family with less power and responsibility.

When Iris commented on the duties he had to take up on his father’s behalf, the prince just shrugged. He didn’t enjoy most of it, but like she said, it was all important. Someone had to keep up relations with the other influential families in Aspiria, negotiate with foreign ambassadors, and humor the newscasters who were critical in presenting the crown in a positive light to the rest of the country. The latter was especially pressing with the rise of the rebellion. If their enemies found out just how steeply their monarch’s health had deteriorated, he was certain they would take advantage of it. That was why he had started giving statements for his father. It was better for a young and healthy face to appear on the people’s screens instead of a decaying figurehead.

[color=#b97703]“You’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth, huh?”[/color] Cas teased when Iris announced that she liked the last sample. Turning away from her, he raised a hand to get Martin’s attention. [color=#b97703]“One more mimosa for Iris, a full one this time.”[/color]

“Of course, your highness,” the bartender bowed.

[color=#b97703]“Thanks, Martin,”[/color] he flashed the servant an appreciative smile and turned back to the girl sitting across from him.

Cas enjoyed the rest of the time he spent with Iris, talking and drinking until he cut himself off for the sake of keeping at least some of his wits about him. By the time he was done, he could feel his exhaustion from the long day finally catch up with him. Too tired to think of an excuse to stick around her any longer—although he wished he could have, because she was great company—he walked her back part of the way to her room. Luckily, they managed to send her to her quarters before his father’s assigned curfew, so the guards didn’t hassle them, and he parted ways with her on peaceful terms to return to his own bed for the night.

 The next morning, Cas found it harder than usual to get up. Though he wasn’t hungover, the alcohol left him feeling drowsy, and he dreaded sitting through another boring economics lesson without getting a few more hours of sleep first. Unfortunately, the only one who could change the time his tutor arrived was his father, so he slapped his alarm clock and forced himself to crawl out of bed. He threw on a pair of joggers and an old, dark green t-shirt and headed to the kitchen for breakfast. Between the loose-fitting clothes and his uncombed hair, he looked more disheveled than usual, but he was too groggy to care. If his father complained, he would just tidy up his appearance between his meal and when the teacher showed up later.