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[color=00F8FE]Time: Early Evening
Location: Caesonia Palace-Ballroom
Interaction: Auguste[@Inertia], King Edin & Queen Alibeth, Sultan Raif Kadir
Mentions: Wulfric [@SilverPaw][/color]

[color=9FA1A4]Callum only let out a tired sigh when he heard Duke Vikena had angered the guests from Alidasht. He’d been hoping for news that some minor faux pas would leave his father stopping around the palace later that night, nothing that could truly hurt the already tragic duke. He had flinched slightly as his brother gave him a slap on the back and offered advice. Cal corrected his posture, it sounded like Edin was already well past his low boiling point, and now would not be the time to make things worse. Then he followed silently, lost in his own thoughts and worries about how tonight would play out. He only shook his head as Auguste volunteered to take the blame for their tardiness. He knew his father would blame him no matter what was said, and Cal would have it no other way. 

They entered the den of vipers and many turned to watch the pair of spare princes as they headed towards the Caesonian monarchs. The overwhelming mix of scents hit him first like a stampede had gotten loose in a perfume shop. It immediately churned his stomach, and it was at that moment that he realized he’d left his whiskey in the library.

[color=00F8FE][i]Oh dammit.[/i][/color] He thought as he bowed in unison with Auguste before his parents. He caught the glare from his father, and it took every bit of self-control to keep his face neutral, neither returning the stare nor glowing with smug pride. 

Then there was his mother; someone he resented, often disliked, but loved dearly. Like many of the judgments he held against others, his resentment of her was unfair. The Queen had little say over his father’s actions, and it was hard to tell how much of them she truly condoned. Like most nobles he was familiar with, it was difficult to know what was sincerity and what was an act. He returned his mother’s hug with the warmth he could manage, whispering a ‘thank you’ to her ear. He’d never had it in him to try and break his mother’s heart. 

Then came the find a wife speech and Cal bit down on his own tongue to keep his eyes from rolling. [color=00F8FE][i]Don't fidget. Don't fidget.[/i][/color] He kept reminding himself as he resisted the urge to loosen the damn cravat once more or adjust the stiff, itchy, formal clothing. [color=00F8FE][i]How long is this damn speech?[/i][/color] Cal was pretty sure he'd heard this one last season. Oddly enough the familiar speech ended early, and it was certainly not because his father was feeling merciful. 

Cal turned to look at Wulfric as his father did so, a small bit of excitement to see what Wulfric could possibly be up to that had stopped his father’s glowing praise. There was Wulfy walking with an Alidasht woman and a tiger. The edges of his lips began to form a smirk and he had to bite his tongue harder to stop it. 

[color=00F8FE][i]This is almost too good to be true.[/i][/color] Cal knew how much Edin despised animals, especially in the ballroom and here their guests had gone and brought a zoo with them. And there was Wulfric, the golden child, flirting with one of the culprits right in front of father. [color=00F8FE][i]A bit late to try and steal the mantle of biggest disappointment Wulfy.[/i][/color] He thought, but he doubted Wulfric had the follow-through to utterly disappoint Edin.

[color=00F8FE]“So a good bloodline, beautiful, and obedient. Sounds like I’m looking for a dog rather than a wife.”[/color] Cal muttered before he grew even paler than he already was as he realized he had spoken rather than thought that remark. 

[color=00F8FE][i]Maybe he didn’t hear that one.[/i][/color] Callum didn’t look to see if his father’s face had grown any redder, though he could swear he felt the dagger-like stare upon his back as he turned to greet the approaching Sultan with the customary Alidasht bow. 

[color=00F8FE]“Your majesty, Caesonia is honored by your radiant presence. Peace be upon you.”[/color] He spoke, his tone respectful towards the Sultan, who approached just in time to hopefully spare him an earful for his last remark. [color=00F8FE][i]How long do their introductions usually take?[/i][/color] He wondered, he was already feeling overdue for a trip to the wine table.[/color]