Chapter 9 Cocktail Hour

The Temple of Kalus in the district of Cornelius had seen less embellished times to be certain. For on the fifteenth of the summer of 1602XII its insides seemed to have exploded outwards in a shower of purple, white, and sage green. Banners, streamers, and flowers seemed to appear any where the eye looked. The carpet that flowed down the steps shimmered a pearlescent white in the morning sun.

Casimir stepped out of the carriage not bothering to take the footman's assistance. Today he finally had on his own clothes which consisted of a long sleeved black shirt with V-shaped open collar and a gold design placed on the chest. The sleeves were rolled up near the ends and the shirt complimented the gold band around his waist. His Order of Magic pendant glittered in the sun's rays.

A second man stepped out of the carriage. He had bright short cropped red hair sporting an undercut and apricot orange eyes with a tanned complexion. He wore a deep green vest with a coat to match over a white shirt and black pants. He ran his hand through his red locks as he glanced to Cas with a large smile.

"Cas, look at all the ladies here! You'd have to be ugly or an idiot to go home alone tonight." He exclaimed.

The blonde raised an eyebrow as he gave the red-head an incredulous look. 

"I thought we agreed that this time, we came to attend a wedding that we were actually invited to. Not to hunt women, Marcus ." Cas quipped at him. 

They walked side by side with Marcus being only a few inches shorter than Cas as they ascended the stairs. He had his arms crossed behind his head as he looked back forth from the women ahead of them.

"Yea, but look at them all! It'd be a shame not to take one of them home! Besides, I already came with a guy, I at least deserve to leave with a lady." He whined.

A large palm briefly touched his chest before sending him tumbling backwards. He managed to catch himself on the steps before looking at Casimir in disbelief.

"What the hell Cas?! Why'd you push me? I could have been seriously hurt man!" Marcus shouted.

The long haired mage turned to look at him from the step above. He glanced down at him with a tight-lipped smile even though the vibe he was emanating was anything but friendliness.

"Marcus, your last actions already caused me enough grief. I'd rather not have to be subjected to another of my mother's rants or worse, my father's. Besides, many of these women attended this event with a partner. Meaning, they already have someone they're leaving with. You, on the other hand, will be leaving with the same person you came with. Me. And should you somehow find yourself in a lady's carriage and not ours at the end of the night, then I'll tell Uncle Jack that you had a sudden desire to spend a year learning on one of his navel fleets. So remember, your destination after the wedding has already been decided and should it be diverted then the only lady you'll need to worry about afterwards is a wooden one. Do we have an understanding?" He demanded.

Frowning, Marcus stood up dusting himself off in the process.

"Kalus reborn, what did Aunt Tori yell at you for this time?" He questioned.

They were nearing the top of the stairs as Cas let out an exhausted sign.

" A lot. And she threw a priceless item at me this time. A Rowen Cullman classic. Signed too. I spent a good part of my evening before she went to pick up father listening to how normally she can look the other way for my activities, but that this time she was absolutely appalled at how one of her sons could be behave so disgracefully. Or something like that. I was half-ass listening while trying to relax." He revealed.

Marcus shrugged as he walked past him into the temple.

"Ah yea, that sounds like Aunt Tori. Sounds just like when dad gave me a lecture about taking one of his ships out for my own personal party, if you get what I mean haha." He winked at his cousin.

Cas's eyebrows scrunched together as he made a disgusted face.

"I see taste doesn't run in the family. Shame." He jeered.

Another shrug from Marcus showed his lack of care for the insult, something he was used to receiving from Casimir since they were young boys.

"Life's such a short thing. I plan to live it to the fullest the way I want to. And speaking of living life...." He trailed off as a lady crossing the temple service room caught his eye, "See you later Cas! I promise I'll be good!"

With that he was away faster than Casimir could reach out to grab his coat tails. 

"Well, he stayed around longer than what I thought would." He muttered under his breathe.

Deciding that he didn't want to stand out by just standing in the middle of the room where Marcus left him, he wandered over to a waiter serving a platter of drinks to guests. 

"Give me one of those." 

Before the waiter could even offer a reply, Cas had swiped one of the champagne flutes and was walking away. A window near the middle of the room served a perfect spot for him to relax and people watch.

Lord and Lady Alton were standing with a group of other older nobles and aristocrats. Lady Alton had on an annoyed look as her husband seemed to be prattling on about something with Baron Bellion. 

In another part of the room Camilia Eadon, daughter of the Eadon trading group, was talking to Levi Manfield, second son of the Manfield publishing company. She had a coy grin on her face as she batted her long lashes at him.

Count Lacey's daughter Chloe was by the desert table gossiping with the Viscount Baldwyne siblings, Rebecca and Leaha.

The champagne he grabbed tasted too sweet. The watermelon aftertaste lingered on his tongue, keeping the sweetness in his mouth longer than he wished it would remain. He hated watermelon. Movement across the room caught his eye, distracting him from the bad champagne.

Lavender layers of chiffon with floral accents caught his eye as he watched the wearer making their way toward the desert table. The hesitancy in the person's steps could be seen across the room, as well as the hunched shoulders dressed in an off the shoulder top that matched the long skirt. He leaned back against the wall as he watched her carefully select two deserts and swiftly head through the crowd toward a door on the left. He wagered that's were the bride and her bridesmaids were getting ready. He wondered though if Cat had grabbed those deserts for her and someone else, or just her. She seemed to have a sweet tooth. 

He chuckled as he abandoned the horrible drink on the sill of the window. She was amusing to him in the way that a cat who was playing with the string of a shoe was to their owner. Cute, and kind of quirky in an odd way. An endearing way. 

They caught him unaware, so engrossed in his thoughts, that he didn't notice Chloe Lacey and Camilia Eadon strutting up to him.

Chloe and Camila were in every right beautiful and attractive women. Chloe Lacey had long straw blonde locks that cascaded down her back in loose waves. Her eyes were reminiscent of soft green meadows in spring time locked in doe shape eyes. The pink and floral open shoulder mini dress with bell cap sleeves and spaghetti straps made her pale skin tantalizing as her thighs were displayed. The look was further enhanced, and by look he meant her calves, with the light pink butterfly strap on her heels.

If Chloe was lovely and tempting, then Camilia was the complete opposite with her dark mocha skin and alluring chocolate eyes. She had a small beauty mark on the right above her velvet red lips. If her face was enough to make someone stop and stare, then her body would have men and women alike contemplating their morals. Curvy and seductive, she was jaw dropping in the deep violet dress. The mermaid fit with no straps and a hip slit of the left side hugged all the right places on her, pushing her breast to the forefront. It paired even better with her black heels and long indigo hair.

These women were confident in their looks and approach of him. They were both the type he would normally spend a night or two with. Maybe even both at once if they were into that sort of fun. 

 "Lord Casimir, its such a pleasant sight to see you today." Camilia murmured.

She had her arms crossed under her chest, pushing her chest up further.

"Yes! Sir Casimir it's so nice to see you! We didn't think you'd come to a small viscount's wedding." Chloe chirped as she grabbed hold of his arm, squeezing it to her front.

"Yea," Camilia added, "We would have asked you to be our date instead of just coming together." 

Kalus help him, he was being tempted by not one but two seductresses. 

"Yes, well," He began, removing Chloe, "Both Marcus and I were invited by the groom and bride after we accidentally walked in on their wedding."

"Oh?" They both perked up, "Lord Marcus is here as well?"

He removed Chloe from his arm discreetly as he answered them.

"Yes, as I said we were both invited. And I intend for us to both leave here together too, so ladies please no tempting him tonight." He requested.

"Aww Cas. Usually you two are down for a fun time." Chloe pouted.

Camilia gave him a small good bye wave.

"I suppose we can leave the fun for another time. You'll have to come by Eadon's southern trade building soon and visit again. We always welcome business with the Order. See you around Lord Casimir." 

She winked at him as she started walking toward a large set of doors that were opened during their conversation. He assumed that was were the actual wedding would be held. Casimir's train of thought was interrupted as he was suddenly engulfed in a bone crushing hug from Chloe.

"Lord Casimir~! Don't just visit Camilia okay? You have to visit me too! Come to one of papa's Saloon's sometime yeah? We can catch up!" She chattered.

She released his arm as she jumped away, giving him an enthusiastic wave as she fluttered through the doors to find Camilia. 

He leaned back against the wall as he ran a hand down his face in exhaustion. His whole body seemed to sag in relief.

"I'm being tested today it seems. Kalus, let me get through this day without Marcus or I waking up in another's bed, I beg of you." He prayed.

A wedding attendant made his way to the front of the large doors, clearing his throat. 

"Excuse me, fine guests, we would like you all to start heading through these doors please. An usher will show you to your seats. The wedding will be starting in about thirty minutes and it'll take us about twenty to get everyone to where they need to be and out of the cocktail area. Start heading in please!" He announced.

Finally, the wedding was about to begin.