Cassimir Malconaire

[forgottencormac]

Unsent Letter

His Most August Lordship, MY LORD, CASSIMIR, LORD MALCONAIRE,

Ah, fair Cassimir, you will scarcely believe the intelligence I write to relate. Indeed, your soft lips shall part in a gape! You will be shocked as never you have been shocked before! Prepare yourself.

Now that -- given such a warning -- you are no doubt safely ensconced in a chair (would it were a throne befitting your magnificence!), I may relate my tale. It came to me by way of Lady Highsbury, who had it from Lord Xirnon, who heard it whispered by Lady Rysmouth who overheard Lord Beesley say that he had, himself, heard, as he was, himself -- I am informed -- standing at the foot of the imperial throne, when he heard Her Royal Majesty the Queen Amira say to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, that she had heard it said -- from I know not what source -- that Her Imperial Highness the Imperial Princess Guinevere was not simply wearing purple and gold, as we saw, at her betrothal ceremony, but also, Cassimir, she was wearing green. Granted, it could not be seen, but Lord Beesley's intelligence, I am reliably informed, asserted that in her underskirt was included an embroidered scene of green woods! Allegedly some strange creatures, like wolves and foxes, or the like, were doing something or other -- I recall not. But to wear green trees...well...It is clear, is it not, towards whom her own thoughts and her own hopes bent, when it came to betrothal!

And think not that my good tidings end there! Oh, no! Lady Beesley told Lady Percelle and Lady Montrose, who told Lord Imnan, who told Lady Pavishelle, who told Lady Nymar who told Lord Ryman, who told Her Imperial Highness the Princess Cassandra, who told me that her husband, Lord Beesley, had also overheard Lord Grey calling the whole betrothal 'befuddling,' and that Lord Ruden told him that Lord Varmont's first remark when hearing of it was 'Surely not!' and that he'd overheard Lady Pushmi tell Lady Raskins that Princess Guinevere, herself, was heard to say beneath her breath by a passing servant, that it was all a mistake, as there was another!

I know how wide your eyes must be to read this! I know you had lost all hope! But we, yet, shall be brothers! When Finn weds Aoife, and you wed Guinevere, and I wed Cassandra -- we all shall be brothers! Despair not! Let that sweet head lie easy upon its lucky pillow, tonight. Let sweetest dreams whisk you away to that certain, bright future in which we all must delight! We all shall be brothers soon!

I shall apprise you at once should any other promising intelligence come my way!

Signed by the hand of him who loves you best in all the world, Your Dearest Friend,

ꉓꉻᖇᙏልር, Ꮭꉻᖇᕲ ꉓልᏝᏝᙓልᖇᖻ

[dirbenaffleck]

ADAM DRIVER as JACQUES LE GRIS The Last Duel (2021) | Dir. Ridley Scott ─ requested by @safarigirlsp​ .    

[forgottencassimir]

Beggars | Ronan & Cassimir

It had been known that Cassimir was not to be at Malconaire today.

He had received an invitation to dine at Lorcan from Cormac who boasted that he had some news that Cassimir would want to know immediately. While Cassimir suspected that his friend likely only wished to show him the plans for his latest ensemble, Cormac was privy to a good deal of political information, too, and who is to say what he might have overheard Rian Stafford saying?

The news he had received there had shocked him. Cormac meant to inform him that he had arranged an engagement between his younger brother and Aoife -- without so much as consulting Cassimir. He had been less than pleased to hear this. Cassimir was the only one who would decide the fate of his step-sisters and he had been rather explicit in his disapproval of Cormac's actions.

He did not stay for dinner and left Cormac in such hysterics one would have thought the world was to end.

He rode hard and fast back to Malconaire, enraged that even Cormac (who had been his most loyal and obedient servant friend would have, even for a moment, believed he had the authority to make such decisions).

Still, the ride through the rain had begun softened him a bit to the idea -- and, in truth, he would not have been as opposed to the idea if it had been his to announce and thus implement. Cassimir had not been blind to the rumors that had circulated regarding Aoife, Eithne, and Roisin and finding the two younger ones husbands might soon be of the upmost importance.

Before he reached Malconaire, he decided to defer to Eithne's judgement. If she wished it, he would forget his own pride and agree to see it done -- and if she did not, then he would never allow for it. Either way, he meant use this unfortunate event to unite them further.

Whatever the outcome, Cassimir Malconaire would make certain that Cormac Calleary never overstepped again ...

Due to his abrupt departure from Lorcan, Cassimir was home well before he was expected back. Dusk had begun to fall as he walked up towards the manor. As he drew closer, he stopped: tucked up near the kitchen door amongst the shadows, was a man.

For a moment, his heart raced, fearing for the safety of those inside, but as he approached he realized that the man was nothing more than a beggar in the mud.

It had not been uncommon to see them here after the war, but they came less and less frequently now -- Cassimir and his mother had been less willing to give any of them aid in the way that the old Lord would have done.

He was glad he had seen him before Eithne. He would not want her to have to deal with him. And her kind heart would have led him into the warmth of the kitchens where she'd likely give him some food and let him sleep by the fire. Her intentions were always good, but it was all too easy for someone to take advantage of that kindness and this was not the time for charity.

Even if this man was from their own village, Malconaire was hardly in a position to share its limited resources with him. Even from this distance, Cassimir could see the man's hunched posture and tattered clothing and he knew that he was likely not contributing much to Malconaire's economic success.

He would have to go.

Cassimir quickly dismounted his horse,

"Be gone with you!" Cassimir said, waving him off, "I will have no beggars here."

[forgottenronan]

Night came on quickly. Overhead, shimmering silver stars danced their slyphan dance, shaded from Ronan's view by the reaching arms of trees. Ronan's mother's voice murmured an old Malconaire nursery song close at his ear, "They come to dance, my love/The trees come at night to dance..." Leaves dipped in merry rhythm, falling to earth in twirling gavottes all around him as rain dotted the earth and, for now, Ronan sheltered in the eaves of Malconaire's roof, warm and dry by the kitchen window.

Aoife had tempted him here. Ronan had tried to resist, he'd known the risks, both to heart and body, but he'd come here anyway, just to please her. Even now, he could not look away when she asked something of him. He should have known better, though, than to stop, better than to indulge in a bevy of ancient memories -- ghostly recollections of a life lost -- or risk the forming of new ones. He had not before seen Malconaire in its current state, and he bled for it, bled for its people, bled for his ladies. He could not avoid his memories any more than the awful changes. Malconaire was a haunted place, and he was a haunted man. He knew no other way.

Cassimir arrived like the dullahan of legend; like a herald of the sluagh. A nightly spectre, draped all in black, riding from out of the storm. Beneath him, his stallion's breath shone as a mist of white, lost amongst the pelting silver drops of rain and, somehow, strangely, Ronan almost laughed. More Astairan than Ronan wished him now to be, was Cassimir. And yet still less friendly to it than either wanted. It had not always been so, but it was thus, now. And then Ronan did laugh, a strange, throaty sound that echoed queerly in the storm around them. He'd had it wrong, after all. It wasn't Cassimir, at all, who was the ghost here. It was not he who heralded the storm. It was Ronan.

"It's easy to see why my lord did not want you for an heir," he said, stepping out from under the sheltering roof. The rain was cold, terribly cold, as it slid down his back, but Ronan smiled in the gloomy light that leaked from the kitchen window and slipped from the ever-dancing stars. "No one ever could."

He watched the other man, once his old friend, and wondered if there was, in either of them, any trace of the boys they had once been. Had kindness bled out of them both, entirely? He feared likely so. It was Cassimir who had done this, overseen this. It was Cassimir who plagued his ladies and his people now, feeding, parasitic, off their very hope. It was he who shoved them into the ground, burying them alive in the bitter earth, just as he tried now to do to Ronan. Cassimir claimed to be lord, now. If that was so, it was now his to protect. Yes, it was he who was to blame for all their suffering, all this sadness everywhere around him. How could Ronan rest easy, knowing what Cassimir had done? Ronan would have his vengeance.

"I haven't come to beg anything, Vasiliev. I came to be begged." He still heared Aoife's miserable pleas, echoing in the chasm of his heart. But he could give her nothing she wanted, no more than Cassimir could satisfy him.

"If I wanted something of yours, I'd simply take it." His tone turned taunting. "Were we not always such friends, you and I, Cassimir? But what do ghosts want? Don't you know, after all, it is the feast of Samain when the dead walk the earth? I want nothing now that you can give. But that was always so, Cassimir. It was you who were wanting. It is you who wants still. And you have nothing I could ever want."

[forgottencassimir]

Cassimir stared at him as though he had seen a corpse rise from the earth.

For a long moment he said nothing at all. Rain slid from the brim of his cloak and gathered at his jaw before dripping to the mud between them. Then, quite suddenly, he laughed -- a sharp, disbelieving sound that held no warmth in it. “I thought you were dead, Frost,” he said. “It would have been kinder to you if you were.” His eyes moved over Ronan’s gaunt frame with open disdain. “Gods, man… look at you.”

He took a slow step closer, boots sinking slightly into the wet ground. “And I am meant to believe this nonsense you speak?” Cassimir scoffed. “You talk of vengeance and ghosts as though you possessed all the power and fury of the very gods." He shook his head, disgusted, "You are nothing but a wanted man skulking in the mud outside my door.” His lip curled faintly. “Have you been sleeping in trees now, Frost? In ditches? Have you been living on whatever scraps the dogs leave behind?”

Drawing himself up, Cassimir folded his arms. “I have Malconaire,” he said, “I shall have Eithne for my wife. I have my freedom, my lands… and the friendship and support of the Emperor and his family.” He gave Ronan a cool, measuring look. “Tell me -- what is it that you have, exactly? Your pride? Your anger? They seem very poor comforts in the rain.”

He exhaled through his nose, glancing briefly toward the darkened house behind him before fixing Ronan again with a hard stare. “You should thank whatever lingering mercy I possess due to the fact that we were boys together, that I do not turn you in.”

For all his contempt, Cassimir could not help noticing the way Ronan stood: both dangerous and watchful, like a wolf that had learned too well how to survive. It unsettled him more than he cared to admit. And the truth, deep down, was that it was cowardice -- not compassion -- that stayed his hand now. His grip tightened on the reins of his horse. “Do not mistake my restraint for weakness,” he added quickly, as though answering an accusation -- although Ronan had not yet made it. “You are no threat to me now. You are a relic. A ghost clinging to a world that has moved on.”

He gave a final, dismissive shake of his head. “Go back to whatever hole you crawled out of, Frost. There is nothing for you here anymore.”

[hibambi]

[forgottenalistair]

OOC | Alistair & Cassimir

well well well if it isn't my one-time romantic rival -- i mean -- not that ;DDDDD really fumbled the greatest treasure in the world, in alistair's book, there, buddy, but alistair aint mad abt it ;DDDD laksdjfkljdsf

actually i think at one time alistair may have actually supported cassimir's suit re: guin bc she's always wanted like this cottage and garden kinda life <333333 and he was like 'malconaire is probs the closest she can ever realistically get to that!!!!!!!' BUT then he got to know cassimir better and he was like 'that a giant NO from me' alksdjfkjlsdf

anyway, honestly i don't think alistair thinks much abt cassimir now that cassimir's stopped courting guin but there for awhile he was def caught in this weird supportive but also secretly jealous thing w all that???? skldfajsdfj real low moment there being jelly of cassimir ;DDDD jk jk but yeah!! still probs doesn't much care for him hahaha but overall happy w how things ended re: guin lakjsdfjkdsf he probs did go to valentina's lil post-tournament gala so that's probs where they'll be seeing eo most recently id wager?

i gotta laugh tho bc i def think he was like 'well i couldn't possibly think less of cassimir' going into this gala and now he's hearing all these rumors abt the malconaire girls and he's like 'this is how ur running ur house man??' and came out w an even ~lower opinion unfortunately alkjdsfjkdf

[forgottencassimir]

not Alistair initially shipping cassmir/guin alsjflsjdfdlfj (he's probably Valentina's favorite person for those like .2 seconds because he "Gets It")

No, but if Cassimir ever knew that Alistair was lowkey rooting for that Cassimir would really like him because he would think that he's got another person in his pocket?? Like, even at the time, he had no real designs to ACTUALLY marry Guin, but since he had convinced himself that she was in love with him/that he would use these affections to control her later, etc. etc he would also feel that he also has the same support from Alistair (he's delusional it's fine)

So I can see him continuing to suck up to Alistair to keep that relationship as positive as possible, because having the master of war as your buddy is no small thing!!!

I feel like his ruined all of this by just being himself, and I think it is probably obvious even to him that Alistair DOESN'T care for him anymore??? (Cassimir probably thinks it is just because he is mad that he and Guin didn't end up together and he's gonna miss out on Cassimir being emperor .... )

However, this is all based upon if Cassimir ever knew that he, at one time, supported him and Guin getting together??? Otherwise, I feel like Cassimir probably largely ignored Alistair because he had bigger fish to catch.

[forgotteneilionora]

Many Marriages | Eilionora & Cassimir

The morning following the ball woke on a world covered in icy white. Dawn's finger paints echoed queerly upon the sheets of cold that spread as far as the eye could see and even tucked away close to the mantel, eilia could feel the frigid grip of winter. Stealing closer to the flames, she closed her eyes to welcome the warmth.

When she opened them again, none other than Cassimir had come to join her. Startled, she jumped slightly, soon laughing at her mistake. It was not the most pleasant thing to find oneself suddenly, and unexpectedly, in his presence, but he was a far more comfortable companion, in Eilia's mind, than her captors.

"Good morning, my lord," began Eilia, careful not to call him Lord Malconaire, as it was a title which, by rights, belonged not to him, but to his sister. "I hope you slept well?"

The guests had been obliged to sleep at the castle that night, in light of the freezing storms, but Eilia, for her own part, had gotten not a wink. When Aria had at last nodded off, following her horror at Roderick's...declaration of bastardy, Eilia had sat up and watched the storm, the icy grip of winter hollowing out her arms and her legs as she stood. It seemed to her that her parents voices were howling in the winds that buffetted the castle. A conquered queen had stood little enough chance...How could a bastard girl save the world from the wrath of the gods?

"I fear all the windows and doors were rattling all night long, but I hope they did not trouble you? In truth, I cannot recall ever having known a storm as terrible as this one. Can you?"

She was sure, at any rate, that such had been the case in his rooms. She'd taken care that his stepsisters boasted one of the finest suites in the palace -- and that Cassimir and his horrible mother had been placed on the opposite side of the castle, where everything was decidedly less pleasant. Roderick and his family had had no objections to this suggestion, either, and in her way, she was pleased of that. Even the Varmonts were not friends to Valentina, despite her best efforts.

"I hear it said by some your own home nation is colder than Astaira? Is that so?"

[forgottencassimir]

The castle had proved to be old and drafty. Whatever grandness it possessed in its banquet halls and throne rooms, it certainly did not carry over to the more private sections of the castle. His mother and sister, especially, had been eager to see more of it and both were left disappointed.

The fact that they had been regulated to the part of the castle that needed renovation had not crossed their minds. Between the favor that Cassimir alone had with the Imperial Princesses (both, it seemed, had fallen in love with him) and the former Queen, herself, he and Valentina both assumed that this was the best that the Varmonts had to offer them.

After having demanded that warm food and drink would be brought to his mother and sister, Cassimir found himself standing by the large fireplace that warmed one of the public halls. It would be a relief to feel his fingers again.

It did not surprise him to see the Eilianora Stafford there. She must have been waiting for me, he thought. Although they had not spoken the night before, he noticed her catching his eye more than once. He expected it had been her plan to try to speak to him after so long a time apart. It seemed she still loved him, even after everything that had happened.

While Cassimir might have once been convinced to enter into such a union, he would presently vehemently deny the fact -- especially given the events of the previous evening. His loyalty was now firmly planted with the Varmonts (even if he did not relish the possibility that, one day, it may be Arthur Varmont who was his emperor) and he looked to Roderick as an example in how to treat the former ruling family of Astaira.

He had declared them to be nothing more than the baseborn daughters of a dead king and he would treat them as such.

There was no formal greeting; no attempt to hide his discomfort as he took his place next to Eilia by the fireside. "There is not much good about it. Your palace is horribly drafty and cold. Brutal the storm may have been, but greater defenses against the chill should have been put in place long ago." He said it as though it was her fault, even as the palace had been in the hands of the Varmonts for two years now.

"I barely slept at all. And my poor mother, it seems, even less."

Valentina had voiced her complaints to both him and Sonya in the morning. She already was making plans to how to alter the place once one of her children, inevitably, married into the Varmont family. (Cassimir had still not told her that it now must be Sonya).

"Winters are harsher there," Cassimir agreed, "And I have seen storms that would bring Astaira to its knees." (Nevermind that he had left there when he was still a child and had lived in luxury). "Have you never visited the countries that border your own?"

[forgotteneilionora]

Cassimir's eyes had not deceived him. Eilionora had, indeed, been watching him during the ball, searching in vain for anything that might recommend him not merely in the role he had usurped from his step-sister of Lord Malconaire, but also in the role he had also wrenched from her of her lord husband. The news, heard from Eithne's own mouth, had come as a terrible blow, and one to which Eilia could not help but feel -- in addition to outrage ofn her friend's behlaf! -- sympathetic towards. Still more, however, she had heard from her how he had allowed Eithne and her sisters to be reduced to the role of servants at the whims of his horrible mother and how -- despite all this hardship he had allowed to befall her when it benefitted himself -- he still claimed to love her! Blackguard! She could hardly stand the sight of him, but she held herself stiff and formal.

Eilia was no stranger, herself, to Cassimir's brand of courtship, and -- seeing how his amorous advances had ended the moment Eilia could no longer offer him a thing -- her opinion had only worsened.

His cold tone was not lost on her and, smiling despite herself, she nearly laughed. She did not want, she told herself, the support of a man as fickle and callow as that! Though in truth...she could have done with it. She could have done with any support at all. But she was in no mood to court Cassimir's good opinion -- bastard or queen, alike. There was one pleasure, after all, to be had in all this: the news that her family home had not betrayed her: Cassimir and his horrible mother had slept very ill, indeed.

"Yes, sadly Stafford still bears its scars from the war. But surely Malconaire must be fully recovered by now, given all your resources. How well it must be," she added, turning to him more fully. "To have a fully repaired home to return to, whenever this storm ends."

Her smile was a sharp thing. Oh, yes, she'd heard about that shameful neglect, too, and her heart railed against it. Eithne had owned that that was a trouble largely falling upon her stepmother's shoulders, but Eilia in this moment did not find herself so willing to acquit Cassimir of it: did he not have great say with his mother? Was he not, in Roderick's eyes, as good as lord in his own right? In another mood, Eilia might have been more just, but she was angry, as angry as she'd been in a long time, and she did not have it in her heart, just then, to give him any credit whatsoever.

She smiled, sweetly as she could. "A pity. I shall gladly pass your insights along to His Imperial Majesty. I am certain he shall be grateful as to your opinions upon his housekeeping, given the impressive state of your own home."

Roderick liked nothing so little as criticism, yet she doubted she would truly mention anything of it to him, as gratitfying as his wrath might prove in the moment, for the hardship she knew well enough would come upon Eithne and her sisters in the end, and she would do all in her power to aid them, if not their stepfamily.

Eilia shook her head. "Not during the winter, I confess, and not for some years, either. I've become something of a homebody, you see, these past few years," she said with a twinge of irony as her housearrest had certainly not been her own idea or choice. "And your own country, I have not seen since its conquest. His Imperial Majesty was, as you may recall, somewhat...opposed to both my rule and that of my father. It was made clear that a visit was not welcomed." She smiled a wry smile. "I do not think his thoughts had, at that time, turned to matrimony between us."

She remembered well the letter she'd once sent him, early in her reign, suing for peace between their two great countries. But she remembered, still better, his reply. It had been simple enough, but telling for all that, containing only a list of countries he'd conquered, and appending Astaira to the end of that list.

"But who can say? Is not it said that mystery is the essence of romance?" She shook her head, eyes turning back towards the leaping flames as she listened to him speak of his first home.

"I must say, in that case, I am glad that it fell to your lot, and not to mine, to weather such storms. It does not seem to have done you any harm, but I cannot pretend to much like the cold, myself, and I am very tired of being brought to my knees. Besides, we Astairans, I need not tell you, are much too fond of plants for that."

[forgottencassimir]

Cassimir’s eyes narrowed at once when she spoke of Malconaire, as though he were weighing whether she knew more than she ought. “Malconaire has recovered well,” he said coolly. “Not without effort, of course. Good things never come cheaply. But it stands prosperous and steadfast as it ever did.” He let the words settle, firm and final. It was a declaration rather than an invitation for debate. He would not give her the satisfaction to hear otherwise, even if this was far from the truth.

“It required sacrifice,” he went on, tone tightening with self-importance. “Real sacrifice. My mother herself parted with priceless jewels for the good of the people.” It was a lie, bald and deliberate, but Cassimir spoke it without hesitation. “Malconaire did not survive on sentiment, Lady Stafford, but on resolve.” He paused only long enough to add, magnanimously, “And I will give the late Lord Malconaire his due. I learned much under his tutelage.” He did not mention his step-sisters at all, though he knew well enough how much of the estate’s survival rested on their labor.

Her pointed offer to pass his criticisms to Roderick made him still. For a moment, he forgot himself -- forgot that the palace was no longer hers to answer for. Cassimir’s jaw tightened. “You may say what you like,” he replied after a beat, carefully measured, “but it is unfair to burden the Emperor with complaints that long predate his governance. The deficiencies in insulation here, have obviously been neglected for years.” His gaze flicked to her with faint disdain. “I doubt wasting His Imperial Majesty’s time with such remarks will serve you well ... particularly given your… condition.”

He did not care if he offended her. Why should he? Whatever fragile hope once existed between her and Roderick had, in Cassimir’s mind, already rotted away. He would not dare to marry her now, after declaring her illiexitment. She would never be Queen again. “You would do well,” he continued, voice lowering with the satisfaction of one dispensing wisdom, “to remember yourself in the Emperor’s presence. He has been exceedingly kind to you and your sister, by allowing you to live at all. Compliance,” he added, “would be the prudent course.”

Cassimir straightened then, folding his hands behind his back, as though concluding a lesson. “You may find,” he said mildly, “that obedience is a virtue worth cultivating.” Privately, he savored the thought that when Eilionora inevitably bent and yielded to whatever future demand Roderick placed before her, someone might recall that Cassimir Malconaire had advised it first.

[forgottencassimir]

Engagements | Cassimir & Cormac

Cassimir was not often visibly anxious for the arrival of Lord Calleary. While he privately craved the affirmations of his own greatness that Cormac was only ever too willing to provide, even Cassimir found he had his limits when it came to being in his company. He'd found early on in their friendship that a little of Cormac Calleary went a long way and if he did not have any particular use for him on any given day, Cassimir was almost as likely to avoid his company as anyone else.

However, today presented a unique situation in which Cassimir found himself eagerly awaiting Cormac's visit.

One would not have known this, however, from his greeting.

"Where have you been?" Cassimir demanded, as though Cormac was his own to command and not a lord in his own right. He did not like to be kept waiting -- especially by Cormac who he had come to assume should always be at his beck and call, "I have news that I am eager for you to hear."

He had barely admitted it to himself as to why he was so eager -- for the reasons behind him summoning Cormac Calleary to Malconaire that day was not something he was particularly proud of. The short of it was this: there was no one else in Cassimir's acquaintance who would be happy to hear of his engagement to Eithne Malconaire.

Cormac Calleary was the only person in the entire world who would offer him a genuine congratulations.

[forgottencormac]

Rian Stafford's face was granite, flint glinting in his blue eye as Cormac prattled on and on, oblivious to the lord's efforts to read his correspondance.

It had been a busy enough morning. Cormac was accustomed to falling asleep to the sound of the ocean, and then to waking once more to it. He had, however, found himself abruptly deprived of this pleasure with his removal to Lorcan (a tribute to the shocking disgrace in which his father had left them all -- as Cormac was want to remind all who would stand still long enough to hear him), and since losing this benefit, sleep had come but little, making Cormac a wanderer at strange hours. Largely, Cormac found Lorcan a distressing place to live, what with its scum-filled waters and its harrowing peaks and its low, winding tunnels. Cormac -- despite his profound bravery -- often found himself weeping openly as he plodded its horrifying halls. This castle, he was quite sure, was cursed.

In truth, Cormac did not much care for the companionaship of Rian Stafford. There was something forbidding about his character, yet he'd found himself often in the man's company of late as, terrifying as the man was, he was better than being alone and Rian Stafford seemed to sleep even less than Cormac did these days, and so Cromac would find himself rattling off every thought that came into his mind while Rian Stafford openly glared at him and occasionally requested his absence, something Cormac laughed off before launching back into his silliloquies as Rian peered heavenward and then abruptly got up, leaving the room while Cormac trailed behind him, still talking.

At this early hour, having found his way to Rian's side, Cormac was in the midst of such a speech when a servant appeared suddenly at his shoulder. Shrieking, Cormac leapt behind Rian who, startled by the sound, gritted his teeth and hurled down his papers upon his desk before turning to the servant, visibly attempting to suppress a flash of temper. Cormac felt a swell of pride, taking this as a testament to Rian's affection for Cormac: clearly he felt protective of him, to react so, for what else could have possibly annoyed Lord Lorcan?

"What is it?" asked Rian, tersely.

"My Lord, Lord Cassimir--"

Popping out from behind Rian, Cormac held aloft a supercilious finger. "That is 'His Lordship, Cassimir, Lord of Malconaire,' or else 'Lord Malconaire,' to you!"

Rian cleared his throat. "Go on. What were you here to say?"

"Lord Malconaire is calling for Lord Calleary."

His grin was a wide thing. He felt it stretching across his face, making it almost taut, and, brightly, he clapped Rian upon the shoulder. "My lord," he began, "I hope you will not be too lonely without me, but I fear I cannot leave our Lord waiting!"

"No," said Rian, tersely, and Cormac thought perhaps that must be a touch of jealousy. "You cannot."

Heavily, the door closed behind him, but Cormac barely noticed, half skipping behind the messenger who guided him to Cassimir's side. In that moment, he was glad to the envoy's presence but, in another moment, when he saw Cassimir's glare, he was displeased by it, wishing for some privacy with his friend. Cormac was in no way unaccustomed to the look of Cassimir's impatience.

Waving an impertinent hand, he dismissed the servant. "Away with you!"

Hearing Cassimir's tone, Cormac's shoulders hunched and he felt the tears pressing at the corner of his eyes but, boldly, he blinked them away. "Lord Rian had need of my advice," he said, importantly puffing out his chest, and hoping to catch a note of dazzlement across the other man's face.

Yet, even this important desire paled at the sound of Cassimir's words. "Egad!" he cried, pressing his hand to his heart. He was breathelss as he spoke, unconsciously leaning forward as if this might allow the news to sooner reach his ears. "Is it done?! Has Her Imperial Highness agreed at last to be your bride -- are you to be our next most hallowed Emperor?!!"

[forgottencassimir]

"Hmm, of course," The sarcasm was heavy in Cassimir's voice. Cassimir knew well enough that Rian Stafford had no more desire to solicit Cormac's advice as Roderick Varmont. Still, he had always been encouraging of this particular delusion of Cormac's and even though his response had been less than genuine, he doubted that Cormac would pick up on that.

He never had before.

"I well know the duties of a great lord," He added, "If it is a inconvenient time, I would be happy to wait."

It rarely ever suited Cassimir to wait upon Cormac Calleary. In truth, it had almost always been the other way around. But when it came to his relationship with Rian Stafford, Cassimir knew only too well that the more exposure Rian had to Cormac, the more likely he would be to give up his post. Yes, Cormac Calleary's position here was supposed to be temporary and perhaps Rian Stafford would console himself with this fact, but every man had his limits.

And if Rian Stafford were to leave Lorcan, who better than to be its new lord than Lord Malconaire, himself? Lord Calleary would certainly vouch for him ...

"No, it is not the Imperial Princess's whose hand I have won," He replied, the irritation in his voice was now very apparent -- perhaps even Cormac would register it. He sounded just like his mother -- always assuming that he would (and should!) chose power of matters of the heart.

He'd just thought that perhaps Cormac, at least, had been listening.

"It is Lady Eithne Malconaire. She is to be my wife, Cormac, and I shall be happier with her than I ever could be without. An Imperial throne holds no sway upon my heart, but Eithne does." He shot Cormac a glance.

"You will be happy for me." It was not a question.

[forgottencormac]

"Oh, no!" cried Cormac, stretching out his hands as if to catch Cassimir and thus prevent his leaving. "No, not at all. I assure you His Lordship's cares pale in comparison to yours. Why, his is a conquered and disgraced House," he began as if this weren't, in fact, true of both Cassimir and Cormac, as well. "But you? No, my lord, I would hear every word you have to say before any of his!"

Still, in his eagerness to keep Cassimir in place, Cormac had missed the spirit of what Cassimir had expressed: a wish to wait, if necessary to speak with Cormac and, finally processing this, Cormac felt tears of gratitude pricking his eyes, a greedy smile stealing over his face.

Cormac's glassy-eyed expression shifted, however, from a look of utter devotion...to one of tremulous anxiety as annoyance entered his friend's voice, his whole stance turning rigid as guilt overtook his every expression and the held-in tears leaked out. Cormac clapped a hand over his mouth. "Oh, my dear friend, forgive me! How selfish I have been! Why, I was too transfixed with the glorious notion of your reign to think of the still-more glorious one of your triumphant joy! I am a worm, Cassimir! A worm, to think so! You mustn't look at me! No! No, don't look at me! I am a worm!"

Turning away, Cormac wept for a moment. Who could be so selfish as to put such callow hopes above Cassimir's own happiness -- and to think he'd come so eagerly to him! Been prepared to wait for him! Only for Cormac to hurl this greatest confidence into his face. Yet, afraid that Cassimir would go away, Cormac got to business wiping his eyes and nose on a fuschia handkerchief and blowing into it twice, rather loudly, before turning back to him. A thousand thoughts ran through his mind.

"Forgive me, dear Lord Malconaire, and tell me everything, positively everything of your betrothal! Why, how great is the luck of Eithne of Malconaire -- Eithne Malconaire as she soon shall be! -- blessed with such beauty and with such love! She will be the envy of every maiden -- and indeed of every matron, too! -- in all Astaira! And beyond it as well! To have snapped up the most desired bachelor in all the Empire! Oh, I must know exactly how it transpired, do not spare a single word or a single look! Tell me all! Oh, but when is the wedding to be? Oh! What will you wear, Cassimir? I could have something made up for you -- perhaps even...in a color? It need only be one, I know you have little regard for them, but...perhaps...Eithne might? Oh! And where is it to be? Perhaps the Emperor himself will host? I can think of no grander event in all the Empire than your wedding shall be, Cassimir! Or...or has the bride yet been told? There can be no doubt that she shall accept you, my friend! Who would not? No, she will be yours, there is no doubt about it!"

[forgottencassimir]

Cassimir let Cormac’s torrent of praise wash over him with an indulgent stillness, chin lifting almost imperceptibly as the comparison to Rían Stafford was made. A disgraced lord, indeed. The corner of his mouth twitched in something like satisfaction; ridiculous though Cormac was, on this point at least he was entirely correct. What was Rían, sulking over ledgers in a borrowed seat, compared to him?

Cormac’s sudden collapse into tears, however, tried his patience at once. Cassimir’s expression hardened. “Enough,” he said sharply. “Pull yourself together. You are forgiven: there is no crime here worth such theatrics.” He eyed the fuchsia handkerchief with thinly veiled disdain. “You embarrass yourself. And me. Dry your eyes.”

He turned away briefly, as if organizing his thoughts, then spoke again with deliberate calm. “Yes. Eithne has accepted my hand,” he said. “And quite willingly.” The emphasis on willingly was unmistakable. He did not mention the terms, nor the careful negotiations that had preceded her consent. Those were not for Cormac’s ears.

"I had planned to ask her on a warm afternoon, amongst the trees and flowers of Malconaire that she loves so much ... but I could not wait any longer, Cormac. I had no patience to wait for the weather, nor even the sun to rise and instead I asked her right then and there, while we stood in the kitchens," A small smile tugged at his lips at the memory that had already been distorted in his mind to reflect a much more agreeable response from her than the one he had been given, "Surely a young lady would appreciate one's eagerness and impulsivity over careful planning?" Cassimir asked.

“As for imperial princesses and thrones,” Cassimir continued, more coolly, “my mother once had many ambitions in that direction.” His jaw tightened for a fraction of a second. “They must now be set aside. I will not pretend I do not feel the loss of them. Still, influence does not begin and end with a crown.” His gaze sharpened. “As Lord Malconaire, my reach will extend farther than these borders yet. Mark me.”

Cormac’s breathless suggestions about wedding attire earned a short, dismissive huff. “I shall wear whatever my future wife wishes, Cormac,” Cassimir said flatly. He did not wish to be dressed in anything that Cormac Calleary deemed appropriate.

[forgottencillian]

Bitter Betrothal | Cillian & Cassimir

There was a time when Cillian might have carefully weighed his thoughts before proclaiming whether -- of the two evils in Eithne's life -- Cassimir or Arthur were the worst, but that time was over. He was not by any means pleased to own it, but somehow Cassimir had proven himself the least detestable of her suitors -- not by any personal merits, mind you -- but by simply failing to have murdered her father.

Oh, it was true that Cassimir had (to Cillian's mind, anyway,) betrayed Lord Malconaire by failing to raise his banner when called to arms in a way that may have led to his death...but at least he hadn' t been the one to attack him. Since the Ice Ball, Cillian's perspective had changed and, while he had yet to discover the identity of the prince who had done the deed, he felt more than safe in simply assuming the worst of them all.

This failure of Cassimir to be worse than the Varmonts, however, was in no way a benediction, however, and Cillian had felt a distinct heaviness since he'd heard of Eithne's decision. He felt dirty, too, soiled that selling herself in this way had in any way benefitted Cillian and, while it was a psoition he had accepted so as to help both her and Malconaire, he didn't know how he could possibly ever feel clean again.

Still, for now at least, the taunts had gone out of him. He did not mock Cassimir as once he did, instead simply staring in hollow horror at him. How could anyone who claimed to love Eithne put her through something like this? He ought to have helped her just for love of her -- not to have purchased her like a rug at a market. It was disgusting. In truth, it had been the confirmation of something long feared -- there had been a tiny part of him that had hoped Cassimir was better than that, he'd realized in the wake of the revelation. And that bubble, now, was burst.

Still, Malconaire was already feeling the effects. Cillian had brought on new workmen to help rebuild the town as soon as he had been appointed, and already there was a new cook staff and maid to ease Eithne and Aoife's burdens.

Still, Cillian was required to meet with Cassimir, to review what he had done, and he suspected that the closer the date drew to the wedding, the more close-fisted he would become. Cillian meant to accomplish as much as he could before Cassimir wed Eithne -- and inevitably sacked Cillian thereafter.

"As Lady Malconaire as was is about to become Lady Dowager, I took it upon myself to...dispense with those jewels her as Ladyship will not require," he said, announcing these actions not as something he intended to do but as a fait accompli.

He could rebuild several homes for the prices he had fetched...but he had spoken first to Eithne, and not a single true Malconaire -- or even original Vasilieva -- jewel had gone. Each had been a jewel acquired at the expense of the people Valentina was meant to serve...and each had been one he'd never thought Eithne should wish...but she was, and would always be, his Lady. If she wished to refused, then that was her due. Cassimir did not, in his opinion, deserve such consideration. But, in truth, he did not imagine Cassimir would much mind, as Valentina had not yet noticed they were missing, and therefore had not yet harassed her son.

"Most of them I sold to Cormac Calleary for prices which were, frankly, far beyond their value, but his...charitable contributions will greatly relieve the suffering of your people...as they will be, of course," he added with a taut (decidedly forced) smile. "I've already hired a team and here," he added, laying out quite a few drawings on the table before him. "Are the designs for the project. We plan to pursue first this...then this. Get the builders set in with something a little more basic to get their sea legs, if you will, before diving in to tackle the really tricky bits."

Whether by Lord Malconaire's will or by Valentina's, this marriage would mark Cassimir's ascent...though by one estimation as consort, alone, and by another as ruling lord. Either way, he'd have earned the right to be called Lord Malconaire, and the thing rankled. The last Lord Malconaire had died in Cillian's arms, and he'd not called another by that name, since.

"I believe Lady Malconaire," he began, but he did not mean Valentina. "Will be pleased, indeed...and the Dowager, I believe, has jewels enough as it is that I doubt anyone shall notice the lack, save perhaps herself." He squraed his shoulders, coming now to the bit that was a sharp slap to the jaw, smarting as he formed the words -- he must now ask to Cassimir's opinions. Eithne had done little (for her, in any case) to sugarcoat the fact that he must please Cassimir, if he wished to please her: for Cassimir still stood between Malconaire...and Roderick. "Does this...suit my lord?"

[forgottencassimir]

Cassimir stood with his hands clasped behind his back, the knuckles whitening as he listened. He had known this meeting would test his temper; he had not expected it to test it quite so swiftly. Cillian’s tone prickled at him, and for a moment Cassimir had to remind himself why this man stood before him at all. He drew a slow breath, steadying. For Eithne, he told himself, as he had done so many times of late. This appointment had been her condition. He would not be the one to spoil what he was convinced must, in time, become a happy future.

“Did you truly sell the jewels without permission?” Cassimir asked at last, his voice cool and measured, though something darker stirred beneath it. “Without consulting me, nor, it seems, Lady Malconaire? In future, you will confer with me first before you sell our property away. Being steward does not grant you free rein to dispose of Malconaire’s resources as you see fit.”

His eyes narrowed. Had his marriage not been balanced so delicately on this arrangement, Cassimir knew precisely what he would have done and Cillian's dismissal would have been the mildest consequence. The thought showed in his expression despite his restraint, a shadow that lingered just long enough to be unmistakable. “Tell me,” he continued, voice dropping, “how you obtained these jewels in the first place. Did you take them from my mother’s rooms? Like a thief in the night?”

Then both irritatingly and infuriatingly, Cassimir’s gaze slid to the plans spread across the table. He did not want to look at them. He did anyway. Silence stretched as he studied the drawings. His jaw tightened, not in anger now but in reluctant appraisal. He could not deny what was plainly before him. “These plans,” he said finally, slower, “are sound enough." This was as much of a compliment as Cassimir could muster at this moment. Even he knew that Eithne would prefer that to jewels.

Cassimir straightened, reclaiming the authority he felt slipping. “Do not mistake that acknowledgment for approval of your methods,” he warned. “You have overstepped. And you will not do so again.” His eyes held Cillian’s, unblinking. “Malconaire will be rebuilt, but it will be done with order and respect. And with my knowledge. Don't you forget that, Frost. I am still lord here and your favor with my lady will not always protect you.” He paused, then added, more quietly but no less firmly, “I endure much for Lady Eithne’s sake. Do not give me cause to test how much longer my patience lasts.”

[hauntingoldhouses]

the prohibited romance

[forgottencassimir]

ooc | Cassimir & Fiona

I imagine that these two do NOT get on at all!!!

Cassimir feels like he has claim to Lorcan and should honestly be the steward instead of Rian (look how well he handles Malconaire surely he needs MORE responsibility!). But if that doesn't happen, he definitely wants to have control of it in some capacity, if not actually in name, so he's trying to cozy up to Peadar so he can manipulate him later on in life ... but it's not really going well since everyone at Lorcan hates him (except for Cormac...).

Aine is obviously NOT about this and while I see her being like: "respectfully, no" whenever Cassimir asks about the kids that Fiona is like ready to literally fight him!!! (so he loves that)

[forgottentristan]

OOC | Tristan & Cassimir

tristan is really torn about this whole wedding thing bc on one hand he wants eithne to have whatever she wants, and that seems to be cassimir rn, but also like!!!!!! he can't help be jealous ngl!!!!! annnnd i think he also gets bad vibes from cassimir no lie like...he's a bodyguard to a dude who gets a lot of assassination attempts like...i feel like he gets instincts abt ppl by now, and i feel like he's like 'cassimir aint it' basically lkajsdkjflkjdsf but he also then reminds himself that it is not ~his opinion that matters!!!!! and honestly he ~knows he's jealous and i do think he questions how objective he is in this assessment, honestly!!! however, if edmund ever talks to him abt malconaire (?), im guessing ~his reports aren't exactly glowing abt him

so yeah! tristan is def in this weird situation tryna tow the balance between being a good and honorable knight who judges ppl on their merit not hearsay or speculation or CERTAINLY jealousy but also he just has this gut feeling that cassimir is a dick and!!!!! it sucks bc eithne deserves the whole wide world and instead she's getting saddled w cassimir and he aint abt that lakjsfkljsdfjk

but yeah i think he mostly just tries to keep his head down and do the right thing(tm) whenever he can tell what the hell that might be honestly lkajsdfkljdsjfdf so he's probs mostly just reserved and doing his kingsguard thing bc he probs largely meets him when he's on duty guarding his nephew/step...nephews...(is that a thing)???? etc so yeah!! tis what tis ig lajsdflkjdsjf he just tryna be the bigger person in a feud that probs cassimir doesn't even know exists between them lakjsdflkjsdkfjl #failknight laskdjfkljsdf

[forgottencassimir]

god poor tristan!!!!!!</3

I do think that Tristan has probably heard bad things about him from Edmund, but Tristan probably also knows that Edmund tends to be more judgemental than he is, too. I do think that Cassimir would also be trying to remain on the good side of the Calainons, for obvious reasons, so he would definitely be on his best behavior around them!

Also, Cassimir is secretly #teamguin because he (incorrectly) believes that he can use that one to his advantage one day, but I'm realizing that he is definitely #teamedmund next (because of his dislike of arthur). Also, while I do think he likes the idea that Guin would be more easily influenced because she's a woman, he would just generally feel safer with a man on the throne #facepalm

All of this is to say, is that he would definitely be on his best behavior around Tristan and try to get on his good side .... but yeah, I doubt he knows about Tristan's feelings for Eithne, but if he ever did suspect them, that would get in the way of Cassimir playing nice?? I think if he was more secure in his relationship, he'd kinda like other guys getting jealous/pining over his wife-to-be, but deep down he's wayyyy too insecure for that and would fear that Eithne would want to leave him for them lajdfldsfj

Still, I don't see these two being great friends at all -- especially since Cassimir on his best behavior is still being a total dick!!! He'd probably also try to bond with Tristan over like .... talking badly about the Staffords or something #failure

[forgottentristan]

he's #teamguin bc of their nonexistant romantic connection alksdjfkljsdfkjlsdkjfkljdsf love that for us all honestly lakjsdfkljdfj lowkey picturing, like...cassimir *april ludgate voice*: 'i wasn't listening, but i strongly disagree with ARTHUR!' (honestly arthur would say the same abt him lbr lkajsdklfjklsdf) HE WOULD FEEL SAFER W A MAN ON THE THRONE ALKSJDFKLJDSFJ goddd lkajsdfkljsdf bran is rolling in his grave rn la;kjsdfkljsdf

(if he was securer in it) HED KINDA LIKE OTHER GUYS GETTING JELLY LKAJSDKLFJSDKF (roderick 🤝 cassimir tbqh roderick lowkey like 'look at my hot wives guys' klajsdfkljdsjflsdf smth which ~has gotten him in trouble...see: arthur ;DDDDD)

but yeah i do think that its super subtle, tristan aint out here reciting sonnets or anything, or even getting in his face abt treating her right a la arthur, he'll be like secretely planting white lilies bc eithne mentioned she misses seeing them since they make her think of her mom, but that's abt it! and he doesn't want anyone, esp eithne, to know ~he did it!!! laksjdfkljsdf he just wants to know that she'll be happy, but doesn't want her to feel weird abt it or anything -- she's made her choice and he's abiding by it bc he has faith in her!

ANYWAY!! my point is, i do kinda feel like it'll be quiet yknow? i doubt, unless cassimir is looking for it (which maybe he is?) he'd pick up on anything. if he ~is looking for it, tho there ~are little signs, like i think he does sometimes kinda get lost in her eyes, and he can't help gaze at her when she's smiling/laughing, stuff like that, but in general he's behaving strictly as a friend, and he def does intend to always be a friend she can lean on but he also doesn't intend it to ever go further than that! he respects her and so he respects her choice etc plus honestly even if she were free, i don't think he believes he could ever deserve her, frankly! there's gotta be someone out there worthy of her, but its not tristan (or cassimir! ;D), etc

BONDING W TRISTAN OVER TRASH TALK tristan: *looks directly into the camera* kldsjfakldjsfkjdsf this is not cassimir's best move!! alkdsfjkdsf tristan, suddenly a touch defensive: 'ppl do what they have to to survive! you don't know what its like to be them! *cough* is it just me or is it really warm in here?' ;DDD no but if he ~is talking up edmund, tristan ~is like 'ok...yeah i can def get behind you on this one' but im def starting to think that that, and that eithne is the greatest single creature ever to draw breath <3, is just abt the only thing these two can agree on alkjsdflkjsdkjfldf

[forgottencassimir]

That makes total sense! I don't think Cassimir ~is looking for it, now, because way deep down where Cassimir is actually deeply insecure, I think he is scared that he will find out that Eithne loves someone else/would be susceptible to falling in love with someone who tries to get with her (shocking, I know, when she has such a winner right here with Cassimir!!!)

And like, I think part of Cassimir's relationship with Eithne is also him convincing himself that they will be happy/she will love him, etc etc and I think he likes to ignore any signs that are obviously pointing to the fact that the opposite will be true?? (I don't think he always buys the "I'm the best man around" stuff his mom has been feeding him as strongly as he once did, especially since if he stops and thinks about it, literally nothing supports any of those claims!!) So yeah, he prefers to live in his own little world. I don't think he even is aware of this/that it is a conscious decision at this point, but if he DID notice, I think he would just write it off??? (Especially if he ever caught Eithne gazing back at him b/c he wouldn't want to think about that!!)

However, I do think, as the engagement goes on (possible marriage, etc) and he becomes frustrated when even he can't live in the lies he's told himself that he will be actively looking for some outside force to blame as to why he and Eithne don't have some kind of perfect relationship and then it WILL be all Tristan's fault (and Arthur's .... even if he's clearly moved on, Arthur is always to blame lbr), and honestly any other man who looks too long at her!

I don't think he'd think that they were having a secret affair or anything, but he would believe that Tristan is trying to like manipulate Eithne against him lmao.

*Anakin Skywalker voice* You've turned her against me!

Tristan: you have done that yourself, dude

and then, yeah he wouldn't be fond of the entire #teamedmund situation anymore and it would be 100% support for guin ...

[forgottensaoirse]

Lord of Lorcan | Saoirse & Cassimir

There was one positive thing Saoirse could say for Cassimir Malconaire, even these days: he was easy to spot. Standing well taller than nearly any of his peers, save her own eldest brother, his silhouette was all Saoirse required to realize precisely who was climbing the mountain towards them.

Saoirse and the children had gone for a walk, today, enjoying the peace of the lake and its white and black attendants who placidly flated across it, as well as the crags and clefts and caverns all around it for all their natural beauty. They'd not been long at it, however, when the sound of hoofbeats had come echoing up the mountain from the direction of Malconaire.

Shading their eyes, they'd all three stopped to peer towards the interloper. It was Clea who had declared him, at last, asking if the bad man had come again. With the softest laugh, Saoirse had been forced to acknowledge that he had.

"I have an idea," Saoirse said, kneeling down to address her charges. "Let's baffle him. Let's play hide and seek, hm? You hide...Cassimir and I shall seek. What do you say?"

Peadar was grave, but even he could not long withstand his sister's excitement and, before long, Saoirse was holding her hands to her eyes (though in truth watching where they went -- she would not dare truly lose track of them, these days) and circling, counting as the children rushed to hidden corners of their native mountain. Dropping her hands at last, she came face to face with Cassimir's charger as he at last approached.

"Are you lost, Lord Cassimir?" asked Saoirse, stiff with politeness, yet unable to shake a touch of snark as she raised a hand to point. "The Riverbend is that way."

[forgottencassimir]

Cassimir reined in his horse sharply, irritation flaring hot and immediate at the sight of Saoirse alone upon the path. Of course. Again. He had not ridden all this way to exchange barbed pleasantries with a servant who fancied herself clever; he had come with purpose, with intent carefully measured and rehearsed. His gaze swept the rocks with quick precision, already cataloguing the likely hiding places with a hunter’s instinct. He did not miss the faint traces: scuffed earth, a snapped twig, the echo of movement too recent to be coincidence. The children were near. They were always near. Saoirse only ever hid them just enough to make a point.

His eyes settled on her fully then, as he dismounted his from his horse. “Have you lost track of your charges?” he asked, voice deliberately raised just enough to carry. “I fear Lady Lorcan would be very displeased to hear of it. These are unsettled days. Dangerous days. Even loyal lands are not free of trouble, and children wandering the wild ... ” His voice trailed, allowing her imagination to determine the rest.

What truly rankled him was Peadar’s absence. The boy was what mattered. Peadar was not merely a child of Lorcan: he was its future. Cassimir had intended to be remembered kindly, as a steady presence rather than a looming one. Each time Saoirse denied him that chance, she delayed his work and pressed his patience.

“You mistake me if you think I come here without goodwill,” he continued, stepping closer now, lowering his voice. “I have an interest in the children’s welfare. In Peadar’s education. In ensuring that when he comes into his inheritance, he does so with friends beyond these mountains.” His mouth curved faintly. “That sort of bond is not forged overnight. It requires time. Familiarity. Trust.”

He paused, then added, more coldly, “And you mistake me further if you believe I will be turned aside indefinitely by games.” Cassimir glanced once more toward the rocks, then back to Saoirse. “Call them back. Now. Or I will be forced to involve Lady Lorcan herself, and I suspect she will be far less amused by this performance than I have been.”

Straightening, Cassimir folded his hands behind his back, every inch the nobleman who expected to be obeyed. “I am trying to be patient,” he said. “Do not test whether that patience is endless.”

[forgottenrian]

OOC | Rían & Cassimir

amazingly, rian is a person who will be happy to hear that cassimir is marrying eithne, bc that means he's no longer a rival for guin's hand! lajksdfkljdsfjk and he frankly doesn't really care about eithne nearly as much as he cares abt his chance to right some of the wrongs he did in supporting roderick by marrying his daughter lakjsdfkljdsjfk

i feel like these two could potentially be interesting counter balances for one another!!!! they're two ppl who simultaneously are and are ~not astairan, and they're two ppl who truly feel they're the guy who ought to be in charge of it (tho that last's smth they do share w roderick ;ajsldkjfklsdf what a trio!!!)

all this being said tho i don't think rian thinks much of cassimir tbqh hahaha he just sees him as some dude who lets valentina do all the work when he ought to be taking care of her esp bc she's so clearly incompetent and he's running one of astaira's jewels into the ground this way!! and sure cassimir's not allowed to touch the ruling part till he marries or whatever but rian is like 'surely you can imagine some way around that' etc like!! rian's like 'i got kicked out of my kingsmoot but i came back! you can do it too!' basically lakjsdfkjdsf (rian is NOT stopping to think abt how his method of come back was objectively HORRIBLE in this context!!!!! lakjsdfkjsdf)

but all this being said, i do think he's tryna cultivate a relatinship w him for a couple reasons!!!!

he means to make a run for the throne one way or another (steward, emperor, king, whatever it takes!) and he wants support when he does that

even just as stewart of lorcan, he wants working relationships w the local lords in order to help facilitate things there etc

he's aware of the lorcan/malconaire ties and believes this can serve both the above goals

so yeah!!! he might not think much of cassimir but that's internal monologue stuff!!! alkjsdfkjdsf and in general he wants a working relationship w him!!!! however, that might be different if he knows cassimir wants lorcan? do you think that's smth he would be aware of?

[forgottencassimir]

lsakdjflasjflasfj omg!!!!! someone else who isn't upset about his marriage???? w o w!!!

But I completely agree!! They have a lot of similarities both having one foot in this country and one in another but both also feeling so entitled to rule and have a place here.

I feel like Cassimir has a lot of complicated feelings re: Rian tbh? Like, Cassimir definitely still thinks that the way Astaira selects rulers is crazy (also I'm just now realizing that perhaps one of the stipulations of throwing your hat into the ring for king/queen is that you must be born here?? otherwise, I feel like cassimir would have tried to be king, too, when eilia took over) and he def wanted Rian to be king b/c Eilia is a girl!

I do think it softened the blow a bit when his mom started talking about how Cassimir could then marry Eilia and be king himself, but when he started to have serious feelings about wanting to marry eithne, that held less sawy over him and he ultimately believed that they all would have been better with rian in charge!

Now, though, he's happy enough with the Varmonts in charge. Like, not thrilled, but just accepting and he also feels like he has an in with the family, having captured the hearts of both Cassandra and Guinevere #facepalm and that he will be able to get things he wants because of that, so he's not about to try to start any kind of revolution in Rian's name or anything.

And while I think he would have at least tried to be Rian's friend, upon his return (he does think RIan was smart to throw his loyalties in with Roderick -- clearly he knows how to pick a winner!) he was also instantly upset that Rian was chosen as the steward of Lorcan, when Cassimir believes it should be him. And, although it isn't anything personal, he does want to see Rian removed from that post, so he can swoop in and take it for himself.

But on the surface, I think that they want the same thing -- which is to have good working relationships with each other as acting lords of their respective lands (even if Rian is like ?!?!?!? about Cassimir internally and Cassimir is internally wanting to have Rian overthrown lmao)

[forgottenrian]

so wholesome lsdkjflkjsdfjk obsessed w this mess! not them both like 'this dude is noT right for this job' one way or another lasjdfkljsdf also ommmgggg cassimir wanting to be part of the kingsmoot!!! laskjdfkjsdf but rian at least appreciates knowing that cassimir did/would have (im just now realizing...are the vasilievas technically astairan citizens? i feel like yes since bran adopted the kids and married valentina?? but i just realized idk alksjdfkldsjf) vote for rian for king!!! your vote was deeply appreciated (not that rian necessarily even knows cassimir was pro-rian but you feel me kaljsdfkjlsdf)

HE KNOWS HOW TO PICK A WINNER HELPPPP lkjdsflkasjdfjk

having captured guin adn cass's hearts alkjsdfkljsdjkfdf god im obsessed w cassimir's delusions <3333 pure magic lajksdfkljsdf

ok so largely i was just agreeing w everything you said heehee so yeah not a ~ton to add here except that i feel like, if rian does know that cassimir supported him once, he ~might think he'd do it again? and i do think he's probs aware of how important malconaire is to the astairan consciousness as one of the oldest and noblest (like...spiritually not just in a ~peerage sense hahahah) great houses of astaira etc, so i can potentially see where rian might be thinking that a marriage to one of the og girls might be a good move for garbhan in terms of drumming up support for rian's claim etc, and so yeah that might be smth he might wanna broach w cassimir, too! i don't think he's married to that since, obv, the malconaire vassals and armies got pr chewed up by edmund, but armed forces are def smth that either a varmont or lorcan marriage might bring to the table whereas a malconaire marriage might bring the support of the ppl etc so yeah!! idk!!

im also realizing @forgotteneithne that, bizarrely enough, rian of all ppl might be an unexpected ally in the whole saving the malconaire girls thing depending on when/how that all goes down bc he knows itd endear him to the ppl plus rian does legit believe that burning ppl alive is wrong, even tho i imagine the malconaires will have a trial at least but stiLL come on, roderick!! can we just...not burn ppl alive maybe??? wild idea i know but just a damn thought!!!!! lajsdkfljkdjslafkj

[forgottencassimir]

So, I do think that the vasilievas are now ~technically Astairan citizens given the ~adoption~/marriage situation. But since that happened before Cassimir was adopted, even if he ~could~ try to throw his hat in the ring to be king later on (if we don't go with the fact that you have to be born here that is), he wouldn't have been able to at the time and yeah his support would have been with rian.

Tbh, I actually do think he would have told Rian that he was rooting for him?? And he probably thought that Astaira wouldn't be dumb enough to elect basically a girl-child when Rian is right here??? And ~his granddad was king so???? I feel like he would have been v vocal about his support both because he thought that Rian would win and also because he would want it known to the future king that he was on his side!!!

If they ever had any kind of good relationship, it was probably then tbh alsfjlflaskjdflj (especially since Rian probably never got to know Cassimir much beyond just this guy who is here supporting him!)

I can also see him still saying things like "you should have been king" if/when the opportunity presents itself and I do think that Cassimir honestly would feel that the Varmonts wouldn't have taken Astaira if a man had been at the helm.

However, this does not mean that he is up for Rian being king, at all, now, and if Rian ever did come to Cassimir to try to feel out if he'd support him or not, I feel like Cassimir would be eager to agree to his face but would sorta keep that information to himself until he knew best when to use it??? I feel like it would backfire, but Cassimir would probably try to use the info that Rian might meant to stake a claim against Roderick to try to get something from the emperor (and he might be thinking even more than lorcan at this point but definitely at least that!)

But IDK if Rian would ever fully trust Cassimir enough to ever be so explicit with this sort of declaration, until he's ready to really make some moves re: the throne???

[forgottenrian]

incoming thought -- what if part of of why @forgottenvalentina was so desperate to get her kids adopted by macdara wasn't ~just so they could inherit malconaire (tho that's a good enough reason already!) but also (and ill just @forgotteneithne ) so that cassimir could run for king and/or vote in those elections, himself, someday?

i love the idea of you having to be born there to be a candidate!!! i can see where, astaira being what it is, adoption might come w extra benefits beyond just being a stepchild etc? maybe undoes some of that to an extent, like it formally makes them ~full/natural~ citizens, or whatever??? like, even if you can't run, you can at least vote or whatever?? esp bc i think valentina probs did eventually realize that eilia didn't seem to be buying what cassimir was selling re: a potential marriage there ('stupid girl, unable to see what's before her in all her hubris! my son will show her!') bc im sure there's a way of like ~repealing an election or whatever if evidence (or "evidence" in this case im sure lkasjfkljsf) is found that its somehow invalid or whatever laksjdfkjsdf so she may have been lowkey plotting to 1) make her son lord of malconaire and 2) king of astaira in his own right lkajsdfkjsdf or at the v least to install someone as ruler who would be an ally to him (king cormac the useless incoming when cassimir marries eabha thus becoming dual lord of malconaire-hanthom, or smth au laksjdfklsdjfjkdsf SCREAM jk jk...kinda... ;DDDD)

so when she began to think that maybe that royal marriage wouldn't come off, she started to put in the work to ensure that eilia wouldn't always be queen, either, basically (not me lowkey like what if roderick making the staffords bastards was unwittingly based on groundwork set up by valentina alkjsdfklsjdf bc, like roderick, valentina does not fully understand astairan culture and was like this will do it roderick: thanks for ur service even tho i dont necessarily known im proceeding from ~ur work...bc we do know valentina makes a damn good forgery ;D valentina: hey! ~i was gonna profit off that! not me like does @forgottenroderick actually potentially ~believe they ~are truly bastards, given this???? either way he's happy to undo it as soon as they cooperate ;DDDD) ANYWAY SHHH VALENTINA WAIT UR TURN!!! ~this is abt rian!!1 l;kajsdflkjsdjf besides!! all that is neither here nor there bc #roderick but yeah!

oooooh ok so if cassimir told him in the past that he supported his bid (whether he was able to vote or not etc), and is still saying things like 'you should've been king' even now that #roderick i feel like rian may actually believe that cassimir is one of his most hardcore supporters???? laksdjflkjsdfsdf lk #facepalm (rian, what does it say abt ur cause when ur most die-hard supporter is marrying his own sister THINK MAN THINK klasjdfkljsdf ;DDD jk jk)

tbqh i don't think rian ~likes cassimir (tbf....rian does not like ~most ppl tho lbr lakjdsfkljsdf), but he ~is grateful for his continued support! and, given that cassimir ~also courted guin, i can def see him asking for like any pointers there which *facepalm* but anyway alkjsdfkljdsf (and im laugh bc that presumption to court guin alone would def make roderick angry! even tho he's legit considering rian for cassandra at probs abt this same time! roderick pls get a grip!!) but anyway i feel like perhaps that could come up while rian is feeling cassimir out abt a potential match between one of his stepsisters and garbhan. since he probs doesn't know abt the engagement yet? is that still secret? im guessing he is probs thinking eithne ngl (valentina loudly in the bg: YES PLS MARRY EITHNE SHE IS UNWED MARRY HER THIS INSTANT jk jk ;D) but itd probs quickly become brigit (or maybe even aoife when rian meets brigit ;D only ~kinda kidding honestly lkajsdfkljdsf) given she ~is engaged, id guess? (tho that's slightly less ideal bc he ~had hoped to make his bro a ruling lord in the right of his wife but maybe he can have lorcan once rian has moved on to stafford himself and honor would still be satisfied since brigit herself is of the blood of lorcan, right? lkajsdfkljdsf a perfect plan!! zero flaws!! ;D)

rian ~is a cautious guy (probs overly so ngl but anyway!! it would def be a problem in his reign if he ever did somehow get there l;aksjdfkljsdf he has anxiety ok!!! laskjdflkjasdf ;DDDDDD) so hed def couch everything in terms that are v sneaky at first ngl (too sneaky potentially in the beginning! like i can legit see him thinking cassimir's agreeing to smth when cassimir really ~is just agreeing that yes those curtains are indeed green...and probs lowkey wondering why that's worth remarking upon at all tbqh ;D *facepalm*) but if cassimir kept proving receptive and everything kept going well like the garbhan/brigit otp etc etc ;D i can absolutely see him eventually confiding in him!!! lkajsdfkljdsf *facepalm* and i can absolutely see that backfiring for everyone involved re: roderick esp w the whole malconaire witch situation potentially being embroiled w all that asp etc lakdsjfkljdsf

but yeah i do agree that he's probs not saying anything explicit (probs to anyone...which might be a problem for him frankly) till he's ready to actually make a move (trusting no one is just as problematic as trusting everyone, rian!!!!!)

[forgottencassimir]

omggg yes!! that makes so much sense!!!! I feel like Valentina would like to make Cassimir as powerful as possible (especially pre-becoming king because we all know that's clearly where he is headed #facepalm) and yeah, I really like the idea that being a citizen via the adoption would make him at least eligible for the vote??

also I'm screaming!!! that Valentina might have been behind the bastardization of the staffords plot/laid the groundwork for it anyway and Roderick is the one to benefit from it lmao! Also, ngl I can see where, before Roderick was a thing, that the idea WAS to somehow get them off the throne if it was clear that Eilia wouldn't marry Cassimir and try to (somehow hahahaha) get someone like Cormac elected lmao or even like Eabha so Cassimir could marry her (although we all know that Cormac is CLEARLY the one that can be motivated/manipulated so v easily by Valetnina and Cassimir that having him be king means that Cassimir is basically king ... however convincing Astaira to vote for Cormac is another thing .... god was there a time where Valentina was spreading Cormac!propaganda everywhere???

I'm crying about Rian thinking that Cassimir is one of his hardcore supporters alsdjflsdjflfj I mean ... he just might be even though he'd betray him at a moment's notice because does Rian have any supporters??? ;DDD (garbhan: me, reluctantly)

I'm also crying about Rian literally picking Cassimir for tips on how to court Guin ..... and the way Cassimir would so confidently tell him the wrong things (although not on purpose because I think Cassimir also thinks Rian marrying Guin is a good thing for him because Rian likes and trusts him and Guin is ~clearly~ in love with him, so if Guin could get the throne, Cassimir feels like he would be in a good place .... #facepalm).

Also, Cassimir would definitely be down for Brigit to marry Garbhan (or Roisin if Brigit is too much -- he gets that lmao -- especially since he's still holding out for that Brigit/Cormac love match that will send Brigit far away from everyone else!) He would love to have a Stafford connection, honestly!

[forgottenvalentina]

Rejection | Valentina & Cassimir

Valentina felt triumphant. One way or another, she felt sure tonight was the night -- tonight, at long last, she was going to sever the bond between Cassimir and Eithne, and restore Malconaire to its natural order, with Valentina as its leading lady. The little gala at Malconaire was going swimmingly -- Aoife was chatting with Arthur (and unfortunately Sebastian as well but there wasn't much Valentina seemed able to do about that as, every time she tried to send him elsewhere, Arthur seemed to call him back...and duly become absorbed in reading a book he had brought -- if it hadn't been Arthur she might have found that insulting! but given that it was Arthur she had decided to view it not as a mark of disinterest, but as one of intimacy -- leaving Sebastian and Aoife to chat), Eithne was playing music with Sir Tristan turning her pages for her, Lord Hanthom was speaking with his sister the Queen and his Varmont fiancée, Roderick and Marian seemed to be chatting amiably, Alaric and Sonya looked rather cozy, Eoin was dancing with Cassandra and generally mixing only to occasionally distract Arthur from his book -- usually eliciting a chorus of laughter, and Brigit and Roisin seemed to be entertaining one another, something of which Valentina was immensely grateful, since her current favorite, Prince Edmund, had proven unable to attend, and the girls had no further use save, occasionally, it seemed to cause Valentina a headache. In general, everyone was mingling agreeably -- during the first portion of the evening, at any rate. Valentina had invited all the victors...well, all who were of noble blood. Bran O'Connor, Cathaoir Rith, and Finley Doyle she had not seen fit to invite, and was glad that none of those ruffians had ever set foot on Malconaire soil!

"Cassimir, I need you," said his mother, imperiously, tone quiet enough not to distract any of the guests, but commanding enough she was confident he would follow.

Leading him into the Lord's office, she assumed a chair by the fire. "There is...Cassimir, my darling boy," she said, reaching out to touch his face. "There is...news, grevious news, which I have just heard from Queen Marian, herself." This was a fib. It had, in fact, been Valentina herself who had implied wha she was about to say to Cassimir to Marian...and she had done that on the very first night of the tournament, not its very last.

"I fear this news will be painful to you, so I shall say it quickly and have it done with. It seems, Cassimir -- we have, all of us, been deceived. Eithne is with child -- Arthur's child. When she told him, he rejected her and it seems...Oh, I am so sorry to be the one to tell you this," she added, bringing her hands to her mouth before seizing up his hand again. "Oh, Cassimir, it...it seems that is when she agreed to...to marry you. Oh! My poor boy! How her treachery must break your dear heart!"

She paused. "But, darling heart, perhaps it is well that you learn tongith, with not one but both imperial princesses present...oh, and both so very in love with you...You'll forget Eithne after just fifteen minutes with them, I have no doubt. Take your pick, Cassimir -- you can have whomever you wish! Forget the little viper who tried to deceive you into raising another man's bastard! You will have imperial heirs of your own before long, Cassimir, I know it! You will be the next emperor!"

[forgottencassimir]

Cassimir stared at his mother, her words striking him like blows. For a moment he could not even draw breath. “Arthur’s…child?” he managed at last, the word breaking raggedly in his throat. His hand slipped from hers as though her touch burned.

“No.” He shook his head, his face pale, jaw clenched. “No, that cannot be true. Eithne ... Eithne would not ...” He faltered, the image of her beautiful and innocent smiles clashing violently with the insinuation. He thought of Arthur’s ease, his wealth, his damnable confidence. He thought of the way Eithne’s eyes sometimes softened in his presence.

A flash of fury crossed Cassimir’s face, raw and unguarded. He paced the room like a caged animal, his voice low and dangerous. “If Arthur has touched her, if he has used her, I swear—” He stopped himself, fists trembling at his sides.

Valentina’s words about Guinevere and Cassandra washed over him, but he did not hear them. His mind had narrowed to a single, blazing point. “You say she deceived me,” he spat, turning on his mother, his tone nearly accusing. “But I will hear it from her own lips before I condemn her. Do you understand? Eithne is mine. And no one, not Arthur, not even you, will tell me otherwise.”

[forgottencassimir]

Arthur/Cassimir: “Well this is awkward…”

~ Flashback / Approximately 18 months ago ~

Eithne had been ill.

There was no danger of her not recovering (at least that was what the village doctor claimed), but Cassimir could not dismiss the worry from his mind. He'd spent the day picking a modest bundle of wildflowers for her bedside table, angry with himself that even he could not justify presenting her with a more extravagant offering.

But before he could have them delivered to her rooms, the door swung open and Arthur Varmont was announced. He strode in, tall and sure, attended by a page who carried a massive arrangement: roses from the hothouse, lilies shipped across the sea, and orchids so rare they seemed impossible in Malconaire’s dim winter. The display looked as though a garden in full bloom had been uprooted and placed in a single gilded vase.

Arthur dismissed his servant with a casual flick of his fingers and turned his smile on Cassimir.

“Well,” Arthur said lightly, noting the now pathetic looking bouquet Cassimir held in his hands, “this is awkward.”

Cassimir stiffened. “Flowers are flowers. It’s the thought that matters.” He held his humble bundle tighter, as though daring Arthur to mock them.

Arthur’s eyes lingered on the wildflowers, then on Cassimir himself, and his smile deepened. “Of course. And what could be more thoughtful than plucking daisies on the way up from the stables?” He said it as though Cassimir had barely given the flowers half a thought. Cassimir, himself, did not consider how little Arthur would have had to give his own bouquet with so many servants and resources at his disposal.

Color rose in Cassimir’s face. “Eithne does not care for extravagance. She has no need of gilded trappings to know she is cherished.” Even as he spoke, Cassimir felt no confidence in his own words and could not help but eye Arthur's lavish display with envy.

Arthur tilted his head, studying him as though amused. “Ah. Then you know her mind so well, do you? You must forgive me, Lord Cassimir. For Lady Eithne and I have become rather good friends.” He brushed a speck of dust from his sleeve with casual grace. “She tells me all manner of things.” He looked as Cassimir knowingly, as though it was her dislike of him that they discussed most.

Cassimir’s jaw tightened, his knuckles whitening on the stems of his flowers. “Do not presume upon her kindness, Your Imperial Highness. Eithne is not some ornament to be toyed with."

Arthur’s smile sharpened, "Tell me, Cassimir: do you clutch at her because you love her, or because she is the only crown you will ever wear?”

The question struck like a blade slipped between armor. For a heartbeat, Cassimir’s mask of confidence faltered and he feared that Arthur’s title, his wealth, his effortless charm would sweep Eithne beyond his reach.

Arthur saw it, and pressed no further. He did not need to. Instead, he straightened, “I will leave these with her,” he said smoothly. “I trust she will decide which flowers please her most.”

He moved toward the door, pausing only to glance back at Cassimir, whose bouquet now looked pitifully small in his hands. “Good day, my lord. Do give Eithne my regards when she wakes.”

[forgottencassimir]

valentina: what are you doing out here by yourself?

Flashback (Shortly after the Conquest of Astaira)

The frost clung to the garden wall, glittering in the pale light of dawn. Cassimir leaned against it, staring across the misted gardens. The air smelled of cold earth and distant smoke from the fires that warmed the hall. He had been here long enough that the stone had leached the warmth from his hands, but he did not move.

“Cassimir,” came a voice behind him. He turned to see his mother, her fur-lined mantle sweeping behind her like the train of a queen. She did not slow as she approached, her eyes fixed on him with the precision of a hawk. “What are you doing out here by yourself?” she asked, her tone making it sound less like a question and more like a mild rebuke.

Cassimir shifted, the words he had rehearsed in his head suddenly dry and heavy on his tongue. “Thinking.”

“Thinking,” she repeated, as though she could taste the word. “You spend too much time at it lately. Is something troubling you?”

He hesitated. “There is… a matter I have been considering. I meant to—”

But Valentina was already speaking. “I have news,” she said, her eyes alight. “The Emperor’s court is in chaos. He hasn't secured any matches for any of his children, let alone selected an heir from amongst them. Not even for his eldest child -- the Imperial Princess, herself. She will need a husband. And soon. If he waits too long, she will no longer be able to give him any grandchildren."

Cassimir’s breath stilled in his chest. He knew then, what his mother meant to suggest -- and it was at bitter odds with what he had meant to tell her that day. He had been pondering just how he might tell her that he wished to have Eithne as his wife, but it was clear that Valentina meant to make other plans.

“You, my son, would be the most suitable choice. A marriage that would elevate us beyond this provincial corner of the realm. Think of it—imperial blood, imperial favor. The Malconaire name bound to the Emperor’s own line.”

He looked away, back to the gardens. His thoughts were a tangle—Eithne’s face, her voice, her touch ...

And now… Guinevere Varmont, a stranger, yet a prize his mother clearly coveted.

“You are silent,” Valentina observed. “Do you not see what this could mean?”

Cassimir forced a smile that did not touch his eyes. “I see it well enough.”

Her hand, light but commanding, rested on his arm. “Good. Then you will not waste time on lesser attachments," She added, as though she could read his thoughts. "There is work to do, and we must present ourselves flawlessly to the court.”

His throat tightened. He had thought himself a man who could bend fate to his will, yet in the shadow of her certainty, the words he had meant to speak to her—that he would wed Eithne—shrivelled into nothing.

“As you wish, Mother,” he said at last.

Valentina’s smile widened, satisfied. She patted his arm once before gliding back toward the manor, her fur cloak whispering over the frost. Cassimir stood there long after she was gone, the cold biting deep, and wondered if he had just surrendered the only choice that had ever been his.

[forgotteneabha]

Far Across the Land | Éabha & Cassimir

"My Lord of Malconaire," Éabha said, a touch pointedly, as she made her curtsy. He would, after all, be calling her Lady of Calleary, she had no doubt, rather than Lady Calleary. There was some triumph to be had in beating him to it.

Their relationship had been a strange one, consisting in budding friendship, in uncertain intimacy, and dissolved, ultimately, in unlooked for acrimony. She should not have imagined a spot of it as a girl. It was strange to think that, in another world, Cassimir might even now be her husband, their private power struggle for her seat doubtless consuming a great deal of her time and energy. Instead, that unfortunate task, it seemed, had fallen to her dearest friend and Éabha had been spared it by the intercession of Roderick Varmont, himself, with a whole war to come between them. It was, at least, one good the Emperor had done her, though all unwitting.

Malconaire was radiant in the gloaming, the moon rising in the sky even before the sun had fully set so that silver and golden light poured over the trees, rustling with the winds high in their tops.

"It was so very kind of the Lady Dowager to hold these festivities. I have little doubt the victors in the tournament shall be well pleased -- as you must be with your own showing."

Éabha smiled what looked a genuine smile. In truth, given that Cassimir had not grown up in the tradition of touraments, unlike those of the Varmont school of thought, he truly had shown himself well, but she knew him to be a competitive sort (he'd proven that well enough during the course of their erstwhile betrothal) and could not resist reminding him that his greatest victory in the lists had not taken him even so far as the final round.

Still, she shook herself. This was petty. It was not what was best for her people. She ought to do what she could to rekindle their old friendship. Exhaling slowly, she forced what appeared to be a truer smile.

"But that is not your own source of pride, tonight, I hear. Lord Malconaire," she choked out. He would be that, even in her book, soon enough after all. He was to wed the true Lady Malconaire. "Let us be friends. Let us put any past grievances behind us. I hear, after all, that you have the honor of the greatest victory there is, in claiming the hand of the most virtuous lady in all Astaira. Allow me to congratulate you, my lord. I know Eithne shall be very happy in her prospect of living here always, and I have little doubt shall prove an excellent helpmate to you in all things. One could not ask for a better partner in anything, could one?"

[forgottencassimir]

Cassimir had little patience anymore for Eabha Calleary and only decided that he should continue this conversation out of love for Eithne. Where once Eabha may have been his wife, that future had now evaded them both. He could not have been more pleased to have escaped that than he was now. While he knew that he would have eagerly bended the knee to Roderick Varmont, as Cormac had done, he would hardly have liked to have given up his seat to Godfrey Calanion while he wasted away here under Rian Stafford's eye, until a new seat would be provided for him.

It was also just as likely that Roderick would have striped both himself and Eabha of the title, and given it all to Cormac -- leaving them with nothing. While Cassimir would have used that situation to his advantage as much as he could (Cormac was easily controlled), he found his situation at Malconaire to be far more comfortable.

Not to mention, his wife to be far more suitable.

His mother had kept her ears open for any gossip concerning Eabha Calleary when their engagement fell through and she confirmed that she had fallen into the deepest despair and would not speak to anybody for months and months afterwards. Cassimir had cared for her once and it did sadden him to think of the conflicting emotions she must be feeling now, to know that he was going to be marrying her closest friend, while she seemed to have no prospects of her own.

He gathered that that was the reason for her comment about his performance in the tournament. This had hardly been the first time she had made such remarks meaning to hurt him since things between them had fallen through. It only proved him to that the rumors his mother had heard had been correct.

Poor Eabha Calleary was jealous.

"I am not in the habit of embarrassing the royal family but allowing them to lose to a lowly lord, Lady Calleary. If your own brothers had been brave enough to take part, I'm sure that they would have done the same."

Cassimir did not feel the need to bring up that he was twice defeated by peasants, in addition to the times he was bested by Arthur Varmont. He hoped she had forgotten it.

"Have we ever not been friends?" He asked, daring her to contradict it even though they both knew it was not always so. "You are the sister of my dearest friend; and the dearest friend of my soon-to-be-wife. I have never thought ill of you." He was still visibly agitated about her comments regarding his performance. He was not hiding it well, even as he geared up to gloat about the one thing he truly held over her: his engagement to Eithne.

"We shall always agree upon that." He said, his gaze drifting towards Eithne. "I imagine that we shall have every happiness. Eithne is just as eager for us to begin our life together as I am. I am pleased that it looks as though it shall be a rather short engagement. I trust you and your family shall all be here for the wedding?" Cassimir asked, turning his gaze back to her's.

She truly would be jealous then, he thought.