hii do you have headconons on what makes castin fall in love with the baroness during their engagement months (like rhett asked on their wedding night and he admitted it)
i think of maybe they had another public appearance together and castin saw that the baroness actually care of the intacians people, maybe she interacted with the kids that made castin melts
In love, just not close enough
Author's note: It's been a while since I wrote anything about Castin. I figured it'll be fun to write a one-shot based on this ask! And it is! :D So thank you, I-1-v-3-d, and I hope you'll enjoy this oneshot.
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Pairings: CastinHammer/Baroness (Listener)
Summary: After he hurt the Baroness that night, Castin Hammer is a man who yearns at a distance.
Word count: 1,427 words
Tags: A bit of angst. This happens after Castin's prologue chapter
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Falling in love is like having a high-speed train hit your face first.
Just swap the train with a portrait of the Imperial Baroness, and you get one Castin Hammer.
Rhett (lovingly) smacks a rolled-up newspaper on his head when Castin refuses to surrender it. "Yes, yes - we get it, brother. The entire base gets it. You've met your future wife. Conveniently missing out the 'potential' part while you were screaming out of the window, mind you. You do know that she has the right to reject you during her debut, right? While the Queen and I are hoping for the best for this arranged marriage, it must be consensual on both parties."
"Oh ye of little faith, thy name is Rhett! C'mon, do you honestly think that the Baroness is gonna reject this?" Castin makes sure to slowly wave his arm over a rack of naked abs with a very handsome face attached above. He doesn't appreciate Rhett rolling his eyes at such magnificence. "I'll have her falling all over me just like those village girls - OW!"
"Is she going to be your wife or one of your conquests, Castin? Because if it's the latter, then I'll have a more reputable Intacian as a candidate for the groom." After brandishing the newspaper as a weapon once more, Rhett replied with a heavy frown.
The atmosphere between the two friends sinks with the weight of the situation. The playful banter shifts into something else.
Castin's eyes lingered on the Baroness' portrait once more. Carefully committing every little detail to his memories. The delicate arch of her eyebrows is beautifully expressed on canvas. Plump lips begging to be worshipped by a faithful lover. Mesmerising eyes that are akin to a siren's lure. Skin that looks soft against caresses. A myriad of colours washed to bring her to life.
Another comment of wisdom from Castin Hammer: The Imperial Baroness is a work of art.
While it's nice to finally put a face to the rumours that have been buzzing around his ears, Castin is aware of the battle for the Baroness' heart. He's excited for it.
"I won't screwed this up," Castin said when he finally found it in him to return the Baroness' portrait to Rhett. His eyes locked onto him. "I promise."
...aaaandd then the night of the Baroness' debut happened. An evening that no one will forget any time soon.
The look of disappointment on Rhett's face is immeasurable. The Baroness' ire is just as crushing.
Castin isn't so much of a scumbag to pretend that he didn't notice how hurt the Baroness was.
"You sure brought that Noble down a peg or two, huh, brother?"
"Honestly? The Imperials had it coming. Strutting off their ships and onto our lands - our homes - as if they own in. Typical."
"Chin up, Castin! Sure, she looks fun in bed, but there're always other girls, right? Ones that can't take a joke, anyway. We'll hit that new tavern tonight, get you in between some titties and by morning, you'll forget about her."
"Can you imagine settling down with a broad like the Baroness? Bro, if it were me, that face isn't pretty enough to make me forget what the Empire did to us."
Castin kinda lost it after that.
When he came to, Rex and Dolion were struggling to pin him to the ground while Rex yanked the sword from his bloodied grip.
"Get a hold of yourself, Castin!" Rhett - no, the King - barks. The injured soldiers were quickly attended to by their Dolion, and those who could still walk received Rex's punishment. "I swear to the Goddess, Castin, that if you don't get a grip, then I'd have no choice but to have you leave the Capital before you could scare off the Baroness and the Imperial diplomats to the port!"
"I-I need to see her. I need to make this right." Castin pleads, ashamed of his bloodied knuckles. Ashamed of himself. "Rhett, Please. I just need one more chance."
Rhett looks torn. "Castin..."
"Please! I'll do anything!"
"Calm down, calm down. Look. The Queen and I have been doing some damage control. The Imperial entourage will only react based on the Baroness' move. If she packs up? Brother, it's over. We can't lose any more of her good graces."
The implication is clear. If Castin screwed up again? They all can say goodbye to any thoughts of peace between their countries.
Rhett sighs and pats Castin's shoulder at his crestfallen expression.
Which is why he's here now, staring at the Baroness.
For whatever reason that Castin desperately wanted to know (these days, he can't help but want to know everything about this woman, down to what she had for breakfast in hopes of finding something, anything, that can get her to look at him), the Baroness is at the town square today.
Is she sightseeing? If so, then Castin is hungry for an opportunity to jump in and be her guide; showing all the best spots and cafes. Is she shopping? If so, then he'll gladly be her porter. He just needs something to work with.
But then she stops near the fountain.
It didn't take long for the children who were playing nearby to swarm towards their newest curiosity. They couldn't be older than eight, as one of them tugged at her skirt.
"Excuse me, miss! Are you a princess?"
The Baroness laughs and oh... how Castin's knees grow weak! It wasn't the condescending and clipped kind she saved for her kinsmen and Intacian politicians. No. This is something lighter. Genuine. Soft.
He wants to hear it every day for the rest of his life.
"Do I look like a princess?"
Castin stays hidden in the shadow of an alleyway, unseen and uninvited (he deserved it after what he had done), as the children eagerly nod their little heads. The Baroness slowly knelt to the children's height, uncaring of her now dirtied skirt. Excited chitters immediately erupt. A little girl shyly commented that the red stone around the Baroness' neck shines so prettily. In return, she clasps it around the girl. Another handed her a drawing, which she praised sincerely as if it belonged in a gallery. The last child wrapped his small fingers around hers. She gently squeezes them back.
When the parents realise just who is with their children, some frantically apologise while others treat the Imperial woman as if she's gum underneath their shoes. Still, she regards them with the same armour donned during her debut - distant yet polite. She begins inquiring about their names, complimenting how kind their children are and showing great interest in their professions. She asked about the lumber that the carpenter worked with. The merchant of his wares. The travelling bard of his musical composition.
Even from a distance, Castin could tell that their wariness was slowly melting. More so when the Baroness begins to ask about Intacia and her culture.
Castin's chest tightened. Not from jealousy but from wonder. That someone so fierce with him could be so effortlessly warm with those who asked nothing of her.
Was that it, he thought.
Did Castin ask for too much?
Demanded instead of earned?
Wanted her to be his one and only wife before she could know him as a man?
But what if this is his last chance?
What if he had already ruined everything beyond repair?
He could do anything for her. Tear down kingdoms with his bare hands if the Baroness wanted; but none of it would mean anything unless she truly sees him. Not the cocky, Intacian warrior. Not the King's brother in all but blood. But him. Castin Hammer.
The boy who would beg his Mama for new storybooks. The man who secretly weeps after every sad song. The man yearning for her from a distance.
Castin has to try.
Power? Promises? No. Honesty. Something as soft and earnest as the way she looked at those children.
But does he have it in him to be... vulnerable? Or does the Baroness only accept a groom who can stand on her level?
A petal from the daisy crown that one of the children gave the Baroness fluttered in the wind.
Whatever it is, Castin lets himself fall a little more in love with the Baroness right here.
Where he couldn't hurt her.