(cas doesn't know his name is hylas)
Hylas opened his mouth to reply to Cas' statement on his boring life, but the question that followed caught him off guard. "Why, yes," He said with a soft laugh, letting his gaze wander to the glitter, feathers, and jewels that graced the center of the ballroom. Lords and ladies smiling as they twirled in their posh ways. But when was the last time he'd danced with someone? He reckoned it might've been in a tavern a little over a month ago– a clumsy, half-drunken dance with the pretty barmaid that ended in a flurry of loud laughter and another round. Luckily he'd remembered a few waltzes from another ball he'd attended while surveilling a high-ranking officer. "I'll confess; not well, but yes," Hylas said, his gaze flickering over to the chamber orchestra off to the side, "Though, my fondness for music distracts me."
(whoops, sorry about that)
"Don't worry, out of all the dancing lessons I was put into I could never seem to determine which foot went where." He paused for a moment and then the prince raised a brow, following the others line of sight to the orchestra for a moment then back to him, "A music lover? Did you ever play?" Music was always Arin's area of expertise and his passion. Even though Cas himself enjoyed music, he'd never learned how to play an instrument, preferring to spend his time pouring over books in the library for hours on end.
"Hm," Hylas sounded, smiling as he pictured a younger version of the man before him trying to repeat the basic footing of a waltz. He tucked away a stray lock of dark hair as he turned back to the prince. "Very much so," He said, thinking back to his early memories of watching street performers in his home kingdom as a child, sitting cross-legged in the path as he gazed up at a flute or fiddle player in awe, "Oh, but playing an instrument?" He said, sighing dreamily at the orchestra, "I could never." The thought of purchasing a lyre or viola for himself had been a dream of his since childhood, but work and worries would often pull it away, reminding him that he didn't deserve precious things unless he earned them, and that he'd wait til he stopped taking clients and the money would get him far enough.
"How so?" The prince tilted his head to the side softly, confusing marring his features, "Why not play if you enjoy music so much? Did you just not have the time?" Maybe it only became an interest to the Duke later in life and he just never had the time. A shame, really, to not be able to do something that you love, to not have the time. It seemed that that was something that everyone was struggling with these days, time. Running out of it was a reoccurring problem it seemed, and not just for him. It was a sad thought and one he shook away as he zoned back into the conversation. A part of him new he should be talking to everyone else, but then again, he might not be able to talk to the man again for a while.
A moment of quiet panic gripped Hylas as he tried to think of a plausible reply. It needed to be vague, but not inexplicit enough to prompt too many questions. "I've always loved music– but I always assumed it just…wasn't for me," He replied, "By the time I was thinking of putting that thought aside–" Hylas shrugged, glancing back over at the orchestra as he remembered the first job– 'come back tomorrow, boy, and I'll double it.' Staring blankly at the ground as the man pat his head and handed him a sack of coins, "Travels and work. Life got in the way."
Ah, just as he had thought, "Life seems to be a constant problem with preventing people from doing what they'd like." He mused. Cas glanced towards his father who was talking with some older men about something or another and sighed. His life had been planned out since he was sixteen, a thought that had never sat right with him, "But anyway, you can't change the past, you can only change the future," He placed his glass on a nearby table, "Care for a dance?"
His gaze flickered back to the prince, almost frowning at how fast he made note of the drink he left on the table. As long as the prince retrieved it after the dance, slipping something into his drink would be a matter of timing, discretion, and holding the prince's attention until he found a way outside. "As long as you don't step on my toes," Hylas said, a corner of his mouth curving up into a smile as he offered Cas his hand. A dance with the prince; it would've been a pleasant thought to him, in another world– if he was here as a real guest and the evening wasn't a grim parallel of the danse macabre.
"I make no promises there, and I apologise in advance," The prince chuckled softly, gently slipping his hand into Hylas'. The music was soft, light. Not quite a waltz but close to it. Slow dancing had always been easier to pick up, some of them, anyway. The movements slower and more about timing then grace. He led the duke out onto the floor, weaving between the other couples who were always taking up position in the middle of the event. As long as they didn't run unto anyone else they should be okay.
Hylas laughed at the prince's remark, quiety wondering if he should be smiling or laughing this much. There wasn't a whole lot besides music or children that amused him, but dancing in a place like this was something short of a dream. He would try to forget it later, anyway. The sound of his laugh, the touch of his hand, the verdancy of his eyes, and the gentle music would all haunt him in the end like some ephemeral reverie. "I feel like I should be the one apologizing…Cas," Hylas said, his name bringing a smile to his face as they danced, "I haven't wished you a happy birthday."
Cas tilted his head up at him, even with the slight heel on his shoes. He kept his eyes trained on the other, breathing in his features as he tried not to mess up in the dance or step on the other. He could feel the guests gaze on their backs and he tried not to think about it, and about the rumors that were going to spread after the dance was over, "There's no need for that, I have a feeling I'll be hearing that phrase all night." He let out a light laugh, though only lasting a moment still carefree and like silk to the ears, "I've heard it enough today already."
"Have you?" Hylas prompted, his gaze falling on a few guests looking their way as they circled the ballroom in the gentle sways and twirls of their dance, "Well, I hope the well-wishes don't come too excessively." The way the other partygoers gazed at him made him uneasy. It almost felt like they could see through his mask, and now that he was dancing with the prince– becoming a sudden focal point of the evening –they were really seeing him, and they might identify him once the prince went missing. "I never do much for my own birthday, but I can see how a crowd like this might prove to be a little monotonous when it comes to greetings and formalities," Hylas said, smiling as he turned his attention back to Cas.
"Since I woke up this morning it's been a barrage of 'happy birthday' and other well wishes. As much as I appreciate them, you've seen how many people are here tonight, I don't think I'll want to leave my room for a few days," Cas sighed softly, smiling back at Hylas, "I've always found these… parties too excessive. But, having not had one last year I was practically forced to have one this year." His father had protested for months before had. Cas had turned him down for ages until he was worn down and simply agreed, letting the other do the planning and organising. And here they were.
"Excessive would be a fair discernment of tonight, yes," Hylas agreed, briefly glancing around the grand ballroom filled with people, "Though it is a party, and people will find any reason to celebrate." A part of him couldn't fathom ever getting tired of such extravagance, and was in awe of the splendor that graced every aspect of the party, from the jewel-embedded dresses to the crystalline chandeliers that hung from the high ceiling. His own birthday was nothing but a day of rest reserved sometime in the fall, and though he was working and saving towards a quiet, simple life, he couldn't help but gaze at the room in silent wonderment. "But I suppose the king wanted this one to be special."
"I hardly think turning twenty two is a cause for such grandeur." It wasn't as if he had turned eighteen. Twenty two was not exactly an age to be celebrating with such splendor in his eyes. Cas would have preferred to have a casual dinner with the king rather then be out here having to meet every face that showed. Not that that task had been even half completed yet, his time having been stolen from the duke he was dancing with. But he didn't mind, he seemed more down to earth then everyone else he'd spoken to thus far. Even with all of this is made him feel… normal, at least a little.
Hylas lifted a shoulder in a faint shrug as they danced. The thought and planning behind any royal festivities were a bit of a mystery to him. "Your coronation could have something to do with it," He suggested, reminded again of the fate of the kingdom; soon to be without an heir. It was a bitter realization to come to when he'd accepted the job. The thought of his death affecting not just his father but an entire kingdom was worrying to Hylas, especially since Cas had spent years of his life under the pressures of being the sole successor of the crown.
Cas hummed softly in agreement, "It's possible. However I won't be crowned until the summer solstice which is months away, there's no cause for an engagement such as this now." The lilting, melodic music slowly came to a close, the dance ending soon after. The guests clapped politely as couples bowed to one another. The prince did the same, stepping away from Hylas only to bow with a soft smile, "You're better at dancing then you mentioned."
Hylas bowed at the end of their dance, looking away as he smiled a little shyly. Dancing, specifically ballroom dancing, was not something a man of his line of work would be practiced in. Aside from the occasional barroom swing, it was not a part of his life that he spent time on or actively sought out. But tonight the music had been soft and flowing, the candlelight warm and radiant, and he'd found that he quite liked dancing, at least with the prince. "Thank you," Hylas said, smiling as he tilted his head to the side with a playful nonchalance, "I'm glad to hear it. You weren't so bad yourself."
The prince couldn't help but let his smile grow ever so slightly, letting out a light chuckle, "Ah well, I guess when you have a good partner it makes everything a whole lot easier." For a moment Cas looked like he was going to say something else, only for some lady to cut in between the two of them, completely ignoring the fact that they were mid conversation. She started rambling about something or another, the yellow of her dress blinding even in the dimmed lighting that surrounded them. Cas tried not to cringe, though it was obvious he was trying hard to anyone but the woman in front of him.
Hylas opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off when a figure of bright yellow came in between them. He blinked, stepping back a few paces when the jutting bustle of her dress forced its way into his space. Tonight's job was hard enough as it was, and he didn't need anymore obstacles. And though he'd predicted that there would be attempts at reintroducing Cas to the crowd, this woman had already begun speaking to the prince– without the least bit of an excuse for interrupting them. If it was any other prince, he would've walked away and easily reclaimed his attention later, but he remembered how dully Cas spoke of the greetings and mindless formalities such parties brought forth. Hylas bit his lip, looking over the woman's shoulder with a raised brow to see if Cas was planning on carrying out whatever impulsive monologue she'd stared. 'Should I go?' He mouthed, casually pointing away.
The prince subtly shook his head to the others question. He’d try his best to get rid of this women so he could return to the conversation he was having. He wasn’t going to mention how rude this woman was being, but he doubted that she’d care, clearly too wrapped up in her own head and words to notice when Cas mouth back, Drinks? And made a motion. He was going to need one in a few minutes. Whoever this lady was she wouldn’t stop talking about trade routes and the such, a conversation that would be much better suited for a formal meeting. To discuss such matters on his birthday of all places gave him a headache.
Hylas smiled as he nodded at the prince's suggestion. With a soft nod in the direction of the drinks table, he slowly backed away from the two, leaving Cas to find his way out of the woman's rambling talk. His smile fell from his expression as he turned away, glancing at the guests near the table and wondering if he'd be able to slip something into the prince's drink without anyone seeing. As he walked towards the far wall of the ballroom, he nervously slipped a hand into an embroidered pocket of his waistcoat and felt the weight and cool glass of a small vial in his pocket, holding the same soporific sedative he'd used on the rare few nights he was working near drinks.
The people around the table seemed too wrapped up in their own conversations to notice Hylas. A perk of being around those of higher power, most, if not all, were conceited and did not care about anyone else. If you weren't of status, you were irrelevant. That notion was one that Cas hated. The woman in front of the prince kept rambling and Cas wondered if she'd even taken a breath since she'd started talking. However when there was a gap in her speech, the prince politely excused himself, claiming he would be back later to continue their chat as he walked away, eyes scanning the ground of Hylas.
The glass vial felt heavy in his palm as he approached the table, hesitantly bringing forward two dainty flutes of sweet champagne. With a final, cautious glance around him, Hylas uncorked the small bottle and poured its contents into one of the glasses, slipping the empty vial back in his pocket. The guilt felt even louder now that he'd actually done something substantial towards carrying out his plan; as there would be no going back from this. The prince would be unconscious by the end of the night, and from there he'd take him away– to a secondary location of sorts, where it would be the end for him. But just the reminder of that disheartened Hylas, casting a dispassionate look over the ballroom with the two flutes of champagne in hand, momentarily forgetting what he was doing there as he watched the king smile and talk to guests; unaware of the fact that he would be losing his only living son.
It felt like the crowd was suddenly a lot larger then it had been a few moments before. Only when he was looking for someone did it seem more suffocating than it had when he had first entered the ballroom. Luckily a moment later he spotted the tall silhouette and mess of dark hair of the duke and made his way over. Cas placed a hand on the others shoulder, offering a smile once he arrived, "If I have to hear about trade routes on my birthday I am going to send everyone home early."
A hand on Hylas’ shoulder snapped him out of his daze, almost startling him as he turned to face the prince; that green gaze and that gentle smile of his. “Sounds fair enough to me,” He said with a soft laugh, casually handing Cas the laced flute of champagne and glancing around the crowded ballroom with a smile. “Though it would be unfortunate, for me, at least,” Hylas shyly admitted, shifting his gaze away out of both coyness and and quiet shame, “I rather like talking to you. Going back to Arofjord after being cut off by that woman would have left me crestfallen.”
