Chapter 10: 1.9 Dramatic Play
Camilla kept looking ahead with a gentle smile, despite boiling with anger. She quickly glanced back at the entry of the royal box when she heard a sound, but ended up being disappointed.
The worst in all of this is that everyone keeps looking at her. Usually, she wouldn't care, but in this case, she does. The play hasn't started since the emperor is late, and they keep looking to see if he's here.
It's humiliating to be there alone waiting for him. Furthermore, it's the royal box, so everyone can see it. When she heard sounds, she looked back again and smiled when she saw the emperor enter.
She stood up excitedly and looked at him with shiny eyes. She felt happy to see that he wasn't wearing blue robes. She peeked behind him and saw that Caspian was indeed there. Perfect.
Salvatore walked to his seat and Camilla bowed.
"Your majesty."
Salvatore nodded and looked around the theater. Everyone had stood up when he arrived.
He took a seat and everyone did right after. The play finally started, and they all looked on stage. Caspian, who was standing behind the emperor, rolled his eyes. He'll have to stand here for two to three hours.
He played a movie and asked Silas to call him when he is concerned. 15 minutes after his movie started, he was called. Caspian looked on stage. On stage were two actors talking. One was playing a prime minister of a country and the other was his advisor.
His advisor told him that he found out he stole money and to give it back. The prime minister acted like your typical greedy bad guy from every movie and refused. The fact that he was evil was clear, while the advisor seemed like an angel.
Then a young man came in. He looked beautiful and was dressed exquisitely. He was the prime minister's son, and he asked his father for money. Of course, the prime minister agreed. Then the advisor implied that the prime minister was stealing money from the country, to indulge his bratty child.
Only an idiot wouldn't be able to tell that the play was about the Luna family and the previous chancellor. People kept gazing at Caspian to see his reaction, to his portrayal. Caspian kept looking at the play expressionlessly.
Camilla glimpsed at Caspian and saw that he was looking down, and his hands were tightened into fists. She smiled and looked at the play again. Salvatore's brows furrowed imperceptibly.
He turned to glance at Caspian. As soon as Caspian saw that he was looking at him, he looked up and resumed looking at the play. Salvatore looked at the play again. Caspian looked at his movie again, while making sure to look uneasy.
Two hours and a half later, he was glad to be done. Everyone stood up and clapped the actors enthusiastically. Caspian looked at the actors expressionlessly. Frankly, he has nothing against them.
They just acted in a play that was written by someone who was paid by Camilla, so he'll deal with him. They made the original's father look like a beer-bellied fool. Someone who only did what he did, because he was manipulated by his greedy son.
Seeing how most people are stupid, he's sure that tomorrow the news about why the previous chancellor stole the money, will spread everywhere. And they'll all believe it's true. It's fine, he doesn't care.
The emperor turned to leave, but Camilla held his wrist. The emperor turned around and looked at her hand on his wrist, and then at her with narrowed eyes. Camilla let go and said:
"I'm sorry, your majesty. I just wanted to know if you would like to have a late dinner together?"
"No."
After saying that, Salvatore left. Camilla looked at him leave biting her lip. She needs to find a way to be intimate with the emperor. She doesn't want Caspian to become pregnant and carry the heir of the empire.
At least she knows that he doesn't care that much about him, seeing that he stayed for the entire play. She thought, and her eyes lit up.
Salvatore entered the car, followed by Caspian. Just before Eben could enter, he ordered:
"Take another car."
Caspian closed the door in his face and the car left.
Eben looked at them go furiously. Even after being humiliated like that, Caspian still acts like he is better than he is. The only thing that makes him feel better, is that he knows it's only the beginning of his punishment.
Caspian looked out the car window as they rode to the palace. Salvatore looked at him. When he looked at Caspian in the theater he saw him act like he wasn't touched, but he can tell he is upset.
He pulled him in his embrace and Caspian leaned his head on his chest. Salvatore caressed his head soothingly. Caspian closed his eyes and listened to Salvatore's rapid heartbeat. Hades truly loves him.
He doesn't understand why, though. Something must've happened where his feelings changed. Even if their fathers worked together, he and Hades were never friends. He never liked how cold and unsmiling he was.
So, even if his father would often come to work in his father's laboratory in the countryside, he would ignore him and Hades would sit at the side reading a book. He can't recall exchanging more than five words with him.
Over the years, he picked up a few things about him, but that's it. When he arrested him, he hadn't seen him face to face in 120 years. When his entire life blew up, he never saw him again, and why would he? He had to survive and left.
It's thanks to Silas that he saw that he was tracking him down. This is so weird, and he's still angry that Silas kept it from him. Salvatore looked down at Caspian.
"Are you alright?"
"I am, your majesty."
Caspian's eyes were still closed.
"Your majesty, when do you think I can meet with your people to start the production?"
"I'll give you next week free, so you can meet with them and prepare for production. I'll write you the address of the leader of the team."
Caspian pulled back and looked at him, stunned.
"Really?"
Salvatore smiled. He caressed his cheek and said:
"Really, peach."
Caspian blinked and his cheeks flushed. He looked away and Salvatore smiled. He pulled him in his embrace again and Caspian leaned in. He rolled his eyes, who is the devil calling a peach? Does he have a death wish? He's not a peach, there's nothing sweet about him.
When they arrived, Caspian helped the emperor with the usual then left. As he left the main palace, he looked at the paper with the address Salvatore gave him. He put it away and looked up when he saw someone standing at the side. The man walked to him and Caspian smiled.
"Hey."
Drea smiled.
"Hi."
"What are you doing here?"
Drea coughed and said:
"I just wanted to make sure, you're okay after the play."
Caspian smiled.
"I'm okay. I'm not surprised, seeing that Camilla sees me as a threat."
Drea asked:
"Why?"
Caspian said:
"She thinks I only became a eunuch to seduce the emperor and have a child with him. To her, that's my objective."
Drea looked at him then away and asked:
"Are you not interested?"
He heard the emperor laugh with Caspian. Even earlier, he saw him look at him when he realized the play was about his family.
The emperor is clearly not indifferent to him, now he wants to know if it's the same for Caspian. Caspian said:
"I'm not."
Drea looked into his eyes and knew he meant it. He smiled, and Caspian smiled back. Drea looked at him nervously and asked:
"I wanted to know if you'd like to go to dinner with me tomorrow at Jonas?"
Caspian smiled.
"I'd like that."
Drea whose heartbeat was beating faster than it had ever, relaxed slightly and said:
"I'll pick you up at 7?"
Caspian nodded. After saying goodbye, they both left their separate ways. Once they were gone, a figure came out of the shadows and entered the palace. It sneaked into the imperial chambers and knelt in front of the emperor. Salvatore looked at him and asked:
"What have you seen?"
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Love's Alchemy: Breaking Shadows
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