The Crown Of Tears

"Let's make this your most memorable birthday yet," Cassiel's eyes sparkled with ideas.

"Tell me more about the king's plans?" Prince Angelus ignored Cassiel's attempt to brighten his day.

"Not done, love. There are still some hours left before the day is done. Let's celebrate, " Cassiel pulled Angelus out the door, disregarding Prince Angelus's question.

They ran into a few ladies heading towards them. Cassiel stopped and gave them his attention. "I'm going out for the day. Proceed with the plans as scheduled and make certain of no mistakes while I'm away, " he instructed coldly.

The ladies nodded and politely bowed their heads, they moved out of the way to permit Cassiel and Angelus passage.

"What plans?" Angelus inquired. He found Cassiel to be a man of interest, his curiosity of the shapeshifter was piqued.

"Nothing you need to worry your beautiful head about, darling. C'mon, your birthday won't celebrate itself, " Cassiel smartly avoided giving Angelus an answer.

He changed the topic and guided the prince out of the pleasure house through the back door.

"We aren't close enough for you to speak intimately with me. You should address me properly, not with silly names, " Prince Angelys scolded.

Cassiel leaned forward to whisper. "Why? Do you get butterflies when I call you darling?"

Angelus's face flushed. He quietly allowed Cassiel to lead him. The man dragged him to the bustling streets of Werthingham market.

Prince Angelus recalled the harsh utterances his people spoke about him. His light mood faded away. His eyes focused on Cassiel's back, using the man as a distraction to keep from picking up any negative statements from the vendors.

With Cassiel's guide, they visited a lot of stalls. Cassiel's eyes sparkled at everything he saw. From the sweet snacks to the beautiful jewelry and fabrics.

He dragged Prince Angelus into a jewelry stall. One jewel in particular caught his attention. A midnight black butterfly hairpin, it looked fetching to the eyes and matched Prince Angelus's outfit.

Cassiel reached out to pick up the hairpin, and at the same time, another hand stretched forth for the same pin. Cassiel ended up holding one end of the pin while someone else held the other end.

He shot a surprised gaze at the person who dared to grab the hairpin he wanted. Cassiel caught the prettiest blue eyes staring back at him.

"Let go, " he dictated to the young lady.

"I saw it first. You should be the one to clear out, " The young lady retorted.

"That's far from the truth. I was here first and I saw it first, " Cassiel argued.

"She's a lady. A gentleman would let her have this hairpin, aren't you a gentleman? " the young lady's servant spoke up in her support.

Cassiel rolled his eyes. "I'm not a gentleman and I most certainly don't like people walking all over me. So ask your mistress to let go of the pin before I lose my temper, " he advised.

"It's alright, Cassiel. Let her have it, I'll buy you something else, " Prince Angelus intervened to try and stop a fight from breaking out.

"I want this pin and I'll have this pin. It's as simple as that, " Cassiel maintained his stance.

"You should listen to your friend. He is more sensible, " The young lady said.

Cassiel planned to let go and allow her to take the pin when the arrogant servant spoke up, "Have you any idea who my lady is? " the question touched Cassiel's nerve.

"Enlighten me, " he challenged.

"She is Lady Catalina Wigan, daughter of Grand Duke Wigan, " the servant gave an introduction to the young lady.

Prince Angelus eyed Lady Catalina from head to toe. Her reputation preceded her, as an arrogant spoiled daughter of the Duke who used her father's name and his status to walk all over the weak.

"Let go of the pin while I'm still asking nicely," Lady Catalina's voice took a darker tone.

Her guards charged forward to intimidate Cassiel to let their Lady have her way. Cassiel smirked, unfazed by Lady Catalina's title or her guards. He insisted on holding on to his end of the pin without wavering.

"Show me what you're capable of, " he instigated.

Lady Catalina gritted her teeth in irritation. It was the first time she encountered a person who wasn't scared of her status. A man daring enough to continue arguing with her and test her patience.

Prince Angelus stretched his hand and picked up a wooden hairpin with a purple rose on the end. It had his favorite flower in his favorite color, he loved it and wanted nothing else.

"This is better, " he wavered the pin before Cassiel's eyes. "Let her have that cheap and tacky pin. We'll get this one. It's perfect, " he spoke without casting a glance at Cassiel or Lady Catalina.

His eyes were bewitched by the hairpin in his hands. He desperately wanted to amble to a secluded area to try the hairpin on his hair.

Cassiel let go of the midnight black pin; he couldn't fight for it when the one he desired to purchase it for fell in love with another hairpin.

Lady Catalina got the midnight hairpin but she wasn't pleased. Her heart was full of fury from Prince Angelus calling it cheap and tacky. Now she preferred the pin Angelus had.

"How much for the purple rose pin?" Cassiel inquired from the vendor.

"Thirty silver coins, " the vendor answered him.

A bag of coins was thrown at the vendor before Cassiel could retrieve the funds from his satchel.

Lady Catalina snatched the hairpin from Prince Angelus's hands. "I'll take this one," she pompously uttered. A smug grin curled up on her lips.

Prince Angelus frowned. He didn't wish to argue with the brat but the girl overstepped when she took the pin he picked out.

"That's unladylike of you, Lady Catalina. How can you purchase an item someone else already picked out? " Cassiel's blood boiled. Her effrontery was touching his last nerve.

"Give it back!" Prince Angelus demanded stepping forward. His tone suggested that he wasn't negotiating with her.

"Or what?" Lady Catalina didn't back down and faced him head-on.

"I'm not someone you want to offend young lady," he warned her.

"Neither am I, young man," Lady Catalina mimicked his tone.

With the day he was having, the last thing he needed was for a spoiled brat to add to his frustrations.

"I'm hungry, Cassiel. Treat me to a meal," he averted his gaze from Lady Catalina and flattered his eyelashes pleadingly at his new acquaintance.

"I know the perfect place, " Cassiel let out sensing Prince Angelus's wish to leave the matter at that.

"That's what I thought," Lady Catalina remarked. "Cowards! " she called out.

Prince Angelus's veins nearly popped in anger. He didn't retreat because he was scared of her or unable to stand up for himself. He did it to avoid the fight following him back to the palace.

His father hated him enough and was plotting to replace him. The least he could do was avoid any problems until he solved his urgent problems.

'You'll bleed for this, Lady Catalina. I promise, ' he thought bitterly.