The Crown Of Tears

Cassiel's enthusiasm was contagious as he covered Angelus's eyes and led him over to their reserved table.

"Ta-da! " Cassiel yelled as he revealed the transformed room. Twinkling lights sparkled from above the room. Along the back of the table, a lot of candles created a subtle glow, and a bouquet of purple roses had been placed in a water glass at the center of the table.

"Wow, it's beautiful!" Prince Angelus exclaimed with watery eyes.

"You deserve the best, my handsome prince," Cassiel whispered. Planting a light kiss on Angelus's earlobe. Prince Angelus tensed, his eyes shot at all the directions of the room to ensure that no one saw Cassiel's bold kiss.

He released a sigh of relief when he found the two of them as the only people present in the room.

"Are you mad? You can't do that, ever again, " Prince Angelus scolded.

"Why? Because princes aren't allowed to fancy men? " Cassiel teased. Angelus's anger erupted. Cassiel grinned, "You're even more beautiful when you're angry, darling. "

Angelus narrowed his eyes at Cassiel, feigning irritation, but the redness of his cheek betrayed his feelings. Cassiel made him nervous, especially with everything that transpired since their encounter.

"Are you this daring with all of your clients?" Angelus questioned.

"I don't attend to customers at the pleasure house. I took a liking to you when I saw you so I seized the chance and made a move on you, " Cassiel answered casually. "My intuition didn't fail me and you turned out to like men. My lucky day! " he pulled out a chair for the prince.

Prince Angelus got seated. He let Cassiel attend to him. The man seemed to be the only one in Sevigoria who cared about his birthday.

The waiters came over with numerous dishes in hand. Cassiel ushered for the dishes to be arranged on the table. In no time, the table was decorated with numerous delicacies.

Fish cooked with different techniques; smoked fish, fried fish, fish stew. Boiled chicken, fried chicken, a hotpot of rice porridge, chicken soup, boiled rice, grilled pork, smoked beef, flatbreads and papaya salad.

The fish celebrate the prosperity of Sevogoria in its fishing endeavor. Fish was one of the kingdom's staple food.

Chicken soup and rice porridge were traditionally made on birthdays to commemorate the first foods that a child has after they stop breastfeeding.

He ordered grilled as it happens to be Prince Angelus's favorite food. Cassiel took an empty plate to attend to his regal birthday boy. "What do you want?"

"Mhmm," Prince Angelus hummed as he scanned the dishes in front of him. His mouth watering at the sight of all the fried dishes. He wasn't a big fan of soup in his food. "I'll have everything fried or smoked," he let out.

Prince Angelus eyes the grilled pork screaming in his face. Desperate to be devoured by him, his stomach started rumbling loudly, selling out how hungry he was.

"Have you eaten anything since morning?" Cassiel asked.

Prince Angelus played out his day in his head. He woke up in an empty, cold room without his attendants to aid him. He drank wine to drown his heartaches.

The King served him with a cruel royal decree that left a sour taste in his mouth. He then ventured into the city to get away from his toxic family only to be met with cruelty from his subjects. He got so angry that he barely felt the emptiness in his stomach.

He went to the pleasure house where he met Cassiel and spent the hours of the day in the man's embrace. Prince Angelus hadn't given thought to his stomach since the day began.

"It's been a long day," he answered simply. Not wishing to divulge the details.

"Then let's give it a memorable ending," Cassiel grinned.

He served Prince Angelus a plate of fried fish, fried chicken, grilled pork, and boiled rice to the side. He set the plate down and served him rice porridge in a bowl.

Cassiel walked around the table; he scooped a spoonful of porridge, blew on it, and brought it to Prince Angelus's lips.

"What are you doing?" Prince Angelus tensed. His eyes looked around nervously, his body shaking at the idea of someone spotting them and raising unnecessary questions.

"Feeding you the first scoop of the porridge as is tradition here in your kingdom. C'mon, open wide, " Cassiel prompted.

"Sit down! Someone will see, " Prince Angelus panicked.

"I'll sit once I've fed you the porridge and chicken soup. So cooperate with me and we won't have any problems, " he insisted. "Your birthday won't be complete without this tradition, " he added.

Prince Angelus sighed. "Fine. Do it quickly, " He resigned to indulging Cassiel.

Cassiel fed him the porridge heartily. Prince Angelus thought back to his birthday the previous year. His mother woke him in the middle of the night to be the first person to wish him. She fed him rice porridge and gifted him a chateau in Southrose village.

He missed her company, Angelus wondered what the witch was up to now that she wasn't allowed to celebrate him.

"Angelus! "

Cassiel's voice snapped him out of his daze. He looked up to find Cassiel holding a bowl of chicken soup. He giddily hovered over him, excited to have the honor of feeding him.

Prince Angelus cast his gaze in every corner of the room. He confirmed no other presence in the area before eating from Cassiel's spoon.

"Happy now? " he asked.

"Yes, I'm bursting with joy, " Cassiel merrily expressed.

The doors slid open; the waitperson walked in carrying a two-tier cake in hand. Prince Angelus's jaw dropped. Cassiel went above and beyond to make his day memorable.

"It's not a birthday celebration without a cake," Cassiel applauded as the waiter set the cake at the table.

Cassiel retrieved some gold coins from his pocket and gifted the waiter with good grace. The waiter thanked him and sauntered out of the room, he locked the door behind him.

Cassiel moved his index finger over the cake. 'Happy birthday, Grand Prince Angelus. Thank you for being born, ' were written on the cake in small letters.

Prince Angelus's mouth fell wide open. He was surprised to see Cassiel's ability in action. Prince Angelus loved the thought Cassiel put into the words he wrote on the cake.

"I know I should caution you against using magic but I want to see many more magical wonders. It'll help uplift my mood, " he confessed.

Cassiel snapped his finger and the candle on the cake lit. The flame fascinated Prince Angelus, "You aren't simply a shapeshifter, are you? " he questioned.

"Is that an invitation to get to know me better? " Cassiel faked a gasp. He dramatically set his left palm over his mouth. "I must warn you, darling. To know me is to remember me, " he warned.

Prince Angelus swallowed hard. He was at a point where he failed to see how he could forget Cassiel. The man happened to be the silver lining to his dark day.

"Make a wish, " Cassiel said.

Angelus closed his eyes and thought of what he desired the most. Unfortunately, Gael didn't once pop into his head; he thought of his throne and his new friend. 'I wish for my throne and to know this flirtatious shapeshifter for many more years to come, ' he blew out the candle.