[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/ONd4lpK.png[/img][/center]
[color=00F8FE]Time: Morning
Location: Papa Edin’s big important tea party!
Interactions: Edin [@Princess]
Mentions: Wulfric [@Silverpaw][/color]

[color=9FA1A4]
The music of the courtyard shifted, and the entrance of the king was announced without words. Before the man himself was seen, a parade of the kingdom's most beautiful faces and highly skilled dancers proceed Edin. The young prince watched, waited, and felt anticipation run like a live current through his veins. 

Cal did the last thing anyone who knew him would expect; he clapped with unbridled enthusiasm upon Edin’s big grand entrance. 

[color=00F8FE]“Yes, indulge in the decadence of this city’s finest confections.”[/color] Callum, rather loudly, spoke up, building off the king’s words. He continued the performative applause as he paced around the king and his knights in a wide circle, weaving through tables. 

[color=00F8FE]“What a delightful kingdom, what an exquisite king.”[/color] He added and abruptly stopped clapping. He felt his eldest brother’s eyes burning through him from the moment Cal had spat air through the trumpet, so when his pacing brought him close to his brother’s table, he offered a twisted smile. He doubted even Wulfric could guess his plan for this event. 

[color=00F8FE]“And as we all indulge, let’s remember that in a kingdom that so easily offers every extravagance and comfort imaginable, we still have so many who can’t afford bread, let alone cakes.”[/color] Cal glanced around at not only Sorian’s but the world’s most fortunate people. He forced himself to smile as he continued on with his performance. 

[color=00F8FE]“But what a generous king we have, and my heart swells to announce that my father is here to make a commitment to feeding Caesonia’s people. A commitment to fund stalls that will feed people free of charge, and to make events like Pancakes in the Park a more permanent feature. A weekly event, where one of the city’s masters of the culinary arts will feature their most extravagant dishes for the public, free of charge, so that every Caesonian will have the chance to indulge with us. In all of history, never has a king’s generosity matched what His Royal Majesty has envisioned. Please, a round of applause for such a noble king.”[/color] 

Callum attempted to back Edin into a corner. The prince left the king with few options; sure Edin could go right ahead and call Cal a liar, show the world that every nice thing Callum had just said about his father was a lie, and let the world see a glimpse of the true Edin. Or the king could embrace the lie Cal had told, accept the applause and reputation boost Callum had offered up. Either option was one Cal could use, but a public agreement from Edin to do more to feed the people, was worth not only the performance but the foul taste of making false claims of generosity on his father's behalf.  

Cal was almost certain Edin would choose a lie that stroked the ego over truth any day. 

Callum then looked directly into Edin’s eyes and felt not even a hint of the fear that used to bubble up. The fear was gone, only hatred remained. [color=00F8FE]“Sincerest apologies for the early announcement, but this just felt like the perfect moment, and now all these wonderful people can better celebrate your kind spirit.”[/color] Callum bowed and smiled as he waited for Edin’s response, but nothing in the young prince’s eyes matched his tone. There was only hate as he met Edin’s eyes, and an attempt to stare at the king with the somber and disapproving expression Cal often saw in portraits of George.[/color]