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Constantin truly loved his cousin. His mother didn't quite understand why he had such an affection for that boy, but he did. Attached at the hip, Livie had sighed fondly more than once while watching the two play in the gardens. Julia hadn't fully appreciated that observation. She'd been wary of the boy since Livie had first brought him over - when they had come to see new baby Constantin. She could vividly remember the fear that coursed through her veins when the boy had tried to make away with her baby. At the time, she'd ben two seconds away from screaming her head off at her dear sister in law for even thinking of endangering her darling baby. It was a bit late to voice her concerns now, after several years of her keeping her silence. It'd just strain the relationship between her and Livie, and she truly didn't want that. How she wished she could let it go, seeing Constantin so happy after all with his cousin. Perhaps it was better for him. Laurent would've been harder to deal with that way. Although, she did wish Livie's boy would stay farther away from Place d'Orsay. It was distracting to her boy.
Obviously, Constantin didn't think so. He adored it when his cousin came over. Compared to him, Cousin De Sardet was so grown up and strong. His Aunt Livie had told him his cousin's name was Marcus, named aptly after his father Marc De Sardet who'd died overseas saving continental people from native barbarians. Constantin, however, didn't think 'Marcus' fit his cousin in the slightest. His cousin, who strived to keep magic and whimsy alive in the heart of his sweet little cousin, deserved just as whimsical and magical a name, like Papillon or Stella Luna. But when he told his mother, she said those were silly and he should just stick to calling cousin 'Cousin' if he didn't like 'Marcus'. So that's what he did. Dear Cousin was his playmate and his alone, since Laurent preferred Sir de Courcillon and all the books he could possibly hold. Not that Dear Cousin couldn't read - Constantin loved it when his cousin read to him. He loved it when his cousin did anything with him, really.
Constantin, even as young as he was, could glean that his mother didn't appreciate his clinginess to his cousin, though. Although Livie's boy hadn't had any more tantrums or strange fits, Julia didn't quite trust the boy. He was an islander, a savage at heart. Like nurturing a wolf cub, he wouldn't be able to fight his nature. And Julia didn't want her boy getting in trouble because of him. She'd never forgive him if Constantin got hurt because of him. That was why she'd been trying to get in touch with the other noble families of Serene, hoping that Constantin would find someone else of interest. So far she'd had little luck, but hopefully the vile De Vespes would do some good for once.
The family that controlled all the spies and assassins in Serene were not good friends of the d'Orsays, perse. They'd much more fit the 'strange and untrustworthy bedfellows' type. However, they did have a daughter that was about Constantin's age, someone that he'd most definitely get along with much better than a 5 years his elder cousin. And thus a playdate between Aurelia De Vespe and Constantin d'Orsay was set into motion. It was set for the late spring early summer, a picnic in the butterfly gardens. Julia had tried to convince Livie to please, please leave that boy at home but, as an older sister, it wasn't in Livie's blood to listen. So now Julia not only had to deal with a De Vespe, but a little savage as well. And all excitement and want for a new friend flew out the window as soon as Constantin saw his cousin enter the garden.
Lord De Vespe wasn't a very hands on person, from Constantin's point of view. There was no coddling for the girl on the other side of the table like there was for him from his mother and aunt. She, with her shock of red hair, was seated across from him and promptly left unattended, whereas Constantin had been fawned over right up until he was currently seated, Dear Cousin beside him. Her face was unhappy, as if sitting at this table was an affront to her family name. That, or simply terribly boring. Neither one was possible in the slightest. Constantin blinked at her demeanor before turning his attention to his cousin, certain he would know what to do. Cousin, catching the wide golden eyes staring up at him, glanced his way before pursing his lips shyly.
"You must welcome her first, Constantin," he whispered, eyes aimed away from the scrutinizing gaze of the girl across from them. Constantin's face lit up with an 'oh!' and eagerly shifted in his seat to face his new playmate.
"Welcome to my house! I'm Constantin and this is my cous - "
"I know who you are," the girl sniffed with an unimpressed look that made Constantin bristle. "I already know who you are, and I know that you're just a stupid little baby compared to your brother." Constantin was taken aback. He wasn't stupid. If he was, Cousin would have said so and then helped him become less stupid. With arms crossed over his chest and a frown on his chubby face, the blonde glared at the girl across from him, thinking of the meanest thing he could possibly say to her. Cousin usually stopped him, and he knew why. Saying rude things to people was how you got in trouble. But if this girl could say mean things to him, surely he could say mean things back?
"Miss Aurelia, that's not very nice to say." Of course, Cousin came to the rescue. Constantin glanced back at his cousin with a wide grin before smugly turning back to this 'Aurelia'. Whatever his cousin said, people listened to. Even his father would listen to what Cousin had to say sometimes, so surely he must be right about a lot of things. Cousin folded a napkin out onto his lap, Constantin eagerly following suit, before looking back at Aurelia.
"We're here to have fun and talk, Miss Aurelia. Surely there's something about the garden that you like?" The redheaded girl's face softened into a blank stare, inquisitive green eyes surveying the garden to really find something she did like. When she did, she returned to looking at Cousin with a scowl.
"The flowers are very pretty, and so is the tablecloth." Cousin smiled that dashing smile and plated himself a single tart, Constantin again following his movements. Nudging Constantin's shoulder, his cousin gestured with his eyes at Aurelia across the table. At first, the young boy didn't understand, tilting his head as his cousin tapped the edge of his plate with a gentle finger. Constantin blinked before his mouth turned into an 'o' shape and he turned back to Aurelia.
"Miss Aurelia, would you like a tart?" The fiery haired girl grimaced, eyes glancing from Constantin to the powdered pastries on the table. She snuffed turning her nose up at the food.
"And what if I said I didn't want it?" Constantin furrowed his brows, at a loss for words. Was she a bit stupid, perhaps?
"Then you ... wouldn't get any?" Aurelia didn't exactly seem pleased at that, but Constantin didn't now what she was expecting. Cousin was a bit confused at the tenseness of the atmosphere, eyes darting between the two children before wandering somewhere off to the side at the adults nervously. Constantin turned to his cousin, confused as to why he was nervous - it was common sense, wasn't it? Don't give somebody something they don't want. Dear cousin cleared his throat anxiously before giving the younger a wobbly smile.
"Although she may not want it, Constantin, it is still polite to let her have one." With that, his cousin moved and plated a sugar crusted cherry tart and passed it to sit in front of the strange girl, her face hardly shifting from the cantankerous glare. Constantin could almost swear his brother was trying to tell something to the girl across the table with his eyes, the way he'd do with Constantin at the table. It miffed the blonde a little - Cousin did that with him only. Aurelia sniffed and turned her nose up at the tart, lifting her cake fork with poised elegance.
"Even a savage has more manners than you. Doesn't that make you even bigger of a stupid baby?" Constantin, once realizing what she'd just said, sat in his seat appalled. He blinked slowly, trying to kick his brain into gear before turning to his cousin. He knew the older didn't like to be called mean names like savage and barbarian and whatever else the adults came up with. His mother had called Cousin that before Constantin had asked why she did - she hadn't called him names like that since. Deep inside his little stomach, Constantin hoped Cousin would be angry, face scrunched in rage and indignation. Instead, Cousin's face was crestfallen as he silently stared at his tart, halfheartedly picking at the fruits piled on top. He smiled weakly at Constantin from his periphery, trying to convince the younger that he was okay. But it wasn't okay.
"My cousin isn't a savage," Constantin muttered, brows slowly furrowing as his face turned rightfully wrathful. "He is very nice, unlike you." Aurelia watched the blonde prince stand, small whimsical chair flopping backwards into the rosebushes forcefully.
"So what? Are you going to throw a tantrum? Have your cousin," she pointed her fork at Cousin with sharp derision, "calm you down with his barbarian magic?" She hummed, shoving a small piece of the cherry tart in her mouth, not swallowing before she continued to speak. "Father said I'd have to marry someone from your family, which is GROSS. Hopefully I don't have to marry someone nasty like you. I'd ask Father to let me marry your cousin if he didn't have that ugly birthmark. He's a lot more quiet and obedient than you are." Constantin saw red. He didn't know what ticked him off more - somebody calling his beautiful cousin ugly, or the thought of a horrible little witch like Aurelia getting HIS cousin.
Cousin's harried but still quiet call of 'Constantin' was ignored as the blonde little prince dashed around the table and tackled the 4 year old girl out of her chair, slapping her across her face and tugging on her ringlets. Aurelia shrieked, trying her best to grab at Constantin's hair, but his was much shorter than her's and she couldn't reach it easily. Seeing it a fruitless venture, she resorted to slapping and punching his face. Faintly he could hear his cousin shouting at him to stop and let go in a worried tone before rough hands grabbed at the back of his cravat, yanking him hard enough to choke him. He gasped and wheezed, hands flying to hold his throat. Aurelia was snatched up in his own mother's arms, Julia patting down her dress and fussing with her tangled hair. Constantin did not get much the same treatment. Instead, he was flung to the ground with a dirty handkerchief, rolling in the grass breathlessly. He looked up, meeting his mother's unhappy expression with his own wide eyes and ruddy cheeks, hand hovering over his neck.
"You horrible little boy! I have not raised you to lay hands on a lady!" Lord De Vespe towered above Constantin as he sat on his knees, looking up at the wrathful adults around him. Lord De Vespe's large orange mustache made his face look all the more angular and his mouth all the more downturned. He felt scared, as a tiny blonde prince, but still swallowed thickly and hardened his pudgy face. At least until Lord De Vespe started yelling.
"I'd be of half a mind to have you executed posthaste!" Constantin couldn't keep face while being yelled at and his face twisted up, tears pooling on his pale blonde lashes. He whimpered and curled in on himself before the back of a familiar green jacket positioned itself in front of his view. The blonde quieted down only a little as his cousin stood bravely in front of him, shielding him from the wrath of Aurelia's father. Had Constantin not been preoccupied with trying being scared, he would've noticed Cousin's legs trembling beneath him.
"Constantin is only little! I was supposed to be watching him - it's my fault, m'lord!" Julia ran over, Aurelia's snotty and slapped red face in tow, before grabbing Cousin by his bicep and yanking him towards her.
"Lord De Vespe, please have mercy on my stupid boy and my sister's little fool. They are sheltered and not very friendly as a consequence. I beg of thee, do not order their executions just yet." The lord was understandably very hesitant about the matter, face stiff and unrelenting in its stoicism. After a while of Julia's staunchness however, Lord De Vespe heaved a disparaged sigh and took his daughter from d'Orsay clutches.
"Never forget this trangression, Princess d'Orsay," the lord ominously bespoke before turning and leaving the estate. Aurelia, looking over her father's shoulder, stuck her tongue out at the two boys, making sure they saw before she was hauled out of view. The instigator may have gone, but Julia d'Orsay had much to discuss with the boys.
The verbal (and physical, in Constantin's case) lashing they had received was enough to have the boys holed up in their rooms, faces buried into their pillows. Constantin vowed to never leave his room if it met having to talk to his witch of a mother again, especially while his bottom still ached. Now he wasn't going to get dinner or dessert. His cousin, however, confined himself not in the De Sardet estate, but in the room across from Constantin's, which made the blonde feel much more comfortable. It was always nice to have his cousin nearby.
A shy knock on the door startled the young prince, but he knew exactly who it was without opening the door. Bidding his cousin entrance, the elder came in, a small plate in tow. Constantin's stomach roiled at the mere thought of tarts - oh, he'd never be able to stand to eat one again - but his cousin still brought him a small piece and if he'd learned anything from Sir de Courcillon's lessons, it's that you should always sample a bit, even if you're not hungry. It was only polite. Cousin set the plate on the nightstand near the edge of the bed, seating himself at Constantin's feet. The blonde boy instantly shifted to rest his head in his cousin's lap, burying his face into Cousin's stomach. It was only natural for Cousin's hand to start petting through his soft hair, untouched by oils and naturally luscious.
"I say, Constantin, it was very chivalrous of you to stand up for me." Constantin couldn't hold back the grin that proudly grew on his face. "However, in the future, please do not do that." That grin instantly fell as he shot to look up at his cousin, expression confused.
"B - But why? You're nothing like what mother or that little witch say you're like. They're liars! And lying is bad, Cousin!" With an apprehensive lipbite and nod of his head, Cousin gently gripped Constantin's shoulders.
"You'll understand when you get older, dear Constantin. But for now, please do not cause trouble on my behalf. You're only hurting yourself." Constantin would've retorted with a myriad of rebuttals had the look on his favorite cousin's face not been so grim and gloomy. So instead he solemnly nodded and gave a muttered 'yes Cousin', laying his head back on the older's lap. Cousin's hand immediately began petting him again, fingers lovingly carding through his hair. Constantin couldn't help melting into the touch, something only Aunt Livie and Cousin seemed to be able to do. The small blonde sighed deeply, nuzzling into Cousin's warm, soft stomach even further.
"I wuv you, Cousin," Constantin drawled sleepily, yawning off at the end. He could practically hear the affectionate smile grow on his cousin's face.
"I love you too, Constantin."