Seeing as my last post got such a good response (I knew I wasn’t the only one who was helplessly in love with Constantin d’Orsay!) here’s a small fic I finished the other night. Constantin x de Sardet, of course. A confession and a little bit of fluff! @ma-serannas-vhenan
(Also I have no idea how to do read more on mobile so this is long sorry.)
“Constantin!” Eliona’s hand shot out in front of her as the vision of her dear cousin’s face flashed before her, his features twisted and dark, the Malichor coursing through his withering veins. A creature had hold of him, some twisted guardian of darkness, no, a demon, had wrapped its oily, black tendrils around his body. The vision faded as the sun began to shine through her eyelids, awakening her. A cold sweat dripped from her forehead, her copper blonde locks sticking fervently to her forehead.
She couldn’t get Constantin out of her head. Ever since they arrived in on Tír Frideé, ever since they were freed from the constrictions of Seréne. Small glances in secret, smiles that they knew no one else could see. And now that she knew. Now that she knew that she wasn’t truly his dear cousin… she shook her head, climbing out of her bed to change. She shouldn’t have ever had those thoughts. But he was so genuine in everything he did. In how he spoke to the allies of the Congregation, to delegates, to her.
She changed, deciding to go visit him today. She had to make sure he was okay, the nightmare leaving her quite shaken.
She greeted Siora downstairs, a small smile on her face as their attention met. Siora was one of the first new people she trusted on the island, and she had turned out to be an excellent friend. She honestly wished she’d be able to pursue their friendship into something more, but Eliona feared and still struggled with her feelings for Constantin. She hoped getting herself close to someone else would shake her feelings, but unfortunately it only had the opposite effect.
She left her quarters making the nice walk to the palace. The morning was quiet, and the sun had started to shine through the tops of the buildings, the shadows casting elongated shapes on the cobbled street below. She hummed a small tune to herself, one of the many shanties she had learned while on board the large ship that took them to the continent. It was mostly to distract herself from her own anxieties.
Constantin was sitting in his chair like he always was, his demeanor still just as cheery as she remembered him from their youth. His face lit up when he saw her, and he moved to stand before being taken over by a small bout of coughing. Catasach placed a comforting hand on his back, offering some small drink of something, to ease the cough he’d later tell her.
“My dear Cousin!” He clasped his hands together, and a small ache tore through her heart. Why did she have to be like this?
“Constantin.” She couldn’t say his name out loud and not smile when she saw him. She moved to his seat, kneeling down onto the ornate carpet, situating herself beneath him. A hand went to his cheek, his skin flushed with heat. He was at least now stable, thanks to Catasach. He didn’t seem to be getting worse. He leaned into her touch, a small, weak smile pulling across his lips.
“You seemed troubled, Eliona. What is it that ails you? I shall fix the problem at once.” Always so optimistic. She couldn’t help but be enamored with him. She sighed quietly.
“I’m not sure it’s something you can fix, my fair cousin.” It had become a nickname. “My dear cousin, My fair cousin.” And one she held so dear to her heart.
“Oh, I’m sure I can at least do something.” She looked up at him as he spoke, her eyes trailing over his features. The malichor had poxed his skin, leaving it darkened and bruised, but his yellow glow still shone through.
“May we speak in private?” She spoke quietly, hoping perhaps to go to his study, or anywhere that wasn’t the main hall. He nodded, motioning towards one of the Coin Guard that he was leaving.
“I’m heading to my study with my dear legate. We shall only be a few. Please don’t miss me while I’m gone!” He gave a small smile, waiting for Eliona to rise before allowing her to help him to his study. The malichor hadn’t consumed his lower body quiet yet, but the constant bed rest left him vulnerable to muscle weakness and fatigue. They finally made it, and she sat him gently down in a grand chair. “Now, what is it you wish to say, my dear cousin? What troubles you?” His hand carelessly pushed a bit of hair from her face, just like he had done as a child, and she couldn’t help the redness that flushed her face.
“I had a terrible dream, Constantin. I- I just had to see you and make sure you were still with me.” She wanted to reach out and touch him, and it was as if he read her mind, because he took her hand, gently lacing his fingers through hers.
“I’m still here, Eliona. Fear not, I am stubborn, as you know. I’m not going to let something like this get rid of me so easily.” He gave her a reassuring smile, and it helped. She had sat herself at his feet again, this time resting her head in his lap like the had done as children. His hand absentmindedly went to her hair, as it had many times before, running the strands that he had unbraided through his fingers. She sat for a moment in utmost peace. She pretended that nothing was different and that it was just the two of them back at home. It was quiet for a moment, until reality came crashing down again when a small coughing fit shook his bones. “Ah- forgive me.” He pulled his fingers from her hair. “I’m sure you didn’t come here for me to treat you like a child.” That was exactly what she had wanted.
“Constantin, I-“ she sat up, unsure of how to word what she was feeling. “You know I love you, my dear, dear cousin.” It wasn’t uncommon for them to have said it to each other in passing, but familial “I love you’s” held an understanding that others might not.
“Of course, as I love you.” Another pang in her heart.
“But as of recently, I’ve begun to wonder…” she trailed off, unsure if she should continue. The small, rubbing thumb on the back of her hand was enough for her to keep going. “Constantin, I love you.” She has finally said it. “I am realizing now that I always have, and the thought of you being pulled from my arms by this cursed disease shakes me to my very core.” Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, threatening to escape if she said anything else.
Constantin was quiet for a moment, but the reassuring thumb stayed, moving gently over her skin. Eliona had bent her head away from his face, and he responded by lifting her chin gently, so their eyes met. “Oh, Eliona.” The sound of her name on his lips send another pang through her. But a smile was on his face, still a light amongst the darkness. He leaned forward, lifting as he did so until their lips met.
It was gentle and soft, but filled with a passion of years. Eliona shifted to her knees, her hand moving to his face, heated now from more than the disease. She returned the kiss, her heart nearly singing from the sensation. Small, passionate kisses passed between them, reserved and secret, but excited and expressive. She finally pulled back, Constantin’s fingers still weaved through her now down hair.
Constantin smiled, his hand going to her cheek. She leaned into the touch, closing her eyes as he brushed his thumb over her mark. “You are my light, Eliona. And for as long as you live and breathe on this earth, I will be right beside you.”
“And I, you, Constantin.”
2087
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