𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 . . . catherine of spain ( @lainfanta ) 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 . . . on the road to dover .
though prior negotiations had been led by the spanish ambassadors that had accompanied the prince of asturias to the muddy shores of england on the account of his youth, felipe had watched with proceedings with rapt attention that was broken only by his attempts to curtail any disruptions from his younger sister. at this point, he was certain that their english kin were more than aware of her desires to prove herself equally as capable in the role of heir to the throne, lobbying for the spanish cause where he kept silent in observance but he had very little to prove to their distant relatives, content with allowing the political dialogue to take place between those who knew the wishes of his father more intimately while he fostered good relationships through conversation and sport. as the twins rode ahead of the retinue of people that had followed them from madrid to london and now to dover to greet their mother, the infanta was more akin to the dark clouds that plagued the english skies, the weight of her stare heavy against his back ─ felipe was aware that her displeasures with him numbered more than the stars and, were there not others around them, he might not have turned his back so easily to his sister for fear of finding a knife struck between his shoulders, but it gave him no delight in correcting her so publicly. the insides of his cheeks bore the abuse from his teeth as he stifled each harsh word and irritated look until they were in private but with the wind in his hair and their servants at a distance, he felt more comfortable in addressing now.
❝ you are doing a poor job in disguising your hatred for me, little cat. ❞ in spite of knowing better than to proke a coiled serpent, he could not help but dig into the cesspool that was her disdain for his very existence. it was his right as her older brother to torment her till the end of her days and there was still blood in his mouth from the past week of showed restraint before their english allies ─ it was only just that he poked at her a little bit. ❝ can you not be more like our aunt, elizabeth ? i am certain she, too, must be vexed by our uncle, the king, as all younger sisters seem to be but she bears her frustrations with more grace than you ever have. ❞ though only an hour and a few minutes older than the infanta, his tone had taken on a natural grumble best associated with longsuffering older siblings. it was not his usual intonation but one that was chiefly reserved for his sister if only because he knew how much it irritated her to have him nag at her as though the gap between their ages was so great that he held more experience than she had. ( in some ways, he did but not for a lack of trying on her part. had catalina not been sent away, felipe was certain she would rival him in accomplishments. he only wished she could channel such determination and passion for spain towards supporting him rather than praying for his downfall. )
❝ mother entrusted us to present a united front, catalina. if you mess this up, i will bear the weight of father's disappointment. ❞ something that he would do gladly, though he would cut out his own tongue rather than admit to protecting her whenever he could ─ the prince was certain she would only find insult in his brotherly concern. ❝ if you want to interject, why not speak to me and have me act as your mouthpiece ? or one of the ambassadors, if i am so heinous to deal with. ❞
