Archive of Our Own ^beta

“I love being back in a normal, soft bed again.” Silvia said as she flopped face first onto the bed, melting into its comfort. Constantin chuckled at her antics. He dragged his hand up and down Silvia’s back. She shivered at his touch, before relaxing back into the bed. Constantin snickered at her reaction, then rested his hand on her waist before speaking again.
“I need you to flip over my lucky star.”
A groan escaped her mouth before she responded with, “Why? This is so comfortable.”
“Do you know what would make this even more comfortable?”
“You cuddling me?” Silvia said with a pleading and questioning tone.
“No, you in one of my night shirts.”
There was a pause from Silvia before she flipped over. She placed her pointer finger on her lips like she was thinking through the statement.
“Your shirts are very comfortable.”
She smirked up to him as she started running her fingers over the shirt he was currently wearing. Her hand stopped at his collar.
“As long as it is this one.”
A hardy laugh bubbled out of Constantin.
“You’re just as mischievous and flirty as I, my adorable Silvia.”
Silvia just smiled playfully as she kicked her leg up. He helped Silvia get her armor off by slipping off her shoes while she undid the buttons off her jacket and vest.

This was absolutely wonderful. His adorable Silvia was back with him. Back in his palace. Back in his room. Back in his bed. It felt like the world was in perfect harmony again with her back. It had been a painfully long time without her.
It had been exactly one week, two days, four hours, twenty one minutes before she was back with him. Silvia had been traveling back and forth meeting, meditating, and searching for a cure between all the factions of the island. Though he absolutely detested that she felt she needed to go out and deal with the idiots of the island.
He also had grown to be resentful of her companions. The fact they could be with her for every second of the day, when he had to count down the days till she returned. Then maybe he gets a day with her before she heads back out again. It made him want to tear all of them apart.

Constantin took a small breath, and sat down next to Silvia, placing his head onto her shoulder. He wasn’t going to waste this time with Silvia thinking of those annoying people.

“How was your trip?” Constantin asked as Silvia replaced her pants with nighttime shorts.
Silvia sat up, thus moving away from his touch, “It was good. I’ve found more leads to explore and they seem to be very promising.”

Constantin ached to have her touch again, so he scooted closer to her before speaking again.
“I asked how the trip was, not another report, my silly star.” Smirking down to her, raising his eyebrows at her. A half-hearted laugh came out of her as she slid her buttoned shirt off her shoulders, before reaching her hand out to Constantin. He quickly took off his shirt and passed it to Silvia. She slipped it on, and started buttoning it up as she continued.

“It was okay. The roads and hiking is something I still do not like at all. The tent is small, especially with all three of us. Plus of all the wildlife-..”
Constantin stopped breathing for a moment, and his mind started racing.
‘Especially with all three of us’? What, who, what?’

“What with the tent?” Constantin asked smoothly. If he hadn’t had years of training his voice, his anger would have been screaming out. He was sure he interrupted her, but he needed to know.

Silvia didn’t look back at Constantin before going more in depth into his question, “Our tents just continue to keep breaking. The last two times the wind ripped it away from us. The other time the tents were damaged was during the day, when we were working in the area. Either it got attacked by bandits, animals, or something of the like. It appeared to be something different every single time.”

Silvia was slowly unbraiding her hair as she spoke.

“At some points we were close enough to another clan, so Siora was able to rest with them. But there was still Kurt, Vasco, and myself all in one tent. It helped when we were switching for watches, but it still was a rough week and a half.”
He nearly ripped off the bed frame. HIS adorable love, sleeping with others?! Constantin’s imagination took over. Sleeping by her side. Hearing her soft breaths and her cute words she mumbles. Seeing her body move from side to side as she slept. Any one of her companions touching his lucky star, “accidentally” or on purpose! How did he not know of this before? How many times has this happened? What has already happened behind the flaps of the tent? What have her companions done to her?!
An overwhelming feeling of fury flowed through him, but Constantin held it in. He couldn’t have her see this anger, or he wouldn’t be able to fix this disgusting problem with her companions.

“My lucky star, you should have said something before. I will send someone to get more sturdy tents for you. And in stronger containers. You also have five companions? I’ll send five more tents to your house. Plus extra replacements to your camps around the island.”

“Constantin-” Silvia began to protest, but Constantin cut her off.

“My adorable Silvia, it’s the least I can do. And…” He looks off into the corner, while wearing a face filled with worry. Silvia pulled his face back to her, a look of concern and love shined through her eyes. It was extremely easy to pull his adorable Silvia back to him.

“My sweet prince?” Silvia whispered as she held Constantin’s cheek in her hand.
“I,” He sighed, “I just don’t think it's a good idea for you to be sharing a tent with others in any scenario.”

“Constantin, it will be okay. It would either be Kurt, Vasco or Siora. And they are all trustworthy.”
No. No they were not. Not while his Silvia was laying next to them as she slept. Not when she was at her most vulnerable. Only HE could see HIS adorable Silvia in that state. There was no way he could let this continue.

“My dear, I only worry about your probity. Both with others and also with our allies.”
The word allies made Silvia’s eyes slightly widen. Good. He got his claws in her.

“What would our allies think if they saw you enter a tent with another man? Or even with a woman? It could damage the Congregation's image.”

Another set of magic words that would push her to what he wanted. Silvia rested her head onto her hand, and let out a sigh.
“That is very true… And we need to keep up the Congregation's image here on Teer Frandee too.”
‘No we didn’t. We could- No we SHOULD let the Congregation’s image burn. Let it eat itself alive, so I can have you by my side always.’ Constantin immediately thought.

It was the Congregation’s image that was a big factor to why she didn’t want to announce their relationship to everyone. It was completely infuriating. Silvia and him came to this island to get away from everything. Though Silvia would say it was because Constantin was being sent to be the new governor of New Serene and her as the legate. However, they mainly just went with that excuse, so they could be together. Openly. Not still sneaking around to be with one another. Silvia was getting much better with not being so scared when they were doing more couple related things.
She was becoming more touchy and physical while they were together in private since they were separated more often. In one instance he was able to steal her away to have fun in his office after a meeting. Well it was actually Silvia that stole him away to his office. She brought him there, and started to show him love with her wonderful lips on his.
But in public it was still the same. ‘Your excellency.’ ‘Your highness.’ ‘Cousin.’ And only her secret touches on his shoulder and arms kept him from losing his patience.

However, there was something else that was more important at the moment. And he was going to pick and choose his battles wisely. Fighting for the Congregation's reputation wasn’t on the top of his list, or the publicity of their relationship. For now. At the moment it was to stop any of her companion’s hands from touching her or sleeping in the same tent as her.

“Well then that settles that!” Constantin said, clapping his hands together, “I’ll get someone to send over those tents before you head out again!”
He made sure to emphasize ‘before you head out again’ in his statement. He knows if he didn’t, she would head out before receiving his generous offer. Thus leading her to share a tent with someone else… He would ensure that would not ever happen again.

“But in the meantime…” Constantin said as he leaned back onto the pillows. He then opened his arms wide in front of Silvia.
“Come. Sleep with me.” Silvia rolled her eyes at him, before making her way to his side,
Silvia looked down to Constantin with a soft smile on her face.
“I’m only listening because you look so adorable.”
Constantin smirked, and raised his eyebrow at her, “Only adorable?”
A small laugh came out of Silvia, “And so much more.” She placed a soft kiss onto his lips, before she curled up next to him.
With a gentle tug on a blanket abandoned on the floor from the morning, Constantin threw it over Silvia and himself. Then wrapped himself around Silvia.
Her breath soon evened out to small, slow breaths. Her hand held tightly onto him.
Constantin ran his fingers through Silvia’s hair and whispered into it, “Only I can see you like this my adorable dear. Only me. Through simple means… Or more drastic means if necessary. I’ll make sure of that.”