Chapter 8 Behave Yourself, Cousin

• - I want... That she likes Noriah Sul... That she likes my uncle's dance... - he said trying to find the right words.
• I smiled, eyeing him playfully. "Get out of this, crownless prince." My mother is not easy. He can be a thousand times worse than my father.
• - Certainly Alexia will like it, as well as Pauline and Aime. I just don't want her walking out of there with a ring, if you know what I mean. - She said slowly sipping the strawberry liqueur while looking at him.
• - That was child's play, Satini. – he justified.
• - You were sixteen at the time. He was no longer a child.
• - I've already paid for my actions, believe me.
• - Mom, let's not go back to this subject. It's closed, it's been eight years.
• - If it's closed, why did you go after that key ring ring just now?
• - Me me...
• - Come on, Alexia. I am waiting. She smiled wryly.
• - I wanted to show Andrew that I still had... - I said trying to be convincing.
• - And for what reason?
• I looked at Andrew, who stared at me and put his arms behind his back, saying nothing and then lowering his gaze.
• Satini looked around and said in a low voice:
• - If there's one thing I understand, it's about relationships... Or feelings. I lived intensely my love with Estevan when I was seventeen years old. I was very young. I think you'd better try to forget all about it, because it's not going to work. Estevan would never accept any kind of relationship between you, as he believes you are related, as you may have noticed yourself, Andrew.
• - Mom, you're embarrassing me in front of Andrew. - I said in disbelief with the way she conducted that conversation.
• - I got to the part where he said “you knew what he wanted”, Alexia. So I think being clear is the best thing right now.
• - You're right, Satini. - he said. “I'm sorry for my bad manners at your house.
• - I don't judge bad manners if you're really interested in her. But I would be very upset if I were just trying to play with my daughter. You might look at me and think I'm just a young queen, mother of three beautiful princesses. But I can finish you if you make Alexia shed even a tear. And I won't give you a chance to defend yourself, believe me. Just to be clear: I can be a lot worse than Estevan.
• - Mom, you're getting it all wrong. God, what a shame!
• - No... She's not misunderstanding. - said Andrew. – I'm really interested in you.
• I blushed, feeling my legs shake, as my mother watched him intently.
• - I think I should say this first to me and not to my mother. I'm not ten years old anymore. - I spoke.
• - And she has a boyfriend. It's been over a year. explained my mother. – So don't think you'll come to Alpemburg for a few days, play with my daughter, make her break up with a nice guy and then go on with your life... 'Fussy', I think I would define it.
• - I would not do that. – he said seriously.
• My father came to the conversation and asked:
• - What am I missing here? He hugged my mother affectionately.
• - Nothing, dear. I was just telling Andrew that you think a lot about your relationship with them.
• - Yes a lot. I consider Magnus and Dereck my brothers.
• Andrew smiled shyly.
• - Honey, it's been a busy day. I am tired. Andrew, do you mind if I retire to my beautiful wife?
• - Not at all, Estevan. Feel free.
• - Make yourselves comfortable. I really need to rest. Tomorrow is a long day for me. If you find anything you don't like in your rooms, just let us know.
• - Alpemburg, like royalty, are perfect. He smiled, lowering his head politely. – I feel almost at home.
• - I'll leave a servant accompanying you in the room, in case you need anything.
• My parents gave me a kiss and did the same with my sister, leaving the place. As soon as they left, one of the castle maids, trusted by my mother, stood at the door.
• - I am going. - said my grandfather.
• - Already? - I asked going to him and hugging him.
• - Yes my princess. He said kissing the top of my head and leaving.
• - Doesn't he say goodbye to you? Henry asked Pauline.
• - When Alexia is around, he forgets he has other granddaughters. – she said laughing. – I think it could be because she's the only redhead in the family.
• - My grandfather and I are very close. - I explained.
• Henry sat opposite Pauline and I sat next to him. Andrew settled in beside me. We were all very close and I could smell Andrew's good smell.
• All eyes turned to the maid, who said shyly:
• - You can pretend I'm not here.
• - We can not. She tells our parents everything. Pauline whispered.
• - Will we do something wrong? asked Henry. – Or are we just going to talk? I'm even scared of you two now.
• Pauline laughed:
• - Depends on what you think is wrong, Henry.
• - I hope to do something wrong tonight. - Andrew said, resting his head comfortably on his hands, on the back of the sofa.
• He spread his legs, which touched mine. I looked at him and he was staring at me again. My God, Andrew Chevalier would kill me in the few days I was in Alpemburg. The way he looked at me, the things he said, it was like...
• - Do you like Gael? he asked me, his face turned towards me, intently.
• - Taste. - I admitted. “He treats me well, he's kind, he does things I like, even when I know he doesn't...
• - This “taste” of yours did not convince me. said Henry.
• - What do you expect me to say? What does Andrew like? I asked, almost not believing what I said.
• The three started to laugh.
• - Why are you laughing? - I continued. – Do you know something I don't?
• - Brat, why do you try to convince me that nothing happens between us?
• - Andrew, you're very... arrogant.
• - Arrogant? Is admitting in front of everyone that I feel something for you synonymous with arrogance?
• I stood there, motionless, speechless, trying to absorb his sentence without losing my sanity.
• Pauline got up and invited:
• - Henry, are we going to drink something near the bar, on the other side?
• Pauline, for God's sake, don't leave me alone with him. I can't respond properly. I can barely keep breathing normally next to him.
• - Behave yourself, cousin. And you too, brat. – Henry said taking the hand that Pauline offered him.
• Andrew came even closer to me. We were facing the maid, who was watching us.
• Our legs touched, making me tense. I don't think I even had a heart anymore... Probably it had already left my mouth and left, never to return.
• - You weren't so shy at ten. – he observed.
• - Not you so direct.
• - Do not like?
• - I'm not sure.
• - Ale, I thought about you... For a long time after everything that happened... Eight years ago.
• - Andrew... Are we really going to have this conversation?
• - Yes I need. I want to apologize for what I did. I shouldn't have kissed you. Fuck, you were only ten. My father almost hit me. My mother got hysterical. I was a teenager at the time and I didn't even care. I even got angry with my parents' attitude.
• - It wasn't exactly a kiss, Andrew. Our lips touched. And it wasn't with bad intentions...
• - This is the problem. He had no ulterior motives on his part. From my yes, there was. And you were a child.
• - You had ulterior motives on my part. - I admitted. - I used to like you. And I took our “marriage” seriously for a while. - smile.
• - I didn't take the marriage seriously. But I also liked you. I looked forward to the summers when you came to Noriah to visit us. Because I wanted to be with you.
• "Me too..." I said blushing.
• He touched my face and smoothed it with his thumb. Then he moved away from me, sitting a foot or so away.
• - If I were Estevan, I would have hit myself... I wanted him to punch me, you know? I deserved it. And then, after eight years, I come to his kingdom and his father welcomes us so warmly, I feel terrible.
• - I think my father understood that it was child's play... Even though we knew that maybe... It wasn't.
• - Can you forgive me for doing what I did? He took my hands and looked into my eyes.
• - I can't... Because I wanted that. I liked. - I confessed.
• - There are six years difference between us, Ale.
• - At that time, I admit it was a lot. Today I don't think so. – I heard myself saying.
• He shook his head:
• - I'm a scoundrel... And I blame myself for that to this day.
• - I forgive you. I put my hand on his leg.
• He looked at my hand and placed his on top. I felt his warm skin and his fingers wrap around her. I stayed still.
• - Can you do that, lady? Henry asked the maid, causing me to withdraw my hand immediately.
• The maid replied in a thin voice:
• - I'm not here, Highnesses.
• - Fuck, fuck, a thousand fucking times. - Andrew said looking at Henry. – It will come back. Hold.
• We started to laugh.
• - Since I'm forgiven... Let me kiss you... Really. – he told me in a low voice.
• - Andrew... I can't. I've been dating Gael for a year.
• - A kiss is not betrayal.
• - You won't convince me, as much as I want to kiss you for real.
• - Break up with him.
• - Andrew, you got here today. You can't just show up out of nowhere and want me to end my relationship with someone I like, just because you want to kiss me.
• He laid his head back again, running a hand over his face, confused, uneasy. What I wanted most in my entire life was to kiss Andrew. But I wouldn't do that to Gael. Because I knew that being with Andrew was almost impossible because of my father's non-acceptance and because he didn't get involved with anyone, from what I saw of his life in the media.
• - Have you ever had a girlfriend? I asked.
• - No. – he admitted.
• - Twenty-four years and you've never had a commitment to a girl? Is it one per day, per weekend? Do you still kiss Laura on the mouth?
• He raised his head again, staring at me, panting:
• - Calm down, brat. One question at a time...
• - See you with many girls.
• - Where? On the Internet? On the old gossip sites? I can't believe you credit these people.
• - I see the pictures.
• - Do I have a stalker in front of me? - he laughed.
• - Of course.
• - I don't have girlfriends and I've never been seriously involved with anyone. Of course I'm with girls... Maybe a lot. And... I have nothing to do with Laura.
• - The question was not whether or not you have something with Laura. I asked if you still kiss her.
• - Well, I don't kiss her. But she kisses me now and then. – he confessed.
• - And your parents?
• - Of course they don't know, brat.
• - Don't call me a brat. - I said gruffly, letting jealousy speak louder. – Pervert. Want all your cousins?
• - No... I just want you.