Chương 131: Axton's Lips Are Thin and Chapped

"It's more prevalent in your part of Sur, isn't it?" Tori asked.

"In Presidio, it's usually done between close family and friends, but in the southeast, acquaintances kiss each other on the cheek for greetings and partings, don't they? I appreciate you asking first." She remembered Marco and Mateo complaining that so many people kept giving them cheek kisses when they went to visit their grandmother, who lived in southeast Sur. The twins were natives of Horizon, so they were overwhelmed. Constantine stared at her without a word.

The nervousness on his face became unreadable before he gave her a tired, defeated smile.

"Yes, it's very common in Karap and Mezzaluna."

"Did you have to restrain yourself when you first came to Lycée?" Tori asked with a grin. He chuckled and shook his head.

"We have many people from outside of Sur at Temple Mountain, so the custom isn't widespread there in particular." Tori smacked her lips.

"That makes sense. I imagine many places with a large mixture of people from different locations and cultures are like that." He kept a smile on his face, but seemed a bit distant. Tori gave him a sympathetic smile.

"You must be tired. You've been working so hard to tie up all your loose ends and get ready to leave. Do you want to go back to the encampment with me?" He thought for a moment before nodding.

"I would. I was planning to leave before you arrived since Mrs. Jelas has taken over my workload. She'll support Viclya well."

"I know. You trained and organized everything. You don't know how much you've helped the village and me." Tori patted his shoulder as they walked back to the wooden building. She waited outside as Constantine collected his things before they walked to the small dock. He had stopped to take one final look at the small building. The boat Tori had arrived in was waiting for them and took them back to the promenade. A few villagers were in the midst of decorating the main plaza and Tori winced.

"Maybe I should've had us dropped off by the fisherman's dock. The decorations are supposed to be a surprise." He laughed and shook his head.

"They've just started. I haven't a clue as to how it'll all look when it's complete."

"Thank you for your consideration."

"My pleasure." Tori chuckled as they walked down the wooden walkway.

"Are your things being brought to the ship tomorrow?"

"Yes, in the afternoon. JP said that the villagers are planning to give me things, so I should wait until after they attend the festivities tomorrow afternoon. However, if I receive more gifts afterwards, I can have them moved the next morning." Tori chewed her lower lip.

"We have things to give you, too." Constantine's smile widened.

"I can carry them on board with me."

"Hmm... no, it'll be a two-person job." His brows shot.

"What are you giving me?"

"A surprise?" Tori gave him a weak smile. She shook her head.

"I'll just have it arranged to be brought with you to the ship when you leave the next morning." Constantine laughed once more.

"Now I'm curious."

"To give you a clue, we've each prepared something for you. JP and Sonia got two separate gifts this time." He continued to laugh as he shook his head.

"It wasn't necessary, but I appreciate the sentiment. You're always so thoughtful of us." They were approaching the edge of the encampment and Constantine began to slow. Her tent was just a few steps away, but his was several tents further down. Tori looked over her shoulder at him. He was still smiling, but seemed to be thinking of something. She tilted her head.

"Constantine?" She turned around to face him. Her lips turned down.

"Are you all right? Do you want another hug?" Constantine shook his head, but stopped. He lifted his eyes to meet hers.

"Tori... about the kiss," he said. He swallowed hard, as if trying to bear it.

"Were you rejecting me?" Part of her knew he was being distant because he understood, but she hoped he wouldn't call her out on it. Tori's chest rose and fell.

"I don't want to kiss you and give you hope for something I can't give." Putting aside the issue of having a forty-year-old soul in a sixteen-year-old body, and all the awkward questions that came with it, she was aware of where she stood in regard to what he hoped from her. His lips curled into a wry smile.

"I know," he said in a quiet voice as his head lowered. Tori let out a low breath.

"I'm sorry." He gave a little shake of his head.

"No, you're right. You are being considerate." He met her eyes once more.

"But if I have to be cloistered for two years, unable to see you, I wouldn't mind having such a memory... even knowing that nothing more will come of it." How do I classify this? A good-bye kiss? Tori looked him up and down and chewed her lip.

"Constantine...." He forced a smile.

"But I'm not going to force you. If you'll allow me a parting kiss on the cheek, that will be enough." He walked past her, still forcing a smile, and seemed to retreat into the encampment before Tori could stop him. She supposed being a teenager would come with some angst, even if her soul were forty. Then again, there were aspects of adult relationships she'd had where she wasn't sure what the best course of action was. Tori let out a heavy breath and took several steps to her tent.

She pretended she didn't notice the two stone-faced knights on either side of her tent, appearing to desperately pretend they heard nothing. Tori slipped through the flap of the tent and froze. Except for Constantine, everyone else was in the front room of her tent, gathered around a large open chest where they were packing Constantine's going-away gifts. Several wide eyes were looking at her.

"You heard?" She already knew the answer. Silence charms and crystals kept noise from going outside; it didn't stop noise from coming inside. That was left to another set of crystals and charms, which only activated once the sun set, and even then, it was to muffle noise, not block it. In case there was an emergency, she wanted to hear it as soon as possible.

"I heard he wants you to kiss him." A low male voice came from the flap leading to the back of the tent. A tall man came out with a cat in one arm. Piers frowned.

"I didn't know that was an option."" That's what you're worried about?" Albert nearly screamed in disbelief. Ilyana grabbed his arm and frantically shook her head.

"Speaking of worried, I forgot something in my tent!" JP said, shooting up from where he was kneeling beside the chest.

"Can you help me get it?" He was already making his way to the entrance. Tori watched, amused, as all her friends seemed to rise to their feet, muttering how they'd help JP or forgot something in their tents, too, as they shuffled past her and fled. As she turned to watch them leave, she saw her cat follow and she narrowed her eyes. She supposed Alexander was trying to read the room as well.

"Kissing is a parting in Sur?" Piers asked, sounding unsure.

"Why did you not tell me?" Tori turned to face him.

"You've seen my family kiss my head several times."

"But they are your family. What about friends? Sir Navarro is from Presidio, and you have not greeted him in such a manner." She just knew he was now going through a mental list of everyone he knew from Sur to try to remember if they greeted others from the region similarly.

"Even in Sur, there are regional customs about it," Tori told him. She walked to the chest and knelt to see how far her friends had gotten in packing it.

"In the southeast, such as Karap, acquaintances also exchange cheek kisses, but in Presidio, it's usually only with close family and friends. And even if we do it at home, there would be some restraint about doing it elsewhere, where it's not the local custom." Piers took a seat on the wooden bench and furrowed his brows.

"Do you have to be from Sur to be kissed?"

"No." Tori paused as she moved around a box of beverage cooling charms she'd made. There were a little over two years' worth if one was used per day. She'd also included a small, crystal powered air conditioner and space heater combo she and Instructor Ignatius had worked on. It was no larger than her head and could be put on a desk.

"Actually, I am sure it would happen more in an area where it was normal. Still, there should be some familiarity between the two parties. You won't greet strangers in such a way."

"Will I be kissed when I go to Master's wedding next summer?" Piers asked, frowning as a glint of worry flashed in his eyes. He obviously did not like the idea of being kissed by strangers. He didn't like to be touched by strangers at all; a kiss would likely send him into another attack. Tori snorted and looked at him as if he were crazy.

"No, of course not! You're the First Prince of Soleil. Who would dare?" She heard him let out a small sigh of relief.

"Good. Still, I will tell Axton to be wary." Tori nodded and shuffled things around the chest to try to make it look aesthetically pleasing when first opened.

"Tori, I will also allow you to kiss me."

"Thank you for your consent, Piers, but like hugging, you'd need to get used to the close distance and touch slowly. Hand me that sack." Piers turned and picked up a dense cloth sack tied with twine and a wax seal with the Lions Gate logo pressed into it. The seminary was in Karap, and the weather was warmer than it was in the delta, but temperatures did drop in the winter. She had an opera cape made for Constantine; black with a satin silver-white interior lining and his name embroidered inside.

The clasp was a similar lion to the one on her First Year Excursion group's belt buckles. The style was, of course, called Constantine.

"When can we practice?"

"Do you want to get used to it for my brother's wedding?" Tori chuckled.

"I told you, no one is going to give you greeting kisses on the cheek. Your status is too high; it would be overly familiar and rude."

"Are there no greeting kisses on the lips?"

"Like in Horizon, kissing on the lips is a more intimate action and is not used for general greeting or parting except between specific relationships." She looked up at him and raised a brow.

"I thought you had proper classes on this with Axton."

"We did, but I wasn't taught about kissing greetings and partings. It is regional with specific local customs. I was not aware of this, so I am asking you. I want to know more." Tori narrowed her eyes. Motherfu- did he set a trap for me? She looked at his face carefully, but found that he seemed genuinely curious. Still, she drew her head back and raised a brow.

"Is there no one else you can ask?" He shook his head once.

"I can only depend on you and Axton." In other words, he trusted them to be honest with him. Tori sighed and sank in her place on the floor.

"Piers, you want me to kiss you at my brother's wedding in Presidio, where my family is, and my brothers will be watching you?" she asked incredulously.

"Is that really the best place for you to have greeting kisses?"

"Axton says that any place is a good place to be kissed." Axton is full of shit.

"Then you can kiss Axton." Piers scowled, disgusted.

"Axton's lips are thin and chapped."

"No one wants to kiss you, either!" The flap of the tent that had been rising was dropped and Tori heard an irritated huff as Axton marched off, grumbling about how he worked hard outdoors, and that the wind and sun cracked his skin by no fault of his own. Tori stared at the tent entrance.

"His birthday is in the tenth month. I will give him some lip balm." She returned to packing the items away in the chest. Several blank journals from Henrik; high quality pens and ink from Ilyana; a single person pour over coffee set with ground coffee from Ewan; a handmade quilt from Sonia; soft leather shoes from JP; a bedding set and pillow for his seminary room from Albert; a gold-plated incense burner Tori was sure was taken from Sun Garden from Axton; and a painting of the group commissioned by Piers.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. It was the most unexpected piece and when Tori saw it, she was stunned. Most paintings she'd see in Soleil were portraits or landscapes. She couldn't remember seeing a 'scene.' The painting seemed to be from Ewan and Piers' birthday based on what they were wearing in the painting. Though at the time they were at different tables, in the painting, all of them were crowded around one long table, eating, and laughing.

No one person was the focus. It could've been a candid photograph of a dinner party. Tori had no idea how Piers even got the idea, but had felt that her several hundred cooling charms paled in comparison.

"Will you kiss Constantine when he leaves?" Piers asked.

"As he is from Sur, he qualifies." Tori chuckled.

"On the cheeks. I just don't want Constantine to be misled or get his hopes up with a kiss on the lips." Her shoulders fell.

"People who have unrealistic expectations often have their hearts broken. Giving them hope knowing you can't give them what they want is cruel. I must be clear about it and at the very least, he has been, too. Although, I've already rejected him twice... thrice counting today."

"But that is not to say that you do not care about him." She stared at Piers for a moment and a warm smile tugged at her lips.

"You still know me best." Piers thought for a while.

"He will be happy to know he is loved."

"I still get a cake? It's not my birthday." Constantine smiled.

"Your birthday is next month, and you'll be in the seminary by then," Henrik said as he leaned back against his seat.

"This is in advance!" Ewan grinned and Constantine looked at the cake with sixteen candles in a circle at the top. Constantine laughed and blew out the candles. The restaurant cheered and Constantine used Tori's multi-slice cake cutter to cut the round cake into ten pieces. He distributed them amongst his friends and Brother Cassius. His day had been busy saying good-bye to all the villagers, and it had been chaotic. Ewan had joked that Constantine was the most popular of the group and Tori agreed wholeheartedly.

When they first arrived, everyone was wary of her - a spoiled teenager with money and no perceived experience overseeing such a thing as a refugee resettlement. On the other hand, Constantine was the Pope's son and had the backing of a long-established institution. He came with someone who could counsel the refugees and assisted them in establishing some sort of normalcy, as well as giving them hope and emotional support. He had also collaborated closely with them to help the settlement in general.

He was always smiling, patient, and had kind words. No one was afraid to approach him, and he had never pushed people away. Constantine was a source of comfort for the villagers and Tori was happy that they let him know it. She felt it would encourage him on the road he took. As for her, Tori had been busy in the restaurant's kitchen most of the day. She originally wanted to have food from Constantine's home region, but then decided to pick the foods he particularly liked that they'd experimented with.

For two years, he'd have to eat local Karap food. He wouldn't get a chance to get one of her dishes in a while, so she might as well let him have his fill now. Henrik and Ilyana had arranged for the band that played at Mama Myra's restaurant to come to Viclya for entertainment and prior to dinner, Constantine was out in the plaza teaching everyone regional dances from Karap. Tori was a bit envious, but her role was party organizer.

After they ate the cake, they sat around letting their food settle and listening to the music played in the plaza. Villagers were dancing around and let out yells when the fireworks started. As the flashes of light filled the sky, Tori glanced across the table at Constantine. His eyes were fixed on the dark sky and glistening. He silently lifted a hand and wiped the corner of his eye while smiling. Tori turned her head back to the water. When the fireworks were over, she leaned towards him.

"Are you full?" He laughed.

"Why? Don't tell me we have more to eat."

"No, but I don't want to ask you to dance if you're full." His smile widened.

"No amount of food will stop me from dancing with you." She beamed and stood up.

"All right! Looks like Constantine is going to lead us in a dance." There were a few hoots of encouragement as half of them got up to dance while the others remained seated, content to eat the night away. Constantine approached the musicians to request a song and as it started up, he rushed back to Tori. He stood about two arm's length in front of her. The music was familiar, and Tori instinctively knew the folk dance from Karap. She brought her arms behind her and smiled as she mirrored Constantine's footsteps.

They went from side to side, carefully avoiding each other as they passed and circled. As the song grew louder and started reaching the climax, they extended their arms and placed their palms together.

"Every time I see you dance, I'm reminded why you were well known for it in Sur," he said as they did a little hop and moved beside each other.

"It's a shame you won't be able to come with us to Sur for my brother's wedding to see the dance to Surelle," she replied.

"I'm doing the old Nazaria version." His brows shot up.

"That's a complex dance."

"I know!" She grinned.

"You don't think I can do it?" He laughed, his eyes sparkling.

"I think you can do anything." They released their hands and turned around once.

"Perhaps I'll see it again one day." The song began to die down and Tori chuckled.

"What gods are in your trifecta blessing?"

"Tamgah, god of patience, Eshra, goddess of mercy and benevolence, and Fortrix, goddess of the spring." Spring was the season that Constantine was found by his uncle, after his village was decimated by a plague. It had the usual symbolism for rebirth, youth, and life.

"In two years, if you get your markings, I will perform the spring flourishing dance for you. I think it will be fitting then." The dance was often done at Spring Festivals to honor Fortrix. Spring dances in general were usually in groups, but the older ones dedicated to the gods were performed by individuals. He cocked his head a bit to the side.

"What if I decide not to join the clergy?"

"Then I'll perform the spring water dance," Tori said. Victoria's knowledge of blessing dances was surprisingly large.

"Of course, that requires a pool... we'll figure it out when we're closer to the date." Constantine laughed and nodded.

"I'll let you know ahead of time, then." The song finished and they stepped apart, bowing to each other before clapping. For the next dance, Tori and Constantine managed to get all their friends, except for Piers, who opted to stand to the side and clap, to join them in a circle. The plaza filled with laughter and yelling as they moved in a lopsided circle. Voices could be heard calling each other out when they were out of step or making the circle lose its shape.

Axton and Ewan were very good, but Henrik and Albert, both of whom last had dance lessons as children, were struggling.

"My brother says that a good swordsman should also be a good dancer!" Tori laughed as Henrik rolled his eyes.

"Then explain Ilyana!"

"I've been practicing with a dagger!"

"Then what's your excuse, Albert?"

"I've been busy working in an office!"

"That's your excuse for everything." After dancing in a circle until her legs were ready to give out, they retired for the night. The dawn came swift, and Constantine's ship boarded at dawn. When the sun began to rise, they were already on the landing island, surrounding him. First, there was their customary group hug, then his friends gave him individual hugs and well wishes.

"You're really not going to tell me what you put in that chest?" Constantine asked, both amused and a bit suspicious.

"It's a surprise!" Ilyana assured him.

"Trust us, you'll like them," Henrik said with a chuckle. Constantine scratched the side of his head.

"I should open it now."

"No, I recommend you open it when you're on the ship, in private," JP told him with a slight grin as he patted Constantine's back. Constantine matched his grin as the playful, suspicious glint in his eyes grew.

"Should I be worried?"

"You may cry," Tori said, crossing her arms as she gave him a knowing look. His cheeks reddened and he looked down, his eyes still smiling.

"Thanks for the warning."

"Constantine," the Bishop called from the base of the gangway. A thoughtful expression was on his face.

"It's time." Constantine's eyes followed the wooden walkway leading to the side of the ship. He took a deep breath.

"One more." He turned his head and Tori walked forward, raising her arms. Her eyes were a little red, but she forced a smile. Constantine's shoulders relaxed and he took a step towards her.

"Constantine! Wait! Stop!" Before the two could even touch, everyone snapped their heads towards the sound of the urgent, screaming voice. From the other side of the island, three people were running towards them appearing frazzled. Sonia's eyes went wide.

"Who let her in here?"

"Look who she's with," JP answered in a low, equally annoyed voice.

"Your Highness," Albert said in a hesitant voice.

"Why is your brother...?" Piers narrowed his eyes as Gideon and Fabian ran beside Alessa.

"He didn't tell me he was coming." Axton frowned and took a step forward.

"Viclya is a closed settlement," he said in a low voice as the teenagers stopped in front of them.

"No one is allowed in without authorization or invitation."

"I'm sorry, Your Grace! I didn't mean to break the rules-""Then why did you come?" Piers asked. Tori lifted a hand to calm them.

"Don't blame her!" Gideon said, worried as he moved in front of Alessa.

"I was the one who said I'd bring her. They will let me in." Tori frowned. She'd often joked about banning Gideon. While the joke had some basis in her sincerity in her wanting to ban him, Tori couldn't ban an immediate imperial family member. It was a harsh reality that Kasen had confirmed. Imperial family members could not be banned from a noble's land unless they committed a crime there. It was both fortunate and unfortunate that Gideon hadn't committed a crime. Yet.

"I came here to see Constantine!" Alessa said, determined, and as if they would try to stop her despite already standing in front of him. She looked at the leaving love interest with a pleading expression.

"Constantine, why are you suddenly leaving? And without telling me!"

"Excuse me?" Constantine furrowed his brows, at a loss.

"Miss, I mean, Baroness Hart, this isn't a sudden decision. I've been preparing my leave for seminary for several months."

"But why?" Alessa asked with a desperate look on her face. She grasped his arms.

"Do you not like it here? Is Lycée too difficult?" She looked around the circle of teenagers. Her eyes narrowed, but it was faint. Her voice lowered.

"Are you being treated badly?" At this, the stunned looks on Ilyana and the others turned into frowns. Tori's own lips tightened into a line as her eyes bore into Alessa. Was she really insinuating what they thought she was?

"That is enough, Baroness Hart!" Constantine tore his arms away from Alessa's grip and retreated a step. The usual calm, pleasant expression on his face vanished.

"Do not say such a thing about my friends! They are the closest people to me here and have never once treated me wrong! Apologize to them!" Alessa sucked in a sharp breath and lifted her hand to her chest. She couldn't have expected his outburst. In truth, Tori didn't expect his outburst either.

"Mr. Zisos, why are you leaving if not because of difficulty or harassment?" Gideon spoke up, looking somewhat confused. Tori glanced over at him. Gideon and Constantine weren't close, just acquaintances at best. Was Gideon asking for Alessa? She still hadn't apologized for her reckless accusation. If Alessa asked him to come to Viclya to see Constantine, Gideon must've been curious. Constantine looked at him with dismay.

"Difficulty or harassment? From whom? My friends threw me a going-away party last night and packed a chest as big as I am with gifts." He held his hands out at the others.

"They've come all the way to the landing island, before dawn, just to see me off one last time; why would you think they are making my life difficult?" Gideon knit his brows together. When Constantine himself said otherwise, what more could Gideon argue?

"Mr. Zisos, then is your departure school related?" Fabian asked. Tori sneered. Constantine finished his second year ranked eighth. It was hardly school related. Constantine took a deep breath and seemed to try to calm himself.

"Mr. von Dorn, Your Highness, Baroness Hart." He addressed them in a curt voice that was unlike him.

"I am leaving for seminary as the area of study I wish to pursue requires a deep understanding of the Belcoy Church, its history, and its various holy texts. The seminary is the ideal place for me to build this foundation before I join an institution to continue towards my goal."

"Your goal?" Alessa asked. Her eyes widened and she seemed almost excited.

"Do you wish to be the pope?" Tori almost ran a hand down her face.

"No! He wants to do archeological and conservation work on religious artifacts! That's why he wants to build a foundation in the seminary before going to a research institution."

"Constantine is free to make his own decision on his career path," Ilyana said with a defensive look.

"He isn't bound to become the pope."

"He's not even bound to join the clergy," Henrik added, looking at Alessa as if she were an idiot. Ewan, Albert, and JP formed a small wall around Constantine.

"And this has nothing to do with you," Sonia said in a sharp voice.

"Why would you come here and yell for him to stop? You haven't reached out to him here before." Several sets of eyes settled on Alessa, all silently asking her the same question. Alessa stood up straight and furrowed her brows.

"I was only worried. Constantine was one of the first people I befriended when we started Lycée. I suddenly heard that he was leaving," Alessa said in a sad, breathless voice, as if she had been wronged. She turned to Constantine.

"I feared that you were being driven off. I couldn't let them do that to you." Constantine appeared uncertain about her words, but nodded his head. He made his way out from behind his friends to face Alessa.

"I appreciate your concern, Baroness; however, there is no need to be alarmed. I'm not being driven off." He glanced around and a small, gentle smile appeared as he looked at his friends who had swept in to shield him.

"If anything, I am somewhat hesitant to leave."

"Do you plan to return?" Alessa asked, tilting her head to the side. She took a step closer to him, as if to fill his vision and block the others from sight.

"The seminary is two years long, isn't it?" Tori raised a brow and looked over at Alessa. A feeling of dread twisted in the pit of her stomach.

"I am not yet certain of my plans at this time." Constantine gave Alessa a vague answer. He looked towards the waiting ship.

"The ship is waiting for me."

"I see...." Alessa said. Her eyes lowered for a moment before she perked up.

"Then, when you do come back, come find me!"

"What?" JP spat out and dropped his arms to the side. He said what Tori was thinking. She also wanted to know what Alessa meant. Come find her for what? Constantine's confused face indicated that he was just as confused as they were.

"Thank you for your kind thoughts...." He didn't seem to know what else to say. Relief filled Alessa's face, and she walked forward, her arms open. Ilyana gasped and Sonia let out a small, disgusted sound as she rolled her eyes. The boys all seemed to grimace at the sudden, forced embrace. Constantine stood stiffly in his place; his arms pressed against his sides with a look of wanting to be anywhere but there on his face. Alessa's arms were wrapped around his torso, and she pressed her face against his chest.

After a few counts, she raised her head and threw him a winning smile.

"Whatever you do and wherever you go, you can always come to me if you need anything," Alessa told him.

"I will wait for your return."

"... what...?" Albert whispered.

"... are they friends?" Ewan whispered back. Albert shook his head.

"I didn't think so, either." Constantine was still much more polite. Perhaps it was his upbringing or his natural character that made him polite, though distant, as he didn't shove the offending Baroness off in disgust like most people would've. He gently pushed Alessa away and gave her some thanks for her thoughts. He took a step back and gave her a small, uncomfortable bow of his head. Alessa looked satisfied, and he gave another bow to Gideon before giving a small nod to Fabian.

Ewan patted Constantine's shoulder in sympathy.

"You should board now," Henrik said, making a small motion of his head towards the ship, as if telling him to flee while he could. Constantine nodded. He turned, about to walk towards the gangway.

"Ahem." Tori let out a small cough. She raised a brow and tilted her head. A smile filled his face and he flushed.

"Forgot something?" He chuckled and shook his head.

"I would be remiss to." He walked into Tori's warm embrace, and she leaned up, her head moving towards his left cheek. The action was so natural that Constantine automatically responded in kind. He moved his head opposite hers and they exchanged light kisses on each cheek. However, before he could pull away, Tori held him in place and spoke into his ear.

"Constantine, I'll give you your memory." He furrowed his brows and gave her a look of question. Tori lifted her hand, cupped the side of his face, leaned upwards, and pressed her lips on his.