Even though it was midday, a spacious room within the palace was nearly dark. Curtains closed, sealing out any sunlight from getting into the room.

Off in the corner, seven candles flickered on a wooden table, nuts, bolts, and scrap metal, all laid out on it with rough sketch designs underneath.

"Louis" Charles Affton VIII sat at the table, his messy brown hair falling into his face, hunched over as his brown eyes focused through his spectacles as he tinkered with the metal object before him.

With two small screwdrivers in his hands, he twisted the plots around, tightening them on the object before him. He had to be very careful or else he could strip the hole for the screw and that would be bad for him.

His tongue slightly poked out of his mouth, he ignored the knocking on his door.

When he focused on his creations, nothing could pull him away from them. Not even his father, and he knew that always had consequences, but he truly didn't care.

Louis Charles "Constantin" Affton VII crossed his arms as he waited at the door. If his green eyes could burn holes through the wood door, they would have ten times over. "Louis," He called out, knowing I was at the door again, tapping his foot on the ground which made his curly blond hair bounce a little.

Louis looked up at the door. He recognized the voice as his elder brother. "Constantin?" He questioned, getting up and walking over to the door. "What's he doing here?" He grumbled under his breath as he opened the door. "Constantin -"

Constantin cut off his younger brother from addressing him, moving past him into his brother's room despite the protests. "Louis, tsk, tsk, the darkness is going to give you bad eyesight! Could you at least open the windows instead of using candles in the daytime?" He asked, scanning the bedroom.

Louis huffed, closing the door quickly after peaking out and making sure no one was looking. "I can't," He replied and quickly followed up with an explanation. "You know how Father is about my hobby. If I had the windows open someone would be spying on me and telling him."

Constantin walked over to the windows and opened each one of them a little bit to let a little light in. "I'm not telling you to open them completely, just a crack could do better than seven candles? Seven, really?" He inquired, pulling his eyes away from the candles.

Louis's eyes looked towards the candles burning on his desk. He sighed heavily and walked over to them, blowing each one out. "I like the number seven," He replied in a childish tone. "What's it to you, anyway?"

Constantin walked over to one of the couches in Louis's room. "Louis, we should talk." He seriously said, a small sigh came out as he fell back onto the couch. He put his feet up on the ottoman in front of him and draped his arms on the back of the couch.

Louis sucked in a deep breath. He opened the drawers and placed everyone in his desk into them. "We do talk. All the time. Well mostly you talk, and I listen. But still we talk." He huffed, puffing out his cheeks.

Constantin leaned his head backward, looking at his brother upside down. "I'm serious. Not about idle things. Serious and personal matters. As my closest friend and brother, I can share things that trouble me with you, as you can with me." He replied with a smile.

Louis walked over and sat down on the couch across from Constantin. "Hmm," He hummed, resting his elbow on the armrest and placing his cheek in his hand. "Fine. What's so important that you felt the need to barge into my room unannounced?"

Constantin leaned forward, taking his feet off the ottoman and placing them onto the floor, and bouncing his legs. "I've . . . been having doubts . . . about becoming king." He hesitantly said, pausing a few times.

Louis' jaw went slack, his eyes went wide as he stammered for words. "But-but Father has been preparing you for this all your life! Last week you were thrilled and could hardly wait! What changed?"

Constantin sighed heavily, a frown deepening on his lips. "Father has been talking about arranging a marriage for me with a noble lady. Not sure from where, but he and Mother got into a quite heated argument the other day over it in his study." He replied, leaning back.

Louis looked down at his hands. No wonder his brother wasn't too keen on taking over the throne now. "Why does he want you to get married? There is plenty of time to find a wife. I don't think he's going anywhere anytime soon."

"He's worried these recent attacks on villages could happen here and if it is a militia group, they could very well overthrow or kill him and I'd have to take over." Constantin explained leaning forward, pressing his lips together.

Louis's eyes widened, learning forward. "That's very serious." He said, pausing for a moment before continuing. "Doesn't he have musketeers that will protect him? He's been recruiting more than usual from all parts of France. I've seen them training from time to time."

Constantin nodded, tapping his fingers on the arm of the couch. "It's true, the musketeers will protect with his dying breath, but there are other ways to die. Plus you know how the royal court is a bunch of snakes, anyone willing to do anything as long as it gets them what they want."

"I suppose you're right. Do you think someone so close would be so bold as to do us harm?" Louis asked, worriedly, searching his brother's face for the answer.

Constantin didn't want to worry his brother over something that might never happen. "Louis, times are changing. People's logic and reasoning don't always make sense to us but to them it does. I would reckon that anyone we know could betray us, even our own family."

Louis's mind was running a mile a minute. His brother's words made a pit grow in his stomach. "Are you suggesting . . ." His voice trailed off as his sister popped into his head.

Constantin's eyes widened and his jaw went slack. "Goodness no! I would never suggest to you, or Adelaide, or our Mother of such incomprehensible things against Father." He quickly and defensively said. "I merely meant extended family, aunts, uncles, and cousin's perhaps."

Louis sighed, feeling an invisible weight lifted off his shoulders. "That's true. We aren't exactly close or on terms with our extended family. It's only natural to assume they are capable of such things."

Constantin nodded, confirming Louis's point. "My point exactly. Moreover, Father has been treading lightly around them. You know how normally outspoken he is?" He asked as Louis nodded. "Well, lately he's been passive and allowing them to do whatever they wish as long as it doesn't bring shame to our name."

Louis did find that odd as he listened attentively. "That doesn't sound like Father at all. Does that mean there is hope for Adelaide?" He asked, perking up at the mere glimmer of hope.

"I'm not sure." Constantin replied honestly and without hesitation. "He's still quite tough on us, especially Adelaide, so I don't think there is any hope for her or even us. I believe he's going to be stricter and harsher on us, especially in training."

Louis understood, but he couldn't help but groan. "Ugh, all I want to do is create things. I don't want to help you rule France or be an interior minister." He whined, crossing his arms over his chest and slouching in his seat.

Constantin's expression turned sympathetic as he looked at his brother. "Even as an interior minister, you can still have your hobby. I trust you Louis, and if I'm going to take the throne I need someone like you by my side."

Louis sighed softly. "Does that mean you'll also have Adelaide on your side?" He quipped, crossing his fingers internally.

Constantin looked down at his hands and rubbed them against each other. "I haven't spoken to her about it. Father keeps her quite busy so I haven't been able to find time to speak with her about the issue. I can only hope she would like to contribute something, anything at this point." He replied with a sigh, shaking his head lightly.

"Maybe we should go speak to her now? Right now she should be focusing on painting and she doesn't have a teacher for that since all she has to do is show it to Father later tonight and explain why she painted it." Louis hesitantly asked, tapping his fingers together.

Constantin thought about it for a moment. "I'm not sure. I don't know how we'd get past the guards without alerting Father," He paused for a moment, sinking deep into thought. "Ah! We can jump from balcony to balcony since her room is only four balconies from us!"

Louis abruptly stood up with wide eyes. "Now you just sound reckless. There is no way either of us can make the jump, have you seen me? I've got short legs, not long ones like you!" He extended one of his legs, pointing to it with both hands.

Constantin stood up and walked over to his brother, going around the table and placing his hands on his shoulders. "Oh, fine. That won't work anyways." He huffed, feeling defeated that he hadn't thought of an idea. "Do you have any ideas, Louis?" He asked, turning his head towards his younger brother.

Louis thought about it for a moment then recalled something his governess had said a while back. "Secret passages!" He whispered, walking over to his wall and gently knocking on each panel while his ear was flush with the wall.

Constantin furrowed his brows and walked over to his brother, his hands behind his back. "Louis, what are you doing?" He asked, looking at his brother and shaking his head in dismay. "You look ridiculous and crazy if I might add."

Louis pulled his ear away from the wall and looked at his brother. "Secret passages. My governess, you know, Madame Rousseau? She once told me a story about how when this place was being built, the king had ordered secret passages as a way to escape during times of war and siege."

Constantin tried his hardest to recall his brother's governess. 'Madame Rousseau wasn't my governess, I had Madame Dubois who I might've scared off . . .' He trailed off as it finally hit him. "Madame Rousseau, didn't she pass away a while back?" He asked gently.

Louis paused, a frown deepening on his lips. "Yes. That's the one." He solemnly replied, going back to knocking on his wall. "It's common for places such as this to have secret passages. I asked my father about it and he said it was a silly story, but I don't believe that is the truth -" He paused as his knocking echoed. "Found it."

He looked up at the Iron statute above his head in the shape of a horse. He reached up and tried to pull it down, it didn't budge a single inch. "That's not it." He mused, turning it to the side and a click sound was heard.

Constantin perked up at the sound and helped his brother turn the horse, more clicking was heard as the panel pulled back revealing a passageway. "Oh," He marveled, impressed that his brother was right.

Louis clapped his hands, putting them on his hips and puffing out his chest. "Ha! I was right! There are secret passageways!" He triumphantly exclaimed, taking a step through the musty passage. "This hasn't been used in years."

Constantin rushed over to the table and picked up a candle, lighting it and rushing back over. "You're forgetting the light," He handed it out and Louis took it. "Is it a smart idea to use this? If Adelaide found out about it - it wouldn't go so well."

Louis thought about it for a moment and hummed. "That is true. I'm sure this passage connects to the empty room beside her. We can enter there and slip out the doors and into her room unnoticed!" He pointed out moving the candle around.

Constantin followed after his brother wiping around as the door returned to its original place. "I hope you know what you're doing because I would love not to get stuck in here and die of starvation." He grumbled under his breath.

Louis mockingly mouthed his brother's words and rolled his eyes. "Have you such little faith in me, brother?" He asked, turning his voice to an innocent tone. "I've studied the blueprints, I know where the exit is, just trust me." He asked, turning around with pleading eyes.

Constantin sighed and slumped his shoulders. "I trust you. I trust you." He put his hands up defensively. "This may be a dumb question but what exactly were we going to talk to Adelaide about? I forgot." He sheepishly asked.

Louis smacked his hand on his head and groaned. "Good grief, Constantin!" He groaned and shook his head. "You were going to ask Adelaide if she would be on your side by agreeing to some of her queries like you did with me by allowing me to continue my hobby even as Interior Minister." He proudly said, puffing out his chest.

He moved the candle around the wall and noticed what looked like a straight nob. He reached up and turned it, the clicking noise sounded off and the secret door opened to reveal a lavish mint green guest room. "Here we are." He said, stepping out of the passageway.

Constantin followed behind him and looked back at the passage. "Quick question. How does the secret door work exactly?" He asked, knowing his brother knew all about mechanics and how things worked, like clocks and locks.

Louis turned around as the candle mounted on the wall started to click, turning back to its original position as the door closed. "This is the door of a timer. When it's turned the gears pull the door back and when the timer has run out it reserves its actions. If that makes sense."

Constantin tilted his head to the side, a quizzical expression growing on his face. "I haven't the faintest idea what you mean." He shrugged his shoulders walking over to the door. "Shh," He opened it slightly and peeked his head out looking down both sides of the hall.

Louis peaked his head out the door just below Constantin. "It's clear." He said, slipping out of the door and hurrying to Adelaide's door, softly but rapidly knocking. "Addie! Addie, it's me Louis, open up, hurry." He whispered through the keyhole.

Constantin rolled his eyes and knocked on the door normally. "Louis, she isn't going to hear that." He chided his younger brother and grabbed his collar pulling him away from the door. "Stop acting like a child."

Louis reached his arms over his head and grabbed Constantin's hands, prying them off his collar. "You're choking me. Let me go." He grumbled, stepping back as his brother let go and fixed his collar with a pouty lip.

Adelaide swung open the door and frowned at the two elder boys. "What do you two want? You know if you're caught, you're dead, right?" She bluntly inquired, crossing her arms over her chest.

Constantin forced a smile at his sister, reaching out and pulling the sleeve up her arm. "Yes, yes, we know. But I need to speak with you and Louis wanted to tag along. May we come in?" He asked politely.

Adelaide watched him fix her sleeve. She forced a smile and grabbed her sleeve pulling it back down. "Don't touch me." She said, letting the smile drop. "No, you may not come in - hey, I said you may not!" She exclaimed as Constantin just walked in with Louis following behind like a puppy.

Constantin looked around the room and turned around, crossing his arms. "Look, I know we don't get along and I know I never visit, but this is serious Adelaide. For once can you just listen to what I have to say?"

Adelaide begrudgingly closed the door, walking over to her chaise lounger and sprawled out on it. "Ugh, fine. It's not like I have a choice, you'll go ahead and tell me anyway. Why ask?" She asked rhetorically.

Constantin sat down on the couch across from her. "As you know, Father has been arranging a wife for me, one I don't know anything about nor want." He began to explain as Adelaide cut in quickly.

Adelaide scoffed, shaking his head. "Why do I care if Father is forcing you to get married? What does that have to do with me?" She asked, a sarcastic tone to her voice as she picked up a grape and popped it into her mouth.

Constantin took a deep breath and held it for a moment before letting it out slowly. "Will you let me finish?" He asked as she put her hands up. "As I was saying, he wants me to get married as soon as possible because he fears the recent attacks are aimed at France, specifically us."

"He fears that if the palace gets attacked he could die and he wants me to be ready to take over the throne. As you know, Louis has agreed to be my interior minister and I've allowed him to keep his hobby. Now, I would like it if you would be on my side two and I will allow two reasonable wishes for you if you agree to be on my side." He said, holding out two fingers.

Adelaide raised her eyebrows as she listened to his words. "And why would I agree to that? What does that get me? Nothing in my life will change until Father passes, so, why would I even agree to that?" She countered with her question.

Constantin had already planned for those exact words. "Because I'll use my power to allow you some freedom and you can be with your precious harpsichord teacher, how does that sound?" He asked, smirking a little.

Adelaide's jaw went slack, panic began to sink in and her eyes wide. "W-what? I-I -'' She paused, collecting herself. "I don't know what you are talking about. Monsieur Darcy is simply my harpsichord teacher, nothing more."

Louis exchanged looks between his sister and his brother. 'What is going on?' He asked himself, quite confused about what Constantin was getting at and why Adelaide was so defensive over her harpsichord teacher. 'Isn't he like old? Or was that her violin teacher?'

Constantin sat back and chuckled. "Oh please, Addie. I know you fancy Monsieur Jacques Darcy, and he's more than your harpsichord teacher. I've seen how he looks after he leaves your room and how you act whenever his name is mentioned."

Adelaide sucked in a deep breath, picking her nails in her palms. "What is your point?" She forced out through gritted teeth. 'What is he getting at? Does he know what Jaques and I do instead of my lessons? Is he going to use that against me? Is he going to blackmail me like our cousins?' She thought, her chest tightening.

Constantin dropped the smirk and sighed, resting his head in his hand. "I'll allow you to see each other more in the open and even marry him if you want. I know how hard this whole arrangement has been for you and out of all the suitors Father had picked out, Monsieur Darcy is someone you've picked out, someone you genuinely like."

Adelaide stammered, no words being able to be formed but a few incoherent noises. 'This is not what I was expecting." She thought flabbergasted. "You - you will try and allow Father to give me more freedom and can see Darcy apart from my lessons?" She asked, trying not to get her hopes up.

Constantin stood up and walked over to his sister, sitting down beside her. "Yes. I will do everything in my power to let you live a life you want, not what others tell you to. Your way of life is refreshing, France needs that type of idea instead of these outdated ideas we've all been shoved in a box to use."

Adelaide looked down at her lap. "You said if I agree to be on your side, you'll grant me two wishes and a position in the palace?" She asked softly, looking up and searching his face.

Constantin nodded with a smile, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "Yes. I haven't quite figured out a position for you, but you can give it some thought and tell me what you want to do. I will also give you two wishes, whatever you want, I will make it happen."

Adelaide lunged for her brother and wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you so much, I will be on your side no matter what gets thrown my way." She smiled. "I don't know about my wishes, can I get back to you on that?" She asked, hopefulness laced in her voice.

Constantin wrapped his arms around her and returned the hug. "Of course. Take all the time you want." He pulled away with a soft smile. "You do know I don't think you're a disgrace right? That the way Father treats you is wrong?" He inquired, hoping she knew.

"I know now. Thank you, again." Adelaide stood up and took a breath. "Now, you two better leave, my next teacher will be arriving soon and I don't need you to be caught."

Louis stood up, still having no clue what exactly just happened. "Well, take care, Adelaide. I love you and I'll see you again soon, hopefully." He passively said, towards the door and opening it slightly, peaking out.

Constantin followed behind Louis and glanced back at Adelaide. "I'll try and visit again, hopefully, that is. As long as Father doesn't make me go through France's laws and by-laws again." He waved to her as he left the room, content with how things turned out.

Louis opened the door to the neighboring room and slipped in Constantin following. "You'll make a great king someday." He flashed a smile, opening up the secret passageway and grabbing the candle he had left on a table, lighting it once again. "What you did for Adelaide was nice. Does that mean I can marry whomever I want?"

Constantin chuckled, stepping into the secret passageway. "Of course. I would never allow Father to pressure you into marrying someone out of duty and not for love. But you should focus on your hobby and less on romance." He reached out and ruffled Louis' hair.

Louis swatted his hand away and fixed his hair, using the candle in his other hand to guide them. "I can do that." He smiled, glancing back at Constantin. "Are you sure you want to be king?" He asked randomly.

Constantin stopped in his tracks, taken back by Louis' question. "Of-of course. That is what I want to do, it's been what I've trained for my whole life. Why wouldn't I?" He asked, wracking his brain for an answer to why he would ask that.

Louis shrugged his shoulders. "Just ask yourself, is being King what I want or what Father wants for me? Can you see yourself as king and not regret doing something else?" He asked, just wanting to see where his brother's head was at.

'Do I want to be king? Of course. Is it what Father wants? Of course. I was first born so I must become king, and-and . . .' Constantin trailed off his thoughts. "I like that you want the best for me but being king is my calling, it's not like you would want to be king, huh?"

"No way, at least - no, it's not my forte. I like creating things, I couldn't do that as a king even Father said I couldn't do them as an interior minister either -" Louis abruptly stopped at the door to his bedroom. "I'm sorry if my question has you doubting yourself."

Constantin placed his hand on Louis' shoulder. "No, no, these questions are good. I do need to search deep inside myself and answer truthfully, being honest to myself." He smiled, reaching up and turning the lever as the door opened.

Louis stepped into his room, everything was just how they left it. "I better get prepared for my tutor who should be here within the hour." He said, blowing out the candle and opening up his curtains, letting a flood of light into his room.

Constantin stepped out of the door as it closed behind him. "Father will be expecting me in his study. I'll see you at supper and hopefully, Adelaide will be able to join us, cross your fingers and pray, dear brother." He said as he opened the door.

He slipped out of the room and closed the door behind him. He sighed softly leaning against the door. "I've got a lot of soul-searching to do," He muttered under his breath. "Thanks, Louis." He added before walking down the hall towards his father's study.

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A/N:
This took me a little bit longer to finish, it wasn't that I had writer's block, it was more of so not having time and just in a slump. But since it's the new year I've been in more of a writing swing so expect a lot of uploads.

Chapter Talk:
I really do adore their relationship, it was really sweet. Louis and Constantin truly care about Adelaide and don't think she's a disgrace, even if she chooses to dress differently or have different views.

The two wishes Constantin promised her will come into play much later and I'm pretty happy with how that's going to play out. But I'm not saying because I don't wanna give spoilers.

Thanks for reading!