He was a grown man of fifteen. Old enough to serve in the military, a prince of Garlemald, and capable of command.

If he was a grown man, then he was taking advantage it.

Zenos was not accustomed to soft things, or sweet things. For his short life, all he saw was hardness and cold, bar one thing only. The small girl he'd been drawn to as a flame whom shared his doctor, a small thing some eight summers his junior whom, as he observed, was quite unhappy. Mistreated by the centureon calling himself her sire (Hah! Zenos believed nothing of it -- she resembled her mother and his sire's friend more than anything), often seeming hungry and quiet, Zenos knew the doctor was accessoiry to the centureon's mechanations, and, a son of the Royal House grown, Zenos was having no more of it. He planned for months for this, and settled himself lazily in a position in his office when he expected the man to arrive. His plan would be simple, and all Zenos fret for was the small child, unprepared for what was to come. Still, he hoped anfocused on the trust she gave him, the secrets they shared in silence when close as somehow, the young garlean felt the small girl's mind brush his like a whisper when they were in proximity, a small mind that would always bury her hopes and affection deep in his own when close and, with her alone, he felt... Normal. He felt interested, he felt emotion, and for this precious gift his reciprocal affection and warmth felt infinately weak. No, now he would give her something worth the life she brought to him.

Caligula cen Julius entered the office, dragging the small thin child behind him, looking wondering and innocenty, as if it weren't obvious the small girl with him hadn't been beaten recently, likely to usher her into cleaning up for meeting a member of the royal house -- her mother married a centureon after all, and she was only of royal blood. His dearest cousin -- but it afforded no protection. Instead it was clear Caligula had treated the girl poorly

Zenos pulled his mind back from Yolanda's for now, letting concealing mask and freshly forged mail paint the image of terror lest his plan fall into ruin.

"Cen Julius." Zenos spoke, drawling his words slowly. "How good of you to answer my summons so swiftly."

"O...Of course, sir." The centureon bowed, playing his humble lie, and Zenos hummed.

"I fear we have some problems to discuss." The garlean prince nodded, Caligula's eyes trailing him before suddenly Zenos moved like a coiled cat prepared to pounce, raising Yolanda in his arms as the child gasped in alarm silently and ZXenos bared her arm to him.

"How," Zenos growled, almost purring. "Does a child recieve such bruising?"

Zenos' tone was grave, Caligula panicking as he stepped back from the young prince a step, shaking his head.

"She's a clumsy child, my lord. She -- she must have fallen somewhere."

"Children do not bruise from mere falls like this, Julius." Zenos roared, incredulous the man dared lie to him, a legatus, even if by merit of birth. The prince shuddered in his rage, drawing the child to him u8nconciously as he drew his katana.

"There are tales of you, Julius. Your men like to talk." And Zenos squared his shoulders, feeling Yolanda squirm in fear at his sudden wrath, witholding his feeling of protectiveness to draw his katana, aiming it at thre man.

"Children and men, Julius. And murder is punishable by death-- particularly the murder of any of the royal family." Zenos snarled, Caligula's face bleaching. Zenos lunhed, and drove his katana into the centureon immediately, finding purchase in the soft exposed portions of his dress armoir before the man crumplrd, clawing for Zenos in panic as the prince stepped back.

For a moment, onlythe sounds of the man dying reached his ears, and then, a wail from the child in his arms of terror. But for her he had no wrath, no hostility, asnd he lowered his mental defenses, mind drawing hers to him and wrapping around her conciousness in a warmth and comfort he reserved only for hjer, for his small companion, the child he liberated as he removed his masj, casting it aside as he held her to him, the giurl audibly, visibly terrigfied, and Zenos rocked her soothingly.

"Ssssh, sssh now, cupcake. Sssshhhh." Zenos soothed, allowing his love and concern for his small cousin to pass over their connectiuon, their special bond that even at distance, he felt in the quiet, away from lerssons, training -- even the hunt. Zenos was not tender for just anyone, nor soft, but in the privacy of his office he allowed himself close, sinking to try soothing his terrified companion with soft murmurs and pressing his face into her, shaking himself.

"Shhh, cupcake, ssshhh." Zenos murmured again, and offered a smile -- almost deranged, but restrained bythe pride of saving his cousin he felt, the unabated affection flowing from him with the warmth he mustered. "You're free now, cupcake. You're free. I will be your guardian from here out -- I will protect you from the fools who would shackle you to their will. It's going to be alright, cupcake. I'm here now, Zenos is here. Zeezee has you now."

Yolanda whimpered, and reached, small hand touching her favorite person lightly, before she swallowed, sniffling softly before she smiled sadly.

"Do you promise? And... no more hurting people?" She asked, voice a whisper, but hopeful. Zenos laughed, low in his chest and almost a rumble.

"Only mine and your enemies, and the beastys of the land, cupcake. Don't be afraid. It will be well. Of that, I swear."