Constantine Rys

Constantine, a character in the Rules of Engagement and The Royal Romance series, was the King of Cordonia until the end of The Royal Romance, Book 1. He is also European Guy's and King "Liam" Rys's late father. He made his first appearance in Rules of Engagement, Book 2, Chapter 10.

Appearance
Constantine has fair skin, blue eyes and graying hair.

Background
According to Hakim, Constantine was a gentler king when he was younger, before Liam 's time. He was always vigilant against threats but he became outright paranoid after Eleanor's death. From that point, he saw threats in every shadow and shut out the court, including his oldest friends. It took him years to change back to the man he once was, and Hakim attributes that to Liam and Liam 's friends.

Book 1

 * Chapter 18: Last Call (Mentioned; Determinant)

Book 2

 * Chapter 1: Uncharted Waters (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 9: Trials of Love (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 10: Royal Pain

Book 3

 * Chapter 3: Meet the Family (Determinant)
 * Chapter 5: Modern Mosaic (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 7: Le Voyage dans la Lune (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 15: Everything is Illuminated (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 16: Save the Date (Determinant)
 * Chapter 17: After Party (Determinant)

Newlyweds

 * Chapter 4: A Harvest Housewarming (Determinant)
 * Chapter 5: Into the Sunset (Determinant)

Book 1

 * Chapter 3: Reunited
 * Chapter 4: Save the Last Dance (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 9: Race to the Finish
 * Chapter 10: Beach Party
 * Chapter 11: The Apple of His Eye
 * Chapter 13: Hunting for Love
 * Chapter 14: Fair Game (Off-Screen)
 * Chapter 16: The Beaumont Bash
 * Chapter 17: Lady in Waiting
 * Chapter 19: Long Live the King

Book 2

 * Chapter 2: Reunion
 * Chapter 8: City of Lights (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 11: A Night at the Opera (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 12: Family Ties
 * Chapter 13: The Art of Drinking Tea (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 14: Back to the Big Apple (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 17: Cordonia Bound

Book 3

 * Chapter 2: Crown and Country
 * Chapter 3: Allies Among Enemies
 * Chapter 4: Any Port in a Storm (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 5: The Sport of Kings
 * Chapter 7: Haute Culture (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 8: Artistic License (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 9: Pomp and Circumstance
 * Chapter 10: A Matter of Honor
 * Chapter 11: Cold Fire
 * Chapter 12: Secrets In The Snow (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 14: Welcome, One and All (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 17: Save the Date (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 22: Happily Ever After (Mentioned)

The Royal Holiday

 * Chapter 1: 'Tis the Season (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 4: Holly Jolly (Mentioned; Determinant)

Book 1

 * Chapter 3: Your Kingdom Awaits (Determinant)
 * Chapter 4: Courting Crowns (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 8: Ride Like the Wind (Mentioned; Physical Appearance Determinant)
 * Chapter 11: The Prodigal Father (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 13: Spreading the Word (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 17: Hot Off the Press (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 18: The Last Apple Ball (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 19: Truth and Lies

Book 2

 * Chapter 2: First Days (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 5: Her Royal Highness (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 7: Thanks (But No Thanks) (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 8: Exit Strategy (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 17: A Spurned Ally (Mentioned; Determinant)

Book 3

 * Chapter 1: Changes (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 4: Seeds of Conflict (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 5: Crossing the Finish Line (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 6: The Princess and the Plea (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 7: Ill Will Hunting (Determinant)
 * Chapter 16: Devil in the Details (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 18: Crowning Glory (Mentioned)

The Royal Finale

 * Chapter 1: Hidden in Plain Sight (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 9: Highs and Lows (Determinant)
 * Chapter 12: When Worlds Collide (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 15: To Wield the Sword (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 16: To Wear The Crown (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 17: Happier Ever After (Mentioned)

Events of The Royal Romance
In Book 2, Chapter 12, it was revealed that the Conspiracy Against Your Character was orchestrated by Constantine himself. He ordered Bastien to get Penelope Ebrim to hire a photographer and arrange for Tariq to find Your Character isolated in her room. The crucial information that led to uncovering the kingpin in the conspiracy came from Regina when she told Your Character that the only person that could have ordered Bastien to do anything was Constantine.

When confronted about his involvement he explained that he was dying and could no longer ensure the safety of King "Liam" and Cordonia, and since Your Character was the favorite to become Queen, he decided to run you out of the race and make sure Madeleine would take the throne alongside "Liam". Ultimately, Constantine's involvement in the plot never surfaced as it would have shattered the Cordonian people's trust if word ever got out; instead he was commanded by now-King, Liam to help repair the damage he has caused in any way. He advised Your Character to look for Tariq as he was the only person who could clear her name.

Although at that point in time Constantine said he has never regretted what he did, but is sorry that it had to happen in the first place, in Book 3, Chapter 10, he tells you he regrets his role in the conspiracy and says you have a way of bringing people together that he does not understand. Your Character can choose whether or not to forgive him.

Regina
Regina Rys is Constantine's third wife. In The Royal Romance, Book 3, Chapter 9, he tells the story of how he fell in love with her: they were acquaintances until she approached him at a Costume Ball some time after his second wife died.

European Guy (Leo)
European Guy (Leo) is Constantine's eldest son. If Leo is Main Character (Rules of Engagement)'s fiance, he tells her that Constantine showed him the importance of love, that he gave up everything for his country and his people. It was Constantine's fierce love for Cordonia that made Leo want to feel that way about something or someone.

Prince Liam
King "Liam" is Constantine's second son. Despite the fact that Liam was not supposed to be his next in line, he and his family agreed that Liam is more fit to be king instead of Leo.

First Wife
Constantine's first wife was the former Queen of Cordonia. She is Leo's mother. She left Cordonia because she couldn't handle the royal life.

Eleanor
Constantine's second wife, Eleanor, was the former Queen of Cordonia. She was Liam ' s mother. He was saddened by her death when she was poisoned by their enemies when Liam was still young. Later, it was revealed that she died from a poisoned goblet that Godfrey had given her (which in turn was prepared by his other friend Barthelemy), and that Constantine was unaware of his friends' involvement in her death.

After her death, Constantine became more paranoid and closed off to his closest friends and confidantes. Godfrey believed Constantine was more unreasonable and more dangerous to them.

Your Character
In Book 1, Constantine is generally polite to you. Your choices throughout the social season determines if he publicly supports you as a suitor or not, but it is revealed in Book 2 that he was the one responsible for the scandal that forced you out of the running. When confronted by you and his son, he explains that he knew of his son's affections for you but wanted him to choose Madeleine, to keep Cordonia strong and resilient against those that sought to attack. Because revealing his involvement would cause the public to lose their faith in their rulers, he tells you that you will need to find Tariq, and orders Bastien to help you.

In Book 3, he finds your idea of the Unity Tour to be inspiring and what the country needs to show their strength. In Chapter 10, he once again apologizes for his actions against you and gifts you with the Cordonian crest. According to him, it has been in the royal family for generations. He believes that you deserve it as a token of appreciation.

Trivia

 * He bears a resemblance to actor Rupert Everett.
 * He only appears in Rules of Engagement, Book 3 if Main Character is engaged to Leo.
 * In The Royal Romance, Book 2, Chapter 12, it's revealed that Constantine has an aggressive form of lung cancer and is dying. Subsequently, this is also revealed as the reason why he abdicated the throne in favor of King "Liam", which in turn indicates Constantine as being behind the plot against Your Character.
 * The name "Constantine" is used by several Byzantine Emperors. This could be the writers' inspiration in naming him.
 * If you ask about him and Queen Regina in Book 3, Chapter 1, it is mentioned that they were both present when the assassination attempt happened. He and Regina weren't injured, but were shaken from the event.
 * He has been added to the Big Bads category for his orchestration of the actions against Your Character in Book 1, which you discover in Book 2; and added to the Redeemed Characters category for his apologies and reversal of doubts about Your Character in Book 3.
 * In a premium scene of The Royal Heir, Book 3, Hakim states that Constantine's personality took a turn for the worse after his wife Eleanor's death. This is something he shares with Silas Prescott and Everett Rourke.