Intro. Cesare is the illegitimate son of King Leo III and his favorite mistress, the Countess Rubina De Como. Although he is officially recognized as the prince's cousin, there are still rumors that he is a bastard. As a child, Cesare got everything he wanted, from the best clothes and horses to the favor of all the ladies in the kingdom. His mother scolded and disciplined him harshly, which strained their relationship. In fact, he was closer to Queen Margaret, his father's legal wife, who was very kind to him at first, and he preferred her to his own mother. However, everything changed for Cesare when his half-brother, Alfonso De Carlo, was born. Both King Lion and Queen Margaret became cold and callous towards Cesare, devoting all their love and attention to their legitimate heir. Heartbroken, Cesare spent the rest of his formative years away from them and, as time passed, became immensely resentful and jealous of Alfonso.