Cesare seems very thin-skinned from what I've seen. ( frankly, although not unkindly.

he'd been like a porcupine on the network, easily provoked into showing his bristles. a generous man would recognize the insecurity beneath this, but he wasn't feeling particularly generous. )

Did he ever express his feelings to you about the others? It seems he just assumed that your ways were his ways and never bothered to look beyond that.