Two men could be seen walking down the long corridor in the south face of the estate in the early hours of the morning. The man on the left held his hands behind his back as he listened to the other. The former walked with an uprightness that could have been called stiff, yet radiated elegance. The latter seemed entirely at ease; his arms were leisurely folded, his hands supporting the back of his head, resulting in his entire upper body slightly being a few millimeters behind his legs.
"He told her everything?" Boni turned his head, his eyes scrutinizing every inch of Luca's face, who only still looked ahead. Despite his efforts to give off a blasé attitude, the tenseness underlying his words did not escape Boni.
Luca shrugged. "Apparently. Well, at least I got them into the same room."
Boni averted his gaze to the floor, furrowing his brows and biting his lower lip. "Taren is not an easy man to reason with."
Luca looked over at his companion, raising an eyebrow at his reaction. "I know. I need to do some damage control."
The two men arrived at the end of the hall and parted ways. Boni headed towards his medicinal quarters to begin his working day, while Luca turned right, in the direction of the east wing which held the private quarters of the duke and duchess di Maldoni.
***
Ginevra stayed awake almost the entire night. It was not until dawn started to break over the horizon that she fell into a light slumber.
Why would my grandmother curse Taren? When would their paths have crossed? What is the curse that she placed on him?
Ginevra was just closing the door to her quarters, still ruminating on the events of last night when she almost collided with the man standing in front of her.
"Ginevra?" a familiar voice asked. She looked up to see Luca staring down at her. The corners of his mouth curled up into his characteristic cat-like grin.
Does Luca know about this curse too, then?
"Aww, come on, what did I do to deserve that face?" Luca ran a hand through his hair, his other at his hip. He sighed, rolling his eyes halfway. "You know, it's so troublesome being Taren's proxy – I'm always absorbing his reputation. I promise I'm not all that bad." He looked down at her, as if confirming that she was in one piece. "So, you survived Boni?" he flashed her a smile. How did Luca manage to remain in Taren's service for so long? She looked out through the window through which the golden rays of the sun were split by the cut glass. Boni's hand grabbing her shoulder as she lurched forward in the carriage flashed across her mind.
"He's a capable doctor," she said, half-smiling to herself at the memory. Luca broke into a laugh, spurring Ginevra to suddenly look at him. He brought his hand down.
"Forgive me, I don't disagree. I was just amused by your observation." He moved to her side. "I figured you didn't have much opportunity to see the estate. Allow me to show you around."
As they made their way through the hall, Ginevra stopped, looking out through a glass door leading out into the garden. Luca noticed her gazing out and pushed open the glass door. "Let's cut through here."
Ginevra lifted her nose into the air, as she closed her eyes and let the warm sunlight bathe her face. Birds chirped overhead. Even in the Fall, it's so beautiful here. I've been in the city for so long I didn't realize how much I missed the greenery. A variety of lush green bushes and dwarf trees lined the garden's walkway.
Luca called her name, directing her attention to the fountain that bubbled in the middle of the garden. "...and the best part. I thought you might like it." Ginevra stared at the beautiful fountain in front of her.
The bubbling water sparkled in the morning sun. The soft gurgling, the clear blue water sparkling in the sun…
Ok, I'm jumping in!
Don't splash me!
Alright, do it already. You've been saying that for the past 10 minutes
AGH! Why's the water so cold!!
"It's really beautiful," Ginevra agreed.
"Oho! Well it would be if not for that character over there. Come on, I'll introduce you."
They approached Nicco. He was hunched over a book, resting on his leg, entirely absorbed by its contents and oblivious to everything around him.
"So what have you been doing all morning, you naughty squirrel?"
Nicco did not look up from the book as he responded.
"Hiding from you."
"Ginevra, this is our in-house correspondent and the philosopher no one asked for, Niccolò Gismondi."
Nicco looked up, blinking. He was a man of average stature with a naturally lean built. He had dark gray hair and thick bangs covered his brows, grazing the top of his wide-rimmed eyeglasses which framed dark, black eyes. His face was pale, bordering sallow, but his features were sharp and altogether made a handsome face. He was wearing a dark sweater and pants in a similar hue. He shot silent daggers with a single, sharp glance at Luca that seemed to say, why didn't you say anything earlier? to which Luca responded with only a roguish smile.
"Nicco, allow me to introduce you to the new Lady of the House."
Nicco stared at Ginevra for a moment, his lips moving before any sound came from them. "The honor is mine, Your Grace. I am at your service." He gave a short, brief bow to Ginevra, who responded in kind by holding out her hand to him to shake. Before Nicco could hold his out, Luca jumped between the two and taking Nicco's hand in one and Ginevra's in the other, gave them a vehement shake, but not fast enough for Nicco's reaction to her outstretched hand to escape her notice. He had looked at her hand as if she were offering him poison, and a perceptible sign of relief passed over his face the moment Luca had thrown himself between them.
"Alright, that's enough small talk. We're very busy, Nicco. I was just showing Ginevra the fountain, so we'll be taking our leave now –"
Before Luca could finish his sentence, two boys, around six years of age, crossed their path, chasing after each other. Ginevra looked after them
"Who are they?"
"Children of the estate staff."
One of the boys, in an effort to escape from his friend, started to climb a tall heavy marble statue standing on a thick base. The boy started to climb down, unaware that his jacket had snagged onto the statue. Ginevra's eyes widened as she saw the pillar start to fall forwards. It was going to crush him.
In lightning speed, Ginevra pushed the child out of the falling statue and they both slid across the grass.
Nicco blinked from behind his glasses.
"Now that's…what I call a fast reflex," Luca said, crossing his arms in front of him.
"No, that's what's called a fighter instinct" Nicco replied.
Ginevra sat up on her knees, firmly holding the boy's arms.
"What were you thinking? Do you know how dangerous that was?"
The boy looked more shaken by Ginevra's intense gaze and firm grip than the imminent danger he just escaped.
"Promise, you won't do that again." The boy slowly nodded his head. Then, without warning, tears start trickling down his cheeks.
"Wait, wait don't cry!" But the boy ran off before Ginevra had a chance to stop him. She slumped in her position. Why can't I do anything right?
At that moment, a long, dark shadow appeared over them. Nicco and Luca turned around and met Taren's glowering gaze.