Chapter Eight

The next few days were spent listlessly, though dice rolled and there seemed no end to the paperwork she had missed. After roaming Regalo so freely, free to pause and chat with the people, being confined to the main house and its long elegant halls seemed more like a prison than her home. She missed the carefree feeling of her schedule discarded, time to spend as she chose and to squander, and Felicità spent too much time at her desk.

Boots tucked beneath it to let her feet relax, a break from her stern heels and their confines, she felt comfortably at home sitting there, but she wanted more. She was tired of this, tired of the silence and the feeling of isolation. There were no games to play, no fond chatter or subtle music, and she could feel it now as she bounced her leg and she tried to focus on what she was reading. She was tired of it already, eager to be out of her office, and she was mortified to be so distracted.

Had she known a few days to relax and enjoy herself would have been so detrimental, she would have thought twice to have been gone so long.

Debito, on the other hand, was railing against his restrictions.

The Isis Regalo was busy, bustling, and Debito was quite content to deal cards now. As much as he enjoyed his butterflying, he was tense now as he stood there and he couldn't help but squirm under the attention. His mind was elsewhere, trapped, and he had to grit his teeth at the thought, dealing a new hand as he proclaimed he winner firmly.

"Debito!" He had to look up at the call, surprised to hear such a cheerful call over the slots, but his frown just shortened a little as he recognized Pace.

"Pace, what are you doing here?" He grunted, looking frustrated as he gladly traded out with another member of the serie. He had to apologize to a few signorinas he'd left flirt with him over their hands, but he was glad to straighten his shoulders and let Pace take a few minutes. "Shouldn't you be out in the city, having another lunch?"

"Just came to say hello, see how everything is going…" Pace said pleasantly, happy to see Debito at least come his way. "see how you're holding up." He added, seeing the twitch of his eyebrow and knowing he was likely in for a characteristic Debito thrashing. "It must be boring now, being so quiet."

And Debito was glad to be on him, just like that, and he led him outside.

"This is ridiculous!" He seethed, happy to catch him by the jacket as they slid off to the side. He didn't need problems with business, least of all after being so scolded by the Head of the Family. "I did nothing wrong! The princess did nothing wrong! I don't see what warrants this punishment! Everyone is welcome at the mansion- everyone! And now I am banned and la bambina is a prisoner- and Luca is the cause of all of this!" He huffed, furious, and he smacked a hand against the wall. "As if I would do something to hurt the princess- the nerve!"

"Debito…" Pace said nervously, letting out a little chuckle. "You know how fired up Luca and Papa get about the princess… she's the family jewel. I don't blame Papa for being worried. Luca didn't help."

"He accused me- slandered me in my own casino!" Debito blurted, teeth clenched.

"Luca was upset…" Pace said tenderly. "For the first time in seventeen years, the princess turns away from him for someone else? Jealousy isn't stopped by time. We know how much Luca cares about her." And he could see it in Debito too -in everyone. "We all care about the princess… Papa will calm down, you'll see."

Simmering, Debito didn't think he could agree with him, but he doubted force would help him here. He wanted to smack him, smack him for being so rational when he was still steamed up over such a betrayal, but Debito was riding that fine line of patience.

"Besides, the princess knows the truth. She knows you wouldn't have done anything improper, otherwise why would she have been so comfortable?" Pace offered, hoping to cheer him up. "Debito, I bet Luca is so jealous she went to such an 'awful adult' instead of him." And he had to give his shoulder a friendly nudge. "The trust of the princess is a fair prize, isn't it?"

Debito had to pause, taking a few slow breaths, but his single golden eye regarded Pace critically for a moment before he let his hand leave the stone.

"You really think that?" He questioned cautiously, his face stony as he seemed to set his irritation aside little by little.

"I do," Pace enforced, smiling for his friend now as he watched Debito peek out from all that frustration. "I really do. The princess isn't open, not as much as me, but she has a good heart and she knows people. She's upset, just like you. She argued with Papa and Mama about you being refused entry into the mansion, and I've heard from the girls that she's not happy with Luca." Pace was happy to give anyone hope, especially someone he was so close too, and he was glad to see Debito drinking it in. "The girls say they're hardly speaking- the princess is very upset."

~ La storia della Arcana Famiglia~

"Milady, how was your breakfast?" Luca asked, smiling politely as he came to collect her dishes for her. She'd very much insisted on taking her breakfast away from the kitchen or table, something he'd been hesitant to accept, but that she'd politely had Nova relay the message had been cutting. Ever since her return, she had been quite content to let her attendants or fellow Sword members do her talking for her, and she was always carefully schooling her bright eyes down at her work or up at the wide window.

A few attempts to slip away from her work had been met with countering, some enough to scare her back on its own and some still requiring her to be collected, but Felicità was not about to be contained.

Mondo and Sumire's daughter was nothing if not determined.

"Fel said it was bland." Nova said, happy to chime up as she glanced his way and his eyes met hers. The Cups leader had been reluctant to bend to her whims, but he was surprisingly steadfast in his stationing his desk alongside hers. They had been both quite firm that it was no cause for rumor, though some did spread that perhaps the princess had chosen a husband of her own, and Nova seemed to be humoring her in this endeavor.

He was very comfortable giving Luca her opinions and needs, when he was around, and Libertà had avidly filled in where he could not. He had been itching to see her smiling face again after so long hiding in the casino's employ, and he was happier still to slight Luca in order to bring her some joy.

She'd spoken to them first, eager to give council to her closest friends and put their worries to rest. She was furious, rightly so, and they'd agreed to be her voice.

"Thank you, Nova," Luca said, the tight line through his words a harsh tip that he didn't approve, but the two shared a small glance and Nova was beginning to think his childhood intended was not as innocent as she seemed. She was quite content to scorn her caretaker, especially in light of the egregious differences between her tales of the few days in Debito's care versus the business Luca had stirred up. "but Milady is quite capable of speaking for herself."

A bare hand came up, surprisingly casual, and Nova didn't need to look up. "That will be all, thank you."

He waited for the door to close and for Felicità to set her pen down before he glanced at the red haired woman to his right.

"Fel, do you really think you can keep this up indefinitely?" He questioned quietly, thoughtful, and she needed a moment to fold her hands together. She had left her glove behind, the thick hawking one she usually wore to let Fukulota land on her arm so regularly, and she had a little bit of bandage peeking from her sleeve instead. "Keeping grudges with Luca… could you not discuss this?"

"He lied. He lied to Mama and Papa to get Debito in trouble." She said, frowning at her folded hands before she turned a little to look at the samurai head on. "I want to fix things for Debito before I forgive Luca, and Luca… he's pretending he didn't do anything wrong. We're supposed to be a family, and families don't do that to one another."

Nova knew just from the look on her face that she expected him to understand, the soft pang he always felt when he considered his parents' betrayal, and he waited.

"Debito really was kind to me, no matter what everyone says and thinks." Felicità insisted, "He was kind to me, and he helped me, and he wasn't like he acts. I don't regret asking him to let me stay. I wish I could thank him with more besides all this."

"You could," Nova offered hesitantly, seeing her earnest desire as she spoke about it. His Fel never left a good deed unrepaid, and he could see the slump of her shoulders as she blamed herself for the other man's misfortune. "with Fukulota. You used her to arrange a meeting with Dante, and yes, she's not the perfect carrier pigeon, but why not try?" He offered. "It would be some way to relay your gratitude."

He almost thought he'd been ignored when she said nothing, sitting there, but he saw the surprise there and her cheeks dimpled a little as a smile broke across her lips brightly. It was a sunrise on a seemingly eternal night, the first decent smile since Libertà had had her in tears of laughter, and he was glad he'd spoken up.

"Fukulota, of course!" She gasped, clapping her hands over her mouth for a moment, and she went to say more before she paused and concern rose on her features again. With a glance at the door, she hurried to get up and switch seats, sitting next to him on the settee where he'd made his makeshift desk, and she beamed as she spoke hurriedly in his ear. He flushed for a moment at the proximity, flustered, but Nova wasn't going to recoil from her idea now as she hurried to share it with him.

Nodding softly, supposing he could help gather her components for her on his patrols, Nova was surprised to find her so eager. There would need to be a few trips, perhaps, to ensure the small owl wasn't intercepted or interrupted, but it could be done. The idea of him delivering it was shot down immediately -too impersonal and filtered- and he was happy to help smooth her overexcited plan with reason until she was ready to act.

"So it's settled then?" She said hopefully, cheeks a little flushed now. "You'll do it?"

"Yes," He was even redder, mortified, but he supposed he could do it for her. "just be sure to tell me the night before and I'll be sure it's done."

With a soft squeal of delight, Felicità had to embrace her childhood friend tightly. She had thought the plan would be too brazen for him, too much to ask, but he hadn't disappointed her and she was thrilled to know she would be able to repay Debito for his kindness.

~ La storia della Arcana Famiglia ~

It was later that night, as she was putting away her things and getting ready to retire, that Felicità heard Luca's knock and plainly ignored the sound. She had all her paperwork organized, filed properly as Nova had been wont to help her do, and she had to admit that some of his techniques had helped.

She heard him come in, waiting patiently for him to announce himself and try to engage her, but she was surprised by silence.

Turning finally, looking over one shoulder at him as she finished tensely straightening her desk, Felicità was surprised to see such a dismal expression on his face. He looked miserable, lacking that over-exaggerated air to his despair, and for a moment her heartstrings twanged in his favour. She had grown up with him, known his guiding hands and his gentle eyes, and she knew he was more than upset by her silence, but-

"Milady, is this really necessary?" He questioned, shoulders tight. "I understand that the restriction keeping you inside the mansion grounds must be stifling, but please understand it is in your best interest. Papa means well. He wants to be sure you are kept safe."

That.

Frown strengthening in disapproval, finding it in herself to resist the sad look in his soft eyes, Felicità was glad to stride forward and march around him. He still refused to acknowledge it, acknowledge that he'd been so out of line, and she saw him shift as she passed. He knew it, knew what she was waiting for, and Felicità's insides swayed irritably as she left her office and her caretaker in her wake.

"Don't come to my office again. I can get my own things. I'm sure there's lots of work to do that doesn't involve me." She said brisquely. "I don't want any more help."