Author's Note: Boys and girls, I have once again created a crime against humankind! Last chapter, I was so invested in the best ship 'Lotte X Paul Hanbridge' that I didn't even realize that I missed a few reviews! Oh Heaven and Hell, give me strength as I face my angered readers!
'Theds big bro wants to be an uncle...
Signed,
Again,
The future president'
Good to have you back, future president sir. Let us see if your theory is correct.
'It's got to be Diana that goes with Theodore, Right? Since she's starting to fall for him.'
No, no, no, no, no, NO! Are you dumb white male?! It's clearing going to be Ms. Finnelan that goes with Theodore! Age is but a number, a social construct of the evil patriarchal system! If you don't agree with me, then you're an evil Nazi!
'Did i sense a bit of jealousy from diana?this is the start of something that im going to enjoy!'
I hope you do, good sir. Enjoy the ride while it lasts.
'Awesome.'
Awesome review.
And before I forget, let me tell you the results of my poll! The amount of activity was astonishing, a population to rival that of China! A grand total of four people put in their mighty opinion, telling which character was best girl! Here's the ranking:
Diana, two votes
Akko, achieving one vote
Tied with Akko, Fem Beef Mc Whatnow, receiving one vote as well.
Well boys, there you have it! I'll keep the poll open in case anyone wants to put in their last minute opinion! But, I promised you my own vote, who I think is best girl. Sucy is top tier best girl! Come fite me irl.
The taxi bounces, as it hits a pothole in the old country road. The view outside the passenger's window is that of the flat countryside of Rome, wet and brown leaves covering both the road and scenery as winter takes its toll on the landscape. A thin, but fresh layer of snow also covers some of the less exposed regions. Wineries, vineyards, and even a few ancient landmarks have been crossed by our path.
I was thoroughly surprised by the fact that upon our arrival to Rome, there was not a single member of Theodore's family to greet us. The only friendly face being a taxi driver, holding up a sign reading 'Theodore Sempronia'.
Theodore, however, was not put off by this lack of a welcome party at all. He in fact seemed to be totally in his element, as if he expected this sort of treatment.
I wonder if this sort of apathy was caused by a simple error in their scheduling, or perhaps they were simply too occupied by whatever work the Sempronias engage themselves in. However, another alternative motive crosses my mind. A reason which I hope does not turn out to be true. Perhaps they just don't care.
It's not uncommon for posh and aristocratic families to hold a certain amount of formality and distance with even that of their own blood. I firsthand have experienced such discomforts from my aunt, and realize how such coldness can be.
However, Theodore doesn't seem to be plagued by these worries, as he sleeps away peacefully in the seat next to mine.
After awakening at five hours after midnight, packing and finalizing our luggage for two, having an elf drive us for three hours to the airport, and waiting for our plane for an additional two hours, sleep was what Theodore required the most.
I soon discovered that he was not the best when it came to flying. Whether it was a fear of flying, the rush of greeting his family again, or the rather large man continuously trying to apologize for outrageous and infeasible actions, his room for respite was greatly reduced.
It makes me happy to see that he's caught a break, and is finally able to rest.
"Excuse me, sir. How much longer until we reach the Sempronia's household?" I ask the taxi driver.
"About five minutes." He answers in a thick Italian accent.
A moment of silence passes, before the man speaks once again.
"You know, I'm surprised that the Sempronias let you join them for Christmas."
"Whatever for?" I ask, a bit curious in further learning about them.
"They're usually so reclusive." He begins. "The Sempronias are infamous in Italy. They might have been respected way back when, but now they're a bunch of lowlifes. Especially the grandpa, I wouldn't trust him if I had a lie detector."
This isn't what I expected at all. I assumed as a high class family, they would be famous, rather than infamous. But then again, this just some random man's opinion. Surely what he says can hold no grounds.
"The kids, like the one next to you, are relatively normal." He continues. "Must be a generation gap. But a Sempronia's a Sempronia. They just care about power and wealth. I'm surprised they haven't been run out, or exiled, or something."
"I would ask that you not speak about my friend in such a way." My words might've been polite, but my tone was anything but.
The driver simply shrugs, as he continues driving, his eyes never leaving the road.
How dare he refer to Theodore in such away?! Throughout these months that I've known him, he has never shown any signs of a lowlife. If memory serves me right, I believe we have never engaged in any arguments outside of a simple disagreement here and there. Nothing that this man speaks of.
Pushing these claims out of my mind, I remember what the man also said: only five minutes until we reach our destination.
I suppose I should awaken my sleeping friend before we arrive, give him a chance to shake off his grogginess.
I lightly pat Theodore three times on his shoulder.
With a few blinks, he arises, covering his mouth as he lets out a tired yawn.
"Hey Diana, what's going on?" He asks, his voice quiet and exhausted from his past slumber.
"I believe we will arrive at your manor in about five minutes. I assumed you wanted time to recuperate."
"Your assumption was correct..." He mutters, leaning forward to stretch.
After he wakes himself up, he comfortably slides back in his chair, asking
"So, how are you feeling, Diana? Are you excited, nervous?"
"I can say with certainty that I'm looking forward to this vacation. Not only am I spending Christmas in a beautiful country such as this one, but I get to meet your family, and learn more about you. And don't forget, you promised me a tour of Rome." I tease, smiling at him.
He returns the smile with his own.
"I did, didn't I? Well, I guess I'll have to make good on that promise."
"Villa Sempronia, dead ahead." I hear the taxi driver inform us.
As the taxi draws closer, the villa begins to come into sight, and the view is simply breathtaking.
Comfortably on rolling grasslands, a white manor sits.
The whole building is shaped like a 'C' with sharp edges, opening out in our direction. The manor surrounds an ornate garden, which contains marble statues of people, perhaps of past Sempronias. A fountain lies in the central of the whole thing, spouting crystal clear water.
Although the manor is only a few stories high, it's spread over a wide area. The whole building is decorated by finely carved windows, balconies, archways, and decorative architecture. Why, the upkeep to maintain such a standard of living must be phenomenal!
Overall, the manor looks as if it was built in the 16th century, and still stands strong to this day. Something truly spectacular indeed.
The driver stops in front of the manor, and the both of us get out, not forgetting to grab our luggage.
Theodore thanks the driver in Italian, handing him his pay.
Without another word, the man drives away.
As the both of us approach the manor, the door suddenly swings open with force.
An energetic man, with brown eyes, as well as reddish brown hair, with a hair curl on the left side of his head. He is also a bit taller than Theodore, and looks to be in his early 20s.
"Teddy! Teddy! Teddy!" He happily exclaims, charging at us.
He seemingly tackles Theodore on the ground, hugging him tightly, excitingly speaking in Italian.
Theodore smiles, a bit embarrassed by the man's actions.
My friend says something else in his native language, and he gets off of him, still as excited as ever.
Theodore gets up as well, brushing himself off, as he says
"This is my older brother, Feliciano. He's a little excited, as you can tell."
Feliciano gives me a warm smile, eagerly grabbing my hand, forcing me in a handshake.
"Hello, hello, hello!" He exclaims, rapidly shaking my hand. "I'm Feliciano, Teddy's older brother! It's a pleasure to meet you! So, you must be the friend he brought! You're so pretty, I'd love to share a bowl of pasta with you! Let us be friends, and play with each other!"
He lets go of my hand, my whole arm hurting from his abrupt welcome.
I try to regain my composure.
"Well...hello Feliciano. My name is Diana. I am indeed the friend Theodore brought."
Feliciano seems nice, a bit too energetic for my liking, but he does seem to love and care for Theodore.
Whatever was that taxi driver talking about?
"Theodore!" I hear someone new say.
Looking back towards the door, I see three others, a man, and two women.
One of the girls appears to be slightly older than Feliciano, with dark brown hair and brown eyes. She also has an olive complexion, with a hair curl appearing on the right side of her head as opposed to the left. Perhaps Theodore's older sister?
The other two are much older.
With their age and striking resemblance to the two previously mentioned, I can only assume that they're Theodore's parents.
Once the group of three lay their eyes on Theodore, most notably his facial scars, they all show their responses openingly.
The two eldest of the three put on faces of shock, while the young adult female simply raises an eyebrow.
The two expressing shock quickly make there way to us.
The man asks Theodore questions in their shared language, while the woman grabs his face, holding his cheeks in motherly concern.
Theodore, the man, and women, engage in heavy dialog, none in which I could understand as it was spoken in Italian.
Feliciano slides over to his sister, slinging an arm around her.
"Hey Diana, check it cool!" He begins, causing my attention to shift towards these two. "This is my big sister Romana. Isn't she cheesy?"
Romana's eyes stare at the stone floor, not even bothering to acknowledge me. She must be shy.
"I'm older than Teddy, and she's older than me! Since she's the oldest, she likes to be the boss, so she's kind of a dick. Right?" Feliciano asks his sister, again greeted by no response. "Now say hi to my friend."
Romana finally looks up, greeting me with a face that shows both bored apathy and mild contempt.
"Suck my tits, you damn tea drinker." She casually says to me.
What's with this uncouth greeting? I originally thought she was shy and sensitive, perhaps sharing a personality comparable to Lotte, but now my opinion of her has vastly changed. Somehow, only speaking one sentence has completely changed my outlook on her.
"Oh boy, it's hug time." Feliciano sighs out, grabbing hold of his sister in a crude hug.
"Would you stop it with your hug therapy already?!" Romana demands, attempting to break free.
While the siblings continue to argue, I turn my gaze back to Theodore and his parents.
It looks as though the concerns regarding Theodore's physical changes have subsided, as they are now engaging in casual dialogue, not at all speaking in the same concerned and fast paced rhythm as before.
In that entire engagement, I did not hear the word Mendacius mentioned even once. He must've lied to them.
During this time of talk, Theodore points at me, speaking to the two in his native tongue. I hear my name mentioned once.
After his speech, the two adults turn their attention to me. The man offers a handshake.
"Hello, Diana. My name is Romulus Sempronia. I'm Theodore's father." He says in a pleasant tone.
I accept the hand, only to be greeted by another.
"And I'm Octavia, his mother."
I shake her hand as well.
They both seem fond enough of me. Didn't the taxi driver say that they rarely let an outsider in? I'm honestly wondering if the man had any idea of what he was saying.
"Hello to you both. I must say, you have quite a beautiful house." I compliment them.
If I'm going to live with them for two weeks, then I might as well make a good first impression.
"Thank you. It's been in our family for generations." Mr. Sempronia says.
"And you must be the friend that Theodore brought." His wife asks.
A quick pause, before she follows up with
"Or perhaps his girlfriend?"
Quizzical, I turn my gaze to Theodore, who is currently bearing a red face.
"N-No, mom. She's not my girlfriend...just a very good friend."
I smile at his kind words, before turning back to his parents, who still show signs of additional questions.
To clear up this confusion, I say
"The school we come from is an all girls school. It almost sounds weird saying it aloud that a boy would be accepted."
Before any additional questions can be brought up, Feliciano unexpectedly hugs Theodore from behind, full of hyper excitement.
"Ooh, a school full of cute girls?! Where can I sign up?!" He eagerly asks Theodore, as if ready to send off his application at this very moment.
Romana casually punches her younger brother on the back of his head, angrily saying
"You are so stupid! If you try to date one of them, you'll be in jail faster than you can say hasta la pasta!"
"Oh, I just can't help it!" Feliciano replies, turning to face her. "Whenever I see a bella, I have weird dreams, like the time when me and a bella ate macaroni from the toilet!"
Slightly disgusted by her brother's claims, Romana grabs Feliciano by the collar of his shirt, pointing a finger at him, and says with malice
"You listen to me, little brother! Next time you fantasize about dating under age girls, I'm gonna make you into mint pudding!"
What an odd punishment. Then again, these two seem anything but in the loop of standard behavior.
However, no matter how strange it may have sounded to me, Feliciano begins to freak out, struggling to squirm out of her grasp, while begging
"No, please don't! I had that stuff once, and it made my feet smell because I threw up all over them! I won't do it again!"
"Never again huh?!" She demands, now grabbing both of his shoulders, her eyes burning holes through his soul. "I'm gonna give you ten seconds to say 'I won't do it again'!"
Before this discomforting discourse can peruse any further, Mr. Sempronia's voice pierces through the argument.
"You two, stop this!"
The two stop, both of them having their eyes fixated upon their father, a slight tinge of fear growing on their faces.
"Throdore's back after months of absence and this is the welcome he gets?" He sternly questions. "Not only that, but this is the first impression you leave on Diana? She's our guest, and I ask that you two at least show her some hospitality."
In a frantic rush, Feliciano pulls a white flag seemingly out of nowhere.
"I'm so sorry! Please! Please! I surrender!" He begs, frightfully waving the flag around with blinding speed.
Seeing his son now suppressed, Mr. Sempronia's eyes glance to his daughter, saying
"And can you please try to behave? You are the oldest after all."
"Yeah, yeah." Romana coolly shrugs. "As long as she doesn't try to sleep with me, we're fine."
"She'll sleep in the guest bedroom." Her father informs her.
Trying to regain an atmosphere containing some kind of senseful harmony, Mrs. Sempronia glances at me, asking
"So Diana, how long have you been friends with our son?"
"I believe I've known him since the first day of school. However, we never really bonded until about a month in."
Sure, we may have exchanged a few words, and I might've saved him from death in the form of a rampaging dragon, but it was simply my duty to evaluate the students safely. Only after I stumbled upon him in the woods, did our friendship truly begin to blossom into what it is now.
"And how have you two gotten along?" She follows up.
As I'm about to answer, a small yawn escapes my lips, me covering it with a hand.
"Excuse me." I request.
"A little tired?" She asks, a small smile on her face.
"Yes, I believe it is the difference in time zones that has caused this disturbance." I explain.
Either that, or the uproar that Feliciano and Romana had drained me of energy.
"How about you, son?"
Theodore rubs an eye, still a little out of it even after the taxi ride.
"I've been away from home for months. I'm used to British time as well."
"He also didn't sleep well on the plane." I point out.
"I slept fine." He protests, attempting to act strong in front of his mother and father. However, it seems that his two siblings have slipped away back into the house, perhaps under orders from their father.
"He slept next to quite an unruly individual, full of energy. All he wanted to do was talk and talk. Due the increase in elevation and his own overweight body, he eventually passed out."
As I finish this tale, Mrs. Sempronia can't help but crack a grin at my description of the man's downfall.
"If you two are suffering from such jet lag, then maybe you should go to bed early tonight. We can talk more tomorrow?" Mrs. Sempronia suggests.
"Yes, that sounds fine with me." Theodore agrees, nodding his head.
"If it's good enough for Theodore, then it's good enough for me." I simply say.
"Well, enjoy your stay, Diana." Mr. Sempronia requests. "We hope you find the villa to your liking."
"Yes, we're happy to have you." His wife adds.
Before they leave, Mr. Sempronia engages in one last dialog with his son.
"Make sure you give Diana a tour, Theodore. We don't want her stumbling around blindly."
"Yes, of course." He obediently answers.
"Also, your friend called us earlier." His mother informs him, smiling as she sees the excitement begin to well up in his face. "She told us to tell you that she'll be in Rome tomorrow."
"Thank you!" He sincerely replies. "I'll be sure to call her tomorrow."
With that, his two parents turn around, beginning to make their way back to their house.
"Where's grandpa Roma?" Theodore suddenly asks them.
Yes, I did here about a grandpa. What did the taxi driver say? He wouldn't trust him if he had a lie detector?
Well, so far what that man has stated has been proven false on multiple accounts. I'm sure this claim will turn out to be just another one of his ramblings.
"He should be in the library. That's where we left him." His father answers.
"He's the one who noticed your arrival." His mother adds.
The two then continue their original course, entering their house, and leaving Theodore and I alone in the courtyard.
He turns to me, saying
"Okay, I'll give you a quick tour of the house. Next, we'll pay a visit to the library to see my grandpa. Then, I'll show you to the guest bedroom. How does that sound?"
I laugh at this new found enthusiasm of his.
"Sure Theodore, I'd love for you to give me a tour."
With my okay given, my friend grabs his luggage from the ground, and begins to move towards his home, beckoning me to follow.
I oblige, picking up my own belongings, and following him inside. As we enter, the interior design matches that out the exterior in pure beauty.
We currently stand inside a spacious rotunda, leading to three separate rooms. Two rooms lie on either end, their purpose hidden by a closed door. In between the two previous mentioned contains a much wider room, so big that it hugs up against the end of the house. This one doesn't have a door, but a wide corridor leading into whatever room it contains.
On the inside of the rotunda are two pairs of white wooden stairs which curve around the middle corridor, one on either side, leading to the second story.
On top of the stairs all I can see at the moment are a wooden banister and some kind of flag hung on the wall behind it.
Overall, the entire rotunda floor seems to be made of polished, solid white marble, the open windows above shining a light on the smooth surface, allowing the floor to give off a slight sparkle effect. Additionally, an occasional marble bust ensures that any empty space is filled.
"Why Theodore...this is so lovely." I whisper, marveling at all the designs previously mentioned.
I hear him chuckle, saying
"And this is just the entrance."
I turn to him, still overwhelmed by the external ecstasy created by this scene.
"I wish to see more."
He smiles at me.
"Well, that's what this tour is for. Follow me."
The two us make our way inside of the corridor, our footsteps echoing on the hard floor. I follow him all the way through, and it leads us to what looks like a dinning room.
It's hugged up against a corner of the house, with the far side containing windows, exposing the outside world.
The other side has multiple cabinets on the wall with glass doors, exposing the expensive looking china and silverware inside.
In the center of it all is a heavily polished, dark wood table, complete with matching chairs.
"You know, grandpa's silverware is made from real silver." Theodore claims, smugly grinning at me.
I turn to him, a hint of scepticism on my face.
"Oh really? The way you talk at school, I assumed your family was poor."
Confused, he raises an eyebrow, asking
"What made you think that?"
"You're always talking about how your family fell, and how the Sempronias are but a fraction of what they once were." I explain.
Theodore glances at the expensive furniture, the polished china, and the crystal clear windows.
"Poor compared to the past." He says, staring a bit longingly out the window.
After a few seconds of quiet contemplation past, Theodore looks back at me, asking
"So, are you ready to see the upstairs? I'll show you the library, and then your room."
"Sure, please show me." I request.
He nods, leaving the dining room as I follow closely.
We re-enter the rotunda, now making a left, and going up the flight of stairs.
When we reach the top, I get a better view of the flag I saw earlier.
Upon closer inspection, I deduce that it is not just an ordinary flag, but the Sempronian coat of arms.
On the flag is a purple shield, the color of nobility. An upside down 'V', the symbol of authority, is decorated on the shield. I note that it's of a light brown, the color of ambition. A bear is centered in the shield, an animal representing both strength and cunning.
In black letters, decorating a gold band running horizontally across the top of the shield, reads 'Auctoritatem et Potestatem Sempronia'.
Does that say...
"Authority and Power Forever." Theodore proudly reads. "It's our family motto."
"The Cavendish's motto is 'Affection'." I bring up, noting the vast differences between the two. "But, if my eyes don't deceive me, I believe I see your last name on the flag." I say, pointing to the word in question.
"Sempronia means 'Forever'." He explains. "So my full name means 'Gift from God Forever'. Kind of ironic considering what happened the last time I came face to face with a god."
He scoffs at this fact, looking back at the flag.
I smile, saying
"My first name means 'Divine'."
He smirks at me, asking
"Does that make you the 'Divine Banana'?"
I never really thought of it like that before.
I let out a half suppressed laugh at his question, and playfully elbow him in his side.
"Jerk." I tease.
He chuckles at my act, asking
"So, if you're done admiring the flag, would you like to meet grandpa Roma?"
His grandpa? My mind flashes to what the taxi driver said, that he's the worst out of the bunch, and he wouldn't trust him even if he had a lie detector.
Although what that man had said was proven to be false, a mere fantasy, I can't help but ponder how out off all the people who bear the surname Sempronia, he focuses on the grandpa the most.
Let's see, so what do I know about Roma Sempronia? Perhaps I can combine the words of the man with my own experiences and formulate some kind of conclusion.
According to Theodore, the reason why we suffered through coach class rather than a higher position was due to Roma's money saving policies. While this isn't an inherently bad trait, it can still raise a few eyebrows.
Theodore also stated that despite his long absence from home, his family didn't bother to write letters to him, or engage in any other form of communication. This, however, can be simply wrote off the hustle and bustle of Rome getting the better of the Sempronias still bounded to their native land, or perhaps even it being a standard practice in his family. However, no matter how busy my life would be, keeping in contact with a family member would be a top priority, especially if they're off in another country.
Then there's what Theodore's own parents stated. Despite him being the one to spot our approach, he still harbored himself within the house. That could mean multiple things. Perhaps due to his advanced age, he cannot move around with as much ease as he once could, and his transportation is more hassle than it's worth. Maybe, at the moment he's just simply busy, and could not meet us due to our unspecified entry. Or maybe, there is the possibility that that man's apathy has reached a height to where he sees his own grandson in a lesser light. Whatever the reason is, meeting him at the moment doesn't resonate well with me.
"I don't know, Theodore." I begin, thinking of an excuse. "I'm beginning to grow tired. Perhaps you can show me to my roo-"
Unexpectedly, especially coming from Theodore, he grabs my hand, and begins to guide me to what I assume is the library.
"Please, let me introduce you two." He requests, still holding onto me. "He's a great man. I'm sure you'll love him."
Theodore thinks rather highly of this man, and I trust his judgement. Perhaps he is worth a few words.
I allow him to continue his hold on me, as he guides me away from the flag and into a nearby hallway.
We walk through, reaching the back of the house once again, this time on the top floor.
We stop at an unmarked wooden door.
He let's go of me, and points at the door.
"This is the family library." He declares. "It contains many books about the Sempronias, and the events surrounding us going back all the way to the Roman Republic. All these antique manuscripts are worth more than our house."
I begin to grow interested in this room containing ancient knowledge.
"What kinds of documents are kept here?" I ask.
"Letters, excerpts from textbooks, our own books, pictures, artifacts, and more. Grandpa Roma also uses it as a study. If you ever need to see him, chances are he's in there."
Without any further word, Theodore opens the door.
The library is just as he stated and more. It's grand, to say the least, comparable to that of Luna Nova's own library. Many books, all of varying sizes and conditions, line all walls of the room.
It's also a well lit room. The combinations of candles, lights, lamps, and the room's own windows gives the air an almost yellow look to it.
An old tattered flag hangs proudly, bearing the SPQR logo. A few framed pictures also decorate the walls. While some are without color, others appear modern.
There's additionally a wooden table accompanied by a brown leather sofa positioned in the middle of the room, allowing comfortably prolonged reading periods.
Another table stands, this time hugging the right side wall. On it is an antique globe of Earth, made out of brass and faded ink.
A man stands at the table, still unaware of our presence. He stares longingly at the globe, his wrinkled hand cupping a side.
"Hail grandpa." Theodore says to the man, as a form of introduction.
The man looks up, slowly turning towards us.
He's definitely old. But not only that, it looks as though all the life energy this man once had has been drained out of him. He just looks empty, not sad, but empty.
His hairstyle is that of a crew cut, grayed with time.
He looks very bored, borderline apathetic towards us.
His eyes flicker at Theodore momentarily, and then lazily to me.
"I greet you. Roma, head of the Sempronia household." He says, introducing himself. "If you're a friend of Theodore, you're welcome."
And with that, he returns his gaze back to the globe, no further words leaving his mouth.
Theodore begins to leave the room, and I follow closely behind. When the door is finally closed, I can't help but look at Theodore, confusion in my voice.
"Is that all? I have to admit, his introduction was a bit underwhelming."
He shrugs, saying
"He likes his study time. Perhaps we caught him at the wrong moment."
Strange, while Roma didn't seem threatening, his lack of a response does seem a little off putting. Maybe Theodore's right, and he was just deep in thought. Interrupting wouldn't be a wise choice. I know how that feels. When I'm trying to concentrate on my school work, and Akko won't cease her talk.
"In any case, may you please show me to my room. I'd like to unpack." I admit, holding out my filled suitcases for him to see.
He smiles, picking up his own bags, saying
"Of course Diana. I would like to settle in as well."
I begin to follow him once again. We continue down the hallway, passing by three rooms.
"Those are the bedrooms of my siblings and I." Theodore explains as we pass by them.
We continue our trek to the end of the hall, coming across another door, this time all alone.
He opens it, and my temporary residence is exposed.
It's a wide room, painted in the same pale whiteness as most of the manor.
The bed is spacious, that of a king sized. On top of the comfortable looking green blanket, lies two sets of matching pillows, two fluffy, and two square.
A nightstand sits nearby, complete with a brass lamp.
A few wooden wardrobes, as well as a large silver mirror, decorate the bed's opposing wall.
On the far end of the room, there lies a balcony.
I can't help but give into my curiosity, as I begin to move towards it, Theodore following.
As we come onto the balcony, I notice that it's made of rough iron, with a sheet of wood acting as a floor. To my left are a few patio chairs made of wicker, but it's what's dead ahead that takes my breath away.
A flat field of rolling grass, stretching as far as the eye can see, lush and green. A thin layer of frost covers the grass, like icing on a cake, glistening like diamonds in the waning afternoon light.
In the near distance, a few vineyards decorate the flat land, workers busy to pick their grapes before winter completely takes over.
"That's our land." Theodore explains. "My grandpa leased it out to a few prominent wineries. We get a satisfying sum of rent money, as well as 10% of whatever wine they make."
In the distant sky, the sun begins to drift down into the horizon, creating that beautiful orange glow.
A cool breeze passes by, chilling my face. But I don't mind. I could stare at this picturesque scene for hours. If only I had a camera so that I may capture this scene forever.
"Why Theodore, this view...it's so beautiful." I softly say, half my mind focused on what lies before me.
"Si, tu sei." I hear him mutter.
Not understanding the meaning, I turn to him, asking simply
"What?"
As if just coming to a sudden realization, Theodore turns a shade of red, as he embarrassingly proclaims
"N-nothing at all! Never mind!"
I continue to stare at him, my confusion beginning to only grow.
He exits the balcony and back into the guest bedroom, his eyes never leaving me and his face never losing its recently acquired shade.
"It's getting pretty late." He claims, covering his facade with a fake yawn covered by his hand. "I should probably let you unpack."
He turns around, grabbing his packages and begins to quickly exit the room.
As he's about to pass through the doorway, I grab hold of his arm, stopping him in his tracks.
"Wait, Theodore."
He turns back to me, the red face now gone, and replaced by one of confusion.
I smile at him, saying
"Goodnight."
Seeing that this is all I wanted, he smiles back.
"Goodnight, Diana. I hope you have a wonderful time here."
And with that, my friend closes the door. I hear his footsteps grow more faint, probably journeying to his own room.
I suppose now I should begin to unpack and take an early night's rest.
I leave the door, walking over to my suitcases, kneeling before them, and unzipping.
As I begin to take out my travel items, I hear a knocking coming from my chamber door.
Thinking it might be Theodore, I leave my suitcase, and open the door.
Rather than Theodore standing in front of me, it's his sister Romana, with a rather cross look on her face.
"Okay, Missus Super Smarty. What you do to twist my brother's head around so bad?" She demands.
After the mental gymnastics I had to do thanks to her broken English and thick Italian accent, all I can answer with is
"What do you mean?"
"Che palle!" She suddenly explodes. "Don't play dumb with me, that's my brother's job. And I know you've got some plan for him that's sinister! And sure, you might not be able to handle a salmon in suspicious circumstances, but that doesn't give you the right to rain all over our mare nostrum, crumpet breath!"
Unrelenting confusion overwhelms me at the point to where I can't even formulate a proper response. All I can do is just stand and stare as Romana grabs a handful of tomatoes seemingly out of nowhere. She holds them as if she's ready to throw them at me.
"This weatherwoman is predicting a 99% chance of shit storm, and it's coming right at ya!"
In a flash, I slam the door before this situation can spiral further out of control, making sure to lock it.
I press my ear to the cold wooden door, listening to any further outside disturbances.
I hear Romana cry
"Ah! You bitch! You made me drop my tomatoes! I'll get you for this!"
And with that, I hear her stomp away in fury.
God, that woman. I still can't get over the fact that she's related to Theodore. Those two are so different! Both of Theodore's siblings seem to be so radically different, that it's hard to imagine any sort of bond between them. Feliciano at least seems nice, while Romana is nasty. Theodore seems to be somewhat in the middle.
Speaking of Theodore, I would much like to know what he said that set himself off in such a manner. To see him worked up is a rare sight indeed.
Fortunately, I took the liberty of packing an Italian-English dictionary for this trip. A quick glance, and my curiosity would be satisfied.
I return to my bag, moving a few articles of clothing to the side, exposing the book.
I pick it up, opening it.
"Si, tu sei." I mutter to myself, as I flip through the pages.
After a few moments of connecting the words. I come to the conclusion, what Theodore said that created such embarrassment through him when questioned.
It reads in the book as clear as day. The words can mean so much, but also so little.
According to the book, what Theodore says translates to 'Yes, you are.'
Author's Note: Well, there it is. Theodore's family has at long last been revealed!
Grandiose Narcissism is nothing to laugh at, it's a mental disorder that affects the lives of those around. So, don't forget to follow and favorite to keep the monster in me at bay. And don't forget to leave a review for lil old me.
Let me ask you, are you a girl, or identify as one? Do you suffer from sexual frustrations by the fact that Theodore Sempronia isn't a real person? Then, check out Nightcore Miku's Theodore Sempronia X Reader story! It's emotional, and captures the hearts and minds of all those involved. Screw that one kiwi guy, screw momo, and most definitely screw myself! It's all about Nightcore Miku, the true king of fanfiction!