Felipe had lived with Don Rafael for a long time. Soldiers had found the boy, who was about 4 years old, badly injured and surrounded by other wounded and dead. As it turned out, most of the victims were civilians who had been accidentally caught up in a military conflict.
Felipes origin was never determined. However, survivors of the massacre remembered the boy and his parents, who were found dead. They were a family of three who had moved to the area only a few days before. No one knew anything about the strangers, only the boy's name - Felipe.
He probably would have ended up in an orphanage if Don Rafael hadn't taken him in. Although he never adopted the boy, he made sure that Felipe was well taken care of. He made sure that the boy received a good education, not only learning to read, write, and count, but also developing a basic understanding of other sciences, general education, and the arts. Felipe was extremely inquisitive and soaked up everything like a sponge.
However, one drawback remained. Felipe had been mute since the attack. Examinations by various doctors failed to find an organic cause - the incident had obviously torn a deep wound in the young child's soul, causing him to literally lose his voice. Don Rafael firmly rejected the doctors' advice to treat Felipe - he wanted nothing to do with such 'soul crushers' - the boy would recover.
Unfortunately, the old man was wrong. Although Felipe's body recovered and he seemed happy and content, he was unable to regain his speech. All that remained was for everyone to accept this and find other ways to communicate.
Diego himself was sure that it was possible to get Felipe to speak again. But putting pressure on the boy seemed to be the wrong way to go. He kept his thoughts to himself and instead spent time with Felipe on a regular basis. At first, he did this mainly to give something back to Don Rafael for his support, but more and more he began to enjoy his time with the boy and to take him to his heart. It was nice to see how curious Felipe was and how quickly he learned. However, he kept the fact that he was also giving the teenager fencing lessons a secret - Don Rafael would have been anything but pleased.
So, neither Diego nor Rafael minded the teenager sitting with them in the fireplace room - Felipe with a glass of orange juice, the adults next to a carafe of red wine - while the older man inquired curiously about Diego's latest experiences.
"You're late with your visit today, Diego. Is it because of your studies? Are you busier these days?"
"That too, but there are other reasons today. I had a long theater rehearsal last night."
"Of course! Your student acting troupe." Don Rafael shook his head with regret. "I have nothing against your passion - but why did you have to shave off your mustache?"
"Unfortunately, there was no other way. I have to play several roles and wear different wigs and false beards."
"Is that even possible? I mean, you're still Diego. Wouldn't it be better to cast a different person in each role? Or just cut some characters from your play if there aren't enough of you?"
"Originally that wasn't the plan either. At the beginning of our rehearsals, some people dropped out due to illness and I had to spontaneously take over their roles. But now I'm really enjoying it, and it also makes the play more attractive that I'm on stage several times with different roles."
"And that works?" Don Rafael doubted.
Diego exchanged a brief look with Felipe before continuing: "Very well. But I also practice in front of the mirror almost every night. Ask Felipe, he's often seen me doing it."
"Is that true, Felipe?"
Rafael eagerly interpreted the boy's gestures. "He's really good, you say? Not only does he disguise his voice, but he also changes his facial expressions and body language?"
"I have all the costumes and props at home, so it's easier to get into character," the young de la Vega explained. "Besides, we've been working on the play for over a year, so I've had plenty of time to practice."
"Yes, I remember that. Wasn't it about students who form a secret society and a mysterious nobleman who plays a double game? At least you hinted at something like that."
"Yes, that's right. I don't want to give more away. You'll have to see the play for yourself when we perform it. We're going to perform it outside the faculty, and everyone is welcome to come and see it."
"Of course, I'll come... together with Felipe," Rafael replied, earning a grateful smile from the boy. "I won't miss it. Just don't forget your studies, Diego."
"I won't, don't worry about that. Even if I won't be able to use much of it."
"You never know, my son. Things change. It's always good to be prepared for anything. Maybe one day you'll be glad of the knowledge you've gained here in the last few years." The old caballero took a small sip from his glass. "What is the name of your piece?"
"The Black Circle."
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A/N:
Diego will be traveling incognito, as mentioned in the synopsis. Therefore, I thought it would be appropriate for him to have some experience in slipping into other roles.
About the play: One of the inspirations for this idea was the real-life play "The 39 Steps" - here 4 actors play all the characters, and there are a lot of them.