Coming home instead of accepting his banishment as permanent might have been his biggest mistake.
They went to the great hall where oil paintings of his ancestors and tapestries of ancient deeds defending Avce and the Holy Roman Empire were being put on display.
It seemed his people wanted to celebrate their history now that he was home--his father would never be mentioned.
No one dared to bring it up though he’d never forget it.
Outside the fog was thick but the candles on the table for ambiance while they sat on the balcony helped them see each other. He held Clara’s chair for her.
A pretty brunette with dark eyes sat with her hands folded politely on the table. She appeared about ten which made sense.
To keep this place, if he let it go, Olivia would have two years to ensure her daughter inherited, if she married to continue the line. If he’d known about Sophia, he’d have inquired on how to leave everything to her as an official heir. The girl, in pink pants and a green shirt, her dark hair in a ponytail, was a mini version of Olivia. He greeted his sister, noting her black dress. “Olivia.” He sat down.
Clara immediately smiled and asked, “Is this Sophia?”
The girl beamed at Clara like she was a princess herself and said, “Nice to meet you.”
Clara nodded. “Nice to meet you, too.”
Sophia stared at him for a few moments, and he stayed still to let her arrive at her own conclusion of her uncle. “Mom said you looked like a monster but were good inside, like the Beast inBeauty and the Beast.”
Olivia had seen the truth in him and warned her daughter. It wasn’t hidden as well as he'd thought. And if that was true, no one was safe. He placed his hand on his chest. “I look like a monster?”
“No. Our father was a monster.” Olivia shook her head no and her face was white. “And you look like our father. Sophia put that together wrong, but I shouldn’t have said that--it was years ago, and I had no idea Sophia even remembered me talking about… him.”
That only meant the scarred destroyer of happiness inside him was visible than he wanted. “It’s apt. Sophia, do you enjoy living here with your mom?”
Sophia nodded as the staff served the pasta. “This is our home. Do we have to run away? You seem nice.”
If his niece considered this her home, then she’d defend it with honor and never want to leave. In the end, if Olivia was against marriage like he'd been, and he annulled his marriage to Clara, perhaps they could ensure Sophia was next in line before they were both banished. He picked up his fork to eat. “No, you and your mom can stay if that’s what she wants. No one resides in the dower tower…”
His sister said, “My time is coming up soon which means… I just wanted to show Sophia more of the world and then we can come back home.”
He'd been so focused on his own banishment that he’d never once asked his sister’s plans for what happened when she turned thirty.
Olivia was beautiful and smart and a good mom. She’d have lots of suitors if she let men in.
Sophia asked, “So like a vacation, and not forever and ever?”
He stared at his sister and she pushed her hair behind her ear. It was her tell that she'd lied as a girl. “Yes, but an extended one.”
Or, she intended banishment.
He’d have to stay and ensure that the little girl could come home to inherit, but he’d also have to make sure that Clara was safe from him too. He ate in silence as did everyone, until Sophia asked, “But not like Uncle Astorre, who I just met because his vacation took a long time?”
Olivia put her fork down and asked, “Is there a reason you want to come back?”
Sophia bounced her pretty head like she was memorizing everyone and said, “I promised my friends I’d be part of the superhero team to protect the castle.”
Already she was ahead of them at taking up the family cause. He told his niece, “Then you’ll be wanted here.” Astorre jumped out of his seat before anyone might bring a second course. “Clara, Olivia, I need to be excused.”
Clara put her fork and napkin down though her meal wasn’t quite finished and said, “Wait, I’m coming.”
No. She needed to be safe. If he stayed and there were no other options, she needed to leave him. Now. He cared too much already. And it was the only way to protect her.
Or he’d turn into a monster too. She followed him into the castle from the balcony and grabbed his arm. “Astorre, what’s wrong?”
Everything. He guided her into the nearest drawing room so no one heard them. Once the old door was closed, he said, “I need to take control of my life.”
