CHAPTER TWO: First Meet

Everyone told Giovanni not to shed tears, well, by everyone, it was his mother who gave him talks and glares where others would give him short glances.

He could not go over to his father to give and take comfort as the Emperor was busy talking and doing whatnot. Still, there was someone else who should be feeling more depressed than him, but there he was, sleeping comfortably without any care of the world, on the lap of a maid.

How could he be so comfortable when it was all his fault that Florence died? Giovanni's head was racing with these kinds of thoughts.

But what could he possibly do?

He looked up at the sky and shut his eyes; even the sun turned its back on him by hiding behind the dark, gloomy clouds.

Finding no warmth from the sun and the people around him, Giovanni looked around to see what the adults were busy with.

Looking over, he saw that his father and someone else, who he supposed was Florence's step-brother whom Giovanni had met a couple of times on banquets and with his father on friendly occasions, he and his father were talking to the Bishop and the priest about the beheading of Florence should never be out to the public.

Giovanni knew that if a person committed such a vile act as going against God's word and committing a sin that cannot be forgiven in mortal life, such as killing themselves would result in beheading them whether they're dead or alive.

His mother was also busy discussing about burning the evidence into ashes and those that cannot be burned should be buried in deep.

Tears were about to break in Giovanni's eyes when he found himself all alone with no one to look up to when suddenly someone from behind whispered "Don't cry right now, it will only stir up trouble."

It was a child's voice similar to his age that whispered but before Giovanni could even turn around to see who it was, he was dragged into a pile of bushes.

Giovanni was stumbling his way into the bushes and fell to the ground when they stopped.

"How dare you! Do you know who I am!" Giovanni yelled, now he could finally see the boy who dragged him.

The boy had blonde luscious hair and frosty blue eyes, but those eyes looked swollen as if he cried out. Giovanni didn't see him crying at the funeral at all. In fact, he didn't even see him at the funeral until now!

The boy looked at him for a couple of minutes before finally breaking the silence. "I apologise for this little inconvenience, Your Highness, you looked like you were about to do something rather foolish if i may be upfront."

Giovanni was baffled by the boy's daring actions.

"Who do you think you are to talk to me like that!"

The boy sighed and slightly bowed.

"I am Theodore Seymour, the son of Hayes Seymour and Julie Seymour, I apologise for the late introduction, Your Highness, and also for dragging you here to make you avoid the trouble that you were about to do."

Giovanni just stared at him wondering how did he get the audacity to talk to the prince like that. By the time his thoughts were talking with each other and making assumptions Theodore had already sat on the ground beside him.

"You could've gone over to your father to seek comfort" Theodore looks at Giovanni and tilts his head.

"I Know this isn't my place to say that but you could've asked for your father's comfort if you felt saddened."

"You don't need to tell me what to do."

"I am just giving you some advice."

"Advice I didn't ask for."

Theodore let out a scoff, "You should take it."

There was a moment of silence before Giovanni spoke again, "Who are you to her?"

"I already told you I am the son of Hayes Seymo-"

Giovanni interrupted Theodore before he could even finish speaking. " I asked, who you are to her, not your whole family tree."

Theodore gave him a short glare and continued to speak "She is my aunt"

"Didn't know she had a nephew."

"I know, but i wouldnt say the same about you. She used to tell me about you when we met."

Giovanni stayed quiet and made sure not to make any sound while Theodore continued.

"She taught me all weird knowledge." Theodore chuckled bitterly.

Giovanni said "Like climbing trees and mountains, making fire and houses out of wooden sticks?"

Theo gave me a short nod before continuing "Gave me a nickname even though my dad wasnt a fun of it."

Perhaps that was the last string that was holding the tears. It snapped , and Theo burst into tears. He was trying to wipe it off but it just won't go away.

Finally, Giovanni spoke.

"Florence was more loving to me than my mother ever was; she talked to me, comforted me and taught me about my feelings that textbooks or anyone has never taught me about. She promised me that she would be by my side but now..."

Giovanni was also crying now, rapidly. Both of them were a crying mess. After sharing few crying vocals they look at each other and burst out laughing at how ridiculous they looked. They then continued to share some bittersweet moments and comfort. Like the tale about how Mr Falcao, Giovanni's piano teacher, gave him ideas to win the favour of the Empress and how embarrassed Mr falcao had been when the Empress told him to actually teach something to Giovanni rather than wasting his time.

They talked until someone's voice echoed, that someone was calling them, from here they bid their farewell and blessings and ran back to their places.

After the funeral, when Theo and his father were in the carriage going to their estate, his father suddenly looked him in the eye and said, "Theo, were you with Prince Giovanni today?" there was no hint of sternness but rather a soft tone of voice.

"Yes, Father, have I done something wrong with that?"

"No, you haven't, but, I would advise you to stay away from Prince Giovanni as he is in the total influence of The Empress, and we cant risk it. Be sure to know that our family supports the second Prince."

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