#75
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The Fanucci mansion stood remarkably close to the Grand Temple. This proximity seemed only natural, given the Pope’s frequent comings and goings.
Jeha settled into the spacious drawing-room, sipping the tea offered to him. He conversed at length with Mrs. Fanucci about the day’s sermon, and only then did Ainel finally make her appearance.
She had, in the interim, changed into a vibrant floral dress and styled her hair anew.
“Now, Ainel,” Mrs. Fanucci prompted, her face alight with expectation, “show Marquess Belgarga your talents.”
Ainel met Jeha’s gaze with a hint of shyness, her cheeks flushing ever so slightly. She then gracefully approached the harp and took her seat.
After a brief moment to gather her breath, she lifted both hands and commenced her performance.
‘Though I claimed no aptitude for music, I had, in fact, absorbed a great deal over the years.’
‘Countless classical pieces, mandatorily heard and tested in school music classes since childhood, were unconsciously ingrained in my memory.’
Jeha genuinely admired Ainel’s remarkable skill. Despite her tender age of sixteen, her performance was truly excellent, and he listened intently to the melody.
The piece itself was soft and refreshing, much like a spring breeze, perfectly suited to a young girl’s rendition.
He could feel Mrs. Fanucci’s furtive glances, her eyes assessing his reaction as he remained absorbed in the music.
Jeha, for his part, chose to ignore her scrutiny, allowing himself to simply enjoy the unfolding melody.
As the final notes faded, Ainel rose, gracefully lifting the hem of her dress as she curtsied.
Jeha, unsure of the proper etiquette for such an occasion, simply applauded, relying on his own common sense.
“Miss Fanucci is truly exceptional,” Jeha praised, his words generous. “Despite her youth, her musical prowess is exquisite. Even to my untrained ear, it sounds utterly magnificent.”
As Jeha’s lavish compliments filled the air, a radiant blush bloomed across Ainel’s face.
“Young, you say? Why, she’s already of an age where she should be seeking a suitable match,” Mrs. Fanucci remarked, her voice subtly implying more than just words.
With a gentle gesture, she then called Ainel to her side and settled her into a seat beside her own.
As Jeha had first observed upon meeting them, Ainel had inherited a significant portion of Mrs. Fanucci’s striking beauty.
Her long, elegant neck, in particular, was an almost exact replica, and the jeweled ribbon adorning her pale throat suited her exquisitely.
‘What if, when I was simply Jeha, a girl as beautiful as Ainel Fanucci had expressed her affection?’
‘Though I would have been too young to act on it, the thought alone would have filled me with immense joy. Yet, this Jeha now had Hereis.’
‘Setting aside appearances, Hereis had, quite unexpectedly, come to occupy every corner of my heart. Perhaps that was why, even when faced with a stunning beauty, I could only think, ‘Oh, she is indeed beautiful,’ and nothing more.’
Instead, Jeha found himself plagued by a growing worry. He had left in such haste today that he hadn’t managed to inform Hereis, and the thought of a potential misunderstanding troubled him.
“Whoever becomes the young lady’s husband, I must say, they will be a man of unparalleled fortune.”
Jeha offered a veiled rejection, subtly indicating that he would not be that man. Mrs. Fanucci, however, was no fool; she undoubtedly grasped his meaning.
Yet, despite his clear implication, she showed no outward sign of being deterred.
“It is not merely because she is my daughter, but this child is truly exceptional,” Mrs. Fanucci declared. “She is not only multi-talented but also devout, chaste, and possesses a remarkably magnanimous spirit.
She would never be one to nag or complain to a busy husband. My husband and I are greatly concerned about finding the perfect match for such a treasure of a daughter.”
‘The mention of her being ‘devout and chaste’ was clearly an attempt to align with my perceived ideal woman, while ‘magnanimous’ seemed to suggest she would readily understand and accept a mistress like Hereis.’
‘Furthermore, her deliberate mention of ‘my husband’ in this setting could only mean one thing: this proposition was not solely her family’s wish, but also the Pope’s implicit desire.’
With the Pope himself implicitly involved, an outright refusal became a far more complicated matter.
The Pope, at present, was meticulously weighing whether to elevate his own son to a noble title or to the papacy itself. Hereis, however, fervently desired for the Pope’s eldest son to relinquish his claim to the papal seat.
Had he not, after all, used the Emperor’s confidants to subtly sway the Pope’s opinion in that very direction?
Should any progress be made regarding Jeha and Miss Fanucci, the Pope would undoubtedly prepare to elevate his eldest son to a noble title, while simultaneously championing Hereis as the next Pope.
However, if this arrangement failed to materialize, the Pope’s internal scales would undeniably tip, even slightly, towards securing the papacy for his own son.
‘Marriage with Miss Fanucci was, in any case, entirely out of the question. Nevertheless, I recognized the necessity of assisting Hereis in the endeavors he was currently pursuing.’
“Her devout and chaste demeanor is plainly evident, even to my eyes, without the need for further words. What an exceptionally fortunate man her husband will be… If only my personal circumstances permitted, I would, in this very moment, wish to propose to Miss Fanucci, but…”
Jeha let his voice trail off, his expression one of profound discomfort as he continued.
“Given that my life has been under constant threat recently, I fear I would only bring undue hardship upon Miss Fanucci.”
“Oh, indeed… I am quite aware of that unfortunate incident,” Mrs. Fanucci replied. “Was it not a truly perilous situation, one that could have ended in disaster, had Archbishop Hereis not providentially been passing nearby?”
“Precisely. Archbishop Hereis has, on several occasions, saved my very life. He is not merely a spiritual leader to me, but also a profound benefactor.
I often consult with him on matters of great importance. Therefore, if I were ever to become engaged to someone… it would undoubtedly be after receiving confirmation from Archbishop Hereis that such a union aligns with God’s divine will.”
‘His implication was clear: he could not possibly pursue a marriage without the explicit approval of Hereis, who was both his lover and his confidant.’
A spark ignited in Mrs. Fanucci’s eyes.
“His Holiness the Pope greatly values Archbishop Hereis’s profound piety, as you know,” Mrs. Fanucci stated, her voice brimming with renewed purpose. “Given the deep bond between His Grace the Marquess and Archbishop Hereis, should Marquess Belgarga forge a connection with Ainel, our Fanucci family would, in effect, forge an equally profound connection with Archbishop Hereis himself.
This would, moreover, be of immense assistance in solidifying the relationship between His Holiness the Pope and Archbishop Hereis.”
‘It was, in essence, an alliance that would make them in-laws to both the legal spouse and the mistress simultaneously. I had always considered the world a bewildering place, but this particular revelation struck me with a fresh sense of its utter strangeness.’
‘How could minds so often closed to convention simultaneously entertain such astonishingly open, almost shocking, ideas?’
Jeha inwardly clicked his tongue in exasperation, yet outwardly maintained a facade of polite attentiveness, nodding along.
Just then, a knock sounded, and the drawing-room door opened, revealing a figure entering. Upon recognizing him, Jeha allowed a subtle, knowing smile to curve his lips.
“Mother,” Bishop Peressio announced, striding confidently into the room.
Having addressed Mrs. Fanucci, Bishop Peressio then registered Jeha seated opposite him, a flicker of feigned surprise crossing his features. It was, Jeha noted, an entirely theatrical display.
“Is that not Marquess Belgarga?” he questioned, his tone perfectly pitched.
“Go on, offer your greetings,” Mrs. Fanucci prompted. “His Grace Marquess Belgarga has graciously stopped by to hear Ainel’s harp performance.”
“Indeed,” Bishop Peressio acknowledged with a nod.
He then offered a slight bow towards Jeha, who returned the gesture in kind.
Mrs. Fanucci leaned in, whispering something to her daughter, before sending her out of the drawing-room.
Ainel, after offering a final, shy glance towards Jeha, then vanished from the room.
Only three individuals now remained within the drawing-room.
Regardless of Mrs. Fanucci’s influence within the family, it remained an era where a man’s authority was essential for significant familial decisions.
As the Pope himself could not attend, it was only logical that he would send his eldest son, Bishop Peressio, in his stead.
The true reason for his presence had finally revealed itself, filling Jeha with a sense of satisfaction.
While he had, of course, planned to invent various pretexts to tour the mansion even if Peressio hadn’t arrived, directly encountering the man himself was undeniably the most effective approach.
“Ainel possesses a remarkably gentle heart,” Bishop Peressio began, his tone earnest. “In all of Encarosha, there is no woman to compare to her in devoutness and chastity. She is, moreover, the daughter my father cherishes and worries about most among his children.
Thus, he fervently hopes she can live a peaceful life, free from significant worries or hardships, even after marriage.”
Bishop Peressio openly conveyed the Pope’s message. Jeha nodded, feigning deep attentiveness, while subtly scrutinizing Bishop Peressio.
Naturally, no ‘Seal of Contract’ was visible. It would have been absurd for Peressio to engrave it in such an obvious place, unless he were an utter fool.
This was Jeha’s first opportunity to observe Bishop Peressio so directly. He was, Jeha now realized, a remarkably handsome man.
His eyes shone with clarity and conviction, and his every movement exuded confidence and a distinct masculinity. He certainly seemed more suited to a noble title than to the priesthood, making the Pope’s dilemma entirely understandable.
‘So, this is the man who likely poisoned my soup, orchestrated the exposure of my rendezvous with Hereis, and sent assassins after me…’
Jeha couldn’t help but admire Peressio’s decisive action, swiftly taken the moment he arrived in Encarosha. Such rapid resolution would be impossible without considerable conviction and self-assurance. He was, indeed, a formidable figure.
At the very least, judging by his past actions, he clearly desired Hereis’s downfall. This implied he coveted the papacy more than a noble title.
Therefore, regardless of the Pope’s ultimate decision, Peressio would surely have no desire for this marriage to actually take place.
‘Should I provoke him a little?’
Jeha entertained a mischievous thought.
“I, too, wish for the beautiful young lady to have a happy married life. My parents passed away early, and due to our family’s sparse lineage, I have no close relatives to speak of.
Should I ever marry, my wife would likely enjoy a peaceful and joyful life, free from the unnecessary meddling of elders. I am, moreover, broad-minded, and not one to pry into my wife’s private affairs.”
At these words, Mrs. Fanucci’s face brightened, while Bishop Peressio’s eyes subtly, almost imperceptibly, narrowed.
That confirmation was all Jeha needed. As for the ‘Seal of Contract,’ well, he couldn’t exactly strip the man naked to examine him at that moment, so that particular task would have to wait.