The Thrill Of Your Love

Prologue

Terzo had always been known for his charming and romantic nature. His Italian pet names, his good looks and accent, smooth like honey when it rolled off the tip of tongue. From a young age, he had a soft spot for love and would often express it in his own innocent ways. He would pick flowers from the garden and gift them to the nanny who looked after him, or compliment the girls in his class on their beautiful dresses or pretty shoes. His sweet gestures melted the hearts of many around him.

But as he grew older, Terzo's priorities shifted. Nihil and Imperator, who were grooming him to become the next Papa, told him to focus solely on his studies and training. They warned him that falling in love in his teenage years would only be a distraction from his responsibilities whilst preparing to be the future leader of the ministry. Slowly, Terzo began to see women as nothing more than a good time. A tool he could use to take his mind some place else for the night. His once romantic and gentle nature was replaced with a vulgar reputation for sleeping around, leaving many siblings too intimidated and scared to even lock eye contact with the undoubtably handsome man.

Clad in his ceremonial vestments, adorned with macabre regalia, he held a charismatic presence of both terror and allure. Terzo was a free spirit, intoxicated by the euphoria of partying until sunrise and the delight and smugness that came with relishing in the art of flirtation. Settling down was a concept foreign to him, though often he would have a fleeting thought about finding his true love, but that would never linger for long. But, there was a persistent voice, that of Sister Imperator.

Imperator had become increasingly frustrated by Terzo's reluctance to settle down and find his prime mover, the woman who would rule alongside him. She tirelessly nagged at him, reminding him that he was the last Emeritus brother left, Primo and his wife had faced the agony of infertility in their marriage whilst his other brother Secondo never settled down. The burden fell squarely on Terzo's shoulders, leaving him with the great pressure of creating progeny to carry on their infernal title. One evening she had held a meeting to inform him that she had found a suitable match which didn't go down well with him at all. Terzo was repulsed by the notion of an arranged relationship, recoiling from the very thought of succumbing to such a fate. If he was to find his prime mover, he was going to do it the right way.

He was going to find his true love.