For Eternity II: Clandestine Preceding (Vampire! 2p! Italy x Reader)

Chapter Six - Meeting Mother

        Luciano walked you through the long corridors of the castle with your arm linked with his. You smiled to yourself softly as you walked with him, keeping your eyes to the ground. You could feel the gazes of maids and butlers focused on you. This was to be expected as you were a simple high-middle class girl and a new face in the castle. You weren't sure how long either of those two scenarios would last, but you hoped that they would quit staring soon because it was making you uncomfortable. Luciano sensed this and placed a hand on your lower arm to comfort you. It helped greatly, but this was one of those times you wished you could use your gift on yourself. That was one of the downsides to vampiric gifts. You couldn't use them in yourself.

        After a few more minutes of walking, the two of you reached the gardens at the back of the castle. You looked at the multitude of flowers neatly planted and tended to. A few gardeners were wondering around trimming bushes, trees, and watering plants. They bid you and the prince a good evening as you passed them on your stroll. They two of you greeted them back and gave them kind smiles. Luciano would stop every so often to give the gardeners pointers and instructions if something looked amiss. You could only stand by and listen as the gardeners saw to his instructions. Once out of earshot, you decided to speak with Luciano.

        "Is this your garden, Your Highness?" you asked while looking ahead.

        "No unfortunately. It is my mother's, but I over see most of the projects conducted in it," he responded.

        "Well, it looks beautiful either way. I feel blessed being able to see it up close."

        "I'm glad you feel that way. Say, would you like meet my mother? I was told she would be out here around this time."

        "Your mother? I would love to. Mrs. Kirkland has told me so much about her. She sounds like a wonderful woman."

        "She is. I think you and her will get along very well."

        "I hope so."

        "You will. I'm sure of it."

        Luciano continued to lead you around the garden. He was having slight difficultly finding his mother on the vast grounds, but he eventually did. She was standing on a pedestal, holding a pose as a sculptor who looked to be in his mid-forties chiseled at a block of white marble. Florentina hadn't seemed to notice either of your presences since she had her sights focused off to the side for the statue. The two of you stayed silent as you watched the sculptor work. Florentina eventually shifted her eyes towards the sculptor and caught sight of her son and you. She gasped delightedly.

        "Luciano, caro mio, I'm so happy to see you! Have you met Signore Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi?"

        "No, I don't think I have. It's a pleasure to meet you signore," Luciano said as he watched the sculptor continue working.

        "Please, call me Donatello," he said with a smile as he looked over his shoulder to flash a smile.

        "You mean like the sculptor from Florence?" you asked with curiosity.

        "Sì. We are one in the very same."

        "It's an honor to meet you in person sir."

        "The honor is all mine. It's not everyday you are able to meet a beautiful princess."

        "Oh, I'm not a princess..."

        "Not yet anyway," Luciano added.

        "Donatello, why don't you go take a break? You've been working so hard at the sculpture, and I'm beginning to grow still," Florentina said to the artist.