location : palacio da vila, the gardens timestamp : august 6th, 1458... late morning status : closed to @sercphism
He had meant to have seen her earlier, marking his way and planned to convene with his sister who was not only a Princess by birth but now the Grand Duchess of the thriving state of Firenze. Oh, Ferdinand could barely remember a time without his sister Seraphina — for his entire life she led an example that he was meant to follow now and again, to follow her diligence and professional education with the Duke who too, took in Ferdinand after the attack on their villa. Once, they had both been little other than the offspring of a King who hoped to bring in a new age and new era to the land once known as the grand Italia… But now? Their paths had changed, verging them in different directions with different hopes and ambitions that would at some point meet in a clash.
The question was, did Seraphina’s loyalty now lie stubbornly with the ambition of her husband? Or did she seek the same dreams once beloved by their parents?
With his guards waiting by the door, he placed his sister’s hand against his arm and began their slow walk around the bountiful gardens, where the colours of Portugal lay. Once out of range, Ferdinand turned to his sister and kissed the height of her cheek — allowing his Kingly and regal exterior to shed, to become once more the smaller brother she had held years ago. “Are you well, sister? I have missed you,” Ferdinand confessed beneath his breath, looking to Seraphina with wide eyes that seemed engrossed by the changes that she wore after years in Florence. He had not been there at the tremble of the last summit, nor had he learned truly what had happened due to the lack of trust displayed by their father, who hoped Ferdinand would come to the throne with only Naples at his grasp. “It has been strange without you.”
