💌 Send for a love letter from my muse (Riccardo)
Riccardo,
Whether some form of therapy or a confession, I don’t know - but I’ve been seeing these kinds of things all over the place lately. Perhaps for some sort of closure. The world knows what happened - at least those who have picked up a copy of my book anyway. One of - no, my one greatest regret - was that I was unable to save you.
I know that if you were here, you would tell me that it wasn’t my fault. You were the eldest, it was your job to protect me. These are all things you’ve said to me before, as I lie in a bed, poisoned by Lord Harlech. Riccardo, it’s not your fault. It was never, ever your fault.
I miss you. Of all our brothers, you were the one whom I could turn to. I begged Marius to turn you too. But he thought you would be happier as a mortal man. I know you loved our Bianca dearly. Perhaps if you had survived and she had remained human, you could have wed. That would have been glorious.
Perhaps if you’d been immortal though, it would have been enough to save the Palazzo. As it was, Marius and I were overwhelmed. But you were always stronger. A better fighter. A better person than I could ever hope to be.
I loved you. As much as I could ever have loved another human being, I loved you. I still love you. Your face graces my mind nearly every night. Something will remind me of you. One of Marius’s paintings, perhaps, or the way that someone else says something.
I hope you are happy where you are, Riccardo. I hope, for your sake, that heaven is real. If anyone deserves heaven, it is you.
Rest well, my brother. You will never be forgotten.
Armand Amadeo















