FAMILY ISSUES

"Hey Mother… Father… got a call from Big Brother yesterday night… And he's kind of wondering if he could tell you about that woman grandfather wanted you to find, Dad…" rehearses the youngest Sciarillo in front of her dressing room mirror while trying to gain enough courage to tell her stepfather what Marion had requested her to say. "Damn it, bro… why couldn't you brave enough to talk to Father about her. Okay, I realize it's Grandpa's last request on his deathbed and is connected to Dad's inheritance and all, but you are supposed to tell him your good news yourself, right?"

Yeaaaahhh, then why the hell are you nervous as hell to tell your stepfather about Marion's special find, huh? an inner voice in her head asks her with a challenging tone. And if it's such good news, how come your own stepbrother couldn't tell your father himself?

"Shut the fuck up! Remember, Lena… you gave him your word that you'd do what he asked! So grow a damned backbone girl and do as you promised!"

"What promise, Elena?"

The princess gasps in surprise at the low and smooth male voice that suddenly spoke behind her. It seems that she is so engrossed in lecturing herself that she doesn't hear her bedroom door open silently, nor does she notice the soft cat-like footsteps that had crept behind her while she's rehearsing.

"Oh, hi Dad!" the female royal greets her stepfather awkwardly.

The older Señor Sciarillo's scowl deepens while one thick eyebrow arches upward. "Elena, didn't we already discuss this a thousand times? Let us not demean ourselves with such crass contemporary replacements for how you should call your elders!" 

And he forgets his original question… Good! That's what I really aimed for, anyway. Whew, you damn owe me big time Marion for what I need to do for you.

"Sorry Father, I apologize. It will never happen again, I promise," is her swift and contrite answer.

"You better make sure child for I will hold you to that. If you ever make the same mistake again, I'll be forced to ground you for a month so you will finally learn respect."

Riiiihght, as if it's going to matter to me that I won't need to attend Briya's coming out ball this summer. Actually, that will be quite a relief! Who wants to hang out with her and her snooty supercilious crowd, anyway? I'd rather get locked in the royal library for half a year than be part of that spoiled bitch's guest list.

"Don't worry, Da… I mean, Father. I'll do my best to not forget."

Whew! That was fucking close…

"Now, let's get back to my first question before all of these shenanigans," the older man announces commandingly. "Now what do you mean by a promise, Elena? And who did you promise to?"

The now-nervous girl gulps anxiously. "Oh, that? It's nothing, Father. I'm sure it can wait until dinner time when we're all relaxed and enjoying each other's company over several courses, wine and dessert" stalled Lena in the hopes she would be able to talk to her irritated 'Dad' during a less tense and friction-filled moment.

"Elena… you don't need to wait for that,' the pushy monarch prompts her. "I will remain on edge for the remaining five hours while waiting for dinnertime at this rate. And I might not be amenable by then," he ominously warns.

Well, shit! Here goes nothing then…

"I promised Marion to tell you that he finally found the woman Grandfather asked you to find when he was still alive," the lass explains with a bit of hesitation resounding in her voice. "She's a talent in Uncle Rube's bordello-resort." 

"I see… so, why didn't he tell me himself?"

"He was afraid you might end up in an argument again due to the last issues you had with each other during your latest company meeting around half a year ago. " Elena humbly confesses. "He didn't want to continue rocking the boat between you two."

"Well, he could have just texted me…"

"Father," the outspoken lady interrupts, "you just lectured me about 'demeaning ourselves with crass contemporary ways and showing respect for our elders and yet, you will suggest… no, worse, ALLOW texting about personal family matters to you, of all people? Isn't that a little self-conflicting, My Lord?"

BULLSEYE! Bet you won't find a comeback for that at once, Daaad!

"True, but there can be exceptions to the rule…"

"Father," Lena cuts him off with a naughty smirk, "do you want me to call you Dad again, and quote you about exceptions while I'm at it?"

Silence... a long and meaningful but awkward silence.

"Alright then daughter, I'll leave that particular topic unresolved for now. But I can consider calling your stepbrother when I find the time," the aged royal finally utters with an unhappy sigh.

Yeah, right… sure Father. That's about the closest I can get to 'Yes, you're right young one, and I'm wrong.' Ugh! What the hell is it about this family and apologizing, anyway?" 

Speaking of which…

The Grand Duke Peter Alexander the Third can't help but be reminded about the last talk he had at his father's bedside before the very aged man took his own life by standing at one of the topmost balconies in the castle and was burned to ash by sunrise. And that conversation wasn't even about the family or monarchial authority issues or even national matters. Oh no, quite far off from that…

+++

"Peter, my son…How goes the search for 'The Woman'? I hope to hear some good news before I cross onto the other side."

"Nothing yet Father. I've just requested my son to take over the search since he has more contacts and is more mobile than me due to your passing of the stone to him."

"Well, that STONE as you call it is one of the most powerful talismans in Asia and I had to go to great lengths to procure it. And it was partly your fault Peter, why you can't step out into the sun since that very strong charm cancels out that particular weakness in us vampires. I still don't see the reason behind your aversion to that magical trinket and for that, you would not take the stone from me? Such narrow-minded idiocy!"

"But isn't it more idiotic that you've practically placed the destiny of our great family line on a woman you've never even seen, Worse, no one we know is even sure if she does exist, Father!" demanded the younger Sciarillo. "I absolutely refuse to put my faith on the line for someone we can't even find so I'll just leave the search to your grandson. He said that he's found some sort of connection to the Agpalza Family Bordellos and has made efforts to connect with his friend, Reuben about that unknown female. He has assured me that we seem to be heading in the right direction," the Grand Duke guaranteed the older gentleman.

"Yes, but that would mean that your son will be the one inheriting everything instead of you, may I remind of you that…" was the senior's soft but dreaded and ominous reply.

"That matters not to me, Father. After all, he's still living here with me in the castle," the younger royal reasoned politely. "After all. he cares too much about our constituents to move."

"Ah, but it will soon be HIS castle, HIS territories, HIS constituents and HIS kingdom when I finally pass away, son and Marrion is wed. What will you do then?"

That question had remained unanswered then but it seems, it now can be answered presently, which was a few months later.

Nothing Father, since he hasn't been told about what you've written in your will. Besides, he has not married yet and I don't see any reason for him to remove me from the home I grew up in… And even now, when he has finally found that damned bloody female, I doubt if he has the will, spine or confidence to remove and transfer me from here.