'Vases are utilitarian objects that can rise to the status of ritualistic elements, whether to hold flowers, store dried branches, or serve as the centerpiece of a dinner. But they can also remain empty, and that emptiness is active: it suggests, it summons. An empty vase in a room invites imagination, anticipating a presence. Working with these thoughts is like playing with expectations.'
[What is this idiot talking about? I don't understand a single thing! Can you speak human language?]
Enrico held some vases that Platinum was showing him, examining each one carefully. With every sentence the system heard in his mind, it became even more confused. None of it made the slightest sense, and it was certain that Enrico was simply making up explanations to justify his taste for vases, which he had started developing weeks ago.
[This is all the fault of those idiots who tried to break the vases in that warehouse!]
The system was certain that Elian and Caelan were to blame. After all, the two had contributed to turning him into the protector of the vases, and as a result, he had become far too attached to them, completely changing his perspective on those objects.
"I found this one in a dungeon."
Platinum explained, pointing at one of the vases.
Enrico's eyes lit up, his cat ears still on his head.
"I knew it. The texture is different from that of ordinary vases, and it was also made in an unusual way. The Nartheis in the dungeon you visited had excellent taste, Miss Platinum."
"You can just call me big sis already."
"I already told you I'm not used to it."
Enrico's room was filled with vases scattered across the furniture and corners. The ones on the bed were the pieces Platinum had brought, and she had done all of this for a single reason: to get her brother to call her by the nickname she wanted so badly.
"Taíra calls me big sis. Therefore, since you're younger than me, you need to call me that too."
"I already explained my reasons when you came to deliver our father's message. Just give up."
"Never!"
The strangest thing was that Platinum maintained a rather neutral expression, despite her eyes gleaming dangerously with every new rejection. She had no intention of giving up anytime soon. After all, her mother had taught her always to get what she wanted.
"One day, you'll call me that."
"Maybe when the sun freezes over."
Valerio was standing by the door, taking care not to look as though he were interrupting the conversation. His eyes wandered around the room, observing the surroundings with curiosity. It was the first time he had entered the room, and he had never imagined he would get such an opportunity.
'I never thought he would have so many of them in his room... I wonder if there are more in the house where he lives separately from the family.'
In the past, he had heard his father mention that, since Enrico lived far from the main house, the family was considering demolishing that room. Now, however, the young man had returned, and his situation had changed completely.
'Well, it seems he awakened his potential in time to avoid being kicked out.'
Taíra, who was standing right behind him, looked at the situation in bewilderment.
'Why is he so obsessed with vases? They're not even interesting.'
Enrico turned toward Taíra and walked over to her, as if he knew exactly what the girl was thinking. The unexpected movement made her shudder.
"It seems I have excellent taste too. I only realized it now, with my new perspective."
He approached another vase beside the door, on top of a desk. His eyes were gleaming.
Taíra realized that he had approached her only because of that strange hobby and let out a sigh. She then sat down on the bed, watching her brother with a suspicious expression. Enrico was very different from the person she had known all those years.
'He has to be an impostor.'
She stood up and left through the door, casting one last glance in his direction before leaving. Right behind her, Valerio also left the room, as he needed to take care of some family matters his father had entrusted to him before nightfall.
Noticing that everyone was leaving, Platinum decided it was time for her to go as well.
"Bye, little brother!"
The door closed, leaving Enrico alone. He began cleaning the room and organizing the vases, placing each one in an appropriate spot and making sure they were free of dust.
After some time, he stepped back to admire the result.
"Perfect."
[It's incredible how you've actually started to enjoy collecting vases.]
'I haven't even really started collecting them yet. I wanted to see what the original Enrico's collection was like first.'
Now that he was alone, it would be a good time to enter a fake dungeon. To do that, Enrico walked over to the bed and lay down, pretending he intended to sleep.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Angela was drinking tea in the company of Enrico's parents. The two watched her attentively, as she had already revealed that Virelle knew about the informants they had stationed.
"As you probably know, my lady wants your son to become her disciple."
Matteo and Titanza had already heard about this, but it was still difficult to believe, even with the evidence before them. For years, both had been disappointed in Enrico and had lost hope in their son. Only when they saw him in person after his transformation did they begin to accept that he had truly changed.
'He really managed to attract the interest of the D'Rosvalia family... How can I use this to strengthen the Solcrens?'
'This is great. I can secure an advantageous alliance for the Ferreira family.'
Watching the two of them, Angela could already imagine what they were thinking. After all, she had seen similar expressions on countless people who had tried to establish alliances with the D'Rosvalia family or take advantage of their influence to achieve their own goals.
"He has already been approved by the family. Since he defeated Danyana Stormclaw, he only needs to defeat Miss Victoria Aetherwell to officially become my lady's disciple."
Victoria Aetherwell was the top-ranked student in the first year, a true monster known as the Prodigy of Prodigies. She was a girl destined to surpass everyone else, someone whose talent seemed to know no limits.
For this reason, the D'Rosvalia family had initially intended to reject Enrico. However, Virelle's words made them reconsider their decision. Instead of rejecting him immediately, they decided to give him an opportunity to let the two young people demonstrate who was superior.
Matteo pondered for a moment before commenting.
"That will be difficult."
"We know that, but my lady has high hopes for the young master and believes he can go very far."
Titanza covered her mouth with her hand and smiled upon hearing Angela's words.
"That's quite a compliment for our son."
"He deserves that compliment, Lady Titanza."
The conversation continued for some time. Angela took the opportunity to ask about Enrico's life before he went to the academy, but his parents' answers were vague and provided little clarification.
When they finally realized it had grown dark, the three concluded their conversation and stood up to go to dinner.
Upon arriving at the dining room, they found all the children gathered around the table. Titanza turned toward Angela and elegantly gestured toward the table with her hand.
"You may sit and dine with us, Miss Angela."
"Thank you. Young master, may I sit here?"
"Of course you can."
Angela took the indicated seat, while Matteo and Titanza tried to maintain their composure. In a way, both were mentally exhausted, as they had needed to invent a few stories when she began asking about Enrico's life.
'How could I know these things when I wasn't even very present in his life, despite being his mother?'
'I hope he doesn't say anything. I really want to establish an alliance with the D'Rosvalia family.'
Angela realized that both of them were lying. After all, she had already heard several conversations about Enrico's family, especially at the beginning, when Elowyn had asked questions about his relatives.
'What a disappointment.'
His parents' answers had never demonstrated any deep knowledge of their own son's life.
'I had some hope of discovering something, but it seems I'll have to ask the servants to tell me.'
From what Angela had managed to understand, Enrico had been cared for mainly by the residence's servants. Therefore, she hoped that one of them had kept portraits of the boy when he was younger. If she could obtain a copy, she could add it to her Elyssar's Domain, alongside the other images of Enrico and Lady Virelle.
With a movement, she placed the palm of her hand against her chin, thinking that perhaps she could tell Virelle what little Enrico had been like once she learned more about his childhood.
While these thoughts passed through Angela's mind, Enrico, sitting beside her, felt a shiver run down the back of his neck. He slowly turned his face toward the woman, suspicious of her intentions.
'Why do I have the feeling she's thinking about embarrassing me?'