novelburst
Chapter 201 Loved by nature
Chapter 201 Loved by nature
Anthony observed the woman in front of him closely, marveling at her beauty. He knew she was the daughter of Seraphine Bennedetto, a being of sacred rank and considered the most beautiful woman in the entire empire. It wasn't surprising that her two daughters inherited their mother's qualities.
Furthermore, considering that Seraphine was a sacred rank healer, her daughters were blessed by the blood of elves, and nature loved them both.
There were rumors that on the day they were born, all the animals of the forest, whether predators or prey, gathered around their house. It was said that Seraphine let them all in, and each one of them visited her daughters in the crib. It was even told that a five-meter lion took her in its mouth as if she were its own cub and carried her on its back.
The birds sang, and the other animals roared in a chorus of celebration. Although all this sounded like a legend, in the case of Seraphine's daughters, it could very well be true; it was perfectly known that on the day of her younger daughter Angela's birth, the same thing happened, and even my father was present.
"I'm back," announced Arabella with a sweet smile, approaching Alexandra and kissing her on the cheek. "Elder sister Alexandra," exclaimed Charlotte excitedly, running to her and embracing her. Alexandra welcomed her with love, gently stroking her head before turning her golden gaze towards Anthony.
"It's a pleasure to have the opportunity to meet you, Alexandra Benedetto," said Anthony, bowing slightly as a sign of respect. His gesture reflected his acknowledgment of her as a distinct figure from the others, devoid of hostile intentions towards him.
"The pleasure is mine, Anthony Von Valeriano, son of the great Duke Noah," responded Alexandra with a warm smile, before rising to her feet and performing the same greeting gesture as Anthony.
Arabella, on the other hand, simply clicked her tongue in annoyance at the interaction.
Alexandra nodded and looked at her friend. "Andrés is talking to your mother in the office. He said that as soon as he's done, we'll head to the empire." Alexandra's voice was surprisingly pleasant and soft to the human ear. Meanwhile, Arabella crossed her arms and frowned irritably. Then she looked at her younger sister and touched her shoulder before disappearing again.
Anthony and Alexandra were left alone. Alexandra's golden eyes rested on the fountain before she spoke again. "You've changed, I can see it clearly. But still, Arabella doesn't trust you. After all, there are bad rumors about you, nasty and vicious ones. People change, I know and accept it," she said, falling silent for a few seconds.
Then she continued, "My mother wants to see you. She said she'd come to get you herself when the time comes."
Anthony was surprised, his mind went blank for a moment. "May I know why?" he asked as he sat beside her. "No. She told me not to tell you anything. Just asked me to inform you," replied Alexandra.
Alexandra's gaze stopped on the cat she held in her arms. "Tell me, do you believe animals have souls?" she asked curiously. Anthony reflected for a moment before answering, "Yes," he said simply, with conviction in his voice. Alexandra's golden eyes met his, seeking to understand his perspective. "Why?" she asked, intrigued by his response.
Anthony kept his gaze on the cat for a moment before responding. The feline, sensing Anthony's attention, raised its head curiously. Its golden fur and eyes also shone under the light, radiating a kind of silent wisdom. "The reason is quite simple," Anthony began with a serene smile. "Any living being with a soul can be corrupted by desecration, even animals."
Alexandra nodded in understanding, contemplating her cat with a mixture of affection and admiration. "Very true," she murmured, acknowledging the depth of his words.
After a few minutes, Arabella and Charlotte appeared again. The two sat on the bench, which was a bit large for them. Charlotte talked cheerfully with Anthony, while Arabella watched her younger sister attentively, remembering the words she had told her earlier.
"I don't know how being in love feels; I still don't fully understand it," Charlotte had said. "But what I do know is that when I'm near Anthony, my heart fills with joy and races. It's a beautiful feeling, the most beautiful one I've had in my 17 years of life," she had confessed sincerely.
Arabella noticed the sincerity in her sister's words, and a small smile formed on her lips. She could perceive the happiness and excitement that emanated from Charlotte when she was with Anthony.
Arabella sighed as she immersed herself in her memories of the conversation with her sister. "She's very beautiful, and she's also very tall. She has black hair and red eyes like him," she recalled Charlotte's words. "She's his first wife, but Anthony doesn't like to put numbers. According to him, we are both his number one," she added with a mix of nostalgia and acceptance.
"Doesn't it bother you?" Arabella asked directly, her serious tone making it clear she wanted an honest answer. Charlotte pondered for a few seconds before responding honestly, "It doesn't bother you being around Alexandra, does it?"
Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire
Arabella shook her head. "She's like a sister to me," she explained. Charlotte smiled at her older sister's understanding and then added with a smile, "So, Lysandra will also be like a sister to me."
Arabella, having returned from her thoughts, stood up and looked at Anthony seriously. Anthony, for his part, also rose, noting her change in attitude. Arabella took a deep breath before warning firmly, "If you dare to hurt my sister, you'll have to deal with me."
Anthony observed her for a moment, recognizing the seriousness in her words. However, he responded calmly and confidently, "Don't worry about that. I'll do everything I can to make her very happy," he said as he embraced Charlotte, who nestled against his chest with flushed cheeks.