Sins of Love, Renesme Silverstein - Part 8 (Patreon)

The misty touch of the air and the drizzling rain greeted them as they stepped out of their Jet on Silverstein Airbase, Florence. The morning was due in an hour, but the casted sky showed no signs of it. The occasional lightning brightened up the field of view, and it was a scene that spoke of nature’s beauty. The four of them had left the Wise-Blood Palace before dawn, and the flight had only taken them 50 minutes to arrive here. 

Ezio had personally come to pick them up. There were two more guards of the Silverstein Airbase, respectfully standing by his side. The old butler was standing in the drizzle without an umbrella or a shield of his aura. His hair was wet, and his clothes were soaked. 

“Shazan,” He greeted him with a bright smile and nodded.

Shazan didn’t reply, he just stepped closer and hugged him.

He had long ago forbidden Ezio to address him as Master or Lord, at least not in his presence. 

“You didn’t have to come to pick us, Uncle.” 

“It was Lady Arianna,” Ezio laughed. “She said that you were coming with your future brides and so I should personally come here.” 

Shazan nodded to him and then turned around to look at the girls. He introduced them. 

“You have already met Lady Serafina,” He said and smiled. “She will be staying with us from now on.” 

“Lady Serafina, it’s good to see you again.” Ezio politely bowed to her. 

“Uncle Ezio,” She nodded back to him with a smile.

His eyes then turned to Renesme. “This is my wife to be, Renesme. And Renesme, this is Ezio. He’s Karen’s father and the Head-Butler of the Silverstein Empire. He’s someone who’s a father figure in my life, and who has my trust and respect.”

Renesme sweetly smiled as she heard his words. Someone who he cared about was someone she had to care for as well.

“Nice to meet you, Uncle Ezio.” She nodded at him. 

“It’s my honor, Lady Renesme,” Ezio bowed and respectfully lowered his eyes. His shock was evident on his face. And why wouldn’t he be shocked? He could feel that the little girl was stronger than him, and then there was her ethereal beauty and presence that demanded respect. 

His shock didn’t make him forget the presence of the last girl. 

“Lady, Keira,” He smiled and politely bowed to her. 

“Come on, Uncle. You know you don’t have to address me like that.” Keira complained, but she nodded to him nonetheless. 

“A man must never forget his manners, Lady Keira,” He answered her, and then gestured them to the car. “Shall we?”

Shazan nodded to him and then they followed Ezio to the SUV he had brought with him. 

“A new Range Rover?” He asked and smiled. 

“It was delivered to us yesterday,” Ezio nodded. “They have customized it to your preferences. It’s fast and sturdy, one of a kind that they have created.”

“And what does he need in return?” 

Ezio brightly smiled and shook his head. 

“You never believe that someone has sent you something in goodwill…” 

“You were one of the people who tutored me on that, Uncle Ezio,” He shrugged and answered. “Nothing comes for free… Not even Love.” 

Ezio’s sighed as he heard his words. 

“He hadn’t stated any request, but I have looked into it and found that his empire will soon face a monetary setback. His other business ventures have failed him.” 

“I see,” he looked at the sky that shimmered with lightning from time to time. “Help him out,” he said, “I like the gift he has sent me…” He smiled and drew his hand to Ezio. 

Ezio chuckled at his words and threw the keys to him. 

The roar of the engine brought a gleam in his eyes and the throttle satisfied him. 

“You like cars?” Renesme curiously asked from the backseat. 

The two girls who were sitting by her sides giggled at her question. 

“Yes, Lady Renesme,” Ezio smiled and answered her, “Shazan has always been fond of them. He likes them fast and stylish. He has a massive collection of them, and most of them are one of a kind models the companies have specially made for him.” He chuckled.

“But how fast could these things really be?” She confusedly asked. 

She had an idea of how fast these cars could go, and it was slow for her.

“It’s not about that,” Shazan shook his head as he looked at her from the rear mirror. “These things are limited in their potential. They can’t go over a specific speed without being harmed, and that’s where the fun is, I like to test them and compete with them with their limitations.” 

Keira nodded to his words and continued to explain to Renesme. 

“We usually have races, and we drive the same models at times. They would have the same speed and endurance, and in the end, the one with the better skills and awareness would win, not the car. Also, they are fun to drive.” 

“You will know when I teach you to drive,” He added with a smile. 

“I have already learned it, just now,” Renesme lowered her head and apologetically said. 

She now wished that she hadn’t read his mind to learn it. It would have been so much fun if he had taught her.

The people in the car seemed confused at her words, but Shazan knew what she had meant. He sighed, but he was not mad her or sad about anything. 

“It’s okay,” he smiled and added, “we will race sometimes and test your skills on the wheel,” He chuckled. “I am warning you, I won’t go easy on you.” 

The challenge in his words brought a bright smile on her smiled. 

“Mhm…” She happily nodded. “I will see how you beat me at it, I already know all your tricks,” she giggled. 

“I could always come up with new tricks…” He shrugged and shifted his eyes to the beautiful sky. 

They were at the top of the hills right now, and they could see the distant city of Florence decorated in golden lights under the casted sky. It was beautiful.

The lonely Void sang a song, 

More times than the time had known. 

The Truth heard it, and the Will sighed,

A pray so pure, and yet so naïve,

It happened in an instant, 

An instant beyond time,

The lonely Void heard a reply, 

The silent Heart was shrouded in Light.

A warmth so serene, and yet so terrifying.

And came the call that shook the Space and Time,

Song of Life is your answer, 

I am ye, and ye are mine, 

Proclaimed the Mysterious Life,

I am the Wish of the Eternal, 

I am The Life of the Void…

His words ended, and the silence lingered. 

“That’s a beautiful song…” Renesme smiled.

“It is…” Serafina nodded to her words, but her senses were still lost somewhere. 

“He had always known that song…” Ezio said, “We heard him sing it even before he was able to walk…” The frown on his face indicated that he had no clue how Shazan could do that. 
Keira shook her heard to get back to her senses. There was mistiness in her eyes, and she was trying her best to not cry right there. Only she realized how meaningful this song was to Shazan. It was the song he had always sung when he was happy, and she had heard him sing it today after years of painful silence. 

The moment she thought that the tears would slip out, she felt the little girl by her side lock her arm in her bosom. 

“He’s happy…” She said. 

Keira smiled at Renesme’s words and planted a kiss on her head. 

“And you?” 

“He’s my happiness…” A blush adorned her cheeks as she whispered to Keira. 

“Same…” 

The two girls giggled to the confusion of Serafina, who then leaned on Renesme and inquired what they were talking about. 

Shazan drove to the Palace in silence. He was happy today, and his mind was at peace. A peace that he had not felt for a long long time. His eyes would occasionally drift to the rear mirror, and watching the girls chat happily, he felt even more blissful. 

The serenity of his heart was soon shrouded in an ache that made it tremble. He knew what it was about, he was incomplete without his Arianna, and his Karen and Asaya. He wanted to rush back to them, but he kept the nerves in control and drove at the speed he had been driving at. 

Keira was introducing the places to Renesme as they drove past them. It was her first time here. He could see the curiosity in her eyes as she scanned the place around them, and so he let her take her time and learn. 

The Silverstein Palace, though not as huge as The Wise-Blood Palace, was among the Wonders of the world. It was one of the most desirable and expensive properties on the Planet. And sure enough, Renesme seemed quite interested in the jade-colored building that they could see since they had entered the Main Gate. It was still quite a considerable distance away, but it could be seen clearly from here. The closer they got to the Palace, the more curious the eyes of Renesme and Serafina became. Serafina had been here before, but she still found herself drawn to this Palace that was her home now. 

There were twelve fountains in front of the Palace, each representing a Zodiac sign. And there were several roads lying between each pair of the Fountains. The one they were on led them directly to the entrance of the building where some people were waiting for them. 

The urgency in his heart could not be borne by him anymore. He dashed out of the car the moment it came to a stop and brisked to the little girls that were already running to him. 

“Brother!” 

The two of the girls happily chimed, but the one that hadn’t was already in his arms, hugging him tightly. 

“I missed you, Princess,” He whispered near her ear and planted a kiss on her head. 

“Did you now?” She smiled and looked up at him. 

Their eyes were locked in each other. They were the mirrors of their soul, and they were reflecting the person they loved the most in the world. 

The little girl reached up and stole a sip of his lips. 

“Welcome back,” She giggled and then struggled out of his embrace to stand back on her feet. 

Shazan was reluctant to part with her, but he knew that he had to hug the other two as well. He picked up the one with the black hair, and spun her around happily, earning giggles from her. She was in her jumpers as usual, unlike the other two that wore dresses, but her outfit didn’t diminish her natural beauty. Nothing could diminish that. 

“How’s my Karen?” He planted a kiss on the tip of her nose. 

“I am fine,” She nodded to him, and her cheeks reddened. “I missed you…” She looked him in the eyes and said. 

“I missed you too, Kitty…” He called her out with a name that he always used to tease her. 

Her hazel eyes squinted at the name he had called her with, but then she started giggling as he tickled on her tummy.

“Stop!” She pleaded under the fits of laughter. 

He loved the music her happiness was to his ears. It was only in his arms that she laughed so freely. She was his beloved. 

“Only if you give me a kiss,” he tickled her some more. 

Karen knew that he wouldn’t stop unless she complied, and she leaned in a planted a wet kiss on his cheek. 

“Good,” He nodded to her and placed her back on her feet. 

She squinted at him as her cheeks burned red, and then she turned her eyes to the people that had come with him and walked over to them. 

“How’s my little bird?” He asked the last girl who was obediently standing there waiting for her turn. 

“I am fine, brother,” She cheerfully smiled. “Welcome home!” 

Shazan picked her up and hugged her tightly. He benevolently planted a kiss on her forehead and smiled as the smile on her lips brightened. She didn’t need to be told what he wanted, as she got closer and planted the kiss on his cheek. 

“Where’s Helen?”

“Mommy is in France,” she said, “She’s there to attend a fashion week event.”

“You didn’t go with her?” 

The little girl shook her head and giggled. 

“I wanted to learn swimming and be with Arianna and Karen,” 

“And has my little bird finally learned how to swim?” 

She embarrassedly lowered her head and shook it. 

“I know the basics now, and I can swim, but I am too clumsy.”

“You will get better at it with time,” He chuckled and planted another kiss on her head. 

“Mhm..” She nodded with confidence. 

The two of them turned to look at the girls at the same time, and to their surprise, they saw Arianna hugging Renesme with a smile. A girl who never let her guard down to anyone had openly accepted someone in her arms the first time she had met her. The shocked expressions that the people around them wore explained it all and the most vibrant one was on Serafina’s face, who had earned Arianna’s care after a week of tension. The Princess of the Silverstein Palace was not easy to get close with.

“Renesme is beautiful,” the little girl in his arms comments as she observed the girl with wine hair, “She’s just as beautiful as Arianna.” 

“You are beautiful as well, my dear Asaya,” he chuckled and placed her back on her feet. “Go, greet her,”

Asaya nodded and ran to the girls that were talking happily.

Shazan turned to look that the woman standing desolately by the stairs. There was a warm smile on her lips, and her caring eyes benevolently looked at him. There was a question on her mind, and he knew what it was. He had been urgently called at the Wise-Blood Palace, and the reason was not clearly stated by Stephan. Even he had believed that there was an expedition or a War. It was only after he reached the Palace that he was told what it was all about.

He walked over to the middle aged woman, who despite the change of time, still retained her charm and beauty. He snaked his arms around her soft waist and embraced her. 

“I missed you, mother,” he sighed. 

“Missed you too,” She giggled and answered. 

She no longer had the question on her mind. She had gotten her answer. Her son had not spilled blood again. 

“Renesme is beautiful,” She commented. 

“She is my bride,” he proudly said, “how can she not be beautiful?”

His words made the woman laugh, and she gently planted a kiss on his neck. 

“Won’t you introduce me to her?” She asked with a pout. 

He frowned when he heard her words. It was not like her to not go forward and greet someone first; unless she felt something amiss. 

“So you figured it out…” He sighed. 

“I have lived all my life with Azeros. I may not be one of you, but I can sense when someone is not an ordinary one. She’s even stronger than you, right?”

He nodded to her and then laughed. 

“Yes, she is…” He grabbed on her hand and pulled her with him. “Come, I will introduce you to her…”

Renesme looked at the two of them as they approached her, and the rest of the girls turned to look at them as well. 

“Esme,” He smiled at her as he came to a stop, “I told you about her,” he pulled the woman by his side to step forward, “meet my mother, Marilyn Silverstein. Isn’t she beautiful?”

The wine haired girl nodded with a bright smile, and to Marilyn’s surprise, the girl stepped forward and hugged her. 

“Hi, I am Renesme,” she introduced herself while hugging her. 

Marilyn didn’t understand what happened at that moment. She felt as if the worries in the back of her mind were baseless. Even after all these years, she still worried about the relationship she had with Shazan. A fear that someday, someone who he holds dear in his heart would separate them.

The moment she had seen Renesme and felt her senses tingling, she knew that the girl was not from a humble background. She was a Princess. There was no need to even inquire her about it to confirm it. And all Princesses had their Pride. She knew that if Renesme didn’t accept the kind of relationship she was in with her son, she wouldn’t be able to be with him anymore. It was her greatest fear. It was the same fear she felt from Arianna and had always felt from Lyanna. 

“Marilyn…” She answered with a smile. 

The little girl’s wine eyes looked at her with an assuring shine, and she felt as if she had received her approval. 

“May I call you Mother as well?” Renesme asked respectfully. 

“Of course!” She nodded happily. “You can call me Mother, or Mary if you would like that.”

“I will go with Mother,” 

“Esme,” Arianna called her out. “Come, I will show you around the Palace.” She walked to her and grabbed her hand before pulling her along in the Palace. 

Asaya wanted to go after them, but Karen held her back and shook her head. Whatever Arianna was going to talk to Esme about, was better not be heard by anyone else. 

Shazan stood there and silently observed the expressions Karen was wearing. It was clear to him that she knew what Arianna was going to talk to Esme about, and the smile on her lips told her that he didn’t have to worry about anything. 

He watched Serafina finally take a deep breath after Arianna had left with Renesme. The golden-haired girl was still scared of his little sister.

“I know that Arianna has an overbearing presence, but you know that she really cares about the family, right?” He gently said to her. 

Serafina conflictedly looked at him, and then lowered her head. 

“It’s not just her that I am scared of,” She whispered. “What scares me more is her importance in your heart. I am scared because I know I would never be able to hold the same place as her.”

Once she had said out the words in her heart, she felt a lot better and the smile on her lips was back. Those words couldn’t have been any truer, and the rest of the girls understandingly nodded to her. 

She then walked to Marilyn and hugged her. 

“I missed you, Mother,” She complained, “And I have missed the food you make for me even more.” 

Her words made Marilyn laugh and the girls joined in as well. 

“I have prepared your favorites for you, come,” She nodded to everyone to come inside the Palace, and the girls followed after her. 

“Uncle,” Shazan said as he watched the ladies of the house leave, “I want you to bring Helen from France. There’s a wedding in the Palace, in two days. I want her here.”

“I will leave after Breakfast,” Ezio nodded.