“You could be happy taking care of the children. Once they go to school, you could pursue your artistic career. I have nothing against it and I believe that you show great promise. You can paint here all what you want as long as the children are taken care of and happy. I'm sure the minute you see the babies, you will love them as if they were your own. We could reach an understanding between us and be happy together as friends or companions.” He bent his body over me and his right hand stroke my cheek in a tender gesture. I was frozen and slightly trembling under his caresses. His eyes took a warmer light and he smiled genuinely at me.
“You have some time to think about it. I would protect and cherish you as you deserve. You don't know how rare and precious you are for me. These past two months at your side made me realise that you're an excellent companion for me. For the first time in years, I long to come home every night, have dinner with you, speak with you or just have you around me while I work. I told you once that you reminded me very much to the man I loved, but it's not the case any more. Physically you two look the same, but you're very different to him and I prefer you a thousand times over him.”
I was mute and could only gape at him while he gently stroked my face and hair. I wanted to close my eyes to enjoy the feeling because he had been the first person that I had allowed to show me such tenderness. He bent over me and kissed me tenderly on my forehead, letting his lips linger over it longer than necessary. I held my breath and he smiled again at me in a very kind way, erasing my shock at the crude way he had declared to me. No, this can't be a love declaration, but it's certainly not what your future employer tells you in a job interview. Imagine, I was making a job interview on Easter Sunday and no one told me! At that point I was a mess and I returned his smile. His own smile broadened and he touched playfully the tip of my nose (that's certainly not sexy!) He rose from my bed and left the room.
I don't know what to think about. I'm as clueless as you can be. He's certain that I couldn't live on my own for too long. This bloody myocardial hypertrophy ruined my life more than Olga Fedorovna. Constantin was determined to get me back no matter the costs. I don't want to think what could have happened to me if our meeting would have taken place in another place that wasn't Konrad's house. It would be a madman's run against Constantin's men. I would be dead in less than four months.
I don't want to die. I want to live and paint. I want to have a life once more. I want to be able to look for a job, have a house of my own and raise a family. What all men want.
Konrad is offering me to be a part of a family, not my own of course, but a family nevertheless, continuing with my career and life.
If I'm alive again is because of him. He took me away from Constantin, even if he had his own selfish reasons , protected me, forced me to overcome my fears, and gave me a reason to live again.
He was always kind to me for whatever reason he might have.
He was responsible for my family's death.
Why did my father choose him as my tutor? I know this is true as I saw the documents he signed for Konrad so he could adopt me. In the letter he left for me he only wrote that he had cancer in a terminal phase and the illness forced him to make that decision; that everything had been a move against Konrad to get rid of him and that he was a good Hochmeister, worthy of his position.
I don't know what to do.
“What on Earth were you doing with the boy for so long? Friederich nearly shouted with the Duke when he left Guntram's bedroom. “He's sick! Leave him alone, Konrad!” “I just explained to him what was expected from him. Didn't you want me to be honest with the lad?
Well, I was. He knows where he's standing and didn't refuse to contribute to the cause.”
“What did you tell him?” Friederich couldn't believe his former pupil's audacity and shamelessness.
“The same I told you. I want him as a companion and perhaps lover and that he takes care of my children exactly as you did with me. He could be a good friend.”
“Do you have any kind of feelings, Konrad?”
“Of course I do! But I'm not full of sentimentalism. In a way, he's perfect for me, has accepted our rules and soon will let go his grievances against me for that matter with his relatives. After all, he never met them and they never cared about him. Jerôme was very clever to keep him away from those rats.”
“I don't believe you.”
“Well, I had to clearly explain the consequences of leaving this house, as it was his original intention. He knows that without me, there's no possible life for him.”
“What if he rejects you? Will you be so heartless as to throw him to the hyenas?”
“It will not be necessary. He will love me. I'm certain of that. Like all orphans, his greatest desire is to have a family and I will provide one for him. Be glad Friederich, I'm settling down finally. You like him too.”
“My opinion about him has nothing to do with your behaviour, Konrad! Do you love him or is he one of your playthings?”
“I don't know, but I'm certain that I would like to spend the rest of my life in his company. He will be an excellent tutor for my children. So please, do not interfere and let me work my way with him. What do you prefer?
He, happy and in love with me, looking after my children or depressed, terrified and counting the days till February 2005?”
“He does not deserve to be treated like one of your pawns.”
“I swear that I will always treat him with my highest consideration. He's going to be my Consort.”
The old man only huffed his impatience and turned around, leaving Konrad alone.
July 12th 2004 Rome San Capistrano
The Duke had preferred to leave a brooding Friederich at home even if he was planning to stay in Rome for a whole week. His former tutor's behaviour was grating to his nerves. Guntram didn't need to have a dragon at his side! Konrad was sick of the old man finding excuses to keep the boy away from him, interrupting them every ten minutes if they were alone. 'Friederich should be glad, I'm being perfectly honourable with the boy, offering the chance to form a family, cleaning my own closet and settling down, exactly what he has nagged me to do for the past seven years. Could he be jealous of Guntram? No, it's not that, he looks after him much more than me. Why can't he believe that I want to have the child? He's everything I wanted and, in a way, perfect for me. We complement each other. Does he really believe that I want to take revenge on a sick creature? That's beneath me! Guntram will be good for my children, but that's not his main concern! Bloody Roger, still making my life miserable after fifteen years! The minute I find him I'll take my time to kill him.'
“Is it big?” Guntram dared to repeat his question, while sitting in the private jet. He had been almost bouncing with excitement, happy to leave Zürich for something that wasn't related to school. Nothing wrong could happen in Rome. Constantin had no interests in the city and the time he had been there, he had loved the museums and St. Peter's.
“Pardon me?”
“The castle where we're staying: San Capistrano.”
“Yes, I suppose so. It's a family residence. One of the oldest we have. It was built around the XIII century and was used as fortress, monastery and from the XVII century onwards, as private residence for the Molinari family and ours. We inherited it, so to speak around 1675, I don't remember exactly, as donation from the first Griffin's consort to our founder's heir. Theodobald von Lintorff and Francesco Molinari are buried there, in the chapel.”
“How so?”
“When my family left Mecklemburg after the Thirty Years War, they went to Rome to ask for the Pope's protection. They were one of the last resisting against the protestant heresy, but we lost. We were clever enough as to keep our gold safe in Venice and Rome and the Pope granted his protection to us because of our services during the Teutonic Order times. Theodobald moved to Venice and he started to rebuild our Order along with many more exiled noblemen, changing our strategy. We will never support again an earthly government
as they can only betray us, only our mother the Church. Of course, the pope sent a young and clever bishop to oversee what the Lintorff were doing because all this trade and banking, most appropriate for Jewish than for true Christians, couldn't be too good.
Francesco Molinari was one of his illegitimate children and I think he was a very clever man, immediately realising how fast the world was changing. While Theodobald was a ferocious warrior, he was a clever businessman and thought that we could obtain much more if we were supporting our own people and the newly born industry. We lent money to private people for much less than what the Fuggers or others were asking to Nation States. The money went into overseas trade, transforming manufactures and science. Francesco devised the idea that we all should form a society to protect our interests from Protestants and Muslims at this time. Later we realised that the Protestants were not so bad and good for the business and we accepted to do business with them. Our main problem was those Masons trying to destroy everything we believed in.”
“Theodobald and Francesco got along and he was named consort in 1656. They lived together for more than twenty-six years and Theodobald asked to be buried next to him after his early death, at forty-two years old.”
“That means he was a diplomat at seventeen?” Guntram asked very shocked.
“You were made general with fifteen if you were of noble birth, Guntram. Girls were married from thirteen years onwards,” Konrad chuckled softly. “Anyway, I believe that controlling a German nobleman in disgrace
-forced to work like a commoner-was not exactly a very sought after job. Being Ambassador to the Dux was a good position. Funny how history turns out, a second rate job, designed to keep a bastard busy and away from Rome, where he could have started to conspire against his father, was crucial to create a driving force in Modern Society. This young Italian established most of the rules we operate under and convinced my ancestor to start a new era. No one but us, remembers him, but I would dare say that we are who we are thanks to him. Industry was the future as we learned in the battlefield. We have to thank for that lesson to King Gustav Adolphus.”
“He and the Polish who threw out a Governor of the window, igniting the conflict,” Guntram said softly.
“They're more famous than poor Francesco,” Konrad smiled. “Good managers are never famous, but they're more important than good warriors, Guntram. You should never underestimate the power of the second line. A consort is an advisor, much more than momentary sexual adventure. He can yield a lot of power if the Griffin allows it. Some of them were very powerful, others preferred to step aside. Some of them were women and even participated in the meetings, some were lovers, others just advisers. My grandfather's consort was British and he convinced many of his fellow citizens to join us. Nothing between them, ever. I met him once when I was twelve years old and he was very old, living in England. According to my father, extremely clever man. His grandchild, Stephen Saint Claude is my CEO in London.”
“Konrad, I still don't understand why you need me.”
“Sometimes you don't need to understand things, just act upon them, Guntram.”
“I have no education; I'm not intelligent enough and have no money that could support you.”
“I don't need such things; I need others that you can provide. I need a personal companion, a Griffin's consort, but not an adviser for the Order. You will never be a part of our meetings or decisions, Guntram. Learn that from now onwards. Many years ago I swore to never let my personal life interfere with my duties as Hochmeister. It was a very hard lesson for me and I will not forget it. You can look after my children, teach them to be good and honourable persons, but you will never decide upon our policies.”
“I never wanted to be an advisor to anyone. I can't even advise myself! I haven't accepted your offer so far. Frankly, I don't believe that you could need me and I think that you're after something more. Life taught me that so much sugar is bitter in the end.”
“I'm not a sweet man and my offer is honest. You fulfil the requirements well.”
“Are you aware that I will not be able to “support you in the bedroom”? That even your doctor forbade me to have sex?” Guntram said very cynically, irked at his speaker's coldness in the subject.
“I only ask you that you respect, obey and are honest to me. Nothing else. The rest might come or not.
It's immaterial at this point,” Konrad answered very stiffly and then the idea came to his mind. “As I said, I can get
“bedroom support” anywhere else. I travel a lot, Guntram,” he said carefully, gauging the boy's reaction. Guntram's involuntary suffocated gasp, along with his pupil’s contraction confirmed what he suspected. The boy was already considering his offer and was hurt by his sentence.
“Of course, my Duke, but wouldn't you prefer to have something better at home? Something that could accommodate you?” Guntram retorted with a tense voice, unable to control his anger.
“No, a third person would be bad for the children. Our relationship must be sound in every aspect and fighting over some petty jealousies can't be good. If I ever share my bed with someone it would be for keeps. There are very nice hotels for the other matters. Mixing things is never good.”
'Does he live in this century? Taking your affairs to hotels? Lord, how old fashioned can he be?' “Most people nowadays have relationships and do it at home. Some of the parents were allowing his children to bring their girlfriends home for the night,” Guntram chortled in disbelief.
“Yes, girlfriends, not fiancées. There's a difference.”
“No one does things like that any longer.”
“How long do today's couples last? Half of the marriages dissolve after two years. This is because people don't consider things in advance.”
“And going to a hotel is better? How so?”
“The one you're with understands immediately that you're not seriously taking her or him. If they want something more, they refuse to come with you.”
“No one thinks on those lines, Konrad. You want to do it and you… just do it!”
“Really? Let me ask you a personal question. Where was your first time with Repin? Because he was your first one, right?”
It was Guntram's turn to blush deeply. “I don't see how this can be related to the subject,” he answered nervously.
“Answer the question and allow me to further elaborate.”
“Almost first time in my 19th birthday, in his flat in Buenos Aires and the real one in London, at Ilchester Place. I even saw you that day.”
“Were you ever in a hotel with him?”
“Yes, once for holidays in Montecarlo. Two nights,” Guntram laughed dryly.
“But you were an established couple?”
“We had been together for six months or so.”
“Then, I'm perfectly right in my assumptions. He considered it as a serious game and kept you in the upfront for his men. If you would have been just an adventure, he would have put you in a nice flat in London or taken you to a hotel in Buenos Aires, just to try the merchandise,” Konrad said with a broad smile. “How is it that you saw me in London? I don't remember seeing you.”
Guntram was glad to change the subject and answered quickly. “I was going out with Massaiev and you were arriving to a meeting because of Argentina's default. You were coming out of your car and I stood in the garden as I didn't want you to see me.”
“Why so?”
“You destroyed a full country just to make some money. You smuggled money out of it.”
“This is what he told you? Incredible.”
“Didn't you?”
“No, I lost money like many of us. We are recovering it with the many investments done in the midst of the crisis, but my main interest in the region is Brazil. We provided some solutions for the local oligarchies but nothing else. As usual, Repin was covering my name with mud.”
“Do you know that the soup kitchen where I used to work got no money from the state for five months?
We used to feed two hundred fifty children per day. How do you feel about it?”
“Don't blame me for your own government's lack of efficiency. You elected them, not I. Does this happen in our side?”
“You can't compare Europe with Latin America!”
“Yes, your elites are corrupt to an incredible point, ours are better controlled.”
“We are poor! We don't have any kind of industry! You Europeans kept our people like that!”
“First, you're European and descend from a long line of rulers. Second, don't give me the usual romantic story of ‘we are poor people, sitting on top of one of the richest natural resources country in the world, exploited by you, mean Europeans.’ You all started by selling raw materials in the XIX century. What did you do with the profits?
Industrial development? Infrastructure? Schools? Nothing. The Swedish also started by selling wood and timber in the XIX century but they reinvested their profits and now are a powerful industrial country. Norway's case is very similar.
Japan was a Feudal country till the XIX century. Even Russia and China; both paid a horrible price to become what they're now. Where were the Latin American elites? In Paris.”
Guntram was silent, his brain searching for arguments to refute the banker, but none came. “Still, it doesn't give you the right to go against people who never attacked you.”
“Guntram, if they had a fraction of my power, be sure that they would be against me. I keep a defensive strategy but if I see an opportunity, I seize it. Repin was very glad to be invited to the party and I guess he wants to establish some operative bases in Argentina.”
“You might be right, he was very good friends with Federico's mother, a Senator. I saw many well known people in his house,” Guntram admitted slowly. “They all wanted money from him.”
“That's the usual story for us. No one likes us for ourselves but for our check books, but that's a lesson I refuse to accept or believe in.”
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