Chapter XXXIII: It Seems I'm Not Alone

I arrived at the Seminary in Targoviste around 6:00 p.m. To my surprise, all the students, professors, priests, and nuns were gathered inside, waiting for me. Furthermore, there were also Cesare and the king... Wait, what is Gabriel doing here? Never mind.

After the students, professors, and others sang an impressive "Welcome to our midst...", I was embraced and congratulated by everyone present. It was quite emotional, I must say.

"Um, A-Antonio... We haven't seen each other in a long time, have we?"

"Since the end of college, I believe, Michael..."

Everyone gathered in the seminary's hallway was amazed. Even Cesare was surprised by the brief dialogue between me and Michael...

"Michael, I'd like to talk about something with you... Tomorrow, not today... That is if the offer from a few years ago in the library still stands..."

"S-Sure... But, how-"

"As I was saying," I interrupted, "thank you all for the warm welcome and the surprise celebration on my birthday... As you know, I think it's best if we start the evening with a Mass, don't you think?"

"Y-Yes... We just finished preparing everything and were waiting for you," the rector said.

"Oh... I'm really glad. By the way, I haven't seen Benjamin, the boy at the entrance this morning..."

"He's getting ready for the Mass, Father... Would you like to see him?"

"No... It's enough to see him during the Mass. Anyway, let's go!"

We walked together with the others up to the seminary's chapel. The chapel, although small, was not spacious enough for the gathered crowd. People of all ages occupied the seats, with the front rows reserved for the royal family and other nobles.

We went to the seminary's sacristy, the place where priests prepare for the Mass, and there I met Benjamin, which made me even happier.

"Benjamin, I'm glad you'll be serving today. I'm really curious to hear your voice..."

"F-Father Antonio, you make me feel embarrassed. Anyway, happy birthday again..."

"Oh, thank you again for that... Anyway, I think the most beautiful gift you could give me is to hear your voice singing tonight..."

"I-I'll try not to disappoint you..."

Well, then I proceeded to dress in the liturgical vestments, which were quite expensive... Of course, the seminary couldn't have bought them, right?

"Cesare, do you happen to know where these vestments are from?"

"Do you like them, Antonio?"

"Hm, what can I say... Your gift really made you seem more important in my eyes..."

We walked together towards the chapel where the ceremony was going to take place. To be honest, there was a procession of 20-30 priests formed, led by the master of ceremonies and Benjamin together with a fellow seminarian as the altar servers.

"Michael... Will you stay in right, you agree?"

"I-I will, if you say so... I will comply..."

Hmm, if I want to be the examiner for Benjamin's examination, I need to first convince Michael to let me replace him. I know he would do anything to get my attention and spend a night with me. Interesting and quite exciting, I must say...

We arrived, kneeling before the altar. After incensing the altar, I sat on the central throne and began the ceremony.

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

"Amen."

"Your Majesty, Your Eminence, dear fellow priests, beloved seminarians, and dear faithful, today marks 26 years since a boy was born in a village in Wallachia. A rather unimportant one for that time, like many others. The father of that boy abandoned him when he was only 4 years old, leaving him to live with his mother and grandmother. Then, when the child became an adolescent, his mother also left, and he was left in the care of a violent aunt, eventually ending up living in the house of nobles. Father Iulius, your future bishop, took the young man into his house, and his parents raised him as their own child. That child became a priest, a canon, and an ecclesiastical judge, and now... stands before you, known to you as Antonio..."

The entire audience began to shed tears. No one, except for me, Iulius, and Michael, knew about my past. But everything is in the past, right?

After the opening prayers and the beautiful songs sung in a solemn tone by the seminary choir led by my former music teacher, it was time for Benjamin to read the scripture. His angelic voice reminded me of Benjamin, my colleague and my dearest friend whom I miss so much.

However, as he was about to start singing the psalm, he was overwhelmed by emotions and started crying. Michael looked at him sternly, just like the other priests, which made him feel even more ashamed. It can't end like this... Just as Benjamin, my companion from the world I came from, saved me, I will save this Benjamin.

I went to him and embraced him. Feeling my embrace, he began to cry, his tears wetting my clothes already.

"Calm down, Benjamin... Everything is fine. I'm here with you," I whispered.

"B-But... I don't know how to sing so well and-"

"I don't need perfection... I just want to hear your voice. Who knows, maybe you'll get an extra point on your law exam, don't you think?"

"But-"

"No... Come on, calm down and sing..."

After he calmed down, I returned to my place and sat down. What followed, I will not forget anytime soon. That extremely emotional angelic voice trembling, trying to sing the liturgical text as best as possible, reminded me even more of my friend whom I don't know if I will ever see again, and all the things he did to protect me, often rejecting him... I started crying, which surprised everyone. In the end, Michael read the Gospel, and Iulius said a few words about me.

"Today is about Antonio. Future Cardinal Antonio... My colleague Antonio. I can be proud that I had Antonio by my side for a full 6 years, and we became not only friends but brothers. Even though my family was noble and his was simpler, that didn't matter to us. Honestly, I wish I could thank Heaven for having such a good brother like him, and today, as you all pray for him, I want to join these intentions. Happy birthday, Antonio... Don't forget about us when you reach the Vatican..."

After Iulius's speech, we continued the Mass, and it was my duty to offer the Eucharist to those present, starting with Benjamin. Honestly, I will take care of him as long as he stays here. Why? Because he resembles Benjamin, my former classmate... So much so that it makes me not miss him when I'm around him.

It seems I'm not so alone after all, right? What matters is that after the Mass, there was a birthday party where all the priests, seminarians, and nobles, along with the king, were invited.

At the party, after everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to me, the attendees gave me various gifts. Some gave icons, others gave collector's wine bottles, some gave watches and rings, and others gave various works of art. However, the most impressive gift was from Benjamin. What did he give me? Hmm, I would have never believed this...

He gave me a life-sized portrait of myself, holding a scepter in my right hand and a skull in my left hand. Why a skull? I guess it's because of what happened a few days ago, right? However, even the portrait painted by the artist hired by Marcus was not as realistic as Benjamin's. He had painted it with such detail, capturing every single vein in my body, including the white strand of hair that had grown without me even realizing it. Plus, besides that, my portrait was surrounded by a halo of light, as if I were a saint in a painting.

"Benjamin, did you paint this?"

"Y-Yes... If you don't like it, then-"

"Well, I don't like it..."

I could sense that Benjamin was on the verge of tears, so I approached him and whispered, "I don't just like it, I adore it. Your gift is the most beautiful gift I have ever received..."

"R-Really?"

"Do you dare not believe me?"

"Well, I'm just amazed at how much you appreciate it. Honestly-"

Our conversation was interrupted by King Gabriel, who came with a gift of his own... I'm really curious about what he brought me... Gabriel knelt, and I caressed his head, asking him to rise. I waited for him to open the gift, and when he did, I noticed that there were precious gemstones and extremely rare pearls in a box. Additionally, the other gift contained a sword that appeared to be extremely valuable.

"Your Majesty, there really was no need, don't you think?"

"I believe there was a need. I knew that all the royal painters couldn't capture your beauty the way Benjamin did, so I decided to bring you something symbolic. Also, tomorrow you are summoned to the imperial palace to be appointed Duke of Targoviste."

"But-"

"I don't accept refusals... Oh, yes... I believe you haven't forgotten our conversation, have you?"

"No... Of course..."

Furthermore, Cesare himself had a gift for me... Hmm, a new cassock?

"Antonio, you know... My last gift was destroyed by the power of the demon Azazel. Well, I decided to get you another gift... A Monsignor's cassock. What do you say... Will you accept it?"

"Of course, yes... Thank you so much for everything. Especially for saving me when I was about to be ordained bishop..."

Marcus was sitting thoughtfully at a table with another priest... Wait, that's Claudius, right?

"Marcus, are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine... Anyway, I will give you my gift after the party or tomorrow... You know, I couldn't bring it here..."

"I can't wait to see it. Oh, hello, Claudius, it's been a while..."

"You're right, Father... Happy birthday..."

"Thank you very much. Also, thank you for the statue of my patron saint that you gave me..."

"Father, may I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"Do you think Iulius hates me?"

"Why do you ask?"

"He's been acting strange for a few days, and I really don't want him to treat me like this..."

"Seriously? I don't believe hatred is the feeling he has... On the contrary..."

"You mean to say that-"

"Yes, actually, he believes that you hate him..."

"Why would I do that? Actually, I love him-"

"Why don't you tell him?"

"I'm afraid to do that... Especially now that he's been appointed bishop and-"

"Julius loves you more than you think, so everything will work out, right?"

"S-Sure... I just hope it won't-"

"You have nothing to fear... If you're worried about being excommunicated, well, if it's about Julius, you have nothing to worry about..."

I thought everything would be calm until a very strange person arrived. Who? Vlad himself... The vampire feared by all.

When people saw him, they started to fear so much that I could barely calm them down. It seems Vlad had a gift for me as well.

"Hm, what gift do you have?"

"Well, this is for you..."

"Oh, a bottle of 'wine,' hmm..."

"It's not wine, it's-"

"I know what it is... Are you trying to expose me as a vampire or something?" I whispered to him quietly.

"I apologize..."

To everyone's surprise, Vlad knelt in front of me and kissed the ring on my right hand, a sign of total submission. Even the king was frightened, but I managed to somehow calm him down. Apart from this incident, nothing else happened.

After the party ended and almost everyone left, I remained alone. Cesare got drunk and went home escorted by Marcus, and the king left for the same reason.

After the party ended, I was left alone with my thoughts and a glass of wine. To my surprise, Benjamin was still there.

"Aren't you going to bed?"

"I-I can't leave you alone, don't you think?"

"Don't you have an exam tomorrow?"

"No... I have it on Thursday... So, I still have two days until then..."

"Would you like to drink with me?"

"Sure... I'm actually quite strong when it comes to drinking..."

After a few glasses, I started talking nonsense, which made Benjamin feel embarrassed.

"Have you ever painted nudes?"

"I-I haven't... Why?"

"You could start. I see that you're skilled in anatomy and-"

"I don't think I can... Anyway, who would want that?"

"I would... If you don't mind... Who knows, if I like the painting you create, maybe I'll take you with me to Rome."

"Seriously? But-"

"It doesn't matter... Anyway, if you agree, maybe after the exam, before I leave, you'll do it, right?"

"Yes... Father, are you okay?"

Everything went black. It seems I'm not that strong when it comes to drinking, right?