28 The Apology

The sun was slowly setting down and the sky above Canahs was slowly turning red. Victor was starting with the hardest conversation since coming into this world.

"I... I'm sorry. I did not assess your position and the problems you faced correctly. I failed you as a partner and worse of all I failed you as a friend. But there is no way back now. I hope you accept my apology, but I would not think less of you if you wanted to severe our relationship from now on."

Oberyn was slightly shaking. After gathering himself for a moment he stated his final decision. 

"I will leave Lys and the Red Viper Regiment for now. I will need some distance from everything to reflect on what happened over the last year and how to move forward. I will go back to Dorne and support my mother and take care of my siblings, if they need me too." Oberyn stated his intentions in a low mood.

"As for our relationship, at first I was really disappointed with how you treated me. I was aggrieved but I also realized that I might expected too much of you. A little distance and reflection will help the both of us to grow. Hopefully we will both be more mature and steadier once we meet again. But the Red Viper and the Fox of Lys will still be partners in the future, I am sure of that." As Oberyn finished his statement his low mood finally turned into a little smile.

Victor was visibly moved. He didn't expect Oberyn to be so sensitive and to talk about his feelings. Victor always had the image of Oberyn in the series of Game of Thrones in his mind. A person that went through many experiences that the current Oberyn never had. A person significantly older and more mature. A father of many children. But the Oberyn in front of him was just 17 and was close to losing the only real friend he ever had. The only relationship he was truly loyal to except for his family. Victor was moved and his eyes were a little teary.

"Don't worry Victor. Just grow up and someday we will see each other again. There is still long life ahead of us. Till we meet again, my friend."

After that Oberyn stood up and slowly left the courtyard. Nobody stopped his movements anymore. He showered in his villa and went to sleep in peace, The next day he to Oberyn's parents to say goodbye and thanked them for all House Di Natale did for him, but he had to leave and go back to his own family. He would visit them again in a few years and wished everybody good health. Afterwards he went straight to the port without talking to Victor again. But deep down he knew that somewhere behind him the little genius of Lys was watching his back. A little smile was slowly reaching his face and the charismatic and naughty Oberyn was slowly returning. Even though Victors move angered him a lot, as a big brother he had to endure the quirks of the little fox. 

But one thing didn't change even after the dispute. He valued the opinion of Victor Di Natale a lot. If he thought his sister would die soon, then she would at least face a very dangerous situation in the next few years. He had to go back and investigate. The only hint he had was Victor talking about her marriage. But he didn't know how valuable this clue was. His mother had no new engagement target after Tywin Lannister refused to marry Elia and Jamie Lannister. He will have a lot to do once he returns to Dorne.

Victor was observing the ship sailing away slowly. He was feeling a little lost. The past few days showed him that even after nearly six years he still didn't have the right perspective on his new life. He didn't see himself as a real person outside of the family time he spent. He still viewed all the people he heard about in his past life as more of a game character than a always changing real person with emotional ties.

He made up his mind to stop his involvement with Westeros and Essos for a while. It was a similar situation as the first time he was fed up with chemistry after inviting his first drug.

In the evening he invited his grandparents, parents and his little sister to his courtyard and made a family dinner with his own hands. Everybody was a little curious, even the small Giulia. Her brother never did something like this before. Isabella was even a little scared as this was nothing like the Victor she knew. As a mother she of course knew what happened to her son and Oberyn. Don't underestimate the lady of House Di Natale. Even though she never showed her edge Isabella was managing a large amount of people within the real estate of House Di Natale. There are thousands of maids and servants, and all of the important chief stewards are reporting to her on a daily basis. She knows absolutely everything that is happening on ground owned by the Di Natale family, even better than the male leaders of the family.

She somehow understood what caused the change of Victor, but she didn't know yet in what direction the change would lead and whether it was a good or bad change.

Victor didn't lait her wait for too long. After finishing the meal and seeing Giulia being led away by a maid to take a rest, he started explaining his current mood to his elders.

"I am sure all of you are aware of what happened to me in the last few days. It made me realize that I still lack many things and didn't handle my interpersonal relations correctly in the past. In the end no matter how smart or mature I seem to be, I simply lack a lot of common knowledge and common courtesy of this world. In the next few years, I will stop expanding and contain my novel ideas. I will focus on being with you all and taking on a new major responsibility. Being a good brother for Giulia and my future siblings."

His mother turned a little red after Victor paused for a while. Everybody looked at her at once. Amando Di Natale realized after a few seconds. He started laughing and gently hugged his wife. Emilio and Suzanne were happily watching at the side. Their family was evolving and growing in numbers, all healthy and in peace. There was simply nothing better than this. After everybody enjoyed a few happy minutes, Victor continued.

"I will focus on taking history classes next. Learn about how the world used to be and try to learn from it. I will learn about the noble Houses of Westeros and their relationships. This time I nearly insulted House Martell deeply. If not for my age Oberyn might have become the enemy of House Di Natale. Something similar is not allowed to happen again."

After Victor concluded his speech, the family stayed together for a few more hours and afterwards went to rest. This was one of the happiest evening meals in House Di Natale in the last few years. And the years after were full of family happiness and calm development. The people of Westeros and Essos seemed to forget the House Di Natale that was quite famous for a short period of time.