I Will Love You

Chapter 4- Nicholas

Another lunch like everyone else, in silence, but this time we have a visitor,I don’t even know if it can be considered a visit, since now will participate in my daily life.

I don’t even remember the last time I had a fun lunch, it was probably many years before my parents died, the day everything changed. But I remember with all the details of Mom entertaining me and Sipp in the living room, while Dad was traveling or locked in his office solving things of his position, we were too agitated, so she’d invent something with dragons, dinosaurs, wars and castles, until lunch is ready and even at the table me and Sipp still gave continuity to our adventure in the cursed forest, decimating all the trolls who lived there, evil trolls, of course. Dad used to take his time, but when he joined us at the table, all the fun was over. Sometimes I see him in Sipp...

My father was a cold man, and little present, always gave more attention to work than the family, with the justification that it put bread on our table, But it was only growing up that I could understand that only the fact that he existed already put the bread on our table and it makes me sad to know that Sipp always admired him and is becoming his version, but what comforts me is that Diana is not affected by it, he always treated her very well.

I look away at the guest, her low head focused on the dish in front of her, her light brown hair falling over her shoulders. She intrigues me, because as far as I know, she and Diana have a third sister, so why come to Spiez’s coldest home? What’s going on in that head of yours?

I shake my head quickly turning my attention to the dish, trying to eat a few more spoonfuls, but I’ve lost my appetite. Before I lay the cutlery on the plate, I hear Sipp’s thick voice.

- I’m glad you’re already eating! - He says walking to the end of the table. - Lily, have you seen our house?

I raise my head to her. The first time I saw her I was surprised with green eyes identical to those of Diana, and with a pink mouth without passing anything. The Meyer genetics are a blessing.

- Not much! - She says quickly.

I’m sorry she was sent here, you can feel her discomfort in being here.

- I can show you dear, so you don’t get lost... - Diana is ready.

- Diana, have you forgotten that we are planning a welcome dinner for her?

And there goes the surprise. There’s no way you can’t hear Diana when she’s excited about something, it’s almost a challenge as she comes out humming about it to the whole house.

- It was surprising. - The poor woman says with a low voice.

- I can meet by myself. -Lily rushes to relieve her sister.

The silence again takes over the room, all focused on the dish in front of you, and probably only Sipp with enough appetite to eat amid all this discomfort. I hear the sound of the silverware touching the plate, and I can already imagine who it is...

- Diana, where the library is that you mentioned earlier? 

Diana directs her and soon Lily is far enough away from this discomfort. I take a deep breath knowing what comes next, time for the family discussion.

Another sound of silverware touching the plate, I raise my head, facing Diana and her expression of sadness and dissatisfaction, her green eyes stare at mine for a few seconds and then focus on my brother, eating quietly, as if nothing had happened. Rest my spoon on the porcelain dish with some designs.

- No one else will leave this table! - Sipp says.

I roll my eyes already rising, ignoring my older brother’s command.

- Did you hear me Nicholas? - He repeats.

- Enough! - Diana interrupts the discussion that was about to begin. - Can’t you even stay in the same room without causing discomfort to other people? You act like two kids all day long, and I agree to live with that, but it’s not fair that Lily has to accept that, either. - Diana gets angry. - Sipp you spoiled my surprise, the dinner was a surprise to Lily and now no longer, if you could see what I see you would immediately stop what you’re doing, because they don’t look like two men who hold a great position in society, they look like children who have been unable to grow up.

The woman sighs relaxing her shoulders.

- My sister is here and will be spending a lot of time, today should be a happy day, but of course the Schimidt brothers would ruin it!

Below my head hearing the annoying noise of Diana’s heels hitting the floor of the floor. I take the opportunity to leave too, before Sipp wants to start another discussion and blame me for Diana’s behavior, since that’s what he does best, blame me for things that are not in my control.

I confess that my expectations for Lily’s arrival were that she would change this entire house, make us more harmonious, considering all the pertinent comments that Diana made about her little sister, but I see that she will be another victim of the Schimidt mansion, One more where joy will be overcome by unhappiness and stress, because that’s all there is in this house.

I walk to the library, where I imagine my tenant will be, she should have the "unhappiness of knowing me," as Sipp said. I see the door open and I lean against the doorframe, looking at the enchanted girl with the amount of books on the shelves, I imagine she’s as boring as Diana.

- "The Fortunes of Perkin Warbeck" is a great book, a very captivating novel. - I mean walking to the shelf.

I remove the book, I look at the dust on the cover proving that long ago someone did not take it off the shelf, blowing it taking a good part of the dust and giving visibility to the beautiful cover where it shows the character Perkin Warbeck. I approach Lily stretching out her book, she stares at me with a look of curiosity and then takes the book out of my hands.

- I have already opened this entire library in my moments of boredom. - I say looking at some other books. - I know all the great works you have here.

- Not modest of you to say that Nicholas.- Lily turns her back on me by going to one of the armchairs in the center of the room. - Maybe you don’t know what great works are...

I release a low laugh sitting in the armchair next to you. I watch your hands go through the cover before opening it.

- I know what great works are, I am a very intelligent and unpredictable man, as well as a great adventurer, Miss Meyer.

Her beautiful green eyes stare at me, she smiles on her side closing the book and putting it on her lap.

- Adventurer? - She asks. - Have you ever killed a dragon?

I sit back in the armchair upholstery relaxed.

- No, but I’ve ridden a white horse!

Lily laughs sarcastically turning her attention to the book.

- For then you are just another ordinary man! - She says quietly. - What is the point of riding on a white horse if you do not wield a sword of steel and face a dragon? I recommend you take adventurer off your resume Mr Schimidt, it’s a fraud!

I’m amazed at Lily’s sharp tongue, who would have thought Diana’s little sister would know how to beat a man so well.

- And have you ever killed a dragon?

I get up walking to a specific shelf, looking for the book "Emma" by Jane Austen, I believe that that mind full of good arguments will like that kind of book. As soon as I find him, I turn back to the girl and position myself in front of the center table.

- No, but if I had the chance I would! - He answers without much interest.

- I think I should exchange "The Fortunes of Perkin Warbeck" for "Emma" by Jane Austen.- I put the book on the table. - Good reading, lady "I would kill a dragon".

Lily laughs by closing the book in her hand and staring at the book on the table, she makes the switch and then stares at me again with those mesmerizing eyes.

- Thank you sir "I’ve ridden a white horse"!