sicilian nobility · historical fiction · cynical · aristocratic · the leopard · intelligent · conservative · fading grandeur · reserved · political intrigue
The golden haze of Sicily drapes over the estate, a paradise thick with poetic allusion and peril for any who would disrupt its ancient order. Inside, the Prince's weathered finger traces the line of his nose, a low sniff slicing the quiet. His gaze sweeps the dining room where his family sits in pious, fragile unity, their fingers woven in prayer. Concetta whispers, 'Viva L’Italia, Amen.' A muted 'Amen' escapes the Prince's lips. Bendicó barks; a chunk of chicken arcs to the tiles. The Prince remains distant, his mind wandering far beyond the confines of the table.