CHAPTER - 166

  Dav, observing Lucrezia sleeping so deeply, allowed himself a rare moment of peace.

  His breathing slowed, and closing his eyes, he surrendered to that muffled silence, lulled by the warm presence beside her.

  Minutes turned into a full hour of quiet, interrupted, however, by an annoying sound.

  A persistent, rhythmic, almost angry knocking.

  "TUM TUM TUM!"

  “Damn it, wake up! It’s important!!”

  The voice tore through the air like lightning, followed by another sharp knock on the door.

  Director Vittorio De Santis was nearly about to break it down with his shoulder, eyes wide, with Rugerus at his side, barely holding back a laugh.

  The contrast between his composure and the director’s theatrical agitation was almost comical.

  “To hell with it! I’m breaking it down!”

  shouted Vittorio, casting a furious but also somewhat comical glance at Rugerus, who raised his hands in mock alarm.

  Finally, the door opened slowly, creaking.

  Dav appeared with tousled hair, half-closed eyes, and a yawn halfway through.

  He looked at the two with an expression between annoyed and sleepy.

  “Old man, I was sleeping...

  What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”

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  The director didn’t waste any time:

  “We have an important visitor!

  A royal messenger is here and looking for you!

  Get moving to handle the matter!”

  But Dav, with the face of someone who had decided the world could go to hell, slowly closed the door in the director’s face and went back to bed without saying

  another word.

  The director stood there, lips tight and eyes fixed on the door.

  Then he started knocking again, louder, with growing frustration.

  “Damn it! Did you even hear what I said!?”

  Rugerus, this time, couldn’t hold back.

  He laughed quietly, almost tenderly, as he looked at the director’s exasperated expression.

  “Perhaps we should let him rest a bit more,”

  said Rugerus, turning away.

  “I don’t think he’ll come out. After all, he’s been working a lot lately.”

  Two hours later, the room was still immersed in a soft calm.

  Dav woke up, stretching slowly.

  Lucrezia still curled up on him, a bubble of air emerging from her nose, threatening to burst.

  And it did, just as he opened his eyes.

  Watching her sleep, Dav smiled faintly and rubbed his eyelids.

  “She really does sleep peacefully…

  maybe her work keeps her up for long hours.”

  With slow movements, he got up without waking her and headed to the bathroom.

  He washed his face, fixed his hair with his fingers, and, with renewed resignation, prepared to face what awaited him.

  When he stepped out, the sun was already setting.

  Classes were over, and the evening air of the academy carried a sense of calm.

  His first stop was the cafeteria.

  As he entered, Dav immediately noticed Director Vittorio sitting at a table with an elegant man dressed in the official uniform: red, white, and green, the colors of Italy.

  He wore round glasses and had a formal yet attentive demeanor.

  Dav pretended not to see them and instead approached the counter.

  “Iris?” he asked, scanning the kitchen interior.

  It was Mrs. Margherita who greeted him with a big smile.

  “Good evening, dear! How are you?”

  “I don’t see Iris, Mrs. Margherita,”

  he said, his voice still thick with sleep.

  “Oh, she’s helping Selene with Valeria to tidy up her room.

  I believe they’re doing laundry together and helping her not to overexert herself,”

  the woman replied sweetly, as if speaking to a son.

  Dav gave a tired smile and leaned on the counter.

  “I see...

  Could I have a coffee, if you don’t mind?”

  “Of course, right away!”

  she replied enthusiastically, already ready behind the machine.

  While waiting, Dav closed his eyes for a moment, letting himself be carried away by the familiar aroma of coffee rising in the air.

  When the cup was in front of him, he took it and drank it in one gulp, like a necessary elixir for survival.

  Then, without turning too much, he glanced out of the corner of his eye at the two sitting at the table.

  The director was staring at him.

  The messenger observed him with a studied calm.

  But Dav, still half-asleep, remained leaning on the counter, enjoying those few seconds of respite before duty came knocking again.

  This time, perhaps, with fewer shouts.

  END OF CHAPTER - 166