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54: The Language of Proximity

Author: Pann Ludovica
last update Last Updated: 2025-02-14 22:36:27

POV: Beatrice

My mouth was dry, a dull nausea settling in my stomach, but it was manageable. I watched him, trying to untangle the mix of emotions tightening in my chest. Seeing him so at ease in Esposito’s mansion, in a bed that wasn’t ours—should this bother him as much as it did me? Should I say something? Instead, I asked,

"Why are you fluent in Italian? Nitta and Fukui aren’t."

Ryuu’s brow lifted slightly, caught off guard by the sudden shift in conversation.

"How do you know that?"

"They never understand Mena when she talks to them," I said, remembering the blank look on Nitta’s face whenever our housekeeper scolded him in rapid Italian. "Fukui knows a little, but Nitta… I don’t think I’ve ever heard him say a single word."

Ryuu smirked.

"When Suniza married into the family, she barely noticed me. I was mostly raised by the staff—Italian staff. And my mother was Italian, so the language was always there. I think they spoke better Italian than English."

"But you don
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