((Secret))
The old mansion still kept its form, even after all these years of torture. The D'Ambrosio estate had seen a lot over the fifty years since Giovanni D'Ambrosio's death removed the family from these grounds. However it had such a lush history, a history full of tragedy, change, and reform. After Giovanni's death, the estate was used by troops of King Victor Emanuel II as a base to push further into Cagliari. It was said that the King himself took up residence for a time in the "House of the enemy". After the unification, the estate was placed in the hands of the Palma family, who can trace their blood to a one Baron Augustus Palma, now Counts of Cagliari. The Palma family, having lost a family member in the Roman Revolution, served the King well, and were members of the IPC. In 1886, the First Anarchy swept through Cagliari, and claimed many nobles, but the Palma family was sparred. No longer true Counts, the mansion was still their home. They lived their managing the estate through Alliata and Balbo. It was not till the communist rebellion that things got ugly. Communist forces executed many Palma family members, and looted the estate. It managed to be repair in record time, but the Second Anarchy made sure that whoever occupied the estate would be butchered. The Palma family fled the country, and the estate became bare.
Federico looked at the estate as repairmen were hard at work fixing the interior and exterior. It was a sight to behold. It was said that their were separate parts of the house that no flame or bomb touched, but Federico would wait to explore those. The house began to look like it was when Giovanni last lived their, and Federico was proud of it. The repair team even managed to recover an old painting of Giovanni D'Ambrosio, and hung it on the wall. Federico walked over to it, and observed it. He was the last man of the D'Ambrosio line. Federico did not know much of his grandfather, for his father never really talked about him. Federico examined the painting.
"This place is indeed more spacious then any living quarter I have ever lived in." ranged the voice followed by the clank of a cane. Federico turned around to see the man who spoke.
"I was wondering when you would show up, father." replied Federico.
Nathan Fabron walked over to his son, and stood by him, resting his hands on his cane. The fifty-three year old man was still alive and kicking and well. Besides some leg problems he was healthy. "I never knew your grandfather, son. I was raised by your grandmother, who died right before I came to Italy. All that I knew about your grandfather was through your grandmother." said Nathan. Federico continued to look at the painting.
"Do you know how he died?" asked Nathan.
"No" replied Federico.
"Murdered, in cold blood, by someone he trusted, someone he thought was loyal to him. He was betrayed by someone who was with him in his endeavors to lead the Romans." said Nathan. "Death came to him from a place he did not expect."
"I assume you have some sort of lesson attached to this?" asked Federico.
"Trust is something to use sparingly. Your friends in the government reward you with titles and honors and medals, but when things begin to look bad, their true colors will begin to show. My grandfather learned that the hard way, as did my father, and as did I. I pray that your "order" and "stability" do not come at the cost of freedom, for lack of freedom brings down everything." said Nathan. "Including lives."
"That is something in which you never understood. You cant let freedom run wild, you have to control it, you have to put stability and order above freedom, else everything will die." said Federico.
"Pray that you do not have to flee the country because of something you supported, pray you do not have to be like your brother!" said Nathan. Giovanni Fabron fled the country after the fall of communism, and hasnt been seen since. "Son, there will be a time when you will have to make a choice, between those above you, and those below you. You will have to choose to honor your superiors, or hand yourself over to the will of the people. Each one shall have consequences and rewards." said Nathan. He patted Federico on the shoulder, and walked out of the mansion.
Federico looked up at the painting. "I am not an idealist, and I will not be killed like my ancestors." he thought.
