Chapter 52
Vico
No matter where we are. And no matter what we do. As long as we are with the ones we love with all our hearts and savor the beautiful moments to the fullest, we will be happy.
Hanna's last words resonate within me as I lose myself in her glowing sea-green eyes. I feel no fear. Only love—for this incredible woman.
She places her hand on her heart, and I immediately notice the absence of the engagement ring on her finger. Although I don't know what happened, I understand its significance.
"All the freedom you love, I want to live with you. Yet we will never be without a home," she speaks loudly, ensuring everyone in the room can hear.
Gradually, the audience awakens from their trance, blinking to find themselves again. But neither Hanna nor I pay attention to them. It's as if only the two of us are here.
Without taking my eyes off her, I approach. We draw closer to each other. "My greatest love is not freedom," I smile at her, and she radiates back. Then with my heart pounding, I step onto the stage beside her. "It's you."
Confused, she tilts her head. "You mean…"
I nod. "Let's restore the estate to its former glory together."
She takes a step forward, our upper bodies touching. A tingling sensation spreads through me, just like that first time we met. I reach out my hands and do what I've dreamed of for so long. I gently cup her head and pull her closer.
Our noses touch, her warm breath brushes against my lips. She lowers her eyelids, and I do the same.
Seconds later, we lose ourselves in a kiss like I've never experienced before. It carries everything my heart desires.
I surrender to her closeness, unable to get enough of her soft lips and the scent of her skin. My hands roam from her shoulders down, I wrap my arms around her, holding her tight, so she knows I will never let her go.
Around us, applause breaks out, along with some whistles.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please," someone says soothingly. "Shall we continue?"
Reluctantly, I break away from Hanna. I've waited so long for this kiss, and even though I know countless more will follow, I don't want to let her go. I trail my mouth to her ear. "That was incredible," I breathe, and I don't just mean the kiss, but also what she has accomplished here in the last few minutes.
I can imagine how much courage it took for her to display her talent. But she did it. And the enthusiastic reactions of the people around us are not just due to our performance on stage.
Tenderly, I stroke her cheek. "You're not a dreamer," I say earnestly. "You're a visionary."
As if she's only just realizing where she is and what she has accomplished, Hanna covers her mouth with her hands. With tears in her eyes, she looks at the audience, who rise from their seats, applauding even more vigorously. I step back and gesture a bow.
This woman is as unique as each of the worlds in her mind, and everyone here can see that.
"I request for silence," the young man with the nickel glasses tries to calm the audience again. "Prego, Signore e Signori."
Hanna reaches for my hand and pulls me along to the standing table where she held her presentation earlier. There, we wait until the audience settles down, and the head of the allocation committee speaks up.
"Signora Olivetta," he says, looking over his glasses at us. I like that he addresses Hanna this way. "Thank you for your—let's call it extraordinary—project presentation. If you submit it in writing, we will review it."
So he can't approve the funding yet. Not now. I quickly glance at my sisters and nod encouragingly. Even if the review turns out negative, they must not think this is a lost cause. Because it can't be, after all, I have plans for how we can revitalize the estate even without funding.
"With pleasure," Hanna says firmly beside me, reaching for the funding application to hand it over.
At the bottom, I notice my father's signature. I quickly take the application from her. "Just a moment, there's a small mistake here."
With an apologetic smile, I dash to the committee and ask the lady with the red-painted lips for her pen. The confusion is evident on her face, but she hands me the ballpoint pen, with which I then write my own name next to my father's on the application.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Hanna tilting her head in question. She can't see what I'm writing, but once this is done, I'll tell her everything. Smirking, I hand the completed form to the juror. A smile flashes across the man's face. He lowers his gaze and studies it for a moment.
I can feel the tension in the air. Not just my own, but also Hanna's and the people in the audience.
With a prolonged clearing of his throat, the head of the jury captures everyone's attention. "Well, I'm sure there will be no reason to exclude you from the funding," he says with an approving nod.
Immediately, thunderous applause erupts again. The people in this room don't know us, yet they cheer us on as if their hearts are just as invested in the future of the estate as ours.
"My God, I think we did it," Hanna says, looking stunned.
I wrap my arms around her, lift her up, and spin her around. A liberated cheer escapes her lips, and I feel that from now on, things will only get better.
"This calls for a celebration," Camilla announces joyfully. Suddenly, they—Pietro, Alessia, and a blond woman I've never seen before—are right beside us.
Carefully, I put Hanna back down and stroke her forehead. Now that we can finally be together, I never want to let her go again. "What do you think?"
Hanna's eyes shine. "Definitely."
With Hanna in my arms and the unending jubilation of the audience, I leave the hall. I don't leave her side all the way back to Collina da sogno, and when we arrive there, I don't waste time asking for my father's permission. I simply take him with us to the Ristorante to celebrate.
The next hours are spent exactly where I belong—among the people who mean the most to me.
At the side of the woman who saved me from myself.
Late in the evening, I call for silence and raise my wineglass. "To Hanna."
Hanna's friend Elina lets out an enthusiastic whistle. Camilla and Alessia applaud while Pietro smirks knowingly, and I can already guess what he's thinking.
He was right. About everything.
"To both of you," he calls out loudly, and the others immediately join in. Even my father nods imperceptibly.
"And may all your wishes come true," Camilla adds, her eyes glistening with tears.
They will. I've never been more certain of anything in my life.
Confidently, I turn to Hanna and pull her into my arms. "What colors do our wishes have?" I ask her even though I already know the answer.
Her lips curve into a relieved smile. "All the colors of this world."