Chapter 4: Some family issues

The young woman almost ran out of the mansion after thinking about why that maid was so strange, as if something or someone pushed her from there because of those unspoken words. Making a silent prayer for the Spirits of the Houses, Artemisia almost jumped into the car. Perhaps she should not have rejected the priestess that the mother offered to protect the mansion, at that time the woman would have had a thousand realistic dreams and would have filled the mansion with protective herbs. Sometimes she wanted to beat herself up for being so rebellious.

— One of the maids found something that might be interesting for you, Miss — The driver broke the silence while Artemisia looked at the trees passing like blurs — It's a diary of your great aunt, Mrs. Carmesim was a great writer.

The young woman's gaze quickly rose with what the driver said, it was starting to get interesting.

— My mother never commented on it —She adjusted her gloves between her fingers and sat closer to the driver's seat.

— I can understand why, Miss. — The driver looked at her through the small mirror. — Ms. Noctavia's family is a couple of generations away from the Carmesim’s family.

Artemisia held on so as not to bite her lip, it was somewhat shameful not to know about her own family because of her mother's selfishness. But she only answered in a murmur:

—  Mom didn't tell me that either.

— Oh, in fact the descendants of your family is on the part of Lord Georgino, Mrs. Carmesim loved his nephew, everything was only for his name —Even feeling a pang of longing when he quoted the name of Artemisia's father, curiosity continued to increase.

It was obvious that the mother would not tell anyone that in fact the Carmesim offspring came from Artemisia's father, it would be shameful for her if they discovered the mediocre life she had before the wedding.

— But Dad said that he and my Mother were cousins, I thought she was Aunt Delfine's daughter.

— Oh yes, they were cousins, Miss — The driver looked at her in a nostalgic way, the girl imagined that he used to make that journey with Delfine in the back seat — Ms. Noctavia is from a distant family, they live in the east of the country. It was Mrs. Carmesim who brought the two together at a party to commemorate the debut of her nephew's daughter — The man sighed and soon let out a laugh in the salad without taking his eyes off the road — It's  been many years.

 

Artemisia felt like she was a child again. The family history was almost like taboo, she and the sisters only knew the basics: they were from the Carmesim family, the owner of the largest winery in the country. For the mother it was only really important that the daughters knew they’re like dukes and the family name was always spoken. The gifts of the Artemisia’s sisters were the most beautiful things they could recive, the marriages were also worthy of the name they carried.

The mother always wore it discreetly as an attack for her youngest daughter. What she would never have. But it was very good for Artemisia's day to remember that the inheritance was linked by blood, that's what the father said before he died.

— The family is big, so why has no other Carmesim inherited Aunt Delfine's mansion?  — The girl fixed her handkerchief around her neck and said she was trying not to sound too excited about the history class.

—  Few remained only as Carmesim, — The driver turned the car, giving a beautiful view of the entrance of the city — The family of the east is the Noctavia, also command some wineries of the region, but they lived from the jewels of the family company.  From what your aunt told us, the main family split into five after her great-grandmother's death.

Artemisia mentally noted the names and everything the driver kept saying to do good research at the mansion when he got back from afternoon tea. As the mother never managed to get her hands on the mansion, the girl was sure that the records of everything were there.

— After the Noctavia came the Vinea, then the Rubrum and the Krasi, only the Vinea continued with the tradition of wine, while Rubrum and Krasi were divided between art and exploration. In the end only Delfine continued with the surname Carmesim and said she would only pass the inheritance to another Carmesim.

At dawn, Artemisia was sorry for not having enough imagination to create other scenarios in her dreams, but at that moment she had received so much encouragement that she felt as if the drawings of her head could fly around.

— I don't understand, Carmesim is such a heavy name and present in the elite, why did my great aunt's brothers decide to change their last names? — Before the man answered the girl's mind already imagines thousands of reasons why they wanted to throw a good shovel of land over the past.

—  Ms. Carmesim never told us why, she just regretted it and refused to change her name.

Artemisia felt like reading a book without continuation, where only the author and his mind madly full of ideas knew why everything happened and what would happen if the past were changed. However, like a lamp, the girl's mind lit up when she remembered what started the conversation. Maybe Aunt Delfine wouldn't have taken so many secrets to her grave.

—  Did you say about Aunt Delfine's diary, where is it?  

The driver laughed, he seemed to be as bored in that house as Artemisia was.

—  When we get back, I'll have one of the maids hand to the lady's room — When she finally got to see the houses, shops, and restaurants, the girl knew that the little history lesson was ending  there — I'm sure her aunt's diary and her notes will be much clearer than what this old driver tells.

Artemisia thanked him several times, not least because she could hardly believe she had achieved gold so easily. In addition to understanding the size of the fortune she has, she would also find out why no one took advantage of Delfine's death to change the mansion and assets to her own name. She didn't like the idea of admitting it, but she also wanted to know how to show mom that she's worth more than the woman thinks.

The car stopped at the entrance of the botanical fair, the driver opened the door for the young woman to leave and just gave a nod when she thanked, again.

—  I'll be waiting for you in this very place, when you're ready to go to the afternoon tea just need to meet me — He made a slight bow and fixed the beret on the gray threads.

—  Right— With a gentle smile the girl turned and began the journey to the fair. It was the first time she felt so happy, especially knowing something about her own family.

If months before someone came to Artemisia and told her that knowing more about the family would cheer so much, the young woman would do what she knew best: she would ignore the person and, in the worst cases, call the guards of the mansion. Knowing that the blood that runs through her veins, passing through every part of her body, was so valuable, she would be able to understand why her father always had more affection for her.