Chapter LXII: The Last Day in Wallachia  

The next day I woke up more tired than usual. I realized that this fatigue was due to the intense activities I had undertaken with Cesare the previous day. Honestly, I felt that I needed some rest today, but time was not on my side. Cesare was still asleep, so I decided not to wake him.

I walked slowly to the bathroom to bathe and calm myself after the previous night's exertions. I couldn't imagine now what I would do without him or without someone by my side. In any case, I had never thought that a pure priest, held as an example of purity, would change so dramatically overnight.

After bathing and relaxing from the previous night, I returned to my office. Cesare was still not awake, so I dressed in my clerical clothes and kissed him on the forehead to wake him. Today, we were to celebrate the farewell Mass together before heading to the Vatican.

"Antonio, are you awake?" Cesare said sleepily.