Laughter bubbled up behind him.
Cesare paused and turned toward the sound.
There, near the lake at the heart of the garden, his eldest son, Rida, was playfully chasing his younger sister, Sara, who squealed with delight as she ran.
Oblivious to the nearby security guards, the children darted around, lost in their own joy.
Watching them, Cesare called out.
“Rida, Sara!”
Their responses couldn’t have been more different, a reflection of their contrasting personalities.
Sara, beaming with an angelic smile, sprinted over on her short legs.
“Yes, Papa!”
Rida, however, kept a watchful eye on his sister in case she fell, then glanced up at one of the bodyguards.
The guard, well-acquainted with Rida’s quiet way of signaling for help, quickly stepped in front of Sara to slow her down.
“Princess, this is the palace. You mustn’t run here.”
Sara stopped just short of reaching her father.
Her wide blue eyes—so much like Cesare’s—blinked in surprise at the guard’s words.