☆Chapter 25: A Tour Fit for a De Luca☆

Exploring History in De Luca Style.

With the entire museum rented out, Seraphina, Lorenzo, Matteo, and Lucian continued their tour, their footsteps echoing through the empty halls.

Seraphina, now fully energized, ran ahead to the next exhibit, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Papa! Look! It's a knight's armor!"

Lorenzo, hands in his pockets, strode forward while Matteo lazily trailed behind him.

Lucian, still feeling the weight of his conversation with Lorenzo earlier, kept a careful distance—partly out of respect, mostly out of fear.

Seraphina stood in front of a massive medieval armor display, eyes wide in fascination.

"Matteo! Do you think I could wear this?"

Matteo smirked, crossing his arms.

"You'd probably fall over, princess. That thing weighs more than you."

Seraphina pouted.

Lorenzo, however, was eyeing something else.

A sword. Ancient, well-crafted, its blade lined with delicate engravings.

He tapped the information plaque beside it.

"…16th-century broadsword. Once wielded by a Sicilian warlord."

Matteo raised a brow.

"Sounds like something you'd collect."

Lorenzo gave him a look.

"I already did. This is a duplicate."

Matteo let out a low whistle.

Seraphina, who was still admiring the knight's armor, suddenly had an idea.

"Papa, can I have a sword?"

Lorenzo blinked.

"No."

"But you have plenty!"

Lorenzo pinched the bridge of his nose.

Matteo chuckled.

"Boss, she's got a point. You own an entire arsenal."

"She is eight."

Seraphina puffed her cheeks.

"Eight and a half!"

Lorenzo gave her a deadpan stare.

"No swords."

Seraphina grumbled.

Matteo smirked.

"How about a dagger?"

Lorenzo shot him a glare.

Matteo shrugged.

"Just a suggestion."

☆☆☆

After dragging Seraphina away from the medieval exhibit, they entered the art hall, a collection of priceless paintings and sculptures displayed in soft, golden lighting.

Seraphina was instantly mesmerized.

She skipped ahead, scanning each artwork with deep fascination.

Lucian, still bandaged but determined to keep up with her, followed closely.

Lorenzo and Matteo walked behind, observing.

"She's too quiet," Matteo noted.

Lorenzo hummed in agreement.

Then, as expected—

"Papa! Look!"

Seraphina pointed at another painting.

A giant Renaissance piece, filled with cherubs and grand celestial imagery.

Lorenzo examined it briefly.

"You like it?"

Seraphina tilted her head.

"Not really. I just wanted to know why that angel looks like Matteo."

Matteo froze.

Lorenzo stared at the painting.

Indeed, there was an angel—sharp-jawed, dark-haired, chained up, with an unimpressed expression.

It looked strikingly similar to Matteo.

Seraphina squinted.

"Even his face looks grumpy like yours!"

Lorenzo looking at the tag at the bottom of the painting, then scoffed.

"Yea, Lucifero by Roberto Ferri, fits him perfectly."

Matteo stared at the angel.

Then at Seraphina.

Then at Lorenzo.

"Boss, if you buy this painting, I quit."

Lorenzo smirked.

"Tempting."

☆☆☆

Before ending their tour, the museum's curator approached Lorenzo, visibly nervous.

"Sir De Luca, would you care to see our private collection? It's not open to the public, but… given your generosity…"

Lorenzo glanced at Seraphina, who was already looking curious.

"Fine."

They were led into a small, secured gallery, where only a handful of pieces were displayed.

Seraphina gasped.

In the center of the room was a sculpture—

A small marble carving of a father and daughter holding hands.

Lorenzo stopped.

Matteo, who was watching his boss closely, noticed his expression shift.

Seraphina turned to Lorenzo.

"Papa… can we—"

Lorenzo cut her off.

"We're taking it."

The curator stammered.

"B-But sir, that's—"

Lorenzo pulled out his phone.

"Send me the price. It'll be delivered to the estate by tonight."

The curator gulped.

"Y-Yes, sir!"

Matteo grinned.

"Soft."

Lorenzo ignored him.

Seraphina simply beamed and grabbed Lorenzo's hand, mirroring the statue.

☆☆☆

As they were preparing to leave, Lucian hesitated before turning to Lorenzo.

"Sir… about my training."

Lorenzo glanced at him then sighed.

Lorenzo studied the boy for a moment before making his decision.

"You'll start small. Matteo will handle your basics. If you survive, we'll talk."

Matteo groaned.

"Me? Why me?"

Lorenzo smirked.

"Because I said so."

Matteo sighed.

"Fine. But I'm charging extra."

Lorenzo rolled his eyes.

Matteo, grinned.

"Lucian's gonna be my mini-me!"

Lucian's turned pale.

Matteo grinned wickedly.

"Better prepare, kid."

Lucian is already regretting everything.

☆☆☆

As they drove back to the estate, Seraphina was half-asleep in the car, holding a museum souvenir—a tiny replica of the marble father-daughter statue.

Lorenzo glanced at her.

Her small hands gripped it tightly, her breathing soft and even.

Matteo, seated in the front, sipped his coffee.

"You gonna display that weird, scary looking cat painting too?"

Lorenzo exhaled.

"…Maybe."

Matteo grinned.

"You're completely whipped."

Lorenzo didn't answer.

Because, maybe—just maybe—he didn't mind it anymore.