"Thank you for coming," Julius says after a few seconds of silence. "To be honest, I doubted you would accept the invitation, even though Vittoria insisted she would make you come."
I sigh and turn my gaze toward the fountain. Even though nothing illuminates it, the moonlight is enough to see its reflection in the water.
"If she hadn't bothered me all afternoon about it, I surely wouldn't have attended, but the truth is I was curious," I state. At that moment, Julius's eyes seem to light up, and he offers a smile.
"Yes, I know her, though not as well as you do."
We both chuckle softly, perhaps caught up in the stillness and calm surrounding us, something that makes me feel somewhat uneasy; neither of us should be in this place.
"Did you really only make me come here to talk?" I ask, a
