Cosimo had adjusted to a life without his mother getting used to it. Federico had written him many letters. He was thankful for them and Restituta. 

Then, it all changed one day. He saw his father waiting, and there were screams he heard. 

“What’s going on?” He asked, asking. 

“Wait,” he told him. 

This was an order; Cosimo learned to not disobey his father. He was harsh in his punishments, and he had his hide tanned twice. It hurt so much, or when he was sent to go without food.

He let out a deep breath. And Antonia had come with the slightest hint of interest. She looked forward to it, and so did Renata. 

Renata who kept her carefree smile, walking around in silence. He watched, not commenting much. She was already silent, as Antonia had told her. 

She hesitated, as their father was a rare figure in their life.

Then he heard the door open. Cosimo looked, seeing an old woman come out. Hr face was radiant, with a smile.

“You have another son, Signore.” She announced, exhausted but with joy. 

The man had a single smile before it disappeared just in a moment. Then he went inside the room, disappearing from Cosimo's view. He didn't invite any of them to go with him.

“Can I go in?” She asked. 

“Child, it would be good if you didn’t. Once you’re older, you would know.” Renata looked with wide-eyes.

“I want to see what he’s like.” Antonia begged her father, putting her words nicely.

Neither of them got on his nerves, as they found their stepmothers were worse. She had an enormous stomach. Cosimo remembered they called her pregnant. A baby would come out with time, but she secluded herself in her last weeks.

They didn’t see her.

“He’ll be small, just like Renata was.” Cosimo remembered when his mother showed him his sister, trying to assure her.

His sister in a bundle of blankets with big brown eyes that stared at him; she laid in their mother's arms.

His father, however, had come out without showing them anything. 

“Can I see him?” Renata stepped up. 

“What’s there to see?” He looked at her. “I have another son.” 

Antonia hid her own disappointment at the measure; Renata had to be held by her governess so that she would stop crying. Cosimo only stood by.

About a month after that, they had the chance to take a few glimpses of their brother. The nursemaid and Ana got along, and Ana asked her. The nursemaid allowed them to see their brother.  

Renata had the chance to meet her younger brother, and she cooed over him. As did Antonia. He had blonde hair, with brown eyes, smiling at the sight of her. 

“Signore wants to see you.” 

He agreed, not knowing anything else, though he wondered why, even as he gave a smile to his brother.

Cosimo looked forward to having a brother to play with.

He took a deep breath, not sure why his father wanted to see him. But he knocked on the door before entering inside. 

He was seated alone in a simple black suit with his stepmother. He wasn’t alone. 

“Is this your son?” He asked, an unfamiliar figure.

“Yes, that’s Cosimo.” 

The man scanned him, his eyes going over him. Cosimo took a step back, feeling his eyes on him, uncomfortable as it was unusual.

“He’ll fine, I can ask the school to admit him. It has to be someone who is physically fit, and he seems healthy,” he said. “He doesn’t have any issues?” 

“No, none in his constitution,” he said. 

“He can go to the academy in Lonoa.” He smiled.

“Good, thank you, signore for your help.” 

His stepmother had a smile, watching as her father had left. 

Cosimo looked, not comprehending. “When would I leave?”

“Next year,” she told him. “Do not let us down. It was hard for us to get such an excellent opportunity in the first military academy established in the world. We have high hopes for you.” 

“Will I get to come back?” His father would drag him to the carriage if he had to. 

“Yes, you would, during the holidays. You can come back then.” She showed nothing to him. 

Cosimo turned around, leaving. Once outside, didn’t know what to tell his sisters. He took the steps back, towards them at the back. 

He told them the truth. “I’m going away to school in a year, they’re sending me to Lonoa.” 

The worst knew that he would have to go soon. It would not last forever.

“I’m going to miss you.” Antonia hugged him. “I really would.” 

Renata had bawled right into his clothes right there. 

The governess had come. “Do not fret, he’ll still be back. But we expect this of a boy, he’ll be taught there.” 

Cosimo only could enjoy his time with them now. He was helpless to defy his father, no matter what he felt or thought. 

His governess, Ana, looked at him after she had settled them. 

She whispered into his ear. “One day it might change. When you’re grown, you’ll be able to leave if you marry, start a new family. Or a get a job somewhere else.”