06-29-2020, 04:07 PM
The stony planes of his face did not soften. “The Holy Father is the sovereign of the Papal States and Prince successor of the kingdom of God,” he said quietly. “Try not to let it distract you,” he echoed similar sentiment from the dream but without the previous play of sarcasm to lighten the moment. “Because I am no one.”
An audience captured the moment, though his back was turned. The lingering grip upon his fingers without subsequent withdrawal, but the stiffness to his spine tightened. Explanation followed. “Formality is important. Informality is dangeorus, ambiguous, and seeded for misunderstandings. The informal encounter ends badly, but formality is clear as a mountain spring. The rules are unlikely to be misused or misinterpreted.”
The ring itself gleamed yellow as the sun on Philip’s otherwise smooth hands.
An audience captured the moment, though his back was turned. The lingering grip upon his fingers without subsequent withdrawal, but the stiffness to his spine tightened. Explanation followed. “Formality is important. Informality is dangeorus, ambiguous, and seeded for misunderstandings. The informal encounter ends badly, but formality is clear as a mountain spring. The rules are unlikely to be misused or misinterpreted.”
The ring itself gleamed yellow as the sun on Philip’s otherwise smooth hands.