12. ‘Wedding Night’?

After several days of calm, the castle was still at peace. Massimo was deep in scheming for the completion of his great ambition. He continually basked in the joy of his imagined kingship, plotting the removal of the last duke, after which he believed there would be no obstacles in his path. At that time, he envisioned, the entire family would swear fealty to him.

Laura stared at her pale reflection in the mirror, then down at her once delicate hands, now tortured and disfigured. She felt a profound sense of pity for herself. If only it weren't for Massimo, she wouldn't be in this state. Everything that had happened was his doing, and sooner or later, she vowed, he would suffer as she had.

Ned took Laura's small hand and kissed it gently. "Even after all this torture, your hands are still so beautiful. I truly love them." "You're the only one who thinks so now," Laura said with a resigned smile.

"There's just one left. What's your next move?"

"The last one. I want to give your fami