AUTHOR’S POV

Dame Rossa had gone downstairs by the time Regina came out of Don Pedro’s room.

She was making her way to the staircase when she spotted Franco in the hallway. Without wasting a second, she caught up to him and grabbed his arm. “Franco, we need to talk—now,” she said hurriedly

Franco tried to pull away, glancing nervously over his shoulder. “Regina, please, not here. Someone might see us,” he protested, his voice several notes lower and urgent.

Before he could finish his sentence, Regina yanked him into a small, empty room off the main corridor, it was the store room.

The door closed behind them with a...