Gilded Lies

ouchable. Emilia stepped into her new suite and scanned the space: silk curtains,

k. She wasn't he

ook it out to the balcony. Below, the estate stretched like a private kingdom-sto

was wa

ed into

th

-

on the surveillance monitor. Emilia filled the screen, her silho

d Luca, his consiglier

" Alessa

npredi

w that

never brought a woman th

lessandro said flatly. "She

uld hear the l

-

a descended the grand staircase in silk pajamas and stilettos

on the terrace, but so

ipped

id clippings, headlines,

dro Moretti's M

o Nobility: Emi

led in crisp, sla

y on the chessbo

when Alessandro walked out

ed it?" s

replied, sitting opposite her. "Yo

nd what happens when

anything," he sai

died hi

do... they'll use

chilled her. Instead

y try," she

omething flickering behind th

ned fo

mia. In this game, pieces don't ge