"Ah, so it's the Castellano old man's little protégée. I was wondering who had the nerve."
"I understand you're grieving, but there's no need to forge a fake blade and impersonate the Ferro heir just to cause a scene."
He waved his hand with casual dismissal, his tone edged with impatience. "Enough. Considering your filial devotion, I'll let today's antics slide."
"Toss that counterfeit stiletto into the furnace."
"Then go find Capo Yunhe, pick whatever post catches your fancy in the organization, and stay out of trouble from now on."
With that, Aldric wrapped his arm around Elara's shoulders and turned to leave.
I reached out and locked my fingers around Elara's wrist. My voice was ice. "What's the rush?"
"I don't want your post. I want you to return my master's bones and sinews."
"Then come back with me and keep him company in his grave."
Both Aldric and Elara froze.
Rosalia was the first to recover.
Eager to prove herself, she charged over and slapped me across the face, snarling, "Nara, you ungrateful wretch!"
"The Boss lets you off and you push your luck?!"
"Apologize to the Boss and his wife this instant, or I'll deal with you myself!"
She flipped her hair over her left shoulder as the last word left her mouth, already coiling for something crueler.
I looked at Rosalia, cold and unblinking, and let my voice drop lower.
"Senior Sister. Everyone who has ever laid a hand on me is dead. My husband is the only exception."
Rosalia's brow furrowed. She spat, "Nara, have you lost your mind?"
"You've never even been betrothed. Where did this 'husband' come from?"
"That's enough. Apologize now and stop this lunatic act!"
But before the last word left her lips, Rosalia crumpled to the ground like a rag doll. The bones in all four of her limbs snapped at once, twisting her arms and legs at grotesque angles.
The soldiers flanking the corridor stiffened. Not one of them moved. The sound of it — four wet, percussive cracks in rapid succession — hung in the marble hallway like an echo that refused to die.
She stared up at me in horror. "Nara, what kind of trick is this?"
"Let me go! You're crippling a made woman in front of the Boss himself. Do you have a death wish?!"
I didn't spare her another glance. My grip tightened on Elara's wrist, and my voice stayed flat. "Are you going to pull the Original Oaths out yourself and hand them over, or do you need me to do it for you?"
Elara's face went white as parchment. Her hand drifted to the hollow of her throat, fingers closing around the pendant that hung there — the one that had belonged to me in another life. She turned instinctively to Aldric for help.
Only then did Aldric snap out of his stupor.
His expression hardened. Killing intent flooded his gaze.
"Girl. Crippling someone without lifting a finger. Your reach is impressive, I'll grant you that."
"But no matter how convincing the act, you are not the Ferro heir."
"You don't have the power to face me."
"So I'll give you two choices. End your own life, or wait for me to put you so far in the ground no one will ever find you."
I looked at Aldric with something close to pity, and let every syllable land.
"Husband. You've already buried me once."
"Do you really think it would work a second time?"
