Vittoria sat quietly next to Gemma on the soft bed. The room was dim, the silence heavy between them. She looked at the younger girl and asked softly,
"Tell me, Gemma… has Lord Luciano ever touched you?"
Gemma shook her head quickly. "No, he hasn't," she said in a low voice. "As wicked as he is, he only sleeps with the older girls."
Vittoria gently took her hand. "You mean… girls who are offered to him?"
Gemma nodded. "Yes," she whispered.
Vittoria gave her a moment, then asked, "Gemma… why did you sleep with the guard?"
Gemma lowered her head. She looked like she was holding back tears.
"I've always liked him," she said quietly. "And he likes me too. We grew up here together. He's the only one who ever made me feel safe."
She sniffled and continued, "I didn't want to give my body to someone I didn't care about. I thought… if I gave myself to someone I loved, then maybe Lord Luciano wouldn't want me anymore. Maybe he would leave me alone."
