The Involuntary

by alexthegryffindor

Years later, the butterfly effect comes into play and the ones not expecting it are the ones most influenced. She was simply meant to stay with them for the protection. A plan meant to keep her safe during the absence of her father leads her to the greatest adventure of her life - and to the enormous danger looming over her and everyone she holds close to her heart.

3. Chapter 3

Part one: chapter three: the appearance of old faces

November, 1y99

Giotto didn't hold back his amusement at the sight of his flustered fiancée.

They had been at the party for quite some time already, a few hours if he had been counting the passing minutes correctly. Not all had been spent at the banquet itself, as they had arrived even before the official part of the evening had started, in accordance with Alexandra's hesitant request. She had always been supporting Claire Cavallone at the final preparations for the events they had attended together and the pregnant woman had been needing it much more ever since she found herself expecting.

It had been two weeks since Alexandra arrived at the Vongola Residence and it was hard not to notice that she was striving to be as less of a burden as she could without locking herself permanently in her room. She was participating in the meals, invited to do so ever since the first day of her stay, and attending any gatherings of the family she had been prompted to join, though she had never requested any company for her outings, as there simply hadn't been any so far. And there was no young lady that wasn't socially active during the period of two weeks which made Giotto believe she had been refusing any invitation she had received, as the letters kept coming to her new place of temporary residence. All of her errands had been run by Lizzie, the maid leaving the House whenever Alexandra was accompanied by Elena in either her guest room or the Mist Wing.

He simply couldn't refuse her when she had come to his office, brows furrowed and uncertain of voicing her thoughts, and requested to make the trip a few hours early - also stressing straight away that there would be no issue if it wasn't possible as she was well aware of how much work he had.

"It's the third shade of red you are turning tonight." he pointed out, not able to stop himself.

It was also painfully obvious Alexandra wasn't comfortable with the attention they were receiving, the whispers exchanged behind their backs making her continually shift from one feet to another, while the open questions they kept receiving about their relationship didn't fail to evoke her embarrassment even when she fought with herself to keep it well hidden. It had been assumed, he noticed, that their marriage was an arranged one, as no one had even implied any other reason for it, presuming that for him to show any interest in the Carlevaro younger daughter would come only due to her position in the society. While it wasn't entirely unreasonable, as they had never been seen in any close or private interactions, it still aroused his curiosity as to why she hadn't been considered a far more desired maiden on the matrimony market.

And she hadn't been lying when warning about her non-existing abilities at deception. Thankfully, most seemed to read her blush as the sign of a young maiden's innocence and no one showed any sign of suspicion at this point. Though, he realized belatedly, it wasn't the visible embarrassment that signalized her lying. It was her eyes, the guilt shining clearly in them whenever she tried to tell a blatant lie, portraying her true emotions.

But at the same time he also realized that she was exceptionally good at twisting the truth to fit the situation, without actually deceiving anyone openly.

"No. It's the second one." he heard her dignified mutter, which only amused him more.

"And how can you tell?"

"I can feel the heat."

There were two types of people that never failed to catch the attention of society: The Founding Families and the raising families. With the combination of both, Giotto didn't have a doubt they would be a subject of conversation for the rest of the night. Francesco's worries about his daughter's reputation were justified - there were going to be many stories shared for the next few days until some more interesting event took place to make them forget about the unexpected engagement. But when the annulment would be announced, the talks would be back, questioning every action and word to make it more catching and captivating the attention.

Giotto had witnessed and experienced already the coins of going against the socially accepted behavioral norms and standards when Elena left her family and joined Vongola. Back then, she and Demon had not been engaged yet. Her status as an unmarried, single young lady clashed greatly with her residing in the house full of men, none of whom was her blood family that could have served as a form of chaperone to protect her reputation. She had never complained about it, facing the rumors and gossip with eloquent indifference, smiling and not answering to any open and obvious attacks. Not that there were many - Elena was still a daughter of the Duke, and even though there was no protection provided by her father, not many wanted to get on his bad side by insulting his daughter. Still, a woman's only power in the society was her reputation - her future marriage and the status of living depended on it - as no one would want a bride with a stained name and the baggage of ruin and blasphemy.

The talks had had its impact on Elena, leading to many sleepless nights and worried thoughts, which she had tried to conceal from her new family. It had calmed down after the engagement between her and Demon was announced, the ladies that previously had no qualms of talking behind her back turned friendly once again, the gossip lessening, though not fully surceasing. And yet, the invitations to parties and lunches kept avoiding hers, unless it was held either by Vongola, Cavallone or Carlevaro, the members of which knew perfectly well it wasn't their place to judge her decisions and actions, simply accepting the fact of it.

While Elena's situation became something natural to all of them and she herself had pointed many times that she did not care about this at all, he couldn't shake the feeling of slight guilt, watching her without any female friend in the house.

Giotto was curious how Francesco was going to manage the annulment of his engagement to Alexandra and the rumors that were going to arise anyway. There would be close to no impact on him after it became official, but certainly Alexandra would be facing more consequences - if anything, the matrons were going to be overjoyed with the most desirable bachelor return on the market, not holding themselves back from pointing the failing of the Carlevaro daughter at keeping a man by her side. With the unbalanced benefits in the society, it was men who held more power, controlling the social standards and rules, bending it towards their own needs and wants. The ladies, while perceived to be most crucial for the politics by their fathers, held no authoritative power and their voices were never heard, no matter how important their suggestions could be. It was expected of them to rarely have their own opinion. More preferably, they should follow the will of their spouses or male members of their family.

It was crucial to not give anyone the chance to doubt the propriety of their relationship, while maintaining the facade of engagement, for her sake. A single word that would come out and make others doubt her purity would ruin any chances of Alexandra to marry in the future. In such a case, her options would either be to join a monastery, or spend the rest of her life under the Carlevaro leader's charge. Or live her life as an object of ridicule for most, living as a spinster on her own. Here, unfortunately, came the matter of supporting herself, though there was no doubt Francesco would not leave his daughter unattended. Unless, of course, there would be someone who desired gaining the political benefits from such marriage strongly enough to overlook the gossip.

Which didn't necessarily mean a happy future for her.

"The distance you are enforcing can be quite suspicious. I have a feeling you would move to another side of the room if it was possible." he pointed out with a silent laughter in his voice.

Seeing as Alexandra was hellbent on keeping more than expected space between them, he recognized the fact that it was probably for good. The society's wedlock was mostly based on contractual relationships, the mutual agreements based on the best benefits that both sides could acquire from it. It was a common thing for bride and groom meeting on the day of the ceremony, or - in most radical cases - sometime after it, leading to many awkward encounters a long time after the marriage.

He hoped that Alexandra's dislike towards displays of affection, known amongst her family's friends, would keep suspicions away from them. The entire Carlevaro family weren't really open with their feelings and emotions, so it was probably going to be blamed for the brunette's behavior.

"The lack of it would. It was painfully boring to listen to the constant repetition of the governess, but now I cannot forget that a proper lady should keep herself detached from any man before a wedding." Alexandra countered, not bothered by her current distance at all.

The mention of the governess brought a smile on Giotto's face as the old memory resurfaced.

"The infamous governess you tried to get away from through the window?" he inquired and was not disappointed when a scowl made its way on her lips

"I would have succeeded if you did not bring my mother." Alexandra pointed out.

"Your scream brought her. My only contribution was ensuring you didn't break your limbs. Or neck." he added thoughtfully.

"It wouldn't be so bad."

The hesitation in her voice contradicted her words.

"Was it the second floor? Or the third?"

She didn't answer him, obviously deciding to ignore the subject.

It had happened a few months after Vongola became friends with Carlevaro. While they were joking about it now, the situation had not been so entertaining back then to anyone involved. Giotto still could recall it, maybe not unconsciously, but the vivid images had been coming into his mind whenever the event was mentioned. There had been barely a few seconds separation between G spotting a figure climbing out the window and her feet slipping on the sills, her scream of surprise sharply cutting through the otherwise sunny and clear air. His instincts kicked in even before he could consider it and Giotto had managed to catch her just before she hit the ground, which had earned him an undying gratitude of Beatrice - that was, after she was done and returned from scolding her daughter. Alexandra had been grounded for quite some time back then, as the next time he had seen her, a few months had passed.

None of them had ever asked how he managed to do it in the first place, though he had been catching a few speculative glances from her for some time following her reappearance.

Since then, it never failed to amaze him how Alexandra, who usually struck others as an intelligent and rational person, seemed to have moments of complete mind blankness and went on with her more or less dangerous antics.

"Actually, how old did you consider me back then? Ten? It would fit your later perception of my age quite well." She asked with faked curiosity.

He held back his smile at the obvious barb, though the attempt to change the subject didn't slip his attention. Apparently, the offence to her honor had been much greater than he had expected and even though he was supposed to be forgiven, she still held a slight grudge.

"I really was far more interested in your mental capacity back then. And it was hard to estimate anything, as Beatrice dragged you away in an admirable haste." he replied easily, before adding, unable to stop himself. "But you were on the small side."

In the last second he had bit the fact she still was petite, despite the years passing, somehow already knowing it couldn't be received well from the brunette.

"It is probably why I didn't reach the sill to step on it." she said in contempt, reminiscing about the event.

"I doubt it was only that, but I won't argue. If that makes you feel better, we can settle the matter with such a conclusion." he proposed generously.

She glanced at him with exasperation, though didn't reply as it would only instigate the discussion again. Instead, she turned towards the dancing couples, the music gently filled the air of the Cavallone Residence ballroom, accompanied by the laughter and the sound of many conversations led around them. The new relationships were being formed, as well as new businesses were being discussed, the atmosphere making all guests far more relaxed and open for new possibilities than they would be in normal circumstances.

"Your sister is watching us." Giotto murmured suddenly, catching the stare from the other side of the room.

The entire Carlevaro family was present at the banquet, which was to be expected as the event was held by their closest friend. While Beatrice had greeted her younger daughter and had spent some time with her, asking a few questions about how she had found herself in new environment and if she was certain she didn't want to return home, Elsbeth and Gabriel more or less ignored her, instead talking with a group of their acquaintances, their eyes occasionally travelling towards the youngest member of their House. Accidently catching Giotto's attention as well, as he had spent the night partially watching anyone that could pay too much unhealthy attention to the brunette by his side in hopes they would get at least some starting point to run the investigation. Elsbeth had been following Alexandra's movement through the evening, throwing an occasional look here and there and Giotto started considering the idea whether it was caused by the sisterly worry for the brunette's safety or something entirely else.

He hadn't brought it to his companion's attention until the older Carlevaro daughter settled for blatant staring, not even trying to conceal it in any way.

Hearing his words, Alexandra looked around, stopping only when she found Elsbeth, teal eyes clashing with the similar ones. Both sisters watched each other for a moment, a younger with confusion and question while the older with calculation and speculation, ignoring the people between them, giving the impression they were the only ones there, too preoccupied with staring at each other to notice anything else.

"I doubt she believed the story." Alexandra admitted suddenly, breaking a short silence, averting her eyes from Elsbeth to look at Giotto.

That worried him, though he made an attempt to not make it visible on his face. Looking back at her, he furrowed his brow, settling for more curious and surprised expressions, which hopefully wouldn't increase her stress and concern about the happenings around her.

"Your father assured me that he took care of explaining everything. He didn't say there was someone who had any suspicions." He inquired, dropping his voice so no one else could overhear their conversation.

"He did. Explain, I mean. But Elsbeth was asking questions from the very beginning. Never in his presence, so he probably didn't know about it. And I didn't have a chance to tell him about that, I'm sorry. But she is still curious. Why a sudden rush and what happened that I agreed to it. She has been doing that since it was announced."

"I didn't know she visited."

Giotto tried to keep an eye on every movement in the house that concerned Alexandra, every visitor was to be reported by Matteo, who was also responsible to ensure she was never left alone in the room with the exception of the Vongola Family. While he knew his Guardians had been on their alert as well, despite the seclusion of the safety of their house, it was still him who made the promise. So it was him who had to do his best to fulfil it.

And there was no information so far that anyone from the Carlevaro House had made an appearance in his Residence, though Alexandra had mentioned she would try to limit the visitation in the fear of anyone becoming suspicious. Matteo would most certainly head the order he had been given by his Lord, as he had never before opposed any of the requests.

"She didn't. But she writes quite often, which is also a bit of surprising development."

"What did you tell her?" he asked curiously.

"That I fell madly in love with you and was ecstatic when father convinced you to sign the Contract." she answered without missing a bit, seriousness written all over her face.

There was a moment of silence between them, during which Giotto watched her doubtfully. It wasn't until he had noticed that she carefully made sure her eyes were settled on the people in front of them, avoiding looking at him in the process. He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"You are making it up, aren't you?"

"Of course. In truth, I settled for being comfortable with joining the family I am familiar with, instead of marrying into the one I don't know." Alexandra explained, not even making an effort to conceal the smile at his exasperated look. "And since the subject of me approaching deadline of my alluring quality of youth has been brought up recently, I thought everyone would be satisfied by it."

"That sounds more believable." Giotto confirmed, ignoring her obvious mirth and adding with a laugh. "And you are what, twenty? How is that a passing youth?"

"Twenty one." she corrected, throwing him a look. " But considering your current popularity, the previous explanation would be much more truthful in so many other cases."

She meaningfully looked at something behind his back and a sudden inkling of what exactly it was appeared in his mind, even before he turned discreetly to confirm his worries.

A group of young girls, ones that barely started their season this year, whispered amongst each other excitedly, their eyes darting occasionally in the direction of where he and Alexandra were standing, though the female part of the company was not much up to their attention, as he had an opportunity to notice. A lively discussion was cut short when they became aware of being discovered, embarrassed blushes appearing on their cheeks as they hastily turned around, looking with intensity at the painting hanging from the wall behind them.

He didn't consider ever being able to get used to it.

"You find it amusing." he inquired, turning back to the brunette by his side.

"A bit. But it has been a long time since one person got so much attention continuously." she answered with no remorse. "For both males and females. There is a vogue for romantic novels now. I think they are perceiving you to be a hero taken straight from the pages of it and dream of being a heroine to be saved by you. "

He didn't find her words supportive in any way, as he expected them to be haunting him for the following years to come, until he would eventually find himself a wife and stop being a bachelor on the market of growing ladies and their cunning mothers.

"That's a ridiculous notion. Doesn't a heroine usually fall for the hero only after they undergo some grand adventure?"

She turned fully to him, teal eyes sparkling with laughter and disbelief as she assessed him, definitely far too amused than she should have been as a smirk played in the corner of her lips.

"I am shocked. I didn't take you for the romance novels enthusiast." she said teasingly.

It was, finally, his time to fight down his blush as the embarrassment creeped onto him upon hearing the words. She was aiming for a payback for all the times he had teased her - an unstoppable reaction, really - while discussing their engagement with others.

"I'm not. Elena often speaks about the books when she finds one that grabs her interest, so all of us got accustomed with the usual plot eventually." he said under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck.

They all had endured it for the sake of the blonde, not wanting to destroy the liveliness she had been showing whenever talking about the books and novels she had acquired – he and his Guardians were far more pleasant with participating in the conversation about the horrors or mysteries, though they still didn't oppose when she brought the romance as well.

The lack of female company for Elena had been a problem he had touched with her many times already, trying to convince her to open more for the ladies of the local society. But the idea hadn't sat well with her and she had continuously refused to organize any event that would bring them at the seclusion of her home. The offence they had caused upon spreading nonsensical rumors about her presence in the Vongola Residence at the beginning of her stay there still weighed heavily on her mind and heart and it would probably take more time to get over it.

A hope blossomed in his heart that now, seeing the way Elena conversed and spent time with Alexandra, remaining securely guarded and yet open towards the brunette, the loneliness the blonde must have developed despite their presence would diminish. Even after the Carlevaro daughter was moved back to her own home, he doubted the two women would break the connection they were developing so far.

"And how do you find it to your liking?" the brunette by his side asked, the humorous curiosity obvious in her tone.

Her previous embarrassment was fully gone by now, as she found a far more amusing subject to discuss and he had a feeling Alexandra wasn't going to drop the matter in the nearest future, giving him a taste of his own medicine that he had served so many times to his Guardians.

"I'm not overly fond of them, I must say. Grand love is a nice vision for one's future, though nurturing such a notion can lead to many disappointing discoveries in the future, when reality clashes with the imagination and takes away the false expectation." he replied honestly. "I am greatly jealous of the ones that managed to acquire it so far. And I do believe it can be developed through time, but I don't think of it as an instant emotion at first sight. It is not a healthy feeling."

Alexandra watched him for a moment, a spark of humor still present in her eyes even though they had taken a more serious and curious note to it, as if she tried to read something out of his expression – what exactly, he wasn't sure when he looked back at her directly.

"It is far more optimistic to imagine that. No one likes to be considered a means for political purposes, a price that has to be paid to gain a certain benefit. The novel gives the way to, temporarily, hide oneself from the misfortune of this into the illusion of experiencing something grand." she said, before turning back to the front of the room once again. "But I don't like them, either. And the fact that they never continue to show what happens to the heroes after the grand wedding is irritating."

"So you are reading them."

"It's my dirty little secret."

He laughed quietly, shaking his head.

It was a surprising change he had noticed since they had arrived at the Cavallone Residence and the banquette had started. While she had been nervous whenever the subject of their engagement was brought up and discussed, the proximity enforced on them by the farce discomforting her, Alexandra still was more relaxed and open for conversation than she had been for the last two weeks of her stay. She hadn't refused any in the house when she had been invited into it, though she still remained on the side of it, choosing not to interfere too much in the affairs of the Vongola Family.

Maybe it was the familiar grounds, Giotto considered, as she had mentioned on the way there earlier that she had spent as much time in the Cavallone Residence as she had in Carlevaro while growing up.

"Lord Vongola, it's such a pleasure to see you here. Alexandra, you as well, of course."

He was shaken out of his thoughts by the female voice cutting the sound around them, gaining the attention of the people standing close to them. An older woman appeared in front of them, a wide smile almost splitting her face in half as her eyes kept darting from one to another, and expectant glim hard to be left unnoticed. Though the first thing that caught his attention and distracted him from greeting was the frilly, pink dress she was wearing, a style and embellishment making her appear almost twice her size, but it didn't seem to bother her. The dress, after all, was in accordance with the newest fashion requirements.

"Lady Allegri, it has been some time since we last met." Alexandra suddenly turned guarded and careful, though her voice was still pleasant and kind as she addressed the woman.

It was only a matter of time before Filipa Allegri was to reach their side, both of them aware of it ever since the beginning of the evening. Alexandra had a strange anticipation at the back of her head that if she would be able to convince that woman that there was nothing suspicious about the engagement, then doing so with everyone else would be considered as a no-brainer challenge.

The woman ultimately kept a position of being a number one of the local gossip providers, holding the title proudly for the last few decades. Whenever something of interest happened, Filipa was there to find out as much as possible about the situation, before passing it over to everyone that showed curiosity. And often adding a side story or some spicy details to ensure that the news wouldn't die due to the lack of interest too soon, creating only a bigger chaos of the history than it was in reality for the ones concerning it.

And Filipa would never spare Alexandra in case she found anything out of normal between her and Giotto. The feud between Lady Allegri and Lady Carlevaro was a never-ending story that dated back to the moment Beatrice arrived in town to marry Francesco, accompanied by her own parents and instant family. It wasn't clear why it had happened and what was the bone of contention that started all of it. One thing was sure – under the layers of politeness and kindness of the woman in the daily meetings, both Alexandra and Elsbeth were always under the constant vigilance of Filipa, who only waited for one misstep to ensure the news would be spread accordingly.

"Alexandra, you look simply astonishing. The attention of such a good man must have finally brought your inner beauty to the light of the day."

The compliment was of a questionable nature and led to a few glances being exchanged between the ones watching them, though it was said in such a pleasant way that it was slightly uncertain whether the intention was really not a friendly one.

"It must be the joy, Lady Allegri. I never imagined that I could ever be in such honorable company as I am now." Alexandra said with a smile, not even slightly bothered by the words.

Filipa nodded, a silent hum leaving her lips in the agreement of the words.

"I have always been curious why you evaded the other gentlemen for so long. You could have experienced it so much sooner. Or maybe even be already enjoying the happy life of a wife." The woman continued.

"Then I wouldn't have the honor of inhabiting Vongola Residence and be Giotto's fiancée. I can't imagine how I would survive this unscathed." The brunette said pleasantly, putting a hand on her heart.

Unless her assumed husband would be able to protect her from the mercenaries, there was a possibility Alexandra would be in the hands of her foes by now, possibly harmed or dead.

"Oh yes, I heard you are already living in the place. How do you find it? The lessons aren't too hard for you?" the inquiry came out in the most concerned tone, as if the woman was truly afraid for Alexandra's wellbeing.

"Definitely not. It's almost as if they are non-existent at all. And yet, all the information I get from Matteo is hard to process, even after I have the time to think them over." The brunette answered with a sigh, her memory returning to her first day there, before adding with animation. "But the residence itself is really a piece of art. I don't think I have ever seen anything as amazing."

"Is that so? Wasn't the building almost a ruin due to the years of abandonment?"

This time, the interest and curiosity in Filipa's voice was more honest one, without the overly pleasant note that made her words seem more untrue than they really were before.

"Unfortunately, it wasn't in the best state when we received the ownership of it. But it was taken care of and renovated under the watchful eye of the best professional I could hire for the job." Giotto interjected the conversation.

Even though Alexandra seemed to be doing a good job with evading showing any signs of deception so far, he didn't want to take any chances when it came to facing Filipa. If it was some stranger who didn't know the brunette well, perhaps there would be no danger caused by her inability to lie. But the woman had known her since childhood, possibly since Alexandra had been born – the possibility of her recognizing the attempt was too high.

The brunette took it with great relief, instead busying herself with the glass in her hand. She could have been used to Filipa's antics and behavior, though it didn't mean she had been comfortable with dealing with her.

"I must see it myself one day. Most preferably with Joanne, the girl is simply obsessed with the buildings and history of it."

Alexandra snorted in her wine before she was able to control herself.

For the years she had known the Allegri daughter, Joanne had never shown any interest in anything other than fashion and needlework, something she was exceptionally good at. On the other hand, anything that concerned the stories of the past that didn't revolve around the direct events happening in their local towns, simply had no place of existence in the conversation run by the young woman – she had either stayed quiet during the subject, or changed it rapidly to another one that seemed more to be of her liking.

When a few drops of the drink got into the wrong pipe as the aftermath of her amusement, Alexandra coughed, trying to unblock her airways without doing much of a spectacle out of herself. A movement on her side caught her attention and she found herself being patted on the back lightly.

"Are you alright?" Giotto asked worriedly, with a slight dose of barely noticeable amusement.

"Yes, sorry. It went the wrong pipe." she said, her voice slightly hoarse as she took a deep breath.

Filipa would never cease to stop taking her by surprise.

He watched her for a moment, making sure there was no danger of her choking on her own drink anymore and Alexandra cleared her throat to remove the unpleasant feeling of tightness and dryness that settled in her mouth after the experience.

The woman's eyes were on her as well, though it was hard to decipher what exactly she was thinking at the moment.

"How is the party for you, lady Allegri?"

Giotto's question broke Filipa's attention away from Alexandra and moved it to himself instead, giving the brunette a time to collect herself.

"It is simply lovely! And Lady Cavallone looks so joyous in her state. The pregnancy suits her well, she seems to be one of the lucky women." Filipa answered, before turning to Alexandra with a pitying expression, arousing a sudden suspicion in the brunette. "Unfortunately, my dear, it seems like you took after your grandmother. Women with such a tiny frame tend to have it harder. And there are more consequences to the body afterwards."

Alexandra looked at her for a moment with a blank expression, trying to understand the sudden way the conversation was shifted towards her. There was a lingering feeling that Filipa seemed far more friendly and hostile at the same time than she had been in the past. But the barn at one's posture was a rich one coming from the woman herself – there was barely any difference in the high between the two of them and, if the memory of her childhood years served her right, her grandmother had had a few centimeters on both of them, not tall in the eyes of the others, but still not as small as her younger granddaughter.

"I fail to see how Claire's pregnancy may affect my body." she said testily.

Filipa seemed confounded, as her small eyes narrowed with confusion at the answer.

"I mean, I probably will have, occasionally, more physical activities once the baby is born. Playing with it and helping Claire whenever I can, obviously. Though I don't think it is a matter of misfortune?" Alexandra continued in contempt, looking questioningly at Giotto.

"You are right. Especially once the baby is older. An extensive movement can bring a lot of benefits to one's health." He agreed dutifully without missing a bit and smiling.

Filipa shook herself out of surprise, a sound of throat being cleared cutting in the words the two of them exchanged as the woman collected herself, gaining their attention back.

"That's not what I had in mind, but I don't doubt you will be a lot of help to Lady Cavallone. Unless, of course, you will be too preoccupied with your own marriage life." she said eventually.

"There is no need to worry, Lady Allegri, I am certain I will have enough time in the future to support my friends whenever they need the help I can provide." the answer came swiftly, as there was no ounce of lie hidden in it.

"But there will also be duties you need to perform as a wife, once the union between the two of you is officialized. Whenever you decide on the date, that is. I presume it is not done yet, as there was no such information so far?"

Filipa tried to keep the curiosity out of her voice, though she either didn't make a hard enough attempt or didn't even bother with restraining herself, as the glint in her eyes was almost blinding as she watched the two of them. The gossip was greatly anticipated and the woman had already set an hour for the next day's tea party for her fellow ladies to discuss all of her profound knowledge that she had hoped to gather during the night.

"Not yet. It will be discussed when Francesco is back in town, as duties keep him away currently." Giotto replied calmly.

The woman nodded her head, a completely different expression passing through her face before it morphed once again into hungry interest. Alexandra furrowed her brows discreetly, wondering what caused the spark of cunning happiness that Filipa managed to cover so fast without others noticing it.

"That's great news, I hope we won't be held too long in the dark about that matter, as you did with the engagement preparations." the woman continued with a wide smile on her face, before she wiggled her finger at Giotto. "You left so many young ladies heartbroken, Lord Vongola."

The man shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck and Alexandra barely held back her amusement. It was a nice change, seeing someone else being a target of Filipa's interest, even though there was a spark of guilt at the back of her mind.

"I am certain the hearts will be melted back once the position of most eligible bachelor is taken once again." she said with humor.

It's not like their engagement would result in marriage anyway.

Her eyes unconsciously travelled towards the group of the girls that had been watching the man by her side earlier, their attention back to them as they tried to discreetly listen to the ongoing conversation. It wasn't a hard task, as Filipa's booming voice was easily carried around in the ballroom, even despite the music playing for the couples that occupied the dancefloor.

She was far more taken aback by a zealous glare that one of them was sending her way.

"You are probably right, though I doubt the affection in some cases will be forgotten so fast. You do leave an impression on people, Lord Vongola." Filipa said with the undertone of a harmless chide.

The underlying feeling of missing something crucial to fully comprehend the ongoing conversation settled in Alexandra's mind, and she glanced at Giotto, a silent question in her eyes at the look of deep uneasiness on his face. Once he caught her look, the embarrassment only seemed to develop further, as an unstoppable red tint made its way on his cheeks.

"Anyway. Alexandra, Joanne is organizing a small lunch soon. Nothing too sophisticated, only a few friends. She isn't here today, not feeling up to the party, but she hoped I could pass the message to you, to see if you can attend." Filipa turned suddenly to the brunette.

"Of course. I will confirm my presence once the invitation is sent." she answered immediately.

There was no sense in attending anything basing only on the spoken probing to do so, as the lesson paid for doing so was often humiliating – the presence of someone not meant to be at the event was a cause of great discomfort for the ones invited officially, and the feeling of shame and embarrassment would follow the poor soul exposed to such an impasse for many days to follow. Sometimes, it had been done accidentally, the inquiry about one's presence spoken but forgotten, taking by surprise both the host and the guest upon the arrival. The other times, it was done out of sheer malice, to have the grounds of gossiping and running someone's name through the dirt.

Which is why it was the unspoken rule to always wait for the letter to come before planning the attendance. Alexandra was a zealous sticker to that role, not wanting to share the experience neither in the instant and the far future.

"But is Joanne feeling fine? You mentioned she isn't up to the party?" Alexandra inquired suddenly, furrowing her eyebrows.

"Oh, she is fine, there is nothing to worry about. Some events just brought her mood down lately. I'm not sure she will shake herself out of it anytime soon, but I'm counting on it." Filipa said with a wave of her hand.

She was quite certain there was a quick glance stolen in the direction of Giotto when the words were spoken, but Alexandra wasn't able to catch it fully.

"I hope she is better soon. Can you pass my regards, Lady Allegri? Also, let me know if there is anything I can do to help." she continued the conversation, pushing the matter at the back of her head.

That was until the man by her side shifted once again.

"I doubt there is anything, my dear, you personally can do. But I will keep that in mind."

"I think that is the song you promised me, Alexandra. I hope you don't mind, Lady Allegri."

Alexandra jolted in surprise when a pair of warm hands suddenly rested on her shoulders, the owner gently but unyieldingly pushing her forwards without waiting for the answer out of the surprised woman, whose eyes followed their movement until the crowd of people blocked Filipa's view.

The brunette didn't even try to stop her amusement once they took the position on the dancefloor, awaiting a new tune to signal the start of a new song, putting in motion all the pairs around them. Teal eyes observed Giotto as the man kept shifting uncomfortably.

"Don't watch me like that, please." He said finally with a sigh.

"Why do I have a feeling Joanne's current unavailability is somehow your doing?" she asked in turn.

The glare that was sent her way held no anger of displeasure in it, though it was hard to miss Giotto was far from being comfortable with the subject.

"I take offense to that question. I never caused any harm to Miss Allegri that would result in such a reaction." he answered under his breath, taking her hand once the music started.

Alexandra didn't like dancing.

It was an innocent way of showing an interest and allowing a certain level of closeness between the young couples, as the proximity with a possible suitor was a thrilling and desired experience for both young ladies and lords, even despite the watchful eyes of families and chaperones watching their every movement, making sure no boundaries were crossed during the process.

On the contrary, she was greatly uncomfortable with the motion of any public display of affection, innocent or not, and tried to avoid doing so as much as possible without offending anyone. She was breaking her rule once in a while, when the situation called for it, though the exception usually extended only to her father and Lorenzo.

She fought with herself not to stiffen when Giotto put his hand on her waist, taking the required position to start the dance.

"Filipa's hints weren't so subtle, you know. I think most of the people around got the insinuation. Shouldn't I know about such matters?" she asked teasingly, following him once the lead started.

"The Allegri House reached out a few times to me about the possible betrothal with Joanne."

She misstopped, gripping his hand harder for balance as she looked up at her partner with surprise and shock written all over her face. There was no expectation of receiving an honest answer for her teasing when she spoke about it and the openness with which he shared the news made her even more curious about the situation.

"Giovanni wants you to marry Joanne? Why didn't you say anything before? Father wouldn't go on with this if he knew." she said in a whisper.

"Because I don't plan on accepting the proposition." he replied with a slight shrug of his shoulder, before he admitted sheepishly. "And, to be fully frank about it, I did consider that the notion of being engaged to you would halt their attempts."

"Why?"

The shock was an honest reaction to the declaration, the idea of someone of the lower position refusing the possibility to be associated with the Founding Family through the marriage not fully comprehendible. Not to mention the glaring fact that Filipa had barely considered Alexandra as a worthy rival for her daughter.

"He wanted me to forgo Vongola's name and accept theirs. I can't do that."

That put some light on the situation and Alexandra found herself on much more familiar grounds in the conversation, her shock diminishing.

Francesco had done the same with Gabriel, to ensure that any child born from the marriage between the man and Elsbeth was a Carlevaro in both name and status, instead of D'Angelo. Her brother in law had no claims against doing so, as there was no lordship for him to take otherwise. But Gabriel was a youngest son, while Giotto was the Lord of his House, so the expectation for him to leave the Vongola behind and forget about the family he had created seemed as a heartless requirement. She couldn't see the reason why Giovanni would go to such length.

Unless the hints Filipa had been dropping were correct and Joanne fell for Giotto, somehow managing to convince her father to ensure the union would happen.

Seeing no benefits were to gain by Allegri House, it was safer for Giovanni to make Giotto take his name and subdue his own influence to the man, than risk the possibility of having the connection cause him an issue, if Vongola was to cause any possible troubles or scandals in the future, she realized.

"But if you convince him to change this requirement, it can be an enormous opportunity for Vongola." she said thoughtfully.

"Perhaps. But I don't plan on getting married yet. I am honored and humbled by the attention, but I am certain Miss Allegri will find a better opportunity in choosing her spouse."

Alexandra was able to recognize when the conversation was ended by the subject concerned and made no further attempts at gaining more information, despite her curiosity. Especially, considering Joanne's sudden interest in Giotto and, if she was to believe Filipa, the surge of emotions she felt after the announcement of the man's engagement.

She had met Joanne a few weeks before, shortly after returning from the Capitol after one of her visits, tired out by the liveliness and intensity of the city life. The tea party hadn't been the most desired event she had wanted to go to, though her mother's insistence made her reconsider her decision of politely refusing it. Even though the Vongola House had been brought in the conversation and Giotto himself had been the subject of many complimentary, and occasionally lewd, comments, the Allegri daughter hadn't expressed any explicit interest in it.

Perhaps the marriage wasn't only desired by Joanne, in the end. But it was still hard to understand what the Allegri House would gain from seeking out the union.

"Are you alright?" a worried voice brought her line of thoughts.

When she raised her eyes, she met Giotto's worried and confused ones looking back at her.

"Yes, why are you asking?" she asked in turn.

"You got tense. And I doubt that what we just discussed caused it."

She watched him in confusion for a moment before a realization came to her mind that, upon losing her concentration, she stopped her attempts to relax, her body stiffening on its own at the feeling of his hand on her waist.

"Sorry. I'm just not a proponent of dancing." She said sheepishly, suddenly getting embarrassed by the fact.

It was only enhanced when a look of guilt and surprise showed on his face, though she was grateful for the step back he had taken almost unconsciously, still remaining in the dancing position, but giving her more space.

"I should be the one apologizing. I didn't even ask you before dragging you here." He said apologetically, a frantic not audible in his voice. "And I am really sorry. Do you want to go to the table?"

She held the smile that threatened to make its way on her lips as she watched his petrified expression. It had been the first time she had been such a reaction to her dislike towards dancing – or more proximity, though she didn't point this one to anyone – as usually it evoked either disbelief or bantering words, making her even more sensitive to the subject that she had been before admitting it. It seemed to her, through his current actions, that Giotto had far more understanding towards such matters than many others she had misfortune to meet so far.

"The song is almost finished anyway. And it would be a horror to get through the couples without bumping into anyone."

He nodded his head, a guilt still on his expression through the last few notes of the music. Until they separated, once the other couples started moving out of the dancefloor, their humorous and occasionally shy conversations reaching their ears, he made sure that there was no unnecessary contact made, taking his hands away as soon as the orchestra put down their instruments.

---

Alexandra took a deep breath of the fresh air, pulling her coat tighter around herself, smiling at the sound of the never-ending laughter coming from the ballroom of Cavallone residence. The cold had successfully discouraged other guests from going outside, giving her some time to think over the current developments in her life, once she had never expected to experience.

She loved Winter Balls. It was thrown every year, a different noble family organizing it after previously agreeing on it with others, so no dispute was caused by such a trivial matter. The celebration was mixed with other joyous events - would it be an engagement party or, like in the case of Lorenzo and Claire, the pregnancy celebration. Alexandra's smile grew bigger as she couldn't stop the joy that filled her heart at the thought of the growing family of her friends. There was no denying that the future parents were more than ecstatic with the news, their happiness influencing the others around them whenever the subject was brought to life.

Despite this, the anxiety still gripped her heart as the result of the latest happenings. The failed kidnappings had shaken her parents - and herself as well, there was no denying it - though the extent to which Francesco went to ensure the safety of his daughter had been quite a shock. She had been certain, at first, that he would hire someone for protection as the additional force to support their own, a planned and coherent explanation told to others, as she couldn't understand why he had insisted on completely hiding the full truth from the rest of the family.

She didn't doubt her father's ability to make the annulment of the fake Contract look real without much repercussion, but it still would bring rumors and gossip around the town.

The procedure wasn't that uncommon in itself - with the constant alliances changing and expanding, the spouses were chosen in the end based on the best benefits for both sides, sometimes breaking the ones dating a few years back, when it seemed like the best solution to generate a Contract back then. There was not really an issue when the process went in a friendly atmosphere with both sides agreeing to it. However, a scandal was always anticipated, the ladies searching for something to liven their parties and meetings. That caused a worry in Alexandra's mind. The annulment between the Founding Family and one that was freshly introduced to the nobility would catch the unwanted attention, making it harder.

Francesco, however, seemed indifferent to her worries, not seeing the problem when she tried to convince him to not go forward with the plan.

"Miss Carlevaro, what a pleasant surprise."

Looking over her shoulder at the direction of the entrance to the small balcony, where the voice came from, Alexandra furrowed her brows questioningly, the dark figure unrecognizable at first due to the light shining at its back.

Once she could see the face of her newly arrived companion, she felt her heart stopping for a split second in which she forced all of her senses to calm down and not show any sign of distress.

"Lord Lacertosa." she said, straightening herself fully and turning towards the man.

She suddenly regretted going out on her own and convincing Giotto to stay inside.

She watched the dark haired man leaning against the railing next to her, his handsome face adorned with a smirk as his dark eyes looked her up and down, assessing the changes she had gone through in the few years they had not seen each other. She had believed that there was no chance anyone may try to kidnap her with so many witnesses gathered in the ballroom - especially considering the fact that she had seen some of the Vongola Guardians passing next to the balcony a few times. Giotto had been immersed in the conversation with Lord Sorello, a strict man who had barely shown any interest in the Vongola before, so interrupting it to get some fresh air seemed like a bad idea back then.

She hadn't counted on an unwanted companion, especially not on meeting the person associated with the hardest period of her short life.

"I hope you are enjoying your night. Lord Cavallone outdid himself this year."

"I do, thank you. There is a lot to celebrate for Lorenzo and Claire." Alexandra answered politely, hugging the skirts of her coat closer around.

Samuel had never been anything but polite and friendly, even though the sarcasm of such reactions when he was speaking to her was blinding. Whenever she had been forced to stay at his company - and it had been quite often due to her father's investigation a few years back - she couldn't stop the cold shiver of fear that ran down her spine every time their eyes accidently connected. Every time she had fought with herself to not avert it, to not show the weakness of her scare, though she had been barely fifteen years old back then. She had had no chance against the twenty something man experienced in humiliating and terrifying others of much more power and influence than her, the darkness of the Mafia and its violent secret not a foreign aspect to Lacertosa House, the darkest family out of all Founding Families.

"Yes. The baby. It is definitely an occasion for grand celebration. I also heard Cavallone Stables are doing exceedingly well this year." he continued the conversation.

"That's something you would need to ask Lorenzo, Lord Lacertosa. I am not familiar with their financial status." she answered calmly, nervously playing with the small silver band on her pointing finger.

"I thought with such a close relationship between Cavallone and Carlevaro, you would have some insight on it." the teasing note in Samuel's voice didn't escape her attention, as well as his relaxed and nonchalant pose.

He hadn't changed much, she had noticed once her eyes got more accustomed to the amount of light. She couldn't remember his exact age, but Samuel must have passed thirty by now, if she counted correctly since the event of his wife's passing. But he still was as handsome as he had been back then, the few lines in the corner of his eyes adding only to his qualities.

"The only thing I can say is that their horses are the best. Sorry to disappoint you, but I don't have access to their accountant records." she cut the conversation short.

It was Claire's duty as the Lady of the House, though the task was given to her only after much imploring for Lorenzo to agree to it. The man had been fully set on not giving his wife any work at all, not wanting to cause her any stress or fatigue, but the intent was cut short by Claire herself, as she couldn't see herself in the position of not doing anything at all. So in the end, she took over Cavallone's budget, to the shock and outrage of the butler and the main accountant, though they could not do much - Lorenzo had been strict with his order.

Samuel hummed in answer, a thoughtful and amused look in his eyes as he kept watching her closely. There was no harmful intent as far as she could tell in the dimmed light coming from the ballroom, but the man had an uncommon and natural ability to make anyone uncomfortable and anxious with only his stare and Alexandra found herself shifting from one to another when the silence prolonged, together with his surveillance.

"I wouldn't say I am disappointed, not at all.. When was the last time we had seen each other, Miss Carlevaro? Four years ago?"

"Six. At Valentina's funeral." she replied shortly, her back stiffening at the memory of it.

"Oh yes, my dear, late wife. It was an unspeakable tragedy that should never have happened. But that's the world we are living in, one could say."

A sad expression crossed over his features, though Alexandra had hard time believing the sincerity of it. A specific glint in his dark eyes made her aware that he was awaiting her reaction to the words, either verbal or in body language and she had strained herself to not show any sign of it.

"I was sure you were still abroad. Where was it? France?" she asked, glancing at the balcony door once again.

To make an exit and return to the ballroom and the safety of being surrounded by other people, she would need to squeeze past Samuel - the balcony on the first floor was the smaller one than on the others, located on the side instead of the middle of the building, serving as a great spot for either the moment of solitude or a lovers meeting. Alexandra didn't feel tempted by the idea to approach him closer than necessary, her mind still overcame with the flashes of the images from the years back.

The anniversary of Valentina's death was nearing and she wondered whether the time of his return was accidental or specifically planned.

"Ah yes, amazing time. Very educational. You have no idea how wonderful it was for my tormented soul." Samuel shifted in his spot, barely noticeable, his arm moving closer to hers as he leaned on the railing.

"Tormented, you say. By guilt or by sorrow?" the words left her lips before she could stop them.

The moment of silence hung between them, her nervousness only growing when he kept watching her from such a close proximity, before Samuel's laughter cut the air. An obvious humor shone in his eyes when he leaned his chin against his hand, continuing the close inspection of her face, to her embarrassment and discomfort.

"Miss Carlevaro, do I need to remind you that the authorities found me innocent of yours and your father's accusation?" the light and joyful tone of his voice contrasted with the subject of the conversation. .

"Of course not, I remember that very clearly."

She was doing her best not to show the fear that gripped her heart at the memory of the events, as well as the gaze that was still on her.

The attempts to get past the memories and trauma caused by the terrifying experience were futile, as her mind kept an unyielding grip on them, bringing them forwards in the least expected moments, often raising her from her sleep, thick cover of sweat on her body as she gasped for the air, trying to differentiate between the dream and the reality.

"Why did you return, Lord Lacertosa? From what you are saying, you had a great time abroad." she asked suddenly, changing the subject.

She didn't want to think of Valentine and her premature demise. Though she had been expecting the return of the nightmares - the anniversary was coming closer and that had been usually when they had been bothering her with double efforts.

"Responsibility called. It's high time I started preparing to take over the Lacertosa family. Duties, securing the line of heredity, as my previous attempt was cut short cruelly." the meaningful spark in his eyes made her alert.

"You are looking for a wife." she realised, watching as he pushed himself off the railing.

"As a matter of fact, I am. I think you are still unmarried, am I correct?"

With every step he took towards her, Alexandra took one back, her heart increasing in fearful beat and she couldn't stop the feeling that it would jump out of her chest soon, the reaction enhanced as the distance was closing between them. She jolted in surprise when a railing stopped her movement, cutting short the attempt of keeping a secure length from him and her eyes darted around, looking for an option to evacuate herself.

Alexandra humored a passing thought whether her scream would be heard, though the sound of music reaching her ears would probably make it impossible. The music and laughter was far too loud for anything to penetrate it from the outside.

"I am engaged. Haven't you heard the news?" her voice turned steely when Samuel suddenly put his hands on the railing, trapping her between the stone and his body.

"Engagement can be easily broken."

The spark in his eyes was hard to name, balancing on the border of humor and malice as he kept staring straight into the teal orbs, making her far more terrified and uncomfortable than she should be.

Despite his insinuation, the union between them would never happen and both of them knew it. At least, in the most friendly and common sense of the word, as Francesco and the Council would never give their permission to create a bond between the two Houses on their own free will - there were too many disputes and disagreements for Carlevaro to be at ease with such a decision. The idea of being connected in any way to the crimes and deprivation supported by Lacertosa was ridiculous for everyone considering it.

And yet, there was always a matter of forceful solution to this.

"I don't plan to terminate my current engagement in the nearest future. Can you distance yourself, please? The position is highly uncomfortable, not to mention - improper." she said finally, moving her eyes to look over his shoulder, in hopes of catching an eye of one of their companions.

And to ensure that he couldn't read through her lie about the engagement, as his eyes still watched her, imploringly and closely, the teasing humor shining in them to the point where she was barely able to stop herself from pushing him away, forcefully. But she knew straight away it would have no impact on the man, the difference in their strength was too prominent, and the consequences of such action kept her away from the physical solution of her current predicament.

"I don't think there is anything improper, Miss Carlevaro. We are conversing. Concerning is the fact that no one can see us, but I am sure there will be no doubt in the innocence of our meeting." he replied carelessly.

"I prefer to leave no room for any possible questions, Lord Lacertosa." she countered immediately, returning her eyes to his and hardening her gaze.

"I am certain you don't. It would bring to life a lot of old rumors, isn't it right?"

He was openly laughing at her, bringing the events of the past that he knew would get both on her nerves and pride, the memory of whispers as humiliating as the actual experience itself.

"The rumors were just a ridiculous and illusionary picture of the events, as you know. You created them yourself, after all They were brought down once, so it can be done again." she replied.

She wasn't as certain though as she tried to be in front of him - not when her father was gone for an unknown period of time and Gabriel was not yet as prominent at such actions as Francesco was. If the gossip was brought up once again at full force, they would be circulating widely with no one to cut them short for the next few weeks.

"There is a rather dull moment now around. There will be many who would be more than glad to get a sniff of such a tasty story." he was much more sure of his words than she was. "Tell me, Miss Carlevaro, does your fiancé know about it? I think he hasn't yet graced our events with his humble company back then."

"I don't see any prominent reason to bother him with such a nonsignificant matter. As you say, the rumors are old. No one would believe in such a sickening notion again, not when there is no accompanying event to support it." she countered the words, straightening herself a bit. "Not when I am engaged to a much more desired candidate. Who in their right mind would believe in that?"

There was a slight shadow of anger passing through Samuel's eyes, as she noticed with a small ounce of satisfaction. She knew how to get on his nerves as well, the months spent on listening to her father's analysis of the man's character.

Samuel Lacertosa would never take easily being considered as an inferior to anyone - especially a person who he himself saw as inferior to himself. And the first impression of Giotto he had was through the man's original birth class.

"You have a low standard, Miss Carlevaro, for someone of your qualities."

"Or maybe others perceive their own qualities as too high, Lord Lacertosa."

A silence hung in the air, though there was an ounce of more hostile intent in it, making a tension more proclaimed than before. She considered the idea that, perhaps, rousing his temper wasn't such a grand idea as she had originally thought - or maybe hadn't thought at all, as the answers to his words came out before she had the possibility to process the impact they could have.

"I have been looking for you everywhere! Alex, you can't just disappear with no words, I was becoming worried!"

Elena's voice came as a greatly desired distraction and Alexandra barely managed to conceal a deep sigh of relief to give vent to the emotions stirring in her heart and mind. Samuel seemed surprised by the unexpected presence, jolting almost unnoticeably and looking over his shoulders at the blonde that stood behind them, her smile friendly and kind, but her eyes sharp as ever when she watched the two of them, her hands grasped in front.

"I was held back, I'm sorry. But I will be more than glad to join you." Alexandra answered, before adding meaningfully. "Lord Lacertosa, I hope you don't mind?"

"It would be better to make haste, as Demon and Giotto are waiting for us."

She looked with expectation at the man blocking her way, wandering what Samuel's next actions would be with anxiety and fear. Ignoring Elena's presence by refusing her request would arouse suspicion in the blonde and the risk of her bringing others to the small balcony was high. He wasn't afraid of Vongola, as the family of no great importance amongst the nobility and with no participation in the Mafia stood as no danger for him - the host of the evening, Lorenzo was perceived as much more unwanted company. And there was no doubt the man could come running once the word of the tough situation his friend was in would reach his ears.

"Of course, Miss Carlevaro. I don't want to keep your precious company from others through the evening, after all."

She darted to Elena's side as soon as his body wasn't blocking the path anymore, trying to hurry in the movements without actually running away, as the satisfaction from evoking it in her was the last thing Alexandra wanted to give Samuel.

""But I do hope we have a possibility of speaking once again, Miss Carlevaro."

"I do not have much free time currently, unfortunately."

She didn't look back when she entered the ballroom again, accompanied by Elena on the side, the blue eyes watching her curiously. There was no way out of explaining the events on the balcony, Alexandra realized with a small sigh of defeat, running a hand through her hair and wincing when a few strands came loose out of her hairdo as a consequence.

"You are messing up your hair. We should go to the resting room to fix it." Elena proposed suddenly.

The brunette met the blue eyes and a few seconds passed before she nodded her head.

The resting room was a requirement for every ballroom, as the place for reapplying the make up or correcting one's hair was much needed for every participant, both male and female - though there were different rooms assigned to each gender. Though it also served as a great place for secluded conversation, when an urgent need for information exchange of advice aroused during the night.

And Elena apparently wanted to get some answers out of her. The suspicion was proven right when the woman started asking questions as soon as they made sure there was no one else in the room with them.

"Who was it? I don't think I have seen him before here."

Alexandra sat on down on the cushioned seat in front of the mirror, looking at the strands she had accidentally freed.

"You probably haven't, at least not here. His name is Samuel Lacertosa, the heir of the Lacertosa House. You could have seen him at one point or another in the Capitol, though." she replied, taking a few spins out and glancing at the blonde, who made herself comfortable on another chair.

"It still doesn't ring any bells. I did hear about the House, obviously, but not about him individually." Elena said thoughtfully. "Do you know him well?"

Alexandra hesitated temporarily as the natural instinct to avoid the question and direct their conversation to another subject was a hard habit to overcome. There was no sense in doing so, anyway, she realized, as the Vongola Family would hear about it anyway the next day from a benevolent neighbor that would be more than pleased to share the story of the past that had shaken their town to the core

---

As expected, Alexandra couldn't sleep that night, despite the fatigue her body and mind felt after the day of excitement. The memories had been returning to her even when she was still awake, turning into a more grotesque sight once a dream claimed its toll on her, jolting her back to consciousness immediately.

It had been the third time she found herself awake - still shaking due to the pictures her mind supplied in the nightmare - when she rose from her bed with a silent curse on her lips. The agitation and scare made her quite certain the sleep couldn't come easily, not in her current state of mind. Putting her robe around her body, making sure it was tightly secured for the benefits of warmth, she hesitated for a second, glancing at the doors leading to Lizzie's temporary bedroom. She knew she should wake the maid up to either ask her for the cup of tea she wanted or to at least have her accompany her, though she had no heart to break the girl's sleep.

Lizzie had been waiting for her until the late hour of evening, despite the early rising the previous day, her eyes barely open and movement sluggish as the tiredness had been taking its toll on her, though the maid still refused to leave and have Alexandra do her night routine on her own. Taking Lizzie out of her warm bed to travel through the cold and dark corridors with her seemed like a heartless idea.

Shaking herself out, Alexandra lit up a candle standing on her night stand and waited until the flicker would rich its lightest, to help her get to the kitchen through the corridors. She knew her way by now, especially to the room of her utmost interest. At first, she had been strongly hesitant to infiltrate it in case of insomnia, though the cook had assured her that there was nothing wrong with that, as long as she didn't set any accidental fire that could ruin the place.

Walking through the darkened halls, Alexandra pulled the skirts of her robe closer around herself, swallowing. She really loved the interior of Vongola Residence, though even it during the night laid out a completely different and unwelcomed sight, the flickering of her candle making the shadows dance through the entire trip, causing her heart to increase in speed as the overwhelming feeling of seeing some figures around her settled in her already anxious mind. She was almost at her destination when a shiver ran down her spine, a cold air brushing against her ankles, where the robe ended. While the staff had always ensured that all inhabited bedrooms were pleasantly warm to their occupants, the corridors and areas of common use were heated by the fireplace only during the day, before the family started gathering there for breakfast or lunch, depending on the situation.

Not expecting anyone else to be awake at the hour, she almost dropped the candle in fear when her eyes settled on another figure in the kitchen, the dim light of another candle standing on the top of the kitchen shelf failing to lighten it fully.

Giotto had been far more aware of someone's approaching before she made the appearance, alerted by the footsteps coming from the corridor. If he knew it was her, he would have made his appearance known beforehand, to save her from the scare she had experienced. But, to his defense, Alexandra was the last person she had expected to meet in the kitchen in the middle of the night.

"It's a bit late for the evening snack." he commented, watching as she ran a hand over her face, calming herself down.

"It's never late for a snack." she said under her breath, hesitating at the doorstep.

She hadn't taken into the consideration meeting anyone on her impromptu trip and the development made her reconsider the decision to not wake Lizzie up.

"If you are hungry, I'm quite sure Mrs. Lena left something. She always does, in case one of us returns late from a meeting or something." Giotto said, glancing around the kitchen.

"That's nice of her, but I'm not really searching for food." she replied, mustering a smile on her face. "Just some tea to get me back to sleep. Mrs. Lena seemed to not have anything against me if I ran her supply occasionally."

The realization that perhaps she should have asked him first about the extent of her freedom around the house and a sudden feeling that she could be putting the woman in trouble settled in her mind.

"That's her kingdom, I have no saying in whatever she is doing here." Giotto said with humor in his voice, noticing the sudden conflict on her face. "But I was just making one for myself, so if you wait for a few minutes, it will be ready."

She nodded her head, not certain what to do next - refusing the drink now would make her appearance in the kitchen completely useless and unnecessary. On the other hand, there was something strangely private in the scene that made her uncomfortable with the development of the events.

"Are you still working?" she inquired to break the silence that hung in the air.

He was still dressed in the official attire, minus the jacket which he had taken off to spend the next few hours more comfortably the sleeves of his white shirt rolled up to his elbow. It was hard to see anything with only the candles, though she was certain there must have been lines of fatigue on his face. The rest of the family was long securely resting in their beds, getting their energy back to start the new day and the challenges ahead of them, the quietness and peacefulness settling over the building. He had preferred to work at night, when there was no one interrupting him with visits or letter delivery and no unexpected happenings could break through his concentration. It was a lot easier then, despite the darkness outside the windows, to collect his thoughts and ensure his decisions were measured and deliberate.

"There were some documents to sign and some letters to answer that I procrastinated far too long. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, so I probably won't have time"

"Busy man." Alexandra commented, out of lack of anything else to say, rubbing her arm.

He was busying himself around the stove, waiting for the already prepared water to boil. There was ease in his actions that made it obvious he had done it many times before, both due to the nights he had already been spending in the solitude of his office and his previous style of life, back when he had no one to serve him his drinks and meals.

"Someone has to do it." he smiled to himself, before adding as an afterthought. "I'm going to Lorenzo tomorrow, if you want to join me. Claire mentioned she would love to have you over."

The pregnant woman had retired earlier than the guests, fatigue taking possession over her body and mind more easily than for others, but no one blamed her for doing so. But it hadn't been until Elena told him about the man she had encountered cornering Alexandra on the balcony that he had understood the look of worry and concern on Claire's face when she watched the younger woman once Alexandra returned from her refreshing outside.

"That would be amazing, if my presence won't be an obstacle. I haven't seen her alone for quite some time, Lorenzo usually hindered our meetings." she confirmed.

"He will be busy tomorrow, that I can promise you." a smile dropped for a moment from his face before he looked at his companion. "If you sit by the stove, it will be a bit warmer."

She hesitated for a split second, but the cold felt through the rob convinced her to hear his words, and soon she found herself sitting by the small kitchen table, the warmth sipping from the fire lighted to prepare the drink making her at ease.

."I heard you had an unpleasant meeting today." he said suddenly.

Alexandra stiffened, not expecting that the subject would be brought up in such a direct way. She knew straight away that Elena would be obliged to share the event with Giotto, for the reasons of her safety, mostly.

She looked at him thoughtfully, wondering whether she had the strength to go through the events of the past once again, as the story had been already recollected for Elena. A summary of it, at least, as they couldn't occupy the resting room for too long without arousing unnecessary questions. He was standing in a slight distance from the source of light, his figure partially hidden by the shadows as he waited for the water to boil, so she couldn't see the expression on his face, but the feeling of precautious look made her shift slightly in her chair.

"I came out of it unscathed, so we should consider it as the best of the bunch." she said under her breath, moving her eyes to her hands resting on the top of the table. "How much did Elena tell you?"

When the water finally boiled, it distracted him for a time it took for him to prepare the drinks, giving her also some much needed moment to prepare herself mentally for the upcoming talk. She had a feeling that he wouldn't continue the subject if she asked him too, postponing it to the later date. But the realization came to her mind that she would rather have it done straight away, as the night was already ruined for her anyway. Making more recollections of the event would only disturb her future attempts of the rest.

"Not much, basically only warned me that there may be some additional problems and advised talking to you. I don't think I have ever met Samuel Lacertosa." he answered, putting the steaming cups on the table and sitting opposite her, finally coming into the light.

"He is the sole heir of Lacertosa House, another Founding Family. He spent the last six years abroad, so it is possible you haven't met him yet." she explained, embracing the cup with both of her hands.

"Do you know him well?" he continued. taking a sip of his drink.

"Not really. There is history between the Carlevaro and Lacertosa Houses, though I am sure my father would be far better to tell it than me. I know only that they are not on good terms with us." she answered honestly, wincing at the vague description. "Personally I know him only because he was the husband of my late piano teacher. She was murdered in their Residence."

His eyes widened at the news, not expecting the direction the conversation was going to take. After hearing about the relationship between the Houses, he had promptly assumed that the man had simply been expressing his dislike towards Alexandra.

"Was the culprit caught?" he asked the first question that popped into his mind,

"No. Samuel was the main suspect, mostly due to my father's work on the case. He was found innocent, despite the evidence." Alexandra was growing nervous once again, the memories flooding her mind.

"How does it connect to you?"

The gentle question made her raise her eyes to his for a moment, wandering about the best way to describe the happenings. She could see now that her previous suspicions were correct, as the dark shadows underneath Giotto's eyes clearly signalized his tiredness.

While she was unwilling to share the story, it wouldn't be wise to do so, considering the situation the more details Giotto had, the better it was for her safety, and his as well. Samuel's return had not been taken into consideration when Francesco had planned her current predicament. As it was solely put on Vongola House for the upcoming weeks, she didn't want to jeopardize their efforts in any way by omitting crucial information.

Alexandra couldn't really say she knew Samuel that well before the happenings that influenced the peace of her life and shattered her innocent view of the world. She had seen him a few times passingly, mostly when she had attended her piano lessons, and he had seemed as displeased with the presence of Carlevaro in his house as Francesco had been with sending her to Lacertosa Residence. But Valentine, the best in the art of music and as professional as ever, had always made sure no one interrupted their time of learning. After being entangled in the case, she had heard enough about the man's character from her father. Many times over the years she had been warned that with the return of Samuel, revenge towards their actions could be developed, as there was no way he would forget it.

The family was famous around the Mafia world for their unforgivable actions towards the ones that went against them. And the offence Carlevaro House had made by dragging the Lacertosa name through the dirt was a deep one.

"I was there. When she was murdered." she said eventually, swallowing heavily the bill that rose in her throat, making it hard to talk.

Alexandra could remember it clearly, the images returning to her mind whenever an anniversary of the death approached. The terrifying stillness of the air when she woke up, the overwhelming smell that turned her heavy stomach around and the crashing confusion caused by the blinding headache and feeling of drowsiness she was unaccustomed to.

It hadn't been the worst though.

The most painful and crushing memory was of when her eyes regained focus, her mind slowly waking to life, the ability to think and comprehend returning to her. The sight of the body on the floor in the Lacertosa guest bedroom and Samuel's figure bending over it, the blood splattered everywhere, coloring the walls and floor a morbid sight, as if someone accidently knocked over a bucket of paint. It was something her mind refused to forget about, bringing the picture over in many nightmares she endured since that time, many sleepless nights following the experience. She had had far too clear insight on the mutilated corpse of her teacher than she would have ever wished for.

"You witnessed her death?" the amber eyes watching her held so much compassion and understanding that she moved her attention back to the drink in her hand, raising it up to give herself a second more to answer.

"No, not the actual crime. I was unconscious through it, as someone drugged me. Whatever was used, kept me asleep through the entire night. I didn't even hear anything and I doubt there was no sound made. At least, that was something that the investigators deducted. When I woke up, she was already dead, with Samuel standing over her."

Alexandra massaged her temples, feeling a migraine forming while the memories kept flooding her mind.

"I don't really know why, but he just stood there, holding a fire poker, watching me when I moved, before simply exiting the room, as if in a trance. I ran. I didn't even check on her, but got my horse and got home as fast as I could. When father heard everything, he went there. I'm not sure what happened then, but he returned with Valentina's parents and locked himself in the office with them."

Alexandra could see in her mind the cold and calculating look in Samuel's eyes when he had watched her that day, unmoving, as if assessing the danger she had posed to him or wondering what she had been doing there in the first place. She shouldn't have been in the guest room, as no one had planned her staying through the night.. A sound of metal hitting a floor, echoing maliciously in the cold and heavy silence when he had dropped the poker, had caused a fear in her for the next few months, and it still made her jolt when she was lost in her thoughts.

Back then, it had gotten to the point where the staff had been extensively careful while using metal objects around her.

"But he got off thanks to his family." his voice was quiet when he broke the silence, and it brought her out of her wandering.

"He did, yes. They started with spreading the rumors here and there, making sure my testimony was as untrustworthy as possible. It didn't take long before the entire town believed I was in love with Samuel and wanted to get back on him for rejecting me. The fact that I was fifteen back then and not even in the marriageable age didn't matter to them. Some considered me as a real murderer. Thankfully, the vehemence of the crime killed that gossip quickly. But after that, my testimony couldn't be taken into consideration, so the case was dropped."

She could remember all of it, whenever the thoughts of that time hunted her. The whispers, the concealed looks and derived smiles following her everywhere, to the point where Alexandra had locked herself in her bedroom, refusing to go outside until strictly necessary only to eventually move to the Cavallone Residence. The news had travelled there as well, though it hadn't been as vehement as it had been in the town the crime had actually occurred and where the people involved in it had lived.

Her aunt was the one that had acted upon seeing her distress and took her away to the Capitol for the next few months once the Trial had been over, until Francesco had managed to silence the whisperers. Mia had not held herself back to give the man a piece of her mind for letting Alexandra go through the experience in the first place, though he had been set on perceiving his actions as correct,

"Has it been the first time he approached you after that?" Giotto inquired when she fell silent and she nodded her head..

"He talked to me after his name was cleared. I don't remember the exact warning, but he praised the bravery of me standing up against him. Also something about it being a desirable quality, but didn't elaborate on that."

The moment of silence fell between the two of them once again. It was the first time she had seen Giotto like this, serious, looking at her with intensive and thoughtful amber eyes as he considered her every word, the usual gentleness and kindness taken over by more professional expression.

At the moment she wasn't talking with a friendly and polite man that she was used to, but with the man that managed to gain the respect of most of the noble society despite his origins.

"I'm sorry to ask, but what were you doing there in the first place? I know she was your teacher, but it is rather unexpected for a student to stay overnight." he asked suddenly.

"There was a storm. Valentina postponed the lesson, but the messenger missed me on the way to my house. It wasn't safe enough to travel back in such weather as it got worse during my lesson."

It had been questioned many times during the trial and she wasn't offended by it anymore, but the reason why Valentina had stayed with her in the same bedroom still remained a mystery and Alexandra had never been able to provide an answer to that. The woman had simply informed her that it had been for proprietary reasons, which seemed as not a good enough explanation for others.

"I'm sorry. If father knew about Lacertosa's return, he wouldn't ask you to participate in this farce. It complicates a lot of things.." she ran a hand over her face, conflicted and confused about what to do in the current situation. "I think it would be best if we dropped the act."

Something had changed in his expression, but she wasn't able to name it, his eyes as unreadable as it could get.

Alexandra wondered if he was angry at the development of the situation, as It went beyond anything he had agreed to do for her family. If Lacertosa was really interested in revenge, there was no saying what he could do to reach his goal. And with the current standing of the Vongola House, they stood no chance of survival against one of the most powerful families in the Mafia.

"You are afraid of him." The statement was said matter of factly and Alexandra didn't contradict it.

"Samuel has reasons to not like me, aside from the dispute between our families. My words were the ones that almost locked him in prison or worse, and it was because of me he had to leave the country until everything was hushed. Father often repeated that the Lacertosa are a vengeful family." she explained, putting her robe closer around herself.

"That only proves that breaking the engagement now would be dangerous."

She held back a grimace that threatened to show on her expression, angry at herself for not being able to express fully just how much of a danger Samuel was posing for anyone that went against him. They were violent and cruel, that much she knew. But the extent of their crimes had never been disclosed to her.

"If he perceives you as a threat, Samuel will go against you." she looked back at him, teal eyes serious "You don't need an enemy in someone like him. They have a lot of friends in high places and I wouldn't be surprised if the Royal Family was helping with his exculpation. He can do a lot of damage to Vongola if he feels like it.".

"What would you do if I agreed to your proposition?" Giotto had asked suddenly, taking the conversation to different directions, a smile playing in the corners of his lips.

"I would return to Carlevaro Residence."

"Where we already know there is someone who is plotting against you." he pointed out immediately, as if expecting it.

"We don't know that for sure." the lack of confidence in her statement made her wince.

"There is a reason why Francesco came up with the idea of putting you in Vongola Residence." Giotto's voice was gentle, yet firm.

"He didn't know all the aspects back then, Samuel's return changed the situation. If he really wants to get revenge, he won't stop from harming you."

"Alexandra, I assure you I can take care of myself, as well as all of my Guardians." There was humor in his voice she didn't get. "As we know that the return to Carlevaro Residence is not an option, what else do you have in mind?"

She glared at him openly, feeling an irritation when that made no impression on him. She had tried to consider her options when she had lied awake in the darkness of her temporary room. There was not much she had been able to come up with, despite her best intentions. .

"I can run away." she said under her breath

"Where would you go?"

"I don't know yet. Probably to my aunt, to the Capitol." she said with an irritation in her voice, which seemed to amuse Giotto more.

"Doesn't the Lacertosa Family have a lot of influence in the Capitol?".

"All Founding Families have."

The admission came reluctantly and she tried her best to sound or look like a pouting child. It wasn't an ideal solution, as their influences would clash once she took a hiding in there, leading probably to unnecessary problems for her aunt and uncle. But it was the only option she had.

"So he still would pose a danger if you went there." he pointed out the obvious.

"You are making fun of me." She accused, looking at him with a slight irritation.

"I am not. Honestly." he promised, clearing his throat and turning serious once again. "I do understand that you are worried and afraid of this development, but I can't go back on the word I gave to your father, Alexandra. I promised to protect you, and that's what I will be doing. Francesco chose me not only because of the trust he had in me and our friendship. There are seven skilled fighters in this house, whose job is to ensure your safety."

"So what you are saying is that my best chance is to stay with you." she asked doubtfully.

"I knew you would get it." he replied with a smile, and Alexandra looked at him incredulously.

"That's not… never mind." she gave up in the end, massaging her forehead.

She had been irritated with herself mostly for not being able to show the extent of Lacertosa family crime to him.

Francesco had always highlighted the bloody history of the other Founding Family, but never shared any details that could show the whole picture to neither her nor Elsbeth. Her father believed that the sick fantasy for women possessed by the Lacertosa senior was inherited by the son, and the murder of Valentina only proved his point. There was no limit to the extent of their influence and power, the benefits they were gaining from it making it possible to cover all of their crimes. It made Alexandra wonder why, despite knowing their perversion, the noble society of their town was so keen on believing in her harming actions in the tragedy that happened to Valentina. She had been a fourteen years old girl whose teacher was just murdered, put in the spotlight after encouragement from her father and promised that no harm would meet her if she did it.

Francesco had used his own influences and contacts to kill the rumors and stop others from spreading it, but the damage was done anyway. Her reputation and self-confidence hit the bottom, her social introduction hindered by it, as well as her friendship with others of her age. There was no comparison between it and the tragedy of Valentina, but it still made a lasting impression on the young girl.

Alexandra had considered running away, though the idea seemed unreachable. The possibility of her leaving the Vongola yard without Giotto knowing about it was low, as the guards were checking the perimeter with different intensity, someone always there to overwatch. They were also notified that she could leave only in the company of one of the Guardians - if they saw her alone, it would raise their suspicion. And the rumors about skills and abilities of the Vongola family had been cruising around the nobility since they had joined their ranks. No details were known, especially not for the gossiping ladies, but the seed of truth was there, indicating that their joining the ranks of nobles was not simply done by someone doing the favors, but due to their own hard work. Which, considering their participation in solving the problems around the town, proved to be right. It didn't take long before the looks of resentment and reluctance at the low birth of some of the Vongola members began turning into respect and friendliness, the genuineness of it questionable in many cases. But it wasn't very important. The nobility was based on appearances anyway, and none of the families really desire to gain another foe that would increase the work of their men.

The society was still on alert, despite the temporary peace established amongst the families. The calm atmosphere may indicate there was nothing to be afraid of, but the years of experience spent on fighting and learning the way others operated made all the mafia nobles unable to get rid of old habits. The guards were still being kept, the security put at the highest level possible while the family leaders were unwilling to endanger their members in any way.

"Is there anything else I should know about Lacertosa?" Giotto asked suddenly, bringing her out of her thoughts.

"Aside from the fact that you shouldn't cross him for my sake?" she asked without a beat, making him smile.

"Yes."

"Nothing that I am aware of." Alexandra shook her head, trying to keep a yawn in and failing her task miserably. "Father or Gabriel probably would be able to give you more information. I don't doubt there are some in the Carlevaro Files. But only my father has access to it."

He watched her for a moment, contemplating the conversation and assessing her posture, before sighing, noticing her tiredness as well as feeling his own fatigue sipping into his mind. There was a pain in her eyes, the memories of the past definitely not a pleasant ones and he had no doubt the sleep would avoid her for the rest of the night, keeping her awake probably until the early hours of dawn.

"I shouldn't make you go through the conversation tonight, I'm sorry." he said, realizing his mistake, though the curiosity had taken better of him when she had joined him in the kitchen.

"That's fine. It was better to go through it straight away than returning to it again at a later date." she admitted with a shrug of her shoulder, trying to sound nonchalant about it.

She doubted she would return to sleep that night, even despite the delicious tea she had been served.

"You should go back to sleep. I'll be leaving for Lorenzo after breakfast, so we will have an early start."

"Yes, I probably should." she surrendered. "Thank you."

"Don't plan any escapes for now."

She threw a glare over her shoulder at the humor in his voice.

"If I plan an escape, I will inform you beforehand."

"Of course you will."

Giotto watched as she disappeared behind the door, smiling when her dignified muttering reached his ears.

She tried to maintain a calm composure through the conversation, but the teal eyes showed the truth about her actual feelings - the fear and nervousness there were not fake.

His smile faded away when he thought back to the conversation they had just had.

He had already heard the story, or the basic version of it. The rumors about the trial development had been shared amongst lower class as well, the curiosity and hunger for any gossip concerning the nobility ever present, even though Giotto never could understand the origin of it. Was it because it gave the poor townspeople the fake sense of being closer to the unreachable luxury or because it gave them reassurance that even the rich had their own problems and tragedies, he wasn't certain. And he had never really taken much interest in the reason for it, as it also served as a great information collecting tool for the vigilante group they had operated as. The stories had to be properly filtrated of course, as the maids passing them over used to give some part of their own, but still gave them a basis to work on whenever required.

While he had heard of it, it didn't mean Giotto was aware that Carlevaro participated in the scandal that temporarily took over the town – while he had been already on the way to reach his goal of joining the nobility, though the names of Mafia's family was still out of his reach back then. He wouldn't have been surprised if it was only Carlevaro's Lord of the House appearing in it. But Alexandra's appearance in the story shocked him. He hadn't suspected Francesco could put his daughter through such an ordeal.

"You didn't need to hide there. It's cold outside." he said suddenly, turning to look over his shoulder.

Giotto watched calmly as the door leading to the kitchen from the mudroom opened and a figure stepped in. Running a hand over his short hair to get rid of the snow resting there, Alaude looked at his boss, his piercing blue eyes unreadable as ever. A silence filled the room once again, as Giotto waited for his strongest Guardian to speak, knowing from the experience that there was no sense in pushing Alaude before he was ready to share his news. The way of learning used to be quite painful, but well remembered.

"I waited for your conversation to end." the Cloud Guardian answered, putting something in front of his boss.

"You collected it already?" the surprise was evident in Giotto's voice when he raised the folder, and went through the few papers inside, scanning over the text.

"It wasn't hard. I assigned a few people to it." Alaude replied calmly. "That's basic information only. I will have the copy of police and court reports in a few days."

"I'm interested in the trial details." Giotto said under his breath, reading through the short newspaper notes.

He had cornered the Cloud Guardian as soon as they had returned from the ball, which gave Alaude barely a few hours to find any information concerning Alexandra and Samuel. Despite the time, he had somehow managed to collect the copy of marriage and death certificates, and the newspaper clips describing the trial. Well, Giotto hoped it were the copies, and Alaude hadn't in reality broken into Lacertosa residence to obtain it, the possibility of it being too big for him to ignore the thoughts.

He made a mental note to keep a close attention to any gossip about breaks that could reach him.

"You need to get more information from the girl." he raised his confused eyes to look at the Guardian, his reading interrupted, before shaking himself out of it.

"Alexandra isn't a girl. And she doesn't want to talk about it." he said absently. "For most people, waking to find their teacher dead and testifying against their murderer is a traumatic experience, Alaude. I won't force her until it becomes a necessity."

"My source warned that the records could have disappeared by now."

"Yes, I wouldn't be surprised. It was probably essential that no sign of the trial was left behind. Was there anything suspicious so far?" looking back at the article informing about Valentina Lacertosa's death, probably the first of the series, he scanned it.

"Covered rumors suggest that he spent the entire day in Allegri's residence after the murder." Alaude added.

"I didn't know Allegri was so close to Lacertosa." Giotto muttered thoughtfully, putting the folder aside after deciding to look through it the next day, when he would be more focused . "If Samuel makes any suspicious movement, please let me know. If he is really planning something, we can't let him near Alexandra." he added after a moment, rubbing his forehead.

His temporary engagement was turning more complicated than he expected.

"I wasn't able to determine Francesco's whereabouts yet."

The confusion lights up in his tired eyes at Alaude's words, before the meaning of it is registered and he sighed exasperatedly. .

"Alaude, we spoke three hours ago. Francesco is a master in covering his tracks. It would be a miracle if you found him by the end of the week." the glint in the stoic blue eyes almost made Giotto roll his own eyes. "And it wasn't a challenge, please don't overwork yourself."

"The messenger also left this." putting a sealed letter on the table, Alaude left the kitchen with no more words exchanged.

Giotto knew the Cloud Guardian far too well to get offended by it in any way.

Taking the letter and examining it, his curiosity picked up when he noticed the blue seal with Vongola's crest. Breaking it, his eyes scanned through the report from Ugetsu and Knuckle, the development of their current mission smooth and uneventful, as they had expected.

The noble families were almost paranoid when it came to the safety of female members of their houses - even though limiting their power to bare minimum - and often hired additional guards whenever the longer trips were planned. Folding the letter, he calculated quickly that the Rain and Sun Guardians should be back in the residence next week, which brought him a sliver of relief. His nerves were always on a high alert when any member of his family was sent on the mission, which in turn made the Guardians send the reports in higher frequency than it was usually acceptable and required.

Giotto had never complained about it.