The same night, after exiting the exquisite and huge dining hall, out of a very tensed conversation, Venezia felt almost breathless. Apart from feeling restless in between her peaceful walk through the dark royal corridors. She didn't know why she was feeling that way. Her worries grew more deeper with each step she took towards the exit. It was the anxiety of the future that was starting to kick in. She lived in constant fear and pressure of uncertainty. Her mind scrambled with the thought of exiting from every mess she's in, but somehow she could not. The other part of her brain keeps reminding that it's her responsibility all of a sudden, that everything that's happening is because of her as the king rightly said. She just needed some air, so she swiftly changed her direction away from the place where her carriage was parked.

Taking a different route, even if it made no sense why? made her feel empowered. She sprinted through the dark lit corridors until she got suddenly slid aside and threatened by a dagger on her throat. It's tip pointed, was gently pressed down to the middle of her collarbone and she got alarmed. This is the first time she's gotten threatened physically, and she wasn't scared, not even a pinch of sweat broke instead, she took it as an opportunity. An opportunity to prove herself that the matter was still in her hands and that she can control it.

She waited for some seconds for her menace to settle in and for them to get the idea of giving up. After a blink of an eye, she stole the moment by tapping her foot on theirs, grabbing their wrist which held the dagger straight and pulling it away, and pushing them back with the help of her elbow.

She pointed the dagger back at his throat after turning around and looking at him, dead in the eye "Don't you ever try to threaten me again !!"

"Woah! that's very unladylike !??" It was Bruce. Her lover's bestie.

Her eyes squinted and her lips irked to one side of her face suddenly for the reaction for what he just said. Apparently, it felt so bizarre to her, the thing that's been happening to her for years somehow now felt strange.

"What did you just say?"

Bruce rolled his eyes. "Tch, I don't care. I want to talk to you !"

Venezia scanned him from down to up and let him loose. She decided to confront him first.

"I'm sure Mark has sent you to do this- " but she got interrupted by the very annoyed and frustrated Bruce.

"Oh, save your act. Tell me what your lover is up to?"

Still holding the dagger tight in her hands, Venezia took a step back feeling confused. "What're you talking about?" She asked in a low questioning tone.

They both stared at each other for a minute long confusion.

"So you don't know my mother is murdered" Bruce uttered.

Venezia slightly gasped in realization, and her head tilted downwards. "Oh, this is messed up!" Her eyes slowly traveled back to Bruce feeling indecisive.

"When did this happen?" She asked again.

"Why are you so bloody clueless. I thought it was you. behind all this!" Bruce reacted, emphasizing "you".

Venezia planted the dagger back upon his face and ordered in a dominant voice. "Just tell me!"

Bruce gave up on his anger. "Come with me!" And led her to from Santa Maria to Arese. A town in Milan, which he  governed it as a Lord. They rushed in the middle to the night not thinking bout any minimal danger coming in the way. They just rode.

Bruce didn't first let her in, instead, he led her towards the ground with spilled blood on its rocky floor. Venezia was left stunned after hearing what Bruce described what has been happened, part of which was constructed in his mind. But she believed him. Bruce was not doing good, he was angry but moreover he didn't let his real emotions out. Especially in front of a lady. So, Venezia had to stay cautious with him after she heard the whole story.

They entered the dark quarters of his mother, where the huge white window was still open from the incident that happened last night. "My mother could never jump, she can never take her own life. I'm sure she been pushed through that open window, I'm so sure of it" Bruce repeated these lines over and over as a coping mechanism. 

Maybe he was just trying to console himself by reminding him again and again. He was so emotionally frustrated and overwhelmed from inside that even Venezia could feel it screaming out. She had sympathy in her eyes. She never thought she would do that for Bruce. Have a soft side for him, but he was in a pathetic condition right now and worse he was not even able to express it.

After he led Venezia into his mother's room and witnessed her lying dead on her bed. The nurses just finished aiding her so her head wounds were freshly stitched.
Venezia was confused, so she asked for a confirmation. "She's not breathing?"

Bruce just slowly nodded a no, with a grim expression on his face. The mood was tensed to even talk about what Venezia was thinking and she was conflicted. They both settled down sitting in front of his dead mother on a chair, systematically facing each other but slightly tilted towards the front. She held her breath and fidgeted with her hands while quietly and slowly sitting down. 

So much is happening within such less period of time. Death and destruction have taken a toll in her life and she felt so helpless, so restless. What can she even hope for? every negative thought went spiraling over her head like a normal human being would think and she went ahead with it. She didn't want to, of course. It was these inner demons she's been fighting for such a long time that now she felt tired. She didn't know what to say, or do. Give sympathy? something that she's been receiving every now and then? Instead, she decided to share her grief.

"You know I lost my father because of this same reason. Mark!" she mentioned in a deep low tone, almost whispering with anguish.  Her fingers now, still fidgeting with each other, slowed down. There was an absolute lull in the room except for the thin, airy noises from outside the window. Her mind wandered back to the tragedy for which she's been trying hard to forget but could not stop thinking about it. She went back to the real cause of her father's death and her impending thoughts made her ask a relatable question. "Did anything happen between you or your mother with Mark?"

"Not exactly that I can think of...  but, the last thing i remembered was when he came at my place some weeks ago. He seemed sad and depressed and even i didn't bother much to ask him the reason for his condition. Also because, my mother was exceptionally annoyed with his presence. She pretended to be all nice and happy in front of him but her constant bickering on the side of it always left me exasperated." Bruce was trying to remember.

"What kind of bickering?" the curiosity hit her like a stone.

"She never really liked Mark, his attitude or his way towards life always contradicted with her own ideals of upbringing. She was only attracted to his princely status." After a moment of silent realization, Bruce's already overwhelmed situation easily became personal. "That is why I always had to be beside him. because of his princely status. I know it's sad but Mark might think he has many friends but in reality, he does not!"

"Don't worry, he's pretty aware of that fact!" Venezia seemed offended by her seemingly annoyed tone.

He continued. "After her last bickering to me for the fact that why is he here like a lone drunkard. She was enraged, and I apparently supported her, which led Mark to abruptly leave the house. I'm not sure if he heard us but the reaction made it clear."

Venezia immediately continued. "For each victim, Mark sure has a strong reason to hate. And the consequences of it are now becoming deadly. And..." She held out a finger towards Bruce who was going to interrupt her. "And, Every consequence happens within a span of a week. So, maybe we can figure out who the next victim can be?" She looked at him with an expression of hope.

"Maybe I can figure out with you?" That question coming from Bruce felt desperate and Venezia raised an eyebrow at him, questioning the reaction back. He re-framed to explain himself.

"what? I have enough reasons to hate him as much as you do." He shrugged.

"Yeah, but if you kill him? i will kill you!" Venezia appalled and bolted off out of the room immediately.