I could lie. Could claim it was all planned.
But Cesare had chosen honesty.
So would I.
"No," I said clearly. "I don’t believe so, but he let it happen. My sister Bianca drugged me the day before the wedding and put mein her dress. I woke up being rushed to the church with no idea what was happening."
Shocked silence.
Then chaos—everyone talking at once.
I raised my voice: "My father forced me to go through with it rather than stop the wedding and start a war. Cesare discovered the switch at the altar—when he lifted my veil—but chose to proceed for the same reason. To prevent bloodshed."
"So you both lied," Don Battaglia stated.
"We both chose the lesser evil. War or deception. We chose deception."
Don Moretti: "And now? Are you here by choice or force?"
This was the question that mattered.
I looked at Cesare—my husband, my choice, my future.
"I'm here by choice. Cesare gave me every opportunity to leave. I'm choosing to stay. Choosing him."
I turned to address the room: "I know I'm not who you expected. I'm not Bianca—thank God for that. But I am a Lombardo. I am Cesare's wife. And I'm asking you to honor that."
Silence.
Heavy and absolute.
Viktor spoke up: "Very touching. But this doesn't change the deception."
Don Caruso raised a hand, silencing Viktor. "The girl speaks honestly, at least. That counts for something." He looked at Cesare. "You should have told us immediately."
"You're right," Cesare admitted. "I should have. I prioritized the alliance over honesty, and that was a mistake."
Piero interjected: "But it wasn't a trap. It was a family betrayal—Bianca's, not Paola's. Should Paola be punished for her sister's sins?"
Don Caruso considered. "No. But Cesare must be held accountable for the deception."
I held my breath.
Caruso spoke with the weight of the eldest Don: "Cesare Monti. You have broken our trust. This cannot go unanswered."
I felt Cesare tense.
"However," Caruso continued, "you did so to prevent war. That shows wisdom, even if the execution was flawed."
Hope flickered.
"My ruling is this: the marriage stands. Paola Lombardo is your legal wife. The alliance holds. But you, Cesare, will make restitution."
"What kind of restitution?"
"The eastern territory you control—the docks, the warehouses. You will cede twenty percent to be redistributed among the families as compensation for the deception."
Twenty percent. But there was a small sliver of relief; it would go to the entire family, not just Viktor.
