TEASER TRIGGER
⚡ When loyalty collides with lethal ambition, even the walls of La Promessa cannot hide the truth. Lisandro’s ruthless plan to erase Curro forever spirals into a dangerous game—until Alonso steps in, tears off the Duke’s mask, and unleashes a reckoning that will change the palace forever.

STORY DEEPDIVE

The palace of La Promessa is a place of elegance and whispered conspiracies, but in the coming chapter, its gilded corridors will echo with betrayal, confrontation, and the unmistakable scent of danger. At the heart of it all is Curro—a young man whose quiet determination to uncover the truth about Anne d’Ungenia has drawn the ire of one of the most dangerous men in the realm: Lisandro.

Lisandro’s Breaking Point

When Lisandro learns that Curro has been conducting his own private investigation into the events surrounding Anne’s fate, fury consumes him. In a fit of rage, he destroys everything in his room, swearing not only to stop Curro’s digging but to destroy him completely. His threats are not idle; his mind is already engineering a deadly solution.

Cold and calculating, Lisandro approaches Leocadia in the most unexpected moment. Without courtesy or pretense, he delivers an ultimatum: “I want you to get rid of Curro.” His tone is glacial, his stare unwavering. Leocadia hesitates, sensing the danger in his voice, but Lisandro presses harder—insisting that Curro must not only be removed, but buried, deep enough that he will never return to haunt them.

The room grows tense, silence punctuated only by the ticking of an old clock. Leocadia feels the trap closing around her. She tries to stall, to buy time, but Lisandro’s patience has worn thin. “Every day Curro grows more dangerous. When he finds what he’s looking for… there will be no way out for us.” His words drip with menace.

A Dangerous Alliance and an Eavesdropper in the Shadows

Leocadia, shaken, confides in Lorenzo—the only person she thinks she can trust. But as they speak in hushed urgency, a shadow lingers outside the half-open door. A faint perfume betrays the presence of an unseen listener before vanishing into the corridor. Whoever it is, they now know too much, adding another dangerous layer to the already explosive situation.

Meanwhile, Lisandro’s impatience grows. He confronts Alonso directly, demanding that Curro be dismissed immediately to preserve the palace’s image ahead of a high-stakes visit from a royal family. Alonso refuses at first, defending Curro’s loyalty, but the pressure mounts. Lisandro warns him that allowing Curro to stay could jeopardize the entire palace’s future.

Alonso’s Moral Crossroads

Under immense strain, Alonso reluctantly agrees to dismiss Curro—but grants him a week to leave. This decision infuriates Lisandro, who had wanted the young man gone immediately. Behind his composed façade, the Duke’s mind turns toward a more permanent solution.

He decides on poison. Late at night, with the help of loyal subordinates, Lisandro sabotages a tray of food—fruit and soup laced with a subtle, undetectable toxin. To disguise the act, he arranges for the tray to be sent to Curro’s room under Angela’s name.

But Lisandro underestimates Alonso. The Marquis, increasingly suspicious of the Duke’s behavior, begins watching him closely. That night, Alonso witnesses Lisandro tampering with the food. In that instant, the truth crystallizes: this is no political maneuver—Lisandro is orchestrating murder inside Alonso’s own home.

The Last-Second Intervention

Curro, unaware of the danger, receives the tray and smiles, believing it to be a gesture from Angela. Just as he is about to take his first bite, Alonso bursts in, shouting for him to stop. The interruption saves Curro’s life and exposes Lisandro’s treachery.

Word spreads quickly. The air in the palace thickens with shock and fear. For the first time, Lisandro’s power wavers—his mask slipping as eyes turn toward him with suspicion.

The Confrontation That Changes Everything

In the great hall, Alonso publicly calls Lisandro to account. The Duke tries to deflect, to twist the story, but Alonso’s voice cuts through, sharp and unyielding. “You tried to kill a loyal man under my roof. You’ve brought poison into my home. You are no longer welcome here.”

Lisandro’s expression shifts from indignation to a cold, dangerous smile, as though promising that this isn’t over. But Alonso stands firm, ordering guards to escort the Duke out. The dismissal is final, the message clear: Lisandro has been stripped of his influence within these walls.

Aftermath: Unseen Threats

Though Lisandro is gone, the palace is far from safe. Whoever overheard Leocadia and Lorenzo’s earlier conversation is still out there, armed with dangerous knowledge. The corridors hum with whispers of revenge and unfinished business.

Alonso knows that removing Lisandro may have saved Curro’s life for now—but it has also unleashed a dangerous enemy into the shadows. One who knows the palace’s secrets, its weaknesses, and the exact spot to strike when the time is right.

And somewhere beyond the gates, Lisandro watches and waits, his mind already crafting his next move.