Two days had passed, and Gosto remained absent off tending to what Fosco vaguely labeled as “important matters.” When Fosco finally returned alone, he wasted no time throwing me straight back into self-defense training. With him, Ermes, and Diamante stepping into their strictest teacher roles, my preparations for the upcoming Moon Ball at the King’s castle became relentless.

And yet, even in the rare quiet moments, my mind kept circling back to the enigma of Sibilla and Gosto’s ...