Chapter 4 The Innocent Newcomer

The following morning, gentle knocks echoed against Mary's bedroom door before it slowly opened.

Several maids entered carrying neatly folded towels, scented oils, and fresh toiletries.

"Good morning, Miss Luciana," the oldest among them greeted with a respectful smile. "We've prepared your bath. Please allow us to help you."

Mary returned the smile, her fingers lightly clasped together in front of her.

"Thank you for your kindness," she said softly, "but exposing my body before another person goes against everything I've been taught. I'll be perfectly fine on my own." The women exchanged understanding glances before the older maid nodded.

"As you wish, Miss Luciana." Once they had quietly withdrawn from the room, Mary locked the bathroom door behind her.

The warm smile lingering on her lips disappeared without a trace. She stepped beneath the steaming water in silence before lowering herself into the marble bathtub, allowing the warmth to wash away the exhaustion from the previous day.

For several moments, she simply sat there. Then her eyes drifted toward her left shoulder. Partially hidden beneath the water was a black tattoo.

Its design looked elegant to anyone unfamiliar with the underworld, but those who belonged to that world would recognize it immediately.

It was the unmistakable mark of one of the most feared mafia organizations in Europe, a symbol burned only into the skin of those who had survived its brutal training.

That tattoo alone was enough to expose everything. No one in the Valenti family could ever be allowed to see it.

Her fingertips brushed lightly over the mark before she slowly leaned back and closed her eyes. The first step is simple, she reminded herself.

Win their trust. The treasure maps would not reveal themselves to an outsider. She had to become part of the family first.

Dominic already seemed easy enough to read. His weakness was written plainly across his face. Women, attention, excitement. Men like him rarely noticed the trap until it had already closed around them.

Luciano. Her expression hardened slightly. He was different.

He was cold, observant and far too intelligent. Winning him over would require patience.

Fortunately, patience had been beaten into her long ago. After finishing her bath, Mary wrapped herself in a towel and walked toward the dressing room.

The moment she pushed open the closet door, she stopped in surprise.

Rows upon rows of freshly tailored nun's habits hung neatly inside, arranged by color, fabric, and season. Matching shoes stood beneath them, while shelves had already been stocked with rosaries, prayer books, and simple accessories.

A genuine smile finally found its way onto her face.

"They really remembered." She gently ran her fingers across the white fabric before choosing one of the habits and carefully dressing herself.

By the time she stepped back into the bedroom, one of the maids was already waiting outside the door.

"Miss Luciana," she said politely, "the family is waiting for you in the dining room." Mary nodded.

"I'll be there right away." The maid led her downstairs, through long marble corridors that seemed even grander beneath the morning sunlight, until they reached the enormous dining room.

The moment Mary stepped inside, every conversation came to an end. Don Lorenzo sat at the head of the long table while Luciano and Dominic occupied the seats beside him.

Three pairs of eyes settled on her. Mary lowered her head respectfully before offering a gentle smile.

"Good morning, Father... Good morning, brothers." Don Lorenzo's weathered face softened immediately.

"Good morning, Luciana." Dominic offered a lazy nod in return. Luciano said nothing.

His expression remained unreadable as he continued watching her with the same quiet intensity she had noticed since arriving.

Mary calmly took her seat. Before touching the food, she folded her hands together and bowed her head.

"Heavenly Father," she prayed softly, "thank You for this meal and for the hands that prepared it. May it nourish our bodies, guide our hearts, and remind us never to forget those who have nothing. Amen."

When she finally lifted her head, she noticed the silence around the table. Don Lorenzo looked pleased. Dominic appeared mildly surprised.

Luciano simply continued studying her, his unreadable gaze lingering a second longer before he reached for his coffee.

Breakfast resumed. After a few moments, Don Lorenzo looked toward her.

"Luciana, you'll be starting school today. Are you looking forward to it?" Her eyes brightened with childlike excitement.

"Very much. I've always dreamed of attending a real school." Across the table, Dominic glanced briefly at Luciano.

Neither brother said a word. Mary quietly continued eating until an uneasy feeling made her raise her head.

She froze. Both brothers were looking at her. Dominic's gaze carried open curiosity. Luciano's carried quiet suspicion.

Neither of them looked away when their eyes met. Mary found herself breaking eye contact first as she lowered her gaze back to her plate.

Not long after breakfast ended, everyone walked outside toward the parking area.

Without waiting for anyone, Luciano climbed into a sleek black car. The engine roared to life.

A second later, the vehicle shot through the gates and disappeared down the long driveway without so much as a backward glance.

Dominic watched his brother leave before turning toward Mary.

"My father asked me to take you to the academy," he said as he unlocked his car. "Come on." Mary smiled politely and slipped into the passenger seat.

As the car pulled away from the estate, she quietly watched Dominic from the corner of her eye.

Unlike Luciano, Dominic was easygoing, expressive, and almost possible to read as a mafia prince because he wore every emotion so openly.

A faint smile touched Mary's lips. One brother opens his heart too easily. Her gaze drifted toward the road ahead.

The other guards his like a fortress. Let's see which one falls first.

…….

The moment Dominic's car rolled through the towering iron gates, Mary's eyes drifted toward the enormous campus stretching before her. Unlike any school she had ever imagined, this place felt more like the headquarters of a powerful crime syndicate than an academy.

Luxury cars filled the parking lot, expensive buildings rose proudly beneath the bright morning sun, and students wandered across the grounds carrying themselves with an air of confidence that bordered on arrogance.

Dominic parked the car before stepping out without another word.

Mary hurried after him, but the instant several curious gazes landed on her, she instinctively moved closer until she was almost hiding behind his broad back.

Dominic glanced over his shoulder, raising an amused eyebrow.

"What are you doing?"

Mary peeked cautiously around him before whispering, "They're all looking at me."

"Get used to it," Dominic replied with a careless shrug as he continued walking. "This is your life now."

Mary obediently followed, her curious eyes taking in everything around her.

The girls wore clothes that revealed far more skin than they covered, while many of the boys had tattoos snaking across their arms, necks, and even their hands.

Some carried visible scars, others laughed loudly as they exchanged playful punches, and almost everyone looked far older and more dangerous than ordinary students.

This place was nothing like the peaceful orphanage. As they crossed the courtyard, students who noticed Dominic immediately stepped aside, lowering their heads respectfully.

"Good morning, Mr. Valenti."

"Morning, Dominic." Some even bowed slightly before continuing on their way.

Mary quietly observed every reaction. So... they fear him. She tucked that information away for later.

Eventually, Dominic stopped in front of a large wooden office.

"The Director's office," he said, slipping one hand into his pocket. "You'll figure it out from here." Without waiting for a reply, he turned around and walked away.

Mary watched him disappear before gently knocking on the door.

"Come in." She pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The elderly man behind the desk looked up from his paperwork, and the moment his eyes landed on her white habit, recognition flashed across his face.

"So you're Miss Luciana." A warm smile spread across his face as he rose to greet her.

"Welcome. Don Lorenzo informed me about your arrival." He handed her several documents, a student identification card, and a neatly folded timetable before personally leading her through the academy.

As they walked, he explained the buildings, classrooms, and academy rules until they finally stopped outside a classroom.

A bronze plaque beside the door read:

BRONZE C

The Director smiled kindly.

"This will be your class. I hope you'll settle in quickly." Mary smiled brightly and dipped her head.

"Thank you very much." After watching him disappear down the hallway, the cheerful smile on her face faded into a faint smirk.

Then, just as quickly, the innocent expression returned. She pushed open the classroom door.

The room instantly fell silent.

Nearly thirty pairs of eyes turned toward her at once.

Confusion spread across several faces as everyone stared openly at the young woman dressed in a nun's habit standing inside a classroom filled with future mafia heirs.

Mary offered them a bright smile.

"Hello, everyone." She clasped her hands together politely.

"My name is Luciana, and I'll be studying with all of you from today onward." She looked around hopefully.

"I hope we can all become friends." Silence. Someone scoffed. Another student simply looked away.

Within seconds, everyone returned to whatever they had been doing as though she had never entered.

For the briefest moment, disappointment flickered across Mary's face.

She quietly walked toward an empty seat near the back of the classroom and sat down without another word.

Instead of speaking again, she simply observed.

She watched who laughed the loudest. Who others respected.

Who sat alone. Who carried weapons despite being inside a classroom. Every small detail settled carefully inside her mind.

After several minutes, she noticed two young men seated near the opposite corner repeatedly glancing in her direction.

Whenever she looked up, they quickly leaned closer to whisper to each other before laughing.

Interesting. Pretending not to notice, Mary calmly stood from her seat and slipped out of the classroom.

She wandered quietly through the hallway until she found the women's restroom. After making sure no one else was inside, she stepped in and walked toward the mirror.

The cheerful smile slowly disappeared.

"I've only been here for a few hours..." she muttered under her breath as she splashed cool water across her face.

"...and I'm already bored." Just then, the restroom door creaked open. Through the reflection in the mirror, she watched the same two boys from her classroom stroll inside with arrogant smiles on their faces.

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of her lips before disappearing beneath another innocent smile.

She slowly turned to face them.

"This is the ladies' restroom," she said softly, genuine confusion filling her eyes.

The taller boy chuckled.

"We know." His grin widened as they continued walking toward her.

"We came looking for you." Mary blinked innocently.

"For me?" The second boy laughed.

"We've always wondered what it'd be like to mess around with a nun." Mary tilted her head slightly.

"I don't understand."

"You will soon enough." The two boys exchanged

a knowing grin before moving toward her together.

Mary remained exactly where she was. The frightened smile never left her face.

But hidden beneath those wide, innocent eyes, something cold was already waiting.