Chapter 144: "It Was No Trouble At All"

A faint smile touched Rosalia’s lips before disappearing just as quickly.

She had expected this confrontation from the moment she’d ridden the elevator back to the ground level. Having both of his daughters voluntarily disqualify themselves before so many witnesses was an embarrassment her father would never accept lightly.

"Sofia struck her head when she fell into a trench inside the flooded chamber," Rosalia answered evenly. "Lady Ariana helped save her."

Eduardo froze for the briefest instant.

"...You’re saying Ariana Lombardi rescued Sofia?"

Of every explanation he had imagined, that was the last one he had expected to hear. He knew better than anyone the history between Sofia and Ariana.

"Yes, Father." Rosalia nodded. "She performed CPR and cleared Sofia’s airway. She did everything she could to stabilize her before I arrived."

Instead of calming him, her explanation only seemed to deepen Eduardo’s displeasure.

"And after that," he growled, barely keeping his voice under control, "you chose to bring your sister out and disqualify both of yourselves?"

"I made the only decision I could," Rosalia replied calmly. "Sofia’s condition was critical. She needed immediate medical treatment."

Eduardo’s temper finally snapped.

"And this is what you’ve learned after everything I’ve spent years teaching you?" His voice rose despite himself. "How many times have I told both of you that once you enter the Trials, everyone is on their own?"

The composure vanished from Rosalia’s face, replaced by a hard, unwavering stare.

"And leave Sofia there to die if she’d fractured her skull?" she shot back. "Do you even hear what you’re saying, Father?"

Eduardo’s expression hardened further.

"The Trials are designed to determine who is fit to survive!" he snapped. "If you can’t survive something like this, then how do you expect to survive out there?" He swept an angry hand toward the world beyond the warehouse walls. "Against our rivals in this godforsaken world?"

Grinding his teeth, he forced every trace of emotion beneath a layer of cold resolve.

"If Sofia failed inside that maze," he said flatly, "then those are the consequences of not being trained well enough."

At that point, Rosalia no longer saw any value in arguing. She had heard enough variations of that speech throughout her life.

Only now did she silently condemn herself for ever believing that the sight of Sofia lying unconscious might awaken even the smallest spark of compassion in her father’s heart.

Apparently, it hadn’t.

At that very moment, Natalia approached from behind Eduardo. She had overheard enough of the exchange to piece together what had happened.

’And here I was hoping Sofia would kill that Lombardi woman for me...’

’Instead, she not only failed, but got herself knocked unconscious.’

’How useless.’

’And now I have to play the understanding friend just to keep these two firmly on my side.’

Not a trace of those thoughts showed on her face. Instead, she wore an expression of sincere concern and quiet sorrow, the perfect image of a lifelong friend watching someone dear to her suffer.

"Forgive me for intruding, Don Eduardo," she said gently, "but as both Sofia’s and Rosalia’s friend, I believe we should respect Rosalia’s decision."

She looked toward the stretcher carrying Sofia toward the medical wing.

"For now, Sofia’s condition should matter far more than the circumstances surrounding Rosalia’s withdrawal."

Natalia’s intervention eased some of the tension etched across Eduardo’s features.

Unwilling to offend the Porto heiress — or jeopardize the engagement negotiations — he forced his voice back under control.

"It is always you who speaks on behalf of my daughters, Natalia, regardless of how lacking they are in discipline."

"We’ve been friends for well over a decade," Natalia replied with quiet grace. "It’s only natural that I care deeply for both Rosalia and Sofia."

Eduardo released a slow breath before turning back toward his daughter.

"Very well. Since Natalia has spoken for you this time, I’ll let the matter rest for now."

His voice became stern once more.

"Return to your quarters afterward and prepare for your punishment. Do not repeat this mistake."

Rosalia had expected nothing less.

She simply lowered her head.

"Thank you, Father. Thank you, Natalia. I’ll return to my quarters after I’ve confirmed Sofia is no longer in critical condition."

Without another word, she turned away and followed the medical team escorting Sofia out of the warehouse.

Around them, the soldiers remained silent.

No one had heard every word exchanged, but judging by the fury Eduardo had made no effort to conceal, everyone could imagine how that conversation had unfolded.

Natalia watched until Rosalia disappeared through the main doors before turning back to Eduardo.

"Shall we return to the gallery, Don Eduardo?"

"Of course," Eduardo replied. "I’ve troubled you by making you come all the way down here on my daughters’ behalf."

"It was no trouble at all." Natalia smiled with effortless elegance. "After all... we’ll soon be family."

Just as she turned to accompany Eduardo back upstairs—

Creak.

The exit door opened once more.

At the sound, every head in the warehouse turned toward it again, anticipation sweeping through the crowd as everyone waited to see who would emerge next.

Nazario Marchetti strolled out as leisurely as though he had just awakened from an afternoon nap.

A brass coin danced lazily between his fingers before he tossed it into the air, caught it again, then flicked it effortlessly toward the Head Coordinator.

"There," he drawled, his eyelids hanging half-closed. "The coin you wanted."

A lazy grin tugged at his lips.

"Though... mind if I keep it afterward as a souvenir? Tossing it around is oddly relaxing."

The Head Coordinator fumbled slightly before catching it. He immediately examined both sides of the brass coin, confirming its distinctive serrated edges.

The instant he verified it was authentic, he raised the microphone.

"Nazario Marchetti!"

"The first competitor to recover a coin from the Dark Room!"

"In his very first Marchetti Trial, he advances to the final round!"

At once, the entire warehouse erupted into cheers, most of them coming from the Marchetti and Porto soldiers who knew exactly who Nazario was.

"Mister Nazario!"

"Amazing! You even came out before the Young Boss!"

"Unbelievable!"

"You made me lose my bet! But you’re amazing! We love you!"

Nazario paid them little attention, merely acknowledging the voices with a lazy nod here and there.

"Ah... so I’m the first, huh?"

His attention soon drifted toward his father, who stood not far away beside Natalia Porto.

A smirk slowly curled across his lips.

’Interesting.’

’That foxy woman somehow ended up down here with Father?’

He strolled over at an unhurried pace, acknowledging Eduardo with a casual dip of his head, as though everything he had gone through below had been nothing more than a routine weekly exercise.

"Father. Lady Natalia," he greeted. "You’ve both come down here for me? How flattering. How did you even know I was about to come out?"

Eduardo was, without question, the most relieved man in the warehouse.

His second son had emerged.

And he had emerged with a coin.

The disappointment brought on by his two elder daughters’ withdrawals vanished as though it had never existed.

"Impressive," he said evenly. "Though you still took longer than I expected."

"It wasn’t exactly bright down there, Father." Nazario shrugged. "Otherwise I’d have been back in a minute."

Eduardo gave a dismissive scoff, though he failed to completely hide the pride flickering beneath it.

"Enough with the overconfidence. Finish faster next year."

Then, as though remembering something, his brow furrowed again.

"By the way, have you seen Oscar anywhere? He was supposed to come here to watch the final round. He still hasn’t shown himself."