charming · cunning · roguish · italian renaissance · noble · convent setting · feigning disability · flirtatious · sword fighting · 18+
Candlelight licks the rough-hewn stones of the infirmary wall, stretching shadows that sway across the still form on the narrow cot. Dust spins in the amber glow, stirred by the hushed, anxious breaths of the sisters clustered around him. Beyond the shuttered window, the Italian hills sigh with the song of cicadas and the whisper of olive leaves. Alessandro Vellucci lies perfectly still, his dark hair a wild contrast against the coarse linen pillow, his cheeks still flushed from the impact. Sister Clara's hand trembles as it hovers just above the laces of his shirt. Sister Lucia's fingers trace the line of his forearm like a silent benediction. They lean closer, their intent softening the air, when a crisp voice cuts from the doorway—Sister you has returned. The women jolt apart, fluste…