680 Last Day in Venezia

He paused, his gaze lifting to meet the eyes of those around him.

"Lord Ciriaco Dandolo."

Upon hearing his name, Senator Ciriaco Dandolo, who had been engrossed in paperwork at his desk, looked up sharply. His hands stilled, and his lips twitched involuntarily as he processed the gravity of the situation. Accustomed to being the subject of rumours, he usually brushed them off; however, the allegations this time were too consequential to ignore, affecting every member of the Senate, including the Serene Doge himself.

The venerable senator rose abruptly, a reflexive gesture of defence, but then, seemingly realizing the futility of rebuttal in such a charged atmosphere, he slowly resumed his seat, choosing silence over protest. The chamber's eyes were on him, each senator wearing a mask of varying emotion—suspicion, curiosity, perhaps even schadenfreude.