13. Funeral

To Isabella Philips' eternal luck, the dark and sophisticated clothes, the black gloves, and the wreathed hat that covered a good part of her eyes, hid the true expression that sometimes stubbornly appeared on her face: a smile of triumph.

Around him were many people. Most were Mariana's former acquaintances and relatives. Her mother, a woman Isabella had always thought was weak and rather lame, had passed out and never returned.

"Careful, Mama," a man whispered in her ear. She immediately recognized Maxwell's voice. "Remember that we are saddened and terribly shocked by the sudden loss of our poor Mariana."

"You never fail to notice anything, do you?"

"I believe that is one of my greatest gifts."

Maximilian's brother also has trouble keeping a sad expression, but of course he would never admit that. The coffin is closed in the center of the huge chamber, and partially closed blue curtains are around it, where the funeral was taking place. From there, they would go directly to the lo