Memorie di Emma Lyonna, vol. 7/8

A clandestine night looms over the Kingdom of Naples as the queen plots a swift, hidden departure. She entrusts the daring Lord Nelson with a network of boats, secret orders, and a handful of loyal officers, while a centuries‑old subterranean tunnel beneath the palace promises a covert route for the priceless treasures she cannot afford to lose. Emma Lyonna, chronicling the events, watches the old palace smith and his son wrestle with rusted locks and dust‑caked barrels to unveil the forgotten passage, their lanterns flickering against damp stone and the distant flutter of bats.

The atmosphere brims with tension: whispered commands, the clang of swords, and the ticking clock of an imminent escape. As Emma follows the old men deeper into the gloom, she senses both the weight of history and the immediate danger that hangs over every step. This first act sets a vivid stage of intrigue, loyalty, and the precarious balance between royal duty and personal survival.