The beads of blood seeping from the lead box trailed intermittent dark marks on the stone bricks.
Stepping on the blood droplets, Cosimo walked through the palace corridor, only to find the silver candelabras originally embedded in the walls had all disappeared, leaving only charred fixing holes.
In the distance came the sound of hammers striking, as artisans and soldiers pried the last few gilded portraits from the walls.
He stood before the door of the audience hall for a long time, took a deep breath, and then knocked on the oak door.
"Come in."
The audience hall, once filled with enamel wares and malachite sculptures, was now left with bare plaster walls.
The once-present ceramics and gold and silver decorations had all vanished, their whereabouts unknown.
Ginijis III was nestled in a faded brocade velvet chair, a dull-coated ginger cat curled on the long table beside him.
