he shadowy figure from the garden haunted her. By dawn, she had resolved to uncover the truth-whatever it migh

f her routine, but her mind remained elsewhere. The chapel's stained glass windows cast vibrant patterns on the stone floor

pproached her. "Victoria, you've been unu

quickly. "No, Sister. Ju

ching for the truth. Finally, she nodded. "If there's eve

from Sister Agnes, but how could she explain what had happened without exposing

olitude. She wasn't searching for spiritual guidance this time but rather a moment of c

one of the shelves. Curious, she bent down to pick it up. The paper was ol

shadows, for they wal

meone placed it intentionally? Her thoughts immediately went to Fedrick. Had he come to

his mind a chaotic swirl of thoughts. His butler, an

ing amiss?" Hen

hrough his hair. "Everything, He

care to e

deserves to know the truth, but I couldn't bring myself to tel

sir, the weight of a secret grows heavier the longer it's kept. If y

high. His family's fortune, their legacy, and now-perhaps f

e moon was high again, casting silver light over the convent grounds. She wasn

the bench where she often sat. Her hands trembled as she picked it up, unfold

tor

your face. Meet me tomorrow night in the old chapel o

ndoned for years, a place rarely visited even by the sisters. Why w

s mechanically, her thoughts entirely consumed by the impending meeting. By the time

to the old chapel was overgrown, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and wildflower

eamed through the broken windows, casting eerie shadows on the stone wall

" she cal

He stepped into the light, his face serious and his hands

ked, her voice steady despit

ping to the floor. "Victori

them turned toward the source. From the shadows, a figure emerged, cloaked and menac

ere," the figure sa

threat. Victoria's gaze darted to Fedr

manded, stepping protecti

her ears as fear gripped her. She didn't know what was happening, but one thing was clear: