sing my chest. My father's visage remained fixed in my thoughts, his abrupt

he door. I required fresh air-something to cut through the confusion in my thought

fitted her slim figure, her cropped black hair neatly secured behind her ears. Her deep brown eyes locke

ng about," she remarked, h

ng out. I was exhausted from being instructed on where I could go an

chest. "I'm Vee." Your servant, it seems. However, don't be misl

narrowing my eyes. "W

he kind that gets people hurt in this house. You think you're the only one here against their will

o dispute, to convey that she was wrong, but deep down, I acknowledged that she wasn

inquired, doubt slipping into my tone.

ough, and I wish to prevent you from repeating the errors I made." Her grin disappeared, substituted by a gentler expression, n

st individual in this mansion who didn't regard me as if I were an object. Yet

ing more intense. "Alexander's soldiers are omnipresent." If you're c

tterness lacing my tone

ule number two: Don't try to run. And rule number three..." She

nd of footsteps reverberated through the corridor. Vee's attitude changed immediate

frame filled the hallway, and his piercing eyes lock

voice a low rumble. "Alexa

fered a brief nod, as if to convey, *You'll be okay.* Yet her

The further we ventured, the more the grandeur of the mansion appeared to overwhelm me. Orn

thout a knock, motioning for me to go in. I paused, my feet stuc

eeply, I w

glass, enveloping him in a halo of gold. However, he was far from angelic. Even from the back,

aintaining a calm tone even though a

n mine. For a brief period, he remained silent, merel

rp, "alleges he possesses details that could

" I replied truthfully. "He n

u," he remarked, his tone quiet and menacing. "However, that is not important." If he's dishonest,

ld respond, there was a knock at the door. Alexander's

n," he

ed with a sense of urgency. "There's an issue," she remarked, her to

ly, his eyes narrowing. "Carter," he m

sion and fear bubbling to the

d to Vee. "Double the guards at every entr

aze snapped back to me. "Remain in your room," he ord

appening, it was more important than I realized. I questioned for the first time if I

en as Vee walked me back to my room, her face unreadable. When she paused o

hispered. "Conditions are

was racing with questions and concerns that I was unable to address as I perched on the side