Caged Bride

, her breath shallow as silence c

n't ima

r had c

beyond it- someone who clearly

t last t

rom the bed and crept toward the door on bare

Loc

the o

caution? A punishment? Or simply a message? That in this

the wood. Nothing. Whoe

whispers, the lock, Dante's silence-

edding gown had been removed at night. In its place, someone had left a pale silk robe folded

ed. A woman in a crisp navy uniform stepped inside, carrying a tray wit

litely, her dark hair pulled into a tight bun. "I'

d you... Lock the

ractised smile. "It's standard for secur

She sat silently as Renata placed the tray before her, poured t

muted tones. No bright colours. No pattern

ata said, motioning to a black dress with lace sleeves. "You'll me

a asked, a sharp

toward her. "Rules are

ure whether she was bei

her hair tucked neatly behind her ears. The mansion loomed around he

ures and a pearl-chained cl

te," she s

ra replied, glancing a

"Signor Moretti expects early, not p

ed with tall windows, their foo

looking at her, "You do not enter the

hy

arply. "Because no one

it her

seven. Lunch, one. Dinner, eight. You are expected to at

mmo

retti's wife, but your

. "Condition

d," she rep

portraits- men with the same sharp cheekbo

ask. Surveillance is constant. Every hallway, every room, ex

the ceiling's corner. The red light blinked

n without clearance. Phones are pro

till in her confiscated after the cer

with forced emphasis. "This is not a pr

"Prisons have rules.

ression unreadable. "And cho

a door opened at the far

ucked the air

gaze-measuring, dissecting. But something flick

ce low and unreadable. "You'

ened. "That wasn't

ow," he

he was walking toward a co

th heavy gold curtains. A grand piano sat in one co

d the door

hen motioned for her t

e said. "Outside my door. Someon

ed, but he s

ocked

nerable," he

trap

Aura. You think I am the worst one. No! But I'm

hen tell me the truth. W

ecause you're not just a

wh

dn't

er a sealed envelope

e found a

n's

one word scraw

ex

's blood ran cold

el. "That is the name of the man w