drawing room, Melody awoke to the sound of

thing ha

ring through her window was softer, almost golden, painting her room in delicate hues that made ev

hand still resti

mth was

e Eas

he staff hallway, clipboard in hand. Her eyes s

," she said in her clipped tone. "Br

pear unaffected - even as her heart p

"You speak only when spoken

rs curled agai

unless given orders. That space bel

nly entered the wing... she had stood in its heart

voice dropped. "Do not fa

ruck like a

oked up -

seen s

rant's gaz

that day f

ent - looked down at her with knowing eyes. In the garden, flowers turned subtly in her direction as she p

ndles, dusting chandeliers - but every

saw

t h

nce echoed thr

nlight

ayed in her room - the rules, after all, had been clear. But the moon outside was

fate - she walked bar

curtains. Her fingertips brushed the wallpaper - soft velvet, et

as o

f his face. He wasn't playing tonight - he was simply staring o

when she

re," he said quietly, but the

qually soft. "You're too... alive

nce and secrets. But you..." His eyes drifted over her, s

a moth. "Then why do I feel l

trap the cursed," he said. "It ca

, again, never forceful

r above flickered - not like an electrical f

raveled u

sped s

"You feel it too, don't you? The way time bends when we're

. She could barely t

le. Then whispered, "Be careful. This house has

back, daze

them lo

, vanishing down the

in He

ed onto her co

nger she was walking into - but

't just a

alloway wasn

cient pulsed

e house... weren't

made to

Chapter Six: "Servant's Quarters",

e drawing room, Melody awoke to the sound o

thing ha

ring through her window was softer, almost golden, painting her room in delicate hues that made ev

hand still resti

memory of Adrian's touch li

e Eas

he staff hallway, clipboard in hand. Her eyes s

," she said in her clipped tone. "Br

pear unaffected - even as her heart p

"You speak only when spoken

rs curled agai

unless given orders. That space bel

nly entered the wing... she had stood in its heart

voice dropped. "Do not fa

ruck like a

oked up -

seen s

rant's gaz

sion's

that day f

ent - looked down at her with knowing eyes. In the garden, flowers turned subtly in her direction as she p

ndles, dusting chandeliers - but every

saw

t h

nce echoed thr

nlight

ayed in her room - the rules, after all, had been clear. But the moon outside was

fate - she walked bar

curtains. Her fingertips brushed the wallpaper - soft velvet, et

as o

f his face. He wasn't playing tonight - he was simply staring o

when she

re," he said quietly, but the

qually soft. "You're too... alive

nce and secrets. But you..." His eyes drifted over her, s

a moth. "Then why do I feel l

trap the cursed," he said. "It ca

, again, never forceful

r above flickered - not like an electrical f

raveled u

sped s

"You feel it too, don't you? The way time bends when we're

. She could barely t

le. Then whispered, "Be careful. This house has

back, daze

them lo

, vanishing down the

in He

ed onto her co

nger she was walking into - but

't just a

alloway wasn

cient pulsed

e house... weren't

made to