The quiet of the estate that morning was only broken by the soft footsteps of Clara, the elderly maid, as she entered Cristine’s room to deliver her breakfast. Her heart sank the moment she stepped inside and saw the neatly made bed but no sign of Cristine. Her eyes landed on the envelope sitting conspicuously on the desk. With trembling hands, Clara picked it up and read the name scrawled on the front: Andrei.
Clara’s heart ached, but she knew she couldn’t deliver the letter herself. She decided to take it to Ivan, Andrei’s cousin, who had been overseeing the family affairs while Andrei was detained. Ivan had been a steady presence in the chaos, but Clara couldn’t help but notice a certain aloofness in his demeanor as of late. Still, she trusted he would handle the letter appropriately.
