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The moon hung low in the sky, casting a soft, silvery glow over the Kalmekriz mansion and its expansive grounds. It was a quiet night, the stillness broken only by the distant rustle of leaves and the occasional chirping of crickets. Ariel Maze, wrapped in a cozy sweater, stepped out of the mansion's grand entrance, her steps purposeful yet cautious.
A craving had taken hold of her—a desire for something sweet, something that would momentarily distract her from the complexities of her new life. Ice cream, she had decided, was the remedy for her restless thoughts.
The mansion's kitchen was closed at this hour, but Ariel knew of a hidden stash of late-night treats tucked away in the garden house at the edge of the property. With a small flashlight i
