I slip into a narrow courtyard bathed in gentle moonlight, its rugged stones and battered arches woven into the fabric of this ancient estate. A single lantern flickers beneath a weathered arch, barely illuminating the worn bench and creeping vines. This place is quieter, tucked away from the main halls where laughter echoes and music drifts like a phantom of livelier times. Somehow, I've gravitated here, seeking the faint promise of solace away from prying eyes.
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The last few days have turned my world upside down: ceremonies powered by archaic rites, cryptic warnings from watchers lurking in the corridors, and a vow that has wrapped itself around my nerves until I can scarcely tell where my will ends and its compulsion begins. My heart still pounds unevenly whenever I recall the moment
