The sheer, monumental scale of the Dravenhart estate seemed to press down on me, a physical weight of ancient wealth and unyielding power. I moved with a practiced grace that felt utterly alien to the frantic terror coiling deep within my core. As I approached the threshold of the grand dining hall, I performed the final, critical adjustment to my exterior—a gentle tightening of the muscles around my eyes, pulling my mouth into the meticulously crafted, polite smile that was the public face of Serenity.
“Thank you so much for inviting me, Celestine,” I said, the words slipping out with a musical lightness, a perfect blend of gratitude and casual friendship. I allowed my voice to carry the signature Serenity warmth, a tone designed to reassure and disarm, radiating an easy, uncomplicated h
