SCENERY outside the capital brought Klarine a sense of relief after the string of unsettling incidents at the manor. The gentle sway of the trees, the rustle of the leaves in the wind, and the distant mountains painted a picture of peace that helped soothe her anxious heart — at least for a while.
Just thinking about those grotesque and disturbing gifts made her stomach churn. The eerie imagery lingered in her mind. Night after night, Klarine found herself waking in a cold sweat, haunted by the memory of those vile presents. No matter how tightly she shut her eyes, the fear lingered like a shadow at the edge of her thoughts. Yet what unsettled her even more was the fact that she was making this journey alone — well, not entirely alone, but accompanied only by her assigned escorts. The Duk
