Ciel wasn’t afraid of silence.
She sat in the drawing room like she owned it, legs crossed, eyes half-lidded, letting the storm outside speak for her. Leah hadn’t come down from her room. Elias kept his distance. Stanley watched like a loaded gun.
Orla?
She stood by the window, unreadable.
Until Ciel finally said it.
“You still wear Clara’s ring.”
Orla turned slowly. “I never took it off.”
“Not even when she tried to burn you alive?”
“Especially then.”
It had once been a symbol of loyalty. Orla had worn it as a child, too small to understand what promises it carried. Now it was a reminder. A scar in gold.
Ciel rose, eyes gleaming.
“She gave me one too. I swallowed mine.”
Stanley stepped forward. “You can’t stay.”
Ciel smiled at him like a dare.
“Can’t I?”
“She’s not bluffing
