Author's note: this chapter is from Seraphina's point of view
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When I reached the dining room, Aldus was there, greeting me with a tight smile which told me that he still didn't forget that I didn't handle his precious books properly.
However, I was more concerned about the invisible dark cloud that hovered above my head after the chat I had with Maria.
I forced myself to dispel that lingering anxiety by chanting how no matter what Aldus is, he is treating me well and I should not be rude and fear him because so far, he didn't give me anything other than protection and kindness. OK, there are tests, but he is doing them in order to understand what is going on, and that is beneficial for me as well.
Aldus held a chair for me, and it seems that we resumed from where we stopped before Lazarus arrived.
However, Lazarus's arrival marked the opening of the door I am unable to close.
