Steadily breathing into the small opening of her intertwined fingers, Estella stared forlornly towards the direction where the large oaken doors stood. Despite how dark it was, her tired eyes continued to stare blankly at the spot. The young woman fervently wished...no she desperately hoped to catch just a small glimpse beyond them, to see a tiny crack of light one that could break into the palpable loneliness that had almost suffocated her completely.

After another shaky breath, Estella's small, skinny hands slowly wound around her body, her body which had been in a fetal position for as long as she could remember, throughout the time she struggled to retain what little warmth there was in the chilly bedchamber.

Despite her difficult and feeble attempts to get warm, the harsh cold made her body shiver on end. Unwinding her arms, she lifted the right one with great effort and watched it, however her dull blue eyes failed to catch sight of anything, despite how many times she waved and moved her hand.

Allowing the trembling limb to fall, a sob finally broke the stifling silence, cutting through it like a hot knife.

Estella whimpered, she dug her nails into her skin as memories of her precious home and family replayed in her mind over and over again.

She thought of her mother's loving smile.

Her father's ever tender embrace.

And the affection of her kind older brother.

They loved her, and they gave everything to keep her safe. A pained cry resounded in the chilly darkness, one that told the story of a whimpering girl who had loved, and who had lost all she ever did.

And that story was far from over.

Just beside the ignorant Estella, the body of a man towered over her, the same man who had been watching her keenly long before her waking moments. He remained in place for hours, unmoving and patient, observing the quiet lady with a pair of distant hazel eyes, and finally his patience was rewarded.

Antonov's stoic features lit up with a cruel smile as he watched her sob racked body, the seeming burden that had been on his chest dissapeared almost immediately with every pained tear that fell from her eyes.

Despite having all the treasures and pleasures of the world, these were the moments he cherished the most, her pain and her tears were priceless, and he relished every single bit of it.