The morning after the extraordinary feast had already begun with a brush stroke of peculiarity.
Adela, still rubbing the remnants of sleep from her eyes, found herself captivated by a painting the Baroness had just brought into her room to awaken her. It was a gift from Zephir, expressing his gratitude for being welcomed by House de Lanark the previous day.
The painting portrayed Adela in her elegant black dress, the neckline delicately fastened and her white gloves extending to her elbows. She was captured mid-waltz with the Archduke, yet in the background of the painting, Egon's back was visible, his dark hair blending artfully with his tailored suit, his features completely obscured.
"By far, this is the most confounding jest the eccentric man has concocted," Adela's voice was filled with frustration.
