The maids guided Anna through the long, silent hallways of the mansion, their footsteps echoing almost solemnly.
As she walked, Anna couldn't shake the knot in her stomach.
Today, she would face the lady of the house, her new 'mother,' again, but after yesterday's experience, the anxiety in her chest grew because she knew that a single mistake could cost her much more than just a scolding.
When they reached the large wooden door, the maids opened it and gently pushed her inside.
Lady Blackwood was waiting, seated as impeccable as ever, with the chessboard already set up.
She barely glanced up when Anna entered the room.
"I hope you don't cry like a child this time," the woman said with a clearly sarcastic tone, a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Anna pressed her lips together and walked towards the board.
The atmosphere was tense, filled with expectations and, above all, pressure.
Anna sat in the opposite chair, trying to keep her composure.
She knew that what was at stake wasn't just her pride but her place in this house.
And although she didn't feel like part of the family, she had nowhere else to go.
Lady Blackwood began moving the pieces with intimidating speed, not waiting for any signal from Anna.
The game had started before she could even mentally prepare herself.
Anna took a deep breath and moved her first piece.
She was nervous, but there was something else this time, something she didn't have before: determination.
However, her inexperience soon became evident. She made a mistake on her second move, moving the wrong piece, and her 'mother' reprimanded her sharply.
"Checkmate. Can't you do something as simple as this correctly?" she said coldly, her eyes reflecting how annoyed she was.
At that moment, Anna felt the impulse.
Time stopped.
The power inside her activated almost automatically.
Without hesitation, Anna rewound a few seconds to before she moved the piece, and this time, she made the right move.
As the game progressed, avoiding defeat became increasingly difficult.
Lady Blackwood, with her patience worn thin, tried to finish off Anna to kick her out of the house, but the girl, with each check her 'mother' gave her, rewound time and tried again.
It wasn't an easy or quick process.
Every mistake taught her something, and with each second she rewound, she became more precise.
She knew she couldn't afford to lose this game and would try as many times as necessary.
The game grew more tense with each move, and Anna began to see patterns on the board, to better understand the strategies her 'mother' used.
She still made mistakes, but now she had the advantage of her ability, and Lady Blackwood wasn't aware of this.
However, the mental exhaustion began to take its toll on Anna; rewinding over and over again was exhausting, and staying focused became difficult.
Still, she couldn't afford to stop.
Finally, after several long and random moves, the decisive moment came.
Anna, almost in disbelief, made a move that put her 'mother' in checkmate.
There was a heavy, dense silence. Lady Blackwood stared at the board with a frown, her hands tense around the pieces.
Anna waited for the scolding, sure that she had somehow done something wrong, that she had made a mistake.
'Did I mess up her king somehow…?' Anna thought.
But Lady Blackwood didn't shout.
"You may leave," she said in a restrained voice, though there was clear irritation in her eyes. She gestured to the maids without looking at Anna directly. "Take her to where Damian is."
Not understanding why she hadn't been scolded, Anna slowly stood up from the chair, still feeling the weight of the tension in the air.
The maids led her back through the same hallways, whispering among themselves, but Anna barely paid them any attention.
Confusion still dominated her.
Why hadn't she been reprimanded?
As she descended the stairs, she came face to face with Damian.
He was waiting, leaning against a wall, his arms crossed and an impatient expression on his face.
"Did you beat our mother?" he asked bluntly, his eyes fixed on Anna's.
She, still somewhat bewildered, nodded.
"Yes..."
Damian looked at her for another second, as if he didn't believe her.
"You beat her?" he repeated, this time with a more serious tone.
"Yes," Anna replied more firmly, though still not fully understanding why her brother insisted so much on the question.
Damian let out a smile, but it wasn't a kind smile.
It was more an expression of contained satisfaction.
"Perfect," he murmured, almost to himself. Then he looked at Anna with more seriousness. "We're going out tonight. You'll have an important task, so behave."
Before Anna could ask what he meant by 'important,' Damian led her outside the mansion, where a black carriage was waiting.
The maids hurried to help Anna inside, while Damian climbed in with calculated calmness.
The ride was long and silent, but as they moved, Anna couldn't help but watch the changing landscapes.
Finally, the carriage stopped in front of a place that was the complete opposite of the tavern she remembered.
The building before them was imposing, with large windows and lights that radiated a warm, opulent glow from inside.
The structure looked more like a private club or elite hall than a simple place to play cards.
The golden doors and insignias carved into the stone revealed that this was no ordinary place. This was not for peasants or casual gamblers.
Here, only the highest-ranking nobility played.
Anna swallowed hard, feeling her nervousness grow.
The nobles' carriages arrived one after another, and men and women dressed in luxurious outfits stepped out confidently.
It was evident that this place was much more than just a gambling spot.
Here, deals were made, and undoubtedly, games were played where not just money but honor and prestige were at stake.
Damian got out of the carriage first and held out a hand to Anna to help her down.
"This is the Aurelio Hall, a place where the best of the best gather to play. Don't make me look bad," he whispered, a mix of warning and expectation in his voice.
Anna nodded, nervous.
She had barely managed to win at chess, but now she was facing a much greater challenge.
'God… help me…' Anna thought as she swallowed hard.