Hunger stirred Noelle from his slumber, a sharp reminder of the early morning. His limbs stretched languidly, and he blinked groggily into the soft light of dawn filtering through the sheer curtains. Something felt off, and it took him a moment to realize the bed beside him was empty. A frown pulled at his lips as his hand moved over the cool sheets where Thorne should've been.
Anger bubbled up in his chest, frustration welling within him. They hadn't seen each other in over a month, and now Thorne had the nerve to slip away before morning?
Before he could fully process his irritation, a calm voice interrupted his thoughts, sending a jolt through his body.
"Good morning."
Noelle turned sharply, his heart racing, only to find a strict-looking woman standing by the door. Dressed in maid attire, her dark eyes betrayed no emotion, and her hair was slicked back into a perfect bun. Her expression was unreadable, her posture as rigid as a statue.
