The knock on her door was soft but firm, waking Eva from her afternoon nap.
"Lunch is ready, ma'am," a voice called from the hallway.
She rubbed her eyes, blinking against the sunlight streaming through the tall windows. The nap had been a small escape from the weight of her thoughts.
With a sigh, Eva stood, smoothing her dress before heading to the door. By the time she opened it, the servant who had knocked was already retreating down the hallway.
The mansion loomed around her, its corridors long and imposing. The opulence of the place felt suffocating as she made her way to the dining room, each step echoing in the silence.
Lucian was already seated at the head of the long table, absorbed in his tablet. He didn't look up when she entered.
A servant gestured to a seat a few spaces down. Eva hesitated, then sat down carefully, as though the silence in the room might shatter if she moved too quickly.
