Sanch

cious, sunlit chamber. The room was tastefully furnished and far more comfortabl

respectful, her tone careful and polite. Word of the courtyard incident had clearly

the room, her eyes sparkling with wonder at every new detail. "Miss, t

nd the glass, yet my heart remained calm and unyielding. I knew better than to ind

aumont family relations in my mind, organizin

nor's unshakable pillar-stern, impartial, and

the head of the house, Alistair was forced to maintain balance between his wife

rely. The youngest daughter Isabella was gentle and naive. In my past life, she had been deceived and

ch most carefully was the e

who seemed detached from all household affairs. Yet only I knew the sharp, calculating brilliance hidden beneath his quiet exterior. Time and again, House

iking fatally. He had undoubtedly witnessed every moment of the courtyard farce earl

Beaumo

ess legs. Bright sunlight flooded the rest of the manor, yet it

his report with a respectful bow. "Mrs. Perkins suffered severe burns to her dominant hand. The physician es

an chess piece between m

"Everyone claims Mrs. Perkins simply slipped by accident.

otional. "There are no true coincidences in this world.

d used nothing but soft words, flattery, and feigned humility to lure a housekeeper

timid, frightened lamb perfectly. Such composure, cunning, and flawless perfor

eston?" I a

objects in his chambers. He calls the young lady a viciou

ed as a pawn. Perkins was his loyal hound. To strike down the hound was to challenge the master. Arlene's move had pun

set the obsidian piece b

ail of her twenty years in House Kowalski. No

r." Finn bowed and wi

ed down at the empty chessboard, envisioning a

letters had described her, nor as coarse and

y was Arle

ow. From this precise vantage point, I had

she had sensed my gaze. Her head

nce separating our wi

steadily for several quiet seconds. Then she curved her lip

a silent, unspo

e smile tugged

nt was finally going t