The heavy door of the room opened from the inside, and the three-story castle seemed to bear the weight of many years. The ground around was strewn with decayed leaves.
Two women dressed in black stood to the left and right of the hallway when they saw Sofia, each bowing slightly and greeting, "Lady Sofia."
"Is she ready?" Sofia asked over her shoulder, without turning her head, as she walked forward.
"Reporting to you, my lady, she is ready at all times," one of the women following Sofia responded.
Sofia said no more but walked straight to a large door and stopped. The two women in black moved forward and pushed the door open for Sofia.
The room inside was lavishly decorated, in stark contrast to the dilapidated exterior of the castle. A woman sat inside reading a book and slowly lifted her head when she heard the door being pushed open.