The fall

Young Lloyd sat at the grand dining table, a plate piled high with bread, tender meat, rich soup, and fluffy eggs against steaming tea.

He was alone, the silence of the manor enveloping him after his mother had hurried out for what she claimed was something important. Yet, in his young mind, he couldn't quite fathom why she sought out their father. To Lloyd, that man felt like a distant shadow—never present, never caring. In his mother's lingering sadness, which sometimes brought tears to her eyes, Lloyd sensed the weight of unfulfilled hopes and unspoken grievances.

The butler had just finished serving him and was quietly attending to other tasks. But their peaceful moment was abruptly interrupted by a sudden knock at the door. Both Lloyd and the butler turned their heads, a moment of shared curiosity passing between them.