Confrontation

Delphinia stayed still on the bed, her focus on the garden barely visible through the window. The room was grand, as expected of her father's estate, but it felt cold, more like a prison than a refuge. Everything in the room—from the lavish wallpaper to the plush curtains—oozed luxury, but none of it made her feel welcome. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to fend off the chill that seemed to seep into her bones.

Three nights. She let out a soft sigh, her shoulders falling as weariness crept in. This was her third night here, and every second felt heavier than the last. She hadn't planned to stay this long. When her father's men had shown up, dragging her back to this house, she'd thought it would be a short-lived nightmare. But now, she wasn't so sure.