"Auri... I almost forgot about you..."

At that moment, Amalia suddenly recalled the pair of silver-white high heels Livia had worn the previous night.

The exquisitely crafted satin shoes, adorned with dazzling diamonds, had resembled the sparkling princess slippers from the tale of Cinderella.

After a brief pause, Amalia shook her head and turned the handle of her own door.

'Why am I thinking about her again...'

Returning to her bedroom, she resumed work on the painting she had left unfinished the day before.

Before she knew it, the night had grown late.

Amalia usually washed up and went to bed before nine o'clock.

Today, however, when she glanced at the clock, it was already nine forty, a little later than usual.

She fetched some clean clothes from the closet and prepared to take a hot bath.

Stepping out of her boudoir, she glanced once more at the room next door.

It remained empty; Livia still hadn't returned.