Chapter 40. Threats From the Past

Ella paced the length of her new room, unable to shake the unease she felt after Valen’s sudden departure. Though the morning had started peacefully, his hurried exit left her feeling restless. Deciding not to dwell on her nerves, Ella ventured out. She decided to explore the manor, she opened the heavy oak door and stepped into the corridor.

The hallway was grand, with marble floors that gleamed under warm, overhead lights. The air smelled faintly of lavender, and the walls were lined with oil paintings, some depicting serene landscapes and others showing proud, regal figures. A staircase wound down to the lower floors, its banisters crafted from dark mahogany.

Ella wandered aimlessly, drawn by the silence and the faint hum of life elsewhere in the manor. She found herself in front of two large double doors that were slightly ajar. Unable to resist her curiosity, she pushed them open and stepped into what she immediately recognized as the library.

The room was bre