When Hermione stepped out of the room and into the living room, she realized this was an exquisite little villa.
The style was minimalist, with clean, crisp lines and extensive use of raw wood and stone, giving it the cozy feel of a Nordic holiday home.
There was a fireplace in the living room, with a blanket casually draped over the sofa. The kitchen was open-plan, and two cups that had not yet been put away sat on the counter—the water they had drunk last night.
Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, spilling across the pale gray floor and making the entire space bright and warm.
Hermione looked around. "This is the part aboveground?"
"Mm." Vincent nodded. "The villa is a disguise. To outsiders, it just looks like a wealthy person's vacation home. No one would imagine what lies beneath it."
He led her through the living room and pushed open a wooden door.
Inside was a study, though several bookshelves stood completely empty.
Beside the fireplace stood an upright piano, vintage in design, its overall lines slender and composed.
"You can play the piano too?" Hermione walked over and gently touched the black and white keys.
Vincent shook his head. "I can't, but this piano is more than just a decoration."
He gently took her little hand and guided her fingertips across the keys in the low register on the left, stopping at an inconspicuous spot.
Then, he guided her in pressing the first note.
Thump—
Deep and heavy, the note echoed through the study.
Hermione's finger was held beneath his, and she could feel the warmth of his palm.
Thump—
The second note was still in the low register, but slightly higher than the first.
Hermione tilted her head and saw Vincent staring at the piano with