Two days later.
Annis woke in a soft bed.
Sunlight streamed through the spotless glass window, casting bright, warm patches of light across the room—a world apart from the damp, chilling prison cell.
The hollow weakness of having been drained by hunger had vanished from her body, replaced by a long-lost sense of comfort.
Creak—
The door was gently pushed open, and someone dressed as a maid carefully wheeled in a dining cart.
Exquisite silverware had been laid out on the cart, along with a bowl of steaming mushroom soup, several slices of freshly baked white bread spread with butter, and a small dish of sliced fresh fruit.
The maid arranged the food on the small round table in the room.
After finishing, she did not leave immediately as she had before. Instead, she stood at the doorway with her hands folded before her and hesitantly asked in a low voice, "M-Miss, the master asked me to ask you... can he come in?"
Seeing how nervous she was, Annis gave a slight nod.
The maid let out a relieved breath, then backed out and left the door slightly ajar.
Before long, Raymond cautiously pushed open the door.
He walked to a corner of the room, keeping far away from both the bed and the table, and gave two awkward, dry laughs.
Ever since seeing his daughter safe and sound two days ago, he had felt that nothing else mattered.
During the days when there had been no word of his daughter, he had been unable to sleep night after night.
The vast wealth he had once taken such pride in, the noble title he had dreamed of—all of it had become worthless before the terror that his daughter might have met with misfortune.
Especially after the Holt Family's absurd wedding