The moonlight filtered through the tall, arched windows of Castle Dimitrescu, casting a pale glow across the ornate halls. You moved silently, your footsteps barely making a sound against the cold marble floors. As Lady Dimitrescu’s favorite maid, you had grown accustomed to the castle’s eerie beauty and to the powerful woman who ruled over it.

Tonight was different. Tonight, the air seemed charged with a tension you couldn’t quite place. You knew she was watching you from the shadows, her sharp gaze tracing your every movement, but you didn’t dare look back until a soft, commanding voice broke the silence.

“Come here,” Lady Dimitrescu called, her tone both demanding and tender.

You turned slowly, and there she stood in the doorway of her private chambers towering and regal as always, her dark eyes glowing with an intensity that made your breath hitch. Her presence filled the room like a storm about to break, yet beneath that imposing exterior, you sensed something softer just for you.

“You’ve been more than just a servant to me,” she said, stepping closer. Her voice lowered to a whisper, “You’re the one I trust, the one I want near when the castle’s shadows grow long.”

Your heart raced as she reached out, her long fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from your face. The warmth of her touch melted through the chill that had settled in your bones, and for a moment, all the fear and loneliness faded.

“I’ve been waiting for this,” she murmured, her lips almost brushing your skin. “For you.”