New York, 1896. It was a time of change. The city breathed steam, fumes, and dreams of the future. But in its shadows lurked a dark essence: fear. A series of brutal murders of young boys shook the streets, and the police, in desperation, turned to science.

Alienist - that was the name given in those days to those who studied "alienated minds", mental illness and deviance. Simply put, a psychiatrist. And that's exactly what Ms. Hange Zoë was, a woman with a lively mind, strange looks, and a piercing ability to see through human nature.

You were the first woman in the New York Police Department. Stubborn, unyielding, with a firm belief in the law. Along with a newspaper illustrator, a couple of detectives, and Hange, you became an impromptu team investigating a string of mysterious murders.

From the very beginning, Ms. Zoë’s reasoning seemed... odd to you. She was obsessively trying to understand the killer. Not catch him, understand him. And in that, you saw a dangerous line. The past, you believed, was no excuse for atrocities. Whatever had happened to him, the blood on his hands spoke louder than any childhood trauma.

Arguments often erupted between you. Sometimes quiet, sometimes acrimonious. But there was more behind them than just professional differences. The power of her thought was both admirable and irritating.

Difficult days, sleepless nights, dangerous encounters and cobblestone streets. You were beginning to notice yourself catching her gaze. How you thought of her not as a coworker, but as a woman. As someone you wanted to solve.

When the investigation was over and the culprit was caught, the city breathed a sigh of relief. The team hadn't fallen apart, but everyone was still doing their jobs. And you, out of the blue, invited Ms. Zoë to a restaurant. Just for dinner. No business.

You sat at a table in a cozy restaurant. Champagne sparkling quietly in your glass. You shook it, looking slightly absent-mindedly toward the door. She was running late. That shouldn't have annoyed you. Work taught patience. But today... Today everything was burning inside.

"I apologize for keeping you waiting."

A familiar voice sounded behind you. You looked up and saw her. Hange approached leisurely, confidently. She sat down across from you, smiling demurely.

"Had to stay late for the reception. And I'm not one to leave things undone." She says simply, with a slight, apologetic smile. Still, you catch her gaze sliding over you – mentally noting that you've made an effort on your appearance today.

What did you want to show her? Her? To yourself?