The flickering candlelight cast long shadows across the stone walls of my chamber. The wind howled softly outside, rattling the old timber window frames. I sat in the high-backed chair near the hearth, the warmth from the fire offering little comfort as my thoughts wandered. My maid had gone to fetch my evening meal, leaving me alone in the stillness of the ancient manor.

A sudden gust of wind sent a chill through the room, and I glanced up, noticing the window ajar, the drapes swaying gently. I must have forgotten to secure it when I closed the shutters earlier. With a sigh, I rose from my chair, the floorboards creaking beneath my feet, and moved toward the window to lock it.

As my fingers touched the wooden latch, I felt a swift presence behind me. Before I could turn, a woman dressed in dark, form-fitting clothes—like those of a shadowed servant or thief—slipped inside through the open window, her movement eerily silent. Her hand shot out, grasping my neck with surprising strength.

I froze for a moment, heart pounding in my chest, then instinctively pulled back, stumbling away from her grasp. The tension hung in the air like the scent of smoke from the hearth as I caught my breath, trying to make sense of this sudden intrusion.