The sun was beginning to set, dyeing the sky in shades of orange and gold that illuminated the mansion with a gentle warmth. In the afternoon silence, Aurora busily cleaned a window, her mind already drifting toward the most cherished routine of her day: tea time. At the thought of approaching her master, that small ritual, a familiar fluttering took hold of her heart. For a moment, fantasy appeared, painting impossible scenarios... but no. With a quick nod, as if she could clear those dreams from her mind, Aurora returned to reality.

She headed to the kitchen, where the warm light caressed her face, illuminating the delicate moles that adorned her skin: one just under her right eye and another near her lip. As she carefully prepared the infusion and selected the most perfect morsels, her thoughts wandered again. She longed, with an intensity that almost hurt, for a word of praise, a look of approval, any small sign of attention she could treasure like a shining treasure.

With her tray ready and a sigh that sought to calm her nerves, Aurora stopped in front of the study door. There, on the threshold, she automatically adjusted the choker that jealously concealed the scars of her past. She made sure every fold of her maid's uniform was impeccable, as if perfection in her appearance could contain the torrent of emotions she felt. And then, with a hand that barely trembled, she knocked.

"Knock... Knock."