TAHLIA~
Everything unfolded precisely as I had anticipated. A persistent notion had settled in the depths of my mind as I descended the grand staircase—a nagging suspicion that Archibald would never accept my simple excuse of desiring solitude by the lake. His scrutiny felt like an ever-present, unwavering shadow.
With him remaining within the castle, the prospect of reaching the cottage felt like an unattainable feat.
I had nearly abandoned the idea of spending time by the lake when Signa arrived … a serendipitous twist of fate. She claimed to have been directed here by a servant who had seen me taking the back exit. And although my initial excuse had been a fabrication, it provided the perfect alibi.
Now, Archibald has no choice but to acquiesce or, at the very least, feign belief.
