The sun had long dipped below the horizon, leaving the mansion enveloped in a deep, velvety cloak of darkness. Shadows stretched and mingled across the grand hallways, their forms twisting and merging with the intricate patterns of the Persian rugs that lined the floors. Eloise moved cautiously through this twilight realm, her footsteps barely making a sound as they sank into the plush, thick carpets. The weight of the day’s whirlwind of emotions and sudden revelations still clung to her like an oppressive fog, and she sought refuge in the solitary embrace of the night.
As Eloise approached the end of the corridor, she paused before a heavy wooden door intricately carved with swirling designs. It led to the garden, a space she had come to cherish for its tranquility and beauty. With a dee
