The butler sat chained to the heavy wooden chair, his wrists raw from struggling against the iron cuffs. His head hung low, the damp strands of his graying hair clinging to his forehead.
The small underground cell was lit only by a single torch bracketed to the wall, throwing jagged shadows across the rough stone.
Footsteps echoed down the narrow stairs, slow and deliberate.
Lady Rose emerged from the gloom, her dress a deep crimson that caught the flickering light. She stood a moment in silence, watching him.
When she finally spoke, her voice was steady but carried a sharp edge.
"Why?"
The butler didn't look up.
"Why would you betray me after all these years? I trusted you. You were… more than a servant to this household. You were family."
She pressed, stepping closer.
Still, he said nothing, only shifting his gaze toward the floor.
Her hands tightened at her sides.
