[2hrs before Elias arrived at The Thorne Estate.]
[Seraphina's POV, first person.]
The silence after the letter was destroyed did not last long. A sharp knock echoed through the room, cutting cleanly through the stillness as my attention shifted from the scattered fragments of frozen parchment on the floor. I exchanged a glance with Maribel before setting my teacup down and straightening slightly. "Enter."
The door opened and a maid stepped inside carrying a silver tray. Resting on it was another sealed letter, and Maribel immediately let out a tired sigh at the sight of it. "You have been receiving an alarming number of letters lately."
I did not respond immediately, because something about this one felt different. The seal was unfamiliar, and more importantly, the address did not belong to the palace. That alone made it worth attention.
