[Evelina's POV—Vinter Mansion—After Breakfast Begins]
The little girl swung her legs beneath the oversized chair, humming to herself as she smeared strawberry jam across warm bread with careless delight.
Crumbs dotted the table.
Jam stained her fingers.
And Theo Vinter—Theo Vinter watched her like the world wasn't ending outside these walls.
There was a softness in his gaze. Not weakness. Not a distraction. Something… guarded. Something precious. The kind of gentleness no one ever survived seeing.
I caught it.
And he noticed me catching it. His eyes lifted, amusement flickering through gold.
"Her name is Alina," he said casually.
I didn't look at him. "I didn't ask."
Alina giggled, unfazed.
Theo leaned back in his chair, entirely too relaxed for a man who had ordered executions less than an hour ago. "You should still know," he said lightly.
Then he leaned closer, his voice dipping into something wicked.
"You'll be her aunt."
I paused mid-bite.
"…Pardon?"
