[Rynthall Estate—Outside Silas's Chambers]
The marble corridors, usually silent and pristine, now buzzed with hushed whispers. Maids huddled near the archways, voices trembling like autumn leaves in a storm.
"Did you hear?" One of them whispered, wide-eyed.
"The Baron," another gasped, clutching her apron. "He was kidnapped!"
A third maid leaned in, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart. "Yes... and our Lord... our Lord carried him in his arms."
"I was in the hall when it happened," said another, eyes shining with both fear and awe. "He burst through the front gates—covered in blood, yelling to summon the physician and the priest. I've never seen Lord Silas like that before. It was scary."
There was a beat of silence.
"…And did you see?" One of them whispered, "He was trembling."
The others turned sharply.
"Trembling?"
She nodded, hand at her chest. "Like he was holding his whole world, and it was falling apart right in his arms."
