Chapter 20: Behind the Mask
It was already past midnight, and Lilia couldn't remember the last time she'd stayed awake this late. Her entire body begged for rest—her eyelids heavy, her muscles sluggish—but her mind refused to quiet. Sleep tugged at her relentlessly, yet she fought it off with sheer determination. She couldn't afford to give in, not when there was so much to plan.
She had to escape.
But how?
Every possible option unraveled into complications. And even if she succeeded, one question gnawed at her relentlessly: What comes next?
The thought lingered like a shadow, dark and ominous. She shook her head, pushing the fear aside, but it clung stubbornly to her consciousness. The world beyond these walls wasn't some fairy tale. Starting over wouldn't magically solve her problems. What if she ended up homeless, begging for scraps on the street? The image of herself—hungry and destitute—was foreign, even absurd. It made her feel foolish to entertain the idea of running away in the first place.
A bitter laugh escaped her lips. Of course, they'd call me a spoiled brat, she thought. Even if she wasn't one, the world would see her that way. Entitled. Clueless.
The car slowed to a stop, interrupting her spiraling thoughts. Lilia blinked, glancing out the window just as the gates ahead swung open with a soft, eerie creak.
The vehicle eased forward, rolling onto the mansion's grounds.
Her breath hitched.
It wasn't just a mansion—it was a..castle.
The structure loomed ahead, grand and intimidating, steeped in a kind of history that whispered of old money and power. Its sheer size was overwhelming. Towering spires reached into the dark sky, and every corner seemed to gleam with extravagance. This wasn't just wealth; it was something far beyond that.