The woman who had accompanied them introduced herself curtly as Camille.
Riella quietly observed her. Camille walked with her head held high, every step exuding a quiet authority. A permanent frown rested on her face, and she hadn't spoken a word beyond her name. She stopped abruptly, turned back to glance at Riella, then resumed walking without uttering a single thing.
How strange, Riella thought.
She took a deep breath and followed the intimidating woman through the winding corridors. Finally, after what felt like an endless walk, they stopped in front of a large brown door with an ornate golden knob. Strange symbols were carved into the wood—elegant, foreign, and definitely not in English.
All the girls stared at the door in awe.
Camille reached for the knob, twisted it, and pushed the door open.
On the other side, it looked like an entirely different world.
The room buzzed with energy. Women of varying ages filled the space—some giggling, others laughing, some playing dress-up or chatting in groups. The contrast to Riella's fear and confusion was staggering.
How can anyone be this cheerful after being kidnapped? she wondered.
"Hello, ladies," Camille called out, her stern voice slicing through the room like a blade.
At once, the room fell into a heavy silence. All eyes turned to her.
Riella blinked. How did she make that many people go quiet with just two words? In that moment, Camille seemed like a goddess in mortal skin.
"They just came in today," Camille continued. "Treat them well. Treat them like family."
With that, she turned and left.
The room remained quiet for a beat, then all eyes shifted to the newcomers. Riella felt every stare like a pinprick on her skin.
"Can we go back to our activities now?" a slim woman in her thirties asked. Her tone was casual, but her authority was clear.
With that, everyone returned to what they were doing, as though nothing had happened just moments ago.
The same woman walked up to them with a bright, welcoming smile. "I'm Chloe," she said warmly. "I'm the master of this house—or mansion, more accurately. That means I manage things around here."
One by one, the girls introduced themselves. Riella gave her name last, still cautious but polite.
Chloe then guided them to a massive walk-in closet.
Riella's eyes widened in disbelief. The closet was enormous—far larger than any room she had ever been in. Exaggeration or not, it felt like it was five times bigger than her entire house. Maybe even half her town.
"Well, not really," she murmured to herself, "but still…"
"Riella? Riella?"
Snapping out of her thoughts, she looked at Chloe, startled.
"Aren't you going to pick something to wear?" Chloe asked gently, pointing to Riella's nightdress. "I thought you might want to change out of that."
Riella smiled awkwardly, her cheeks blooming with embarrassment. "Yes… I'd love to change into something more comfortable."
"You can, if you feel like it," Chloe replied with a kind smile. "Let me help you find something nice."
She combed through the racks of dresses, her fingers brushing over silks, satins, and cottons until she pulled out a soft, elegant dress.
It was light pink, with delicate rose patterns embroidered along the hem. The long net sleeves had tiny white polka dots, and a modest V-cut adorned the neckline.
"This would suit you perfectly," Chloe said, handing it to Riella. "You have a beautiful figure. Try it on."
Riella accepted it, her fingers brushing the soft fabric. She couldn't deny it—it was lovely. Carefully, she changed and stepped in front of a large mirror.
Her reflection took her by surprise.
"Chloe… I don't think I can wear this," she said, turning toward her. "It's too fancy. It looks expensive."
Chloe laughed softly, covering her mouth with a graceful hand. "No, no—it's not fancy at all. Just an ordinary dress. It arrived yesterday from Lady seraphine."
"Lady seraphine?" Riella echoed, still inspecting the delicate details on the dress.
"She's one of our best seamstresses. And… the younger sister of General Leonardo."
At the mention of that name, Riella's brows drew together in confusion. Chloe noticed immediately—and changed the subject before any questions could follow.
"Aren't you hungry?" she asked quickly.
Riella tilted her head slightly. She knew Chloe had deflected on purpose, but she didn't push it. Not yet.
"Oh yes," she replied with a small smile. "I'm absolutely famished."