So you finally came to see me!

(long post)

In this universe, the Dimitrescu family are entirely human. Rather than ruling over Castle Dimitrescu, they reside at the prestigious Dimitrescu Estate, a grand mansion surrounded by vineyards in the hills outside Cluj-Napoca, Romania. For generations, the family has owned Dimitrescu Wines, one of the country's most respected and luxurious wineries, making them one of Romania's wealthiest and most influential families.

At the head of the family is Alcina Dimitrescu (48), the CEO of the winery and a respected figure within Romania's business world. In her youth, she was a celebrated jazz singer, performing in clubs across Romania with a commanding stage presence and a voice that became well known in the local music scene. During those years she gave birth to her first daughter, Bela, before eventually leaving music behind to inherit the Dimitrescu estate and transform the family winery into an internationally recognized luxury brand.

Her eldest daughter, Bela (24), is completing her university studies while preparing to inherit the family business, assisting Alcina with vineyard management, exports, and company affairs. Cassandra (19) has little interest in corporate life, preferring the outdoors and the estate itself, while Daniela (16) is still in school, bringing a constant dose of chaos and energy to the household.

⋆｡‧˚ʚ💋ɞ˚‧｡⋆   𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠  𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞  𝐨𝐟  𝐲𝐨𝐮

𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 - send  ‘reverse’ for the sender and  receiver to  swap.  adjust wording as needed!

[  fever  ]  sender  presses  the  back  of  their  hand  to  receiver’s  forehead,  brows  knitting  with  quiet  concern

[  medicine  ]  sender  sets  alarms  on  their  phone  just  to  make  sure  receiver  doesn’t  miss  a  dose

[  blanket  ]  sender  layers  blankets  over  receiver,  adjusting  them  until  they’re  just  right

[  soup  ]  sender  blows  gently  on  a  spoonful  of  soup  before  offering  it  to  receiver

[  water  ]  sender  holds  the  glass  steady,  murmuring  encouragement  until  receiver  takes  a  sip

[  hair  brush  ]  sender  carefully  brushes  receiver’s  hair  back,  slow  and  soothing

[  ice  pack  ]  sender  wraps  an  ice  pack  in  a  towel  and  presses  it  gently  where  it  hurts

[  temperature  ]  sender  wakes  up  in  the  middle  of  the  night  just  to  check  if  receiver’s  still  warm

[  pill  ]  sender  places  medicine  in  receiver’s  palm  and  waits  until  they  swallow  it

[  quiet  room  ]  sender  dims  the  lights  and  turns  everything  down  low  so  receiver  can  rest

[  slow  ]  sender  stays  at  receiver’s  pace,  arm  ready  in  case  they  stumble

[  bandage  ]  sender  changes  the  bandages  carefully,  apologizing  even  when  it  doesn’t  hurt

[  lap  ]  sender  lets  receiver  rest  their  head  in  their  lap  while  they  stroke  their  hair

[  night  watch  ]  sender  refuses  to  sleep  deeply,  listening  for  every  shift  or  breath

[  warm  cloth  ]  sender  presses  a  cool  cloth  to  receiver’s  neck  or  wrist

[  cough  ]  sender  rubs  slow  circles  between  receiver’s  shoulders  through  every  coughing  fit

[  carried  ]  sender  helps  receiver  move,  taking  more  weight  than  they  should  without  complaint

[  pain  ]  sender  distracts  receiver  with  quiet  stories  or  memories  until  the  pain  dulls

[  soft  voice  ]  sender  speaks  more  gently  than  usual,  like  anything  louder  might  hurt

[  held  ]  sender  sits  behind  receiver,  arms  around  them  so  they  don’t  have  to  hold  themselves  up

[  protective  ]  sender  stays  curled  close  even  after  receiver  falls  asleep

[  food   ]  sender  convinces  receiver  to  eat  “just  a  little  more”  with  a  smile

[  stay  still  ]  sender  gently  stops  receiver  from  pushing  themselves  too  hard

𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞

❝  hey.  i’ve  got  you.  ❞

❝  don’t  rush.  we’re  not  going  anywhere.  ❞

❝  let  me  do  it  for  you,  okay?  ❞

❝  i  know  it  hurts.  i’m  right  here.  ❞

❝  you’re  allowed  to  rest.  i  promise.  ❞

❝  just  focus  on  breathing.  i’ll  handle  the  rest.  ❞

❝  you  don’t  have  to  be  strong  right  now.  ❞

❝  tell  me  where  it  hurts.  i’ll  be  careful.  ❞

❝  i’m  not  leaving  until  you  feel  better.  ❞

❝  i’ll  stay  up  with  you  if  i  need  to.  ❞

❝  it’s  okay  to  lean  on  me.  ❞

❝  shh…  you’re  safe.  ❞

❝  i’ve  got  time.  all  of  it’s  yours.  ❞

❝  you  don’t  have  to  say  thank  you.  ❞

❝  let  me  take  care  of  you.  ❞ 

❝  you’re  doing  really  well.  ❞

❝  i’m  right  here.  breathe  with  me.  ❞

❝  don’t  apologize.  this  is  what  i’m  here  for.  ❞

❝  rest.  i’ll  wake  you  if  you  need  anything.  ❞

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠: (𝘅) | @dani-dimitrescu

Now that caught Cassandra’s attention. The maid writing about Bela in her diary? Oh, that did sound interesting. Although… Did the little mouse even have a diary to write in?

Cassandra tilted her head like a predator in the middle of a hunt.

ㅤ「ㅤ𓆦 ↝ “And do you think she has a diary? ”」ㅤㅤ────── She asked. Her flies began to buzz more agitatedly, some of them even crashing into each other out of Cassandra’s sheer sadism: if the maid truly was in love with Bela, she was most likely suffering.

And other people’s suffering was something the middle sister enjoyed very much.

ㅤ「ㅤ𓆦 ↝ “Yes, yes… Exhausting. ”」ㅤㅤ────── She muttered, making a dismissive gesture with her right hand.

ㅤ「ㅤ𓆦 ↝ “Maybe, Daniela, we should get to work. We wouldn’t want them to have a hard time now, would we? ”」ㅤㅤ────── She added after a brief pause.

Truthfully, Cassandra wasn’t agreeing with her sister for her sake, but out of interest.

Perhaps she could sink her teeth into someone sooner or later. And although Bela was terribly protective, the idea of having a personal blood bag didn’t excite Cassandra as much as it did others.

"I don't know for certain if the little mouse actually keeps a diary," she admitted, her tone sharpening with a sudden, predatory curiosity. "But we could easily find out." Daniela tilted her head, her gaze drifting toward the ceiling as she began to paint a masterpiece of obsession. "Oh, can you imagine?" Her voice dropped into a conspiratorial whisper. "What if it's full of Bela? All the dirty little secrets…."

EVIL DEAD SENTENCE STARTERS

Clenched hands soon unfurl ever so slowly at her daughter's reassurance. How she wishes to unleash her WRATH on everything AND everyone within the walls of her property. Yet . . . what good would it do to have bodies littered throughout the castle and destroyed furniture that is awfully DIFFICULT to get for her size? The girl is right: perhaps tomorrow will bring better.

Her expression softened as she glanced up into Alcina’s face. "I don't like it when you're angry, Mamă," she admitted. The words were quiet, unusually so for her, and carried a rare, unfiltered honesty.

Slowly, almost tentatively, Daniela reached out and hooked her fingers around one of her mother's gloved hands. "When you're angry, the whole castle walks on eggshells. Everyone gets nervous." She squeezed gently. "...Including me." It was a confession she would rather choke on than admit to anyone else, let alone her sisters.

Seeking comfort, she rested her head lightly against Alcina's arm. "I like it better when you're laughing. Or when you're reading to me." A wicked little smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Or when you're telling Cassandra she's wrong. That's always fun."

For a long moment, Daniela simply stayed there, soaking in the quiet closeness. Then, with a soft buzzing of her flies, she pulled away. "I know what you need, Mamă." She crossed the room to the ornate side table where a bottle of her mother's favorite wine sat.

Before the Duke could even respond, she was already moving, rising in a fluid motion and buzzing off with a burst of restless energy.

She was gone only a moment.

Then, with a rush of air, she was back, reappearing just as suddenly as she had left, a worn wooden box clutched in her hands. It landed with a solid thunk on the table before him. "There," she announced brightly, pushing the lid open.

Inside was a chaotic little hoard. Coins of different sizes and colors, clearly foreign. Old keys of all shapes. A handful of odd electronic devices, their purpose unclear to her; they had once made funny sounds, but now nothing. Plain rings. And nestled among them, a few watches, sleek and far finer than the rest, though she seemed entirely unaware of their true value.

Daniela leaned over it, utterly pleased with herself. "My collection of boring shiny and not-so-shiny things," the redhead hummed as she dug into the box, clearly not done showing it off.

"Oh, here," she said, picking up two coins. "There are quite a few of these, actually. Gold and silver… it says ‘2 Euro,’" she read aloud, the word Euro rolling curiously off her tongue. She set the coins face-up on the table.

"This one says España… so I think it’s from Spain," she added, sounding oddly pleased with herself. Then she rotated the second coin, reading the engraving carefully. "Liberté… Égalité… Fraternité," she recited in fluent French. "French… obviously." The youngest Daughter glanced up at the Duke with a grin. "I’ve been finding more and more of these over the years… in the bags of outsiders," she continued. "Not just these—smaller ones too."

She shrugged lightly. "Ah, well. They’re not that interesting, and I have no use for them… You can have everything in here," the youngest Dimitrescu said, as if it were nothing at all. "It’s just taking up space in my room anyway."

The Duke’s enthusiasm was infectious; he handled her jumble of discarded trinkets with such reverence that he might as well have been cataloging royal treasure.

"You really like them?" she asked, the question slipping out before she could catch it.

Her gaze drifted to the coin nestled in his palm, then back to the cluttered box between them. For years, she had tossed those fragments into the chest, hoarding them simply because they caught the light or felt like ghosts of a story she couldn’t quite name. She had thought herself merely eccentric; apparently, she had been a collector all along.

The realization drew a laugh from her. "I knew keeping them was a good idea."

The youngest Dimitrescu settled her chin in her hand, content to watch him. She found she cared little for the coins’ worth or the provenance of the watches; it was the sheer, boyish focus in his eyes that held her captive.

When he finally proposed his arrangement, the spark in her gaze turned into a blaze.

"Oh, now that is a wonderful idea." She didn't hesitate. She leaned forward, thrusting her hand across the table toward him.

"Deal!"

The word was a pact, spoken without a flicker of doubt. Her grin deepened, sharp and delighted. "I bring you all the strange, shiny things I scavenge, and you bring me books and whatever else catches your eye."

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠: (𝘅) | @dani-dimitrescu

Of course it was unusual for Bela to fall in love, and it was even more unusual for her to genuinely fall in love with a maid. The opportunity was tempting, but Cassandra's intelligence went beyond a simple desire to make things work. Besides, what if they only made things worse? Bela would wring their necks. And not only that — what if Bela's chambermaid ended up in the dungeons?

One thing was clear: Cassandra didn't care. But Bela did. And that was what truly stopped her from doing something reckless.

ㅤ「ㅤ𓆦 ↝ “ Daniela. ” 」ㅤㅤ────── Cassandra warned. Her little sister was already beginning to get carried away by her imagination.

The middle sister sighed, disheartened by the fact that Daniela seemed incapable of understanding that they couldn't meddle in matters that didn't concern them.

ㅤ「ㅤ𓆦 ↝ “ Fine, then. We'll just watch. ” 」ㅤㅤ─────── She replied. After all, the brunette found herself unable to give a firm no to those golden eyes sparkling with excitement. Of course, she would never admit it, but she loved her little sister far too much to be that cruel to her.

ㅤ「ㅤ𓆦 ↝ “ What else have you seen? Hmm? Has Bela sunk her teeth into her yet? ” 」ㅤ

Tilting her head, a small, knowing smile crept onto her face. "No, no... it’s worse." Or, in Daniela’s mind, far better. The redhead clasped her hands together, radiating a confidence entirely unearned by someone who had clearly invented her entire understanding of romance.

"They’re in the yearning stage," she declared. "Saw the little mouse followimg Bela everywhere, and Bela pretended not to notice." A pause for dramatic effect. "But Bela notices everything."

Daniela hummed, seemingly lost in her own narrative. "And the human gets nervous around her. Not scared nervous." She waved a hand dismissively. "The other kind. The romantic kind."

Her golden eyes sparkled with mischief. "I bet they spend all day obsessing over each other. Bela probably stares out the window all day, looking positively tragic. And the chambermaid? She’s definitely writing about her in a diary. Terrible poetry, no doubt." She seemed genuinely delighted by the prospect.

"Cassandra, what if they’re suffering? What if they want to confess, but they’re both too afraid?" Daniela pressed a hand to her chest, her expression shifting to one of sudden, startling seriousness. "What if every time they look at each other, they’re just... overwhelmed?"

She paused, a flicker of doubt crossing her face. "...Actually, that sounds exhausting."

The frown vanished as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a dreamy, far-off gaze. "But romantic. They’ll probably run away together." She paused, considering. "Or die tragically." Her face lit up. "Maybe both."

Without a sound, Daniela drifted between the shelves of the library until she found her target comfortably settled on a chaise lounge. A grin spread across her face.

Two hands suddenly slipped over Alisson's eyes. "Guess who." Daniela didn't wait for an answer. She never did.

Instead, she leaned forward slightly, trying to peek around at the book. "What are you reading?" Curiosity immediately overtook whatever surprise she'd been planning. "Is it interesting?" She released her eyes, only to lean over the back of the chaise lounge, staring openly at the pages.

Then Daniela simply decided personal space was optional. The youngest Dimitrescu slipped around the chaise and dropped down beside Alisson, far too close for most people's comfort. Their shoulders nearly touched. "What happened so far?" The redhead was already looking at the book again. "Did somebody kiss?"

That was all. The explanation made perfect sense to her...well, mostly. Personal space still seemed like a bizarre concept to her, but Alisson had told her the truth and Daniela valued that above all else.

A small, genuine smile returned. "Okay!"

And then Daniela actually scooted away. Not much but enough so that their shoulders were no longer touching. "Now you have your personal space." she said, looking oddly pleased with herself.

Her attention shifted, as it always did, her nose wrinkling slightly. "And stop calling me Lady Daniela. And don't call me ma'am, either. You can just call me Daniela. You're practically family now." She said it with the casual finality of someone stating that the sun would rise in the morning, clearly delighted by the logic.

Then, her eyes narrowed in sudden, sharp suspicion. "Absolutely not," she retorted, preempting an excuse. "You cannot be lazy about books." The youngest Dimitrescu pointed a dramatic finger at Carmilla. "If Bela found out you skipped half of her favorite book, she would make that face."

Daniela shuddered, then took a breath and contorted her features. She dropped her jaw slightly, lowered her eyelids into a heavy, leaden stare, and pressed her lips into a thin line of profound, silent sorrow. It was a perfect, exaggerated impression of a disappointed older sister.

She held the tragic expression for a beat before letting it melt back into her usual playful grin.

"That one," she emphasized, tapping the cover. "The one where she doesn't yell because she's too disappointed to exist in the same room as you. It's a fate worse than death."

Without a sound, Daniela drifted between the shelves of the library until she found her target comfortably settled on a chaise lounge. A grin spread across her face.

Two hands suddenly slipped over Alisson's eyes. "Guess who." Daniela didn't wait for an answer. She never did.

Instead, she leaned forward slightly, trying to peek around at the book. "What are you reading?" Curiosity immediately overtook whatever surprise she'd been planning. "Is it interesting?" She released her eyes, only to lean over the back of the chaise lounge, staring openly at the pages.

Then Daniela simply decided personal space was optional. The youngest Dimitrescu slipped around the chaise and dropped down beside Alisson, far too close for most people's comfort. Their shoulders nearly touched. "What happened so far?" The redhead was already looking at the book again. "Did somebody kiss?"

Carmilla was a book that, without a doubt, Alisson shouldn’t be seen reading. Especially because it was about a young woman living in a castle who ends up caught in the charm of a vampire.

So, when someone approached from behind her chair and covered her eyes, Alisson jumped in her seat with a hiss. Instinctively, she slammed the book shut, letting her heart settle after such a sudden scare.

────── ❛ Lady Daniela. ❜ — she replied, already knowing who it was from the voice alone. She cleared her throat and blinked as Daniela removed her hands from her eyes.

She moved away from her as much as possible as well; she pressed herself between Daniela’s body and the side of the chair like someone squeezing a toothpaste tube to get out the very last drop. Still, she said nothing — Alisson never said anything. At least, not right away.

────── ❛ ...It’s... It's a sapphic romance book between a human and a vampire... Quite interesting, yes. ❜ — She admitted, turning redder than a tomato. It was either admit it and talk to Daniela, or let Daniela see it for herself and start teasing her about Alisson’s tastes until she nearly died of embarrassment.

────── ❛ No, they haven’t kissed yet. I’ve only just started it. ❜ — she replied with saint-like patience. ────── ❛ So far... Laura, a human girl living in a castle, has been visited by Carmilla, a vampire who claims she is there because she needs shelter after a carriage accident. ❜ — Alisson explained, wriggling as best she could in her small space to show Daniela the page of the book.

Alisson seemed somewhere between comfortable and tense. However, when Daniela mentioned that “staring at each other and pretending not to,” she became suspicious. Could Daniela know what had happened with Bela?

The young maid tried not to pay it too much attention.

────── ❛ Would you like to read it with me, ma'am? ❜ — she offered, even though her hands had already started to tremble.

Of course Alisson was reading Carmilla. Bela had read that book so many times Daniela was fairly certain she could recite parts of it from memory without ever opening it herself.

The grin spreading across her face became impossible to hide. "Carmilla is Bela's favorite." For a moment she simply stared at Alisson. Then at the book. Then back at Alisson. The pieces fit together so neatly it was almost insulting.

"No wonder." Daniela giggled. A soft, delighted sound. "You and Bela get along very well." It wasn't a question. Just an observation. As obvious as the sky being blue.

She had seen the way Bela looked at Alisson when she thought nobody was paying attention. And she had certainly seen the way Alisson turned red every time Bela's name came up. Humans were surprisingly easy to read.

At the offer, Daniela glanced down at the book again. For a moment she looked tempted. Then her gaze shifted to Alisson's hands, noticing the trembling. And the way she had pressed herself against the side of the chaise lounge.

Her grin faded slightly. "...No." The youngest Dimitrescu answered surprisingly gentle. "I already know how it ends."

Daniela looked at her for a moment longer, studying her. Then tilted her head. "Do you think I'm going to hurt you?" There was no anger in her voice, only curiosity and genuine confusion.

A blur of buzzing movement stormed through the door without invitation. Daniela barely slowed before colliding into her, arms wrapping tight - far too tight - lifting Donna slightly off the ground in a crushing embrace.

"I missed you."

Donna made a small noise of surprise as her niece flew in through the door and let in the cold air, pulling her tightly close. The stench of blood made Donna’s nose wrinkle just a bit under the veil, but nevertheless, warm hands came to gently pat Daniela’s back. 

“I missed you as well, tesoro. Have you come to deliver news, or is this simply to say hello?” 

Despite the flat delivery of the line, Donna was amused—her voice had never been the most expressive thing ever, let alone capable of holding as much excitement as Daniela seemed to exude on the daily. That was alright, though. Donna was still happy to see her, and she knew that as soon as Angie caught wind—

“DANI!!!!” 

The aforementioned doll practically screeched the name, and the loud clattering of her footsteps could be heard as she rushed forwards and clambered up Donna’s skirt, before clinging tightly to Daniela and laughing loudly. 

Angie clambered around Daniela’s shoulders, giggling giddily and seemingly unaware of the chills that seemed to wrack Daniela’s body every so-often. Wooden arms tugged on Daniela’s hood as Angie moved to squeeze at her head in her best approximation of a hug that she could imagine. Meanwhile, Donna moved to close the door and lock it, before drifting towards the livingroom.  “Come, tesoro, sit. I’ll start the fireplace for you, I’m sure it was freezing outside.”  The sound of Donna’s smile could be heard in the sentence as she spoke it, and Angie moved to sit atop Daniela’s shoulder.  “I’m doing so SUPER GREAT!!! Because youuu came for a visit Dani!” Angie’s rasped voice sounded entirely thrilled, and she began to play with a blood-matted piece of Dani’s hair. “And you would NNNNEVER be any sort of nuisance! Bela is just a silly stick in the mud and doesn’t know how to have any real fun.”  Donna moved to pick Angie up once the fire began to crackle, setting her down on a couch a good distance away from the fireplace and moving a chair closer for Daniela to sit and warm up.  “As Angie said, you are never a nuisance in this household. Sit. Tell me what you wish to, tesoro. I am glad for the company, and much more so that it is yours.”

"It wasn't that freezing," she muttered, a small shiver betrayed her but she pretended it hadn't happened.

"I'm glad you understand me, Angie." The redhead finally allowed herself to sink into the offered chair near the fireplace. The moment the warmth reached her, some of the tension she had been carrying seemed to melt away. Not that she would ever admit she had been cold. "Bela truly is a stick in the mud," she continued with a dismissive wave. "Everything has to be proper. Everything has to be sensible. Everything has to be Daniela, stop climbing that. Daniela, stop chasing the servants. Daniela, Mother said no." She rolled her eyes dramatically. "It's exhausting."

The complaint lasted only shortly before her attention snapped back to the reason she'd come. "Oh!" Her eyes widened. "The story!"

𝖠𝖭 𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗧 , 𝗦𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 & 𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗔𝗧𝗘 (𝗆𝗎𝗍𝗎𝖺𝗅𝗌 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒) 𝖱𝖮𝖫𝖤𝖯𝖫𝖠𝖸 𝖡𝖫𝖮𝖦, 𝖥𝖤𝖠𝖳𝖴𝖱𝖨𝖭𝖦 𝑪𝑨𝑺𝑺𝑨𝑵𝑫𝑹𝑨 𝑫𝑰𝑴𝑰𝑻𝑹𝑬𝑺𝑪𝑼 𝖥𝖱𝖮𝖬 𝖱𝖤𝖲𝖨𝖣𝖤𝖭𝖳 𝖤𝖵𝖨𝖫 (𝖡𝖨𝖮𝖧𝖠𝖹𝖠𝖱𝖣). 𝖮𝖢-𝖥𝖱𝖨𝖤𝖭𝖣𝖫𝖸, 𝖢𝖱𝖮𝖲𝖲𝖮𝖵𝖤𝖱-𝖥𝖱𝖨𝖤𝖭𝖣𝖫𝖸 𝖠𝖭𝖣 𝖣𝖮𝖴𝖡𝖫𝖤-𝖥𝖱𝖨𝖤𝖭𝖣𝖫𝖸. 𝖬𝖮𝖱𝖤 𝖳𝖧𝖠𝖭 𝖮𝖭𝖤 𝖵𝖤𝖱𝖲𝖤 𝖶𝖨𝖫𝖫 𝖡𝖤 𝖯𝖱𝖤𝖲𝖤𝖭𝖳. 𝖬𝖤𝖣𝖨𝖴𝖬 — 𝖧𝖨𝖦𝖧 𝖠𝖢𝖳𝖨𝖵𝖨𝖳𝖸 LEVEL.

𝖧𝖤𝖠𝖵𝖨𝖫𝖸 𝖨𝖭𝖲𝖯𝖨𝖱𝖤𝖣 𝖡𝖸 𝖧𝖤𝖠𝖣𝖢𝖠𝖭𝖮𝖭𝖲, 𝖦𝖠𝖬𝖤𝖲, 𝖯𝖤𝖱𝖲𝖮𝖭𝖠𝖫 𝖳𝖧𝖤𝖮𝖱𝖨𝖤𝖲 & 𝖣𝖤𝖤𝖯 𝖠𝖭𝖠𝖫𝖸𝖲𝖨𝖲. Written by Dawn, also known as Allie. +17 mun, GMT +1.

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠: (𝘅) | @dani-dimitrescu

Cassandra was not someone who got worked up easily. She listened to her sister's words and raised an eyebrow, skeptical.

ㅤ「ㅤ𓆦 ↝ “ Her chambermaid? You mean that little blue-eyed mouse? Ah. ” 」ㅤㅤ────── Her tone made it sound as though the revelation didn't surprise her in the slightest.

However, the swarm of flies surrounding her body began to buzz more intensely. Agitated. Frustrated? Perhaps protectively was the best word.

ㅤ「ㅤ𓆦 ↝ “ I knew Bela had been acting strangely. ” 」ㅤㅤ────── She admitted under her breath.

A slight tilt of her head when Daniela suggested helping or tattling.

As little empathy as Cassandra had for the maids, she cared about her sisters, and for the moment, with a cool head on her shoulders, she found herself incapable of doing something so cruel to her eldest sister.

ㅤ「ㅤ𓆦 ↝ “Are you insane? If we tell Mother, Bela will be in trouble. And I doubt Bela would appreciate us sticking our noses into her business. It's better to leave them alone... And see how long the little mouse lasts...” 」ㅤ

"That's boring." The declaration came with genuine disappointment. Her arms folded across her chest as she leaned back against the wall

"Our sister has fallen in love. And you're telling me that your solution is to do nothing?" Daniela shook her head. "Where is the romance in that?"

Daniela's head tilted. "The little mouse is supposed to pine dramatically from afar. Bela is supposed to pretend not to notice. Then there should be longing." She gestured vaguely with her hands. "Letters. Staring. Secret meetings. Maybe crying." She paused, thinking. "Definitely crying."

Her eyes brightened. "Or one of them could get terribly injured." As if that was a perfectly reasonable development. "I think that happens in romances."

A horrified expression crossed her face. "What if they never confess and spend the next fifty years looking sadly at each other from across the room? That would be awful."