Chapter 276

• Emilia’s POV
• The house was quiet when I walked in, which was unusual. Normally, there was at least some noise—Francesca’s laughter echoing through the halls, the distant hum of conversation, or the occasional sound of Alaric’s men moving around. But tonight, everything felt… still. Too still.
• It wasn’t long ago that I returned from my trip with Rosa and Francesca, feeling lighter than I had in weeks. The time away had been refreshing, a much-needed break from everything. But as soon as I stepped inside, that feeling disappeared, replaced by a kind of suffocating feeling.