cately detailed, the blade seemed to gl

impressed curiosity. How could an eight-year-old girl conce

carefully and made h

by a group of children, her eyes sparkl

I could take them all," she said, h

lways desire what

g in an instant. His words struck her like

as he held up the drawing. "I want the gir

examining the intricate dagger drawn with such unset

she asked. "Y

tter," Igor r

resistance, adopting a child wasn't a decision made lightly, especially with someone who exuded

vous antics causing more trouble than good. She had a knack for getting ev

oldier ants only to hide them in the reverend sister's gown. The aft

a's only friend. Later that night, Anastasia had quietly gathered every toy that the g

whose darkness seemed to mirror t

said, a faint, almost relieved

. If anyone could handle Anastasia, it was him. And if not, well, the orph

was going to be adopted, a rar

th sadness. It was the first time she had expressed vulnerability in

after an adoption, to ensure the chil

handle that over the phone." Her words were caref

already elsewhere, as if the con

room, carrying Anastasia's file in her hands. It was a thick file, filled with years of do

rner of the reductant shelf, a place reserved for cases of childre

no phone calls, no concern for

e skies, carrying her away from the familiar yet suffocating world of

made their way to the mansion, Anas

anything she had ever seen, even in the vivid stories she'd read or the images she

ity personnel. A line of uniformed maidens

to her, and make sure she's pr

ard and motioned for Anastasia to follow her. She followed,

heart of this majestic home. The walls were adorned with lavish tapestries and ornate pain

ge, double-door room. The m

room," the w

ceiling seemed to stretch on forever, adorned with intricate desig

lk sheets a rich shade of deep crimson. The windows, draped in

had never imagined in her wildest dreams. Everything was extrava

grand. The mansion's beauty was undeniable, but there was

e, and how old are you?" the

I'm eight years

nded with a warm smile. "Call me Nana. Whi

tasia, carefully helping her to freshen

burned away. She took a small bracelet from her items, one of the

ion was a world of abundance, food, clothes, toys, and so on. Yet, the fourth floor, whe

osely but from afar, hoping s

n. Anastasia, lost in her own world of game

as she approached. "Why are

on. The back of his palm struck her cheek with a force that sent her sprawling to th

ated through her face, and she whimpered, her small body trembling from the shock

nishment seemed less about discipline and more about asserting dominan

in, this grand, beautiful prison came with its own set of harsh rules