​In a grand estate far from the soot-stained air of the capital, there stood a manor of ancient stone—the ancestral seat of a Great Duke, passed down through many generations. Beyond its wrought-iron gates, the hallways were lined with dark mahogany and gold leaf, the air smelling of beeswax and heavy drapes. But beneath this veneer of aristocratic splendor, a cold secret was woven into the very fabric of the house. ​In a...

7:00 PM, Aria's apartment. A meticulously prepared dinner sat on the dining table. A perfectly seared steak, a fresh salad, and a bottle of wine. Seated with Aria at this table was her neighbor, Elena. Aria had moved into this apartment three months ago. A 34-year-old office worker living alone, she lived right next door to Elena, a 52-year-old housewife who lived with her husband and daughter. Despite the significant age...