The sun was high in the sky, bathing the mansion in warm, almost harsh light. Sunlight streamed into Lucian's room through gaps in the windowpanes.
Lucian's eyelids fluttered as the light touched his face. He stretched languidly, blinking several times to clear his blurry vision from sleep. His gaze drifted from the ceiling to the window.
He raised a hand to shield his eyes from the bright sunlight, then sat up, letting his long hair fall onto his broad shoulders. A soft breath escaped his lips as he sat on the edge of his bed.
Lucian got up and walked to the table in the corner of the room. On it sat a large bowl of clean water; a faint steam still rose from its surface. Without a word, he reached for a small, neatly folded cloth beside the bowl, dipped it in the water, and lifted it gently.
