"By the way, Mariam," Anna continued once the atmosphere settled, "there's something I want to ask you."
Mariam nodded again, silently giving her permission.
Anna shifted on the couch, folding her legs up in a habit everyone around her had long stopped questioning. Ladylike or not, it was her, and they were used to it.
"It's about Daniel's family," Anna said slowly. "Ever since I came here… I've never seen them."
She recalled the past too—how she had never met anyone related to Daniel. It was always just him, standing alone in a mansion that felt far too large for one person.
And after Daniel talked about his mother last time, she was more curious to know the people who birth him.
Mariam hesitated.
Just that tiny pause made Anna tense. Mariam rarely hesitated—unless the topic itself was delicate.
"Madam…" Mariam began slowly, choosing her words with unusual caution. "Master Daniel's family… is not an easy topic."
Anna blinked. "Not easy? Why?"
