Lady Evelyne offered a faint smile. "The pleasure is ours, Miss Valerie."
Her tone was not cold, yet it carried unmistakable authority.
Lady Maribel stepped a little closer. "You look… younger than we expected."
Valerie could not tell whether that was a compliment or a neutral observation. She merely nodded.
"Please, have a seat," Lady Evelyne said, gesturing to the chair opposite them.
The moment Valerie sat down, she felt an invisible pressure settle around her. This was not an interrogation yet it felt uncomfortably close to one.
"We were summoned here by order of Duke Demian Morvex," Lady Evelyne continued. "Our task is simple to prepare you."
Valerie frowned. "Prepare me… for what?"
Lady Maribel answered softly, "To survive."
The word caught Valerie off guard.
