The chamber door clicked shut, leaving Claire alone in the dimly lit room.
She remained still. The silence stretched around her, thick and heavy, pressing against her like an unseen force.
The missing diary.
It should have been here. Untouched. Forgotten beneath layers of dust and time.
Claire's gaze drifted toward the overturned books, the scattered pages strewn across the floor. Every item had been accounted for—every drawer emptied, every shelf examined. And yet, the one thing she had never dared to open before had vanished the moment she wished to.
A coincidence? Or something else entirely?
She exhaled slowly, rubbing her temple.
A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.
"My lady," a servant's voice called softly from the other side. "The bath has been prepared."
Claire blinked, realizing how much time had slipped away.
"Alright," she replied, her voice even.
Taking one last glance at the disarray before her, she stepped away from the mess, forcing herself to let it go—at least for now.
By the time evening arrived, she had dressed, her silver-blond hair neatly braided, her gown flowing with effortless grace. Yet, beneath the polished exterior, unease still simmered.
True to their word, she and Elise had searched relentlessly. Hours passed as they sifted through old trunks, overturned books, and rummaged through every drawer in the chamber. Dust floated in the candlelight, the scent of aged parchment thick in the air.
Yet—nothing.
Claire exhaled sharply, pressing her fingers to her temples.
Elise let out a sigh, straightening from where she had been sifting through a stack of old parchments.
"My lady, it's nowhere to be found." She glanced around the mess they had made before offering a small, reassuring smile. "Perhaps we should take a break and clear our minds. Sometimes, things reveal themselves when we least expect them."
Claire clenched her fists, frustration simmering beneath her exhaustion.
"You're right… But I know it was here, Elise. I don't understand how it just disappeared."
Elise hesitated, then suddenly straightened as if remembering something.
"My lady, it's already getting late. Did you forget about your meeting with the Lord?"
Claire exhaled, realization settling over her.
"Did Father mention anything about the meeting? Did he say why?"
"No, my lady. Only that he wanted to speak with you in private."
Claire sighed, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Alright. Let's leave this for now."
With a lingering sense of disappointment between them, they stepped away from the mess of scattered books and parchment, closing the chamber door behind them.
Later that evening, Claire made her way to her father's study.
The heavy wooden door stood slightly ajar, allowing the warm glow of candlelight to spill into the dim hallway. The scent of ink and aged parchment drifted through the crack, mixing with the faint scent of burning wax.
She took a slow, steady breath before stepping inside.
Lord Aldric Valen sat at his desk, meticulously reviewing stacks of parchment and official documents. The sharp creases on his brow hinted at the weight of his work, though his expression softened slightly when he noticed her arrival.
"You asked to see me, Father?" Claire spoke, her tone composed yet curious.
Her father looked up, setting his quill aside.
"Yes, Claire. I wanted to inform you of something important."
He reached for an envelope on the desk and extended it toward her.
She stepped forward, taking it carefully.
"What is this?"
"An invitation," Lord Valen stated. "A charity event, hosted by your uncle, Richard. I need you to attend on my behalf. With my workload, I won't be able to make it, but I trust you to represent our house well."
Claire glanced at the envelope, her fingers brushing over the finely inscribed lettering.
"Uncle Richard..." she murmured. Her mother's brother. She hadn't seen him in a long time.
Lord Valen studied her expression.
"I know you can handle this alone. You've grown into a fine young woman, Claire. It's time you start taking on more responsibilities."
Claire nodded, straightening her posture. "Of course, Father. I won't disappoint you."
"I never doubted you would," he replied simply before turning back to his documents.
Taking that as her cue to leave, Claire held onto the envelope tightly and exited the study.
A part of her welcomed the distraction.
But deep down, the lingering thoughts of the missing diary refused to fade.