Chapter 23 Twenty Three

• The servants' quarters were tucked into the farthest corner of the grand mansion. The room was neither too spacious nor too cramped, simple in its layout, containing four beds with moderately soft foam mattresses. The walls were bare, painted in peeling cream, revealing patches of age in the corners. A small wardrobe stood in one corner, crammed with the servants' work uniforms. A tiny window near the ceiling provided a trace of natural light, but the room remained gloomy and damp.
• In the center of the room was a small table cluttered with empty cups. A faint smell of cheap detergent mixed with mildew lingered in the air, further emphasizing the stark contrast between this space and the luxury of the main house.
• As Elise stepped into the room, she froze in the doorway. The cold stares of Greta, Marla, and Celia pierced through her. The three of them sat in a tight circle on one of the lower bunks, as if holding a secret meeting.