Chapter 0531 Nicholas, Julian, and I walked to the base of the stairs. There, we stood calmly, while peering around, waiting for all the servants in sight to go elsewhere to attend to their duties.

Then, with Julian being the boldest and first of us, we sneaked through the servants’ door and into the servants’ quarters.

Unlike the main building, the servant’s quarters were not as brightly decorated. Though the walls were painted and clean, they had no paintings or decorations of any kind.

The quarters were simply a long, barren hallway of doors on either side, with a potted plant at the very end.

My nerves itched. If someone were to come into this hallway, they would see us at once. He had to be quick and careful.

“Which door is hers?” T asked. None of the doors were marked.

rr 2) Oo +15 BONUS Julian sighed. “Guess we have to do this the hard way.” Slowly, we tried each door one at a time, bracing ourselves each time for what might be inside. What we found, one after the next, were clean, sparse rooms, with made beds. Most had a desk or a chair and a few personal items. When we saw the room was empty, we didn’t linger long enough to see more.

We tried so many doors with no luck that I was beginning to feel nervous.

Perhaps Charlotte wasn’t here at all? But how could that be? Where else would they keep her? Nicholas wore a frowning, serious expression that did not change the longer this went on. Julian, however, seemed to grow more hopeful.

“We should have started in the back,” he grumbled to himself, though he was smiling. “Of course they’d give the new person the worst room.” The door on the left in the back of the

(_) +15 BONUS hallway led to an entirely bare room.

The bed was there, but it had no sheets. No personal items were I anywhere, and the desk had a thin layer of dust on top of it.

there. That left one last room. We all

He walked up to the door, grabbed the handle, and tried to turn.

down. Charlotte must be in there, but would they really lock her in? Why? Surely

listen. Someone was moving around inside, but they hadn’t said anything yet. I tried again,

“Looking for you. Are you okay? They said you had some kind of illness?” “What illness,” Charlotte said. “T feel fine. Other than being

“Foul play,” Julian replied.

his knees beside the doorknob. He took out his lockpicking tools from his pocket.

bring me meals but don’t

Piper.” “It’s okay, Charlotte,” I said. I could hear a hint of fear in her voice. “We'll figure it out together.” Julian unlocked the door in a flash, and then the three of us sneaked inside. Julian

I should have looked for her sooner. But, no, I had to push those pointless thoughts to the side. I was here now,

asked, feeling

that I

answer. She’s barely said anything to

BONUS Nicholas made a thoughtful hum.

Charlotte was telling the truth, of that

taking orders,”

I didn’t need to be

to lock up Charlotte?” I

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