I arrived at Adrian's estate without sending word ahead.
It wasn't unusual. I had been there enough times for my presence not to require formality, and Adrian was not the kind of man who needed preparation to receive a guest. The guards let me through without delay, and the attendants who recognized me simply stepped aside, offering quiet acknowledgment without interrupting my movement.
The estate carried a different atmosphere from my own. It was not quieter, but it was steadier, as though everything within it had already settled into place long ago and had no need to prove itself further. Nothing felt rushed. Nothing felt strained.
I moved through the familiar corridors without guidance.
Voices reached me before I reached the inner hall.
A woman's voice.
Sharp, controlled, but carrying enough force to draw attention.
"I am not asking for what is not mine."
