Bastien changed his clothes with trembling hands and a steel-cold stare. The heat of the shower hadn’t washed away the guilt weighing on his shoulders. He couldn’t let this go. Not after what that woman had tried to do.

He walked out of the mansion with a steady stride and descended into the dungeons. At the entrance, Lucca stood like a loyal shadow. As soon as he saw Bastien, he straightened up immediately.

—How is the lady? —he asked in a low, almost reverent voice.

—Better —Bastien replied w