The mansion felt empty again. Dimitri presence had been like a looming shadow, and after their tense encounter in the dark room, Sera was left feeling lost in a mix of fear and confusion. Her body still ached, haunted by the memories of his touch, his harsh words, and the cruelty she had come to expect every single moment.

She spent her days in silence, never speaking unless spoken to. She moved through the mansion quietly, doing her tasks like a ghost. The maids watched her from a distance, their eyes sometimes filled with pity, but none of them dared to comfort her. Dimitri had made it clear where she stood, and the servants had learned their lesson well. No one spoke out of turn.

Elena, the one maid who had once shown her kindness, now kept her distance. It wasn't out of cruelty, but fear. Dimitri had made sure that everyone in the house understood who was in control. Any sign of defiance was punished and Sera had witnessed it herself. She knew why Elena had pulled away.

The days passed in a blur, blending into each other. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were always the same silent, tense, empty. The mansion remained eerily quiet, except for the occasional sound of footsteps echoing through the hallways. The air itself felt heavy, filled with the weight of Dimitri unpredictable moods.

And yet, despite all the coldness, Sera found herself wondering about the man who had brought her here. Dimitri. He was cruel, ruthless, terrifying but there was something about him, something beneath the hardness. A deeper pain, hidden behind his cold exterior. She had seen it in fleeting moments, in the way he sometimes looked at her not with anger, but with something else. Something softer. Something almost... vulnerable.

But those moments never lasted. They would appear for just a second before vanishing, buried beneath the mask he always wore and Sera knew better than to hold onto them. Not when the cost of weakness was too high.

○●○

One evening, as Sera was preparing dinner in the grand kitchen, the door suddenly swung open. She froze, her heart skipping a beat. It was Dimitri. But this time, something about him felt different. His face was colder, his eyes darker than usual.

Sera held her breath, trying to steady herself. She had been expecting him at some point during the day, but that never made it easier. Dimitri presence was like a strong wind, dangerous, always on the edge of something violent.

"Are you finished?" he asked, his deep, gravelly voice filling the room. His tone held a quiet authority that left no room for disobedience.

Sera gave a small nod, not trusting herself to speak. She had learned that silence was often the safest option.

Dimitri barely acknowledged her response. His sharp gaze swept over the room before settling back on her. "Come with me," he ordered, his voice firm and final.

Her stomach tightened, but she knew better than to resist. Without a word, she wiped her hands on a cloth and followed him out of the kitchen.

The walk through the mansion was silent, filled with a thick tension that only grew heavier with each step. Dimitri didn't say a word and Sera didn't dare ask where they were going. The only sound was the quiet echo of their footsteps against the polished floors.

Finally, they stopped in front of a door Sera had never seen before. It was large and imposing, made of dark, polished wood. Dimitri pushed it open with ease, revealing a lavish study inside. The room was filled with leather-bound books, dark wood shelves, and a massive desk at the center.

Sera hesitated at the entrance, feeling completely out of place in such an elegant space. Dimitri stepped inside first, then turned to her.

"Sit," he commanded, gesturing to one of the plush chairs in front of his desk.

She obeyed immediately, sinking into the soft chair, her body tense. The air in the room felt heavy, charged with something she couldn't quite place.

Dimitri leaned against the edge of his desk, his arms crossed as he studied her. His eyes moved slowly, scanning her from head to toe, as if he was trying to read her thoughts.

Sera swallowed hard, confused by the silence. Usually, he would say something cruel to remind her of her place. He would push, demand, make sure she knew she had no control. But now, he just watched her, saying nothing.

The quiet stretched on, thick and suffocating. Every second that passed made Sera more anxious. She knew Dimitri never did anything without a reason. If he had brought her here, there had to be something he wanted.

Finally, after what felt like forever, he spoke.

"You've been quiet," he said, his voice softer than usual but still laced with something dangerous. "Too quiet, in fact."

Sera heart pounded. What did he mean by that? She had been silent because that was what he wanted, what he had forced her to learn. But now, somehow, it wasn't enough.

"I didn't ask for your silence," he continued, his tone almost casual, though the coldness was still present in his words. "I'm sure you've noticed that you're not the only one who has been suffering in this place."

Sera didn't know how to respond. She couldn't understand where this conversation was going, but she didn't want to provoke him by saying the wrong thing.

Dimitri leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving hers. "You've been here for a while now, Sera. Long enough to know that there's more to this world than what you see on the surface."

Sera nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

"You've seen how things are," Dimitri continued. "You've seen the power I wield, the control I have over everyone around me. But what you haven't seen is the struggle, the struggle that comes with this kind of power."

Sera brows pulled together slightly, curiosity creeping in despite everything. Dimitri was opening up in a way she had never expected. It was creepy, but at the same time, it made her wonder if there was more to him than just the cold, ruthless man who had tormented her.

"I didn't ask for this life," Dimitri said, his voice quieter now, almost as if he was speaking to himself. "I didn't ask to be part of this empire, but it's the hand I was dealt."

Sera stayed silent, unsure of how to respond. She had heard whispers about his past about power struggles, betrayals and the things that had shaped him. But she had never heard him talk about it himself.

For a brief moment, his eyes softened. In that instant, she saw something in him she hadn't seen before a flicker of vulnerability. But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, replaced by the cold, calculating gaze she had come to expect.

"You've been here long enough to know what happens to those who defy me," he said, his voice turning sharp again. "And yet, you still resist. You think you can play by your own rules, but I won't allow it."

A chill ran down Sera spine. She had no idea what he meant exactly, but the threat in his voice was clear.

"From now on," he continued, his tone colder than before, "you'll do exactly as I say. No more disobedience. No more silence."

Sera nodded quickly, her heart racing. She didn't want to push him, didn't want to see what he would do if she tested his patience.

Dimitri stood and for a second, she thought he was about to leave. But instead, he walked around the desk, stopping right in front of her. His presence was suffocating, his tall frame blocking out everything else in the room.

"You're mine now, Sera," he said, his voice low, dangerous. "And if you don't learn to accept that, things will only get worse for you."

Her breath caught as she looked up at him. He wasn't lying. She could see it in his eyes. He had the power to make her life even more unbearable than it already was.

For a split second, his gaze softened again but there was no kindness in it. Just something dark.

"You're not going anywhere," he whispered, his voice like ice. "And neither am I."

Then, without another word, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving Sera in stunned silence.

○●○

The weight of his words lingered in the air, heavy and suffocating. Sera sat there, frozen, trying to make sense of it all.

But there was no escaping it.

Dimitri had left his mark on her life.

And now, there was no turning back.