The days felt heavier after that meeting in Dimitri study. Sera moved through the mansion with a weight on her chest, every room colder, every shadow darker. The power in this house belonged to Dimitri and there was no mistaking it. He ruled with an iron fist and she was just a pawn in his game.

Yet, as time passed, something started to change. It wasn't obvious at first, just small shifts, barely noticeable. But Sera felt them.

Dimitri wasn't as sharp with her anymore. His eyes lingered a little longer, his voice, though still cold, didn't hold the same venom. She didn't know what to make of it. And every time she caught herself noticing these things, she pushed the thoughts away.

Hope had no place in Dimitri world. She had learned that the hard way. It was dangerous fleeting, fragile. It could turn into despair in the blink of an eye. So she focused on what she knew, surviving. That was all she could do.

One afternoon, while scrubbing the marble floors in the grand hallway, she heard it the familiar sound of Dimitri footsteps. Her breath hitched. Instinctively, her grip on the rag tightened. She kept her head down, heart hammering, waiting for the usual tension to settle in the air.

But this time... nothing happened.

Dimitri walked past her without a word. No sharp remarks. No cold orders. Nothing.

He didn't even acknowledge her.

For a moment, Sera felt like she had imagined it. He had always made it a point to remind her of her place, to make sure she never forgot who was in control. So why was he ignoring her now?

She didn't know whether to feel relieved or worried.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the quiet shuffle of footsteps. She glanced up just in time to see Elena slip into the hallway. The maid gave her a quick, concerned look before hurrying away.

Sera swallowed hard.

Something was changing.

She just didn't know if that was a good thing or if it would make everything worse.

○●○

That evening, after dinner, Sera went to her room, trying to escape the cold, suffocating air of the dining hall. She sat at the edge of her bed, lost in thought, when a knock at the door startled her.

Dimitri voice followed. "Come in."

Sera hesitated for a second before standing up. Her legs felt unsteady as she opened the door. Dimitri stood there, as intimidating as always, but something in his eyes was different. It wasn't exactly anger. It wasn't exactly that, either.

"Come with me," he ordered. His voice was firm, but it wasn't as cruel as usual.

Sera just trailed behind him through those twisty hallways, her mind a whirlwind. She didn't know what to expect, but whatever it was, she doubted it would be good.

They entered his study, the same place where their last unsettling conversation had taken place. Dimitri motioned for her to sit and she did, feeling his eyes on her as he studied her in silence.

"You're still quiet," he said, his voice low.

Sera heart skipped a beat. She had no idea what he wanted from her. "I..." she started but stopped herself. The wrong words could set him off, and she wasn't willing to take that risk. So, she stayed silent.

Dimitri leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. He looked at her in a way that made it seem like he was trying to see past her surface.

"You've been here for weeks," he said, his voice softer than usual. "And I've watched you... tried to break you."

Sera breath caught in her throat, but she forced herself to remain still. She had no idea where this conversation was headed, but she knew better than to relax.

"You're stronger than I thought," he admitted, surprising her. "Most people would have given up by now. But you... you're still standing."

Sera blinked. Was that... respect in his tone? It wasn't what she had expected. His words weren't laced with mockery or contempt. They felt different.

"But you're still so quiet," Dimitri murmured, almost like he was speaking to himself. "So distant."

Sera didn't know how to respond. Was he frustrated by her silence? Was he expecting a thank you for noticing how strong she is? She had spent so much time trying to avoid his wrath that she couldn't tell what game he was playing now.

Then, for a brief moment, something in his expression shifted. His gaze lingered on her face, as if he were trying to figure something out.

"Your beauty," he said suddenly, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's not just in your face, but in how you survive. In how you endure."

Sera pulse quickened. She didn't know what to make of his words. Was this another trick? Another way to break her? He had treated her like a burden, an inconvenience. Now, he was speaking as if he saw her as something else entirely.

"You think I hate you," Dimitri continued, his voice carrying something darker, something unspoken. "But the truth is, I hate myself more for bringing you into this. You're not like the others. You're not like the women I've known."

Sera swallowed hard. Was he confessing something? Or was this another one of his mind games?

"I don't know why you don't break," Dimitri muttered, his eyes locked onto hers. "Most would have by now. But you... you're different. And that difference," he paused, his voice dropping lower, "makes you dangerous."

A cold shiver ran down Sera spine. Dangerous? To him?

She didn't understand what he meant. Was he afraid of her? Or was he warning her? She didn't know.

Dimitri got up, his face a blank slate, and headed for the door. But before leaving, he turned back one last time.

"I'll be watching, Sera," he said, his voice both a warning and something else she couldn't quite grasp. "Don't think for a moment that I'm letting you slip away from me."

Then, he was gone, leaving Sera alone with his words echoing in her mind.

She sat there, staring at the closed door, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

Dimitri saw how strong she was. He knew it.

But was that a good thing? Or was it the very thing that would trap her here forever?

●○●

The next few days were just as confusing and Dimitri kept acting weird. He kept looking at her, but this time, he stared a bit longer. It wasn't just control, there was something else in his eyes. Something Sera couldn't put her finger on.

She wasn't sure if it was a chance, a threat or something way worse.

For the first time, she felt in control, a little bit anyway. But one wrong step, and it's all over.

So, she waited.

Watching him.

Just as carefully as he was watching her.