Xaviere did not appear at the formal dining table for dinner that evening, leaving the grand hall completely silent. Zeraida noted his empty seat at the head of the polished wood, but she deliberately asked the attentive staff no questions regarding his absence.
After the intense confrontation that had transpired inside the locked western wing hours earlier, she suspected he required solitude far more than superficial conversation.
It was nearly midnight when she finally discovered his whereabouts on the secluded rear terrace overlooking the dark grounds.
Xaviere stood motionless beside the stone balustrade, staring blankly out across the shadow-draped gardens while an untouched glass of whiskey rested on the table nearby.
Zeraida considered quietly retreating into the hallway to grant him space.
"Evelyn thoroughly hated that specific room," Xaviere spoke into the stillness before she could turn around.
