Xenia hit her forehead repeatedly against the counter, trying to erase the memory of what she had seen and how poorly she had reacted.
"He must think I am completely foolish. How could I even assume something was wrong? And he was sitting there half-clothed... No. Strike that image from your mind, Xenia," she murmured under her breath.
Her eldest brother, Charlie, tapped her on the shoulder, holding a heavy ledger book in his hand.
"Xenia, what are you mumbling to yourself? Should you not be going to sleep?" he asked.
"Yes, I was just leaving, Brother," Xenia said, quickly standing up. "Good night."
She bowed respectfully and stepped outside into the cool night air. After walking a short distance down the estate path, her family's quarters came into view. She entered the courtyard, which was entirely deserted.
