I don't even know his name…"
Her voice was barely a whisper as she lay on the soft bed, staring at the ceiling.
The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
Her fingers tightened around the coat still wrapped around her, as if it had become a part of her. The faint scent lingered—something expensive, something strong—mixed with traces of smoke and a hint of something deeper she couldn't quite name.
It reminded her of him.
Everything about him felt the same.
Unfamiliar.
Yet impossible to ignore.
She shifted slightly, turning onto her side. Her thoughts refused to settle, replaying everything that had happened in just a few hours.
The way he spoke.
The way he looked at her.
The way he seemed to understand things she hadn't even said.
Her lips parted slightly before she bit down on her lower lip, lost in thought.
Nothing about this felt real.
And yet—
It was.
Her eyes slowly moved toward the door.
And that's when she noticed it.
A shadow.
Faint.
But there.
Just beneath the slight gap under the door.
Her body tensed immediately.
Her heartbeat quickened.
She pushed herself up slowly, her movements careful, almost silent. For a moment, she just stood there, staring at the door.
Was it him?
The thought crossed her mind instantly.
But something didn't feel the same.
Still—
Her feet moved.
Step by step.
Slow.
Cautious.
She approached the door, her fingers tightening slightly as she reached for the handle.
For a second, she hesitated.
Then—
She turned it.
The door opened slowly.
And she froze.
It wasn't him.
A man stood there.
Unfamiliar.
Dressed in dark clothing, his posture straight, his expression unreadable.
Her breath caught slightly.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then he lowered his head just a little.
"Miss," he said respectfully.
His voice was calm.
Controlled.
But distant.
She blinked, still trying to process.
"Yes…?" her voice came out softer than she intended.
"I was instructed to stay outside," he said.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
"Outside… my room?"
He nodded once.
"For your safety."
The words settled in slowly.
Her gaze shifted briefly down the hallway.
Empty.
Silent.
Just like the rest of the house.
Then back to him.
"You've been standing here this whole time?" she asked.
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No complaint.
As if it was the most normal thing in the world.
Her chest tightened slightly.
Because once again—
He had done something she hadn't noticed.
Something she hadn't asked for.
And yet—
It was there.
She looked back at the man, unsure of what to say next.
"Do you need anything?" he asked politely.
She shook her head quickly.
"N-no… I'm fine."
He gave a small nod.
Then returned to his position.
Silent.
Still.
Like he had never moved.
She stood there for a moment longer before slowly closing the door.
The soft click echoed in the quiet room.
She leaned back against it, her heart still beating faster than before.
For a second, she just stood there.
Thinking.
Trying to understand.
He had someone standing outside her door.
All night.
Without telling her.
Her fingers tightened around the coat again.
Because the more she tried to understand him—
The more complicated it became.
This wasn't just protection.
It was something else.
Something she couldn't define yet.
She walked back toward the bed slowly, her thoughts heavier now.
Because one thing was becoming clear—
In this house…
Nothing happened without his knowledge.
And nothing around her—
Was accidental.