Arianne woke up before her alarm rang. She rolled onto her side and turned it off before slipping out of bed. The clock on her nightstand read four in the morning. Too early for her usual waking time.
She, along with Aunt Estella and Gio, had moved into this estate a week ago. She had yet to settle in completely.
Arianne left her room, shutting the door carefully behind her. The twins' room was just across hers. Their door was closed. She and the twins occupied the entire eastern wing of the estate. Franz stayed alone on the western wing.
When she reached the top of the stairs, she glanced toward his side. All four rooms were closed. She didn't expect him to be awake this early. But she paused anyway, looking at the hallway that separated them. A week of marriage, and they still lived like guests in the same house. She wasn't sure if that was practical or something else. She hadn't let herself examine it yet.
