Chapter 201

　　Daniel's Perspective 　　My heart was racing, and I knew I shouldn't be here, especially not at this hour. But I couldn't stay at home any longer, waiting alone for my mother to return. She had promised she would be back soon, but it had been so long—so long with no word—that my anxiety was growing by the minute. 　　I could feel that nagging unease, as if some kind of danger was drawing near. After all, my mother worked under that man's command. I knew I had to find her and make sure she was safe. 　　I cautiously slipped through the back door of the manor and made my way around the edge of the party grounds. Despite the grandeur of the manor—tall statues and intricate flower arrangements—my focus never wavered from the direction of the main entrance. My mother's presence was a constant weight in my mind. But as soon as I stepped into the hall, I was struck dumb by the sight before me. It was a world completely different from what I had imagined, bathed in golden light and filled with orn