Maria.

My hands trembled slightly as I stared at the portrait.

Because the person staring back at me from the painting...Was me.

For a moment, my brain refused to process what my eyes were seeing. I blinked once, then again, as if the image might suddenly change into someone else.

But it didn’t.

It was still me.

Every detail was unmistakable, the curve of my face, the familiar shade of my hair, even the small mark near my collarbone that only someone who had carefully studied me would notice.

My heart began to pound.

Why would Daniel have a portrait of me?

And not just any portrait.

This one looked... intentional, carefully drawn and well preserved.

Not something done casually.

A strange uneasiness crept up my spine.

Slowly, my eyes shifted away from the portrait, scanning the area around the bed. That was when something else caught my attention.

Beside the bed, partly tucked between a small stack of papers, was a folded sheet that looked like some kind of sketch.

Curiosity stirred again.

I hesitated for a second before reaching for it and when I unfolded it, my breath hitched.

It was a map.

Not just any map.

A territory map.

My brows furrowed as I studied it more closely.

The lines were carefully drawn, marking borders and pathways. The forest areas were shaded differently, and the river cutting across the land was clearly labeled.

And right there, at the center—MOON BRIDGE.

My stomach tightened.

It was the Moon Bridge territory map.

Even more unsettling was the section that had been heavily marked, the corrupted half of the territory.

The exact area where the park was located.

Why would Daniel have this?

Why would he keep both a portrait of me and a detailed map of Moon Bridge hidden under his pillow?

A cold realization slowly began forming in my mind.

Galen.

My fingers tightened around the paper.

Galen had asked for the map of the park.

I remembered it clearly now.

The way she had been questioning us earlier...specifically about the park inside the corrupted half of the Moon Bridge territory.

My heart started racing faster.

Another memory surfaced.

Galens weird reactions, whenever I was with Daniel. Her body language, she had been talking to Daniel, sign language.

No—more than that.

She had been looking directly at him...and Daniel had looked back at her in a strange way.

A look I couldn’t understand at the time.

But I had noticed it.

I had even asked him about it.

"Do you know her?" I had questioned back then.

And Daniel had answered immediately.

No.

My breathing became shallow.

But now...Now things didn’t seem so simple anymore.

Why did he have my portrait?

Why did he have the map Galen wanted?

And why had he looked at her like that if they supposedly didn’t know each other?

My mind was racing, trying to piece everything together.

Just then...Footsteps echoed outside the door. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest.

Daniel.

Panic shot through me instantly.

Without thinking, I quickly folded the map and shoved it back where I had found it. The portrait followed right after, slipping back into its case as my hands moved hurriedly.

I placed everything exactly where it had been and pulled the pillow back over it.

Just in time.

The door handle turned.

I quickly pushed myself upright on the bed.

The sudden movement made the sheets rustle softly beneath me as I straightened my back, forcing my body into a composed position. My pulse was still racing, pounding violently inside my chest like it was trying to break free from my ribs. I could feel every frantic beat echoing through my body, loud and relentless.

For a moment, I pressed my lips together and took a slow breath, trying to steady myself.

Calm down.

I dragged a hand lightly over the blanket, smoothing the fabric in a small, absent gesture as if that simple motion could help settle the storm inside me. My shoulders squared as I tried to look as normal as possible, relaxed, composed, unaffected.

Even though inside, nothing about me felt calm.

My heart was still hammering violently in my chest.

Then the door opened.

The quiet click of the handle turning sounded far louder than it should have in the silent room. My body tensed instinctively, but I forced myself not to react too quickly.

Daniel stepped inside.

He moved with his usual calm confidence, pushing the door shut behind him with an easy motion. In his hand, he carried a glass of water, the clear liquid catching the light as he walked further into the room.

"There you are," he said softly, his voice gentle, almost reassuring, as he approached the bed.

My eyes flickered toward him.

His expression looked calm.

Too calm.

There wasn’t a trace of tension in his face, no sign that anything unusual had happened earlier. His gaze was steady and composed as he walked toward me, the same controlled presence he always carried.

For some reason, that calmness made my chest tighten even more.

I forced a small smile onto my face.

It felt stiff, unnatural, but I held it there anyway.

"Here," he said, stopping beside the bed and extending the glass toward me. "Drink."

I reached out and took it from him.

My fingers wrapped carefully around the cool surface of the glass. I made sure my grip looked steady, even though I could still feel the faint tremor lingering in my hands.

"Thank you," I murmured.

The words came out softly as I lifted the glass to my lips.

I took a small sip.

The cool water slid down my throat, instantly easing the dryness that had been clinging there. The refreshing sensation helped ground me slightly, giving me something simple to focus on for a moment.

I swallowed slowly before lowering the glass again.

Daniel sat down beside me on the bed. The mattress dipped slightly beneath his weight. I could feel his gaze on me almost immediately.

He was studying my face carefully.

His eyes moved over my expression as if searching for something, any sign that I wasn’t as calm as I was pretending to be.

"Don’t worry too much," he said gently, his tone soft, almost comforting. "You’ve been through a lot today."

I nodded slowly.

The movement was small and controlled, as though I truly believed his words.

I leaned back slightly against the headboard, trying to appear more relaxed, letting my shoulders loosen just enough to sell the illusion.

"No matter what happens," he continued, his voice turning firmer now, more resolute, "I’ll protect you too."

My eyes lifted to meet his.

For a brief moment, our gazes locked.

Then he added quietly, "Nothing will happen to you while I’m around."

The certainty in his voice was unmistakable.

I forced another small smile.

It felt easier this time, though it still didn’t reach my eyes.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

The words were polite, sincere enough to sound believable.

Inside, however, my thoughts were spinning wildly.

Questions collided in my mind, racing over each other so quickly it was hard to focus on any single one. My heart still hadn’t completely settled, and the unease lingering inside me refused to fade.

After a moment, I carefully placed the glass down on the bedside table. The soft clink of glass against wood sounded louder than I expected.

"I... I think I need to do something," I said hesitantly.

Daniel tilted his head slightly, his brows drew together in mild curiosity as he looked at me.

"What is it?"

"I’m just a little confused," I admitted slowly.

The words felt vague, but they were the safest explanation I could offer.

"I think I need a moment."

Daniel studied me for a second.

His gaze lingered on my face, thoughtful, as though weighing my words.

Then he nodded.

"Alright," he said simply. "You can go."

Relief flickered through me.

I stood up quickly from the bed.

"Thanks," I said as I turned toward the door.

I kept my movements controlled, careful not to appear rushed. When I reached the door, I opened it quietly and stepped out into the hallway.

The door closed softly behind me.

For a few seconds, I walked down the hallway as calmly as I could. My steps were steady and measured, my breathing slow and controlled as I forced myself to maintain the same composed pace.

Anyone watching would think nothing was wrong.

But the moment I reached the corner of the hallway...I broke into a run.

All the restraint I had been holding snapped instantly.

My heart surged again as my feet moved faster, carrying me down the corridor as quickly as possible.

Straight toward Noah’s room.