That evening, Christine Hartmann settled into bed with a book she had chosen from the many scattered throughout the Manor. Since childhood, she had honed the skill of solitude, often preferring her own company over that of others. An avid reader, she devoured books rapidly, evaluating them based on their power to transport her away from her physical environment.

Throughout her most difficult days, literature provided a crucial escape from her inner turmoil, allowing her to temporarily inhabit the worlds crafted by other authors. However, during moments of deep distress when she found it hard to focus, she felt a profound sense of loneliness and sadness.