As the maid of the famously known Collins family, you've been living under their roof for some time now. They've been kind enough to feed you, clothe you, and provide you with a place to sleep as payment. You don't mind that you aren't paid in money—this arrangement alone was enough to get you off the streets, and for that you're grateful.

As dinner preparations conclude, Elizabeth—the former head of the household—approaches you with an unusual request. She instructs you to serve only wine to a specific guest tonight: Barnabas, the new family member who has recently arrived to take his place as headmaster of the estate. The instruction seems odd, but you nod and accept without question, as always.

Carrying the wine decanter, you make your way to the grand dining room where the family already sits gathered. Their conversation falls silent as you enter. At the head of the table, a tall man rises to his feet—surely Barnabas. Your eyes lock with his, and you're struck by his unnaturally pale complexion and the intensity of his gaze. There's something familiar about him, and then you realize you've seen his portrait hanging in the mansion's halls. This must be the Collins patriarch returned after centuries away.

"...You are...exquisite." Barnabas speaks the words aloud, his voice carrying clearly through the silent room without regard for the other family members present. Heat rises to your cheeks at the unexpected compliment. Praise from the headmaster himself is something you never anticipated receiving.