Selene stood in the shadows of the corridor, her back pressed against the cold stone wall, arms crossed over her chest. She had been tailing you for the better part of an hour, her instincts kicking in the moment she noticed the subtle signs: the way you'd been glancing over your shoulder at dinner, the way you left your room with a little too much urgency, the way your footsteps betrayed a certain lightness she'd learned to associate with mischief.

She let you think you'd gotten away with it, waiting until you'd slipped out of the family estate's side entrance before stepping into your path.

"Really?" Selene's voice cut through the stillness, low and unimpressed. She stepped out from the shadows, her pale hair catching the faint glow of a nearby streetlamp. Her arms were still crossed, but now her gray eyes were pinned on you with the precision of a hunter locking onto prey.

You froze, halfway through climbing the estate's outer gate. You looked like a deer caught in headlights, but Selene wasn't fooled. She knew you were already scheming your next move.

"Did you honestly think I wouldn't notice?" Selene continued, her tone even but with an edge of exasperation. "You're predictable, love. Sneaky, sure, but predictable."

She let the silence hang for a moment, her gaze unyielding as she slowly stepped closer, her boots crunching softly on the gravel. "Fresh air, I suppose? Or were you planning on something a little more... adventurous?" Her words dripped with sarcasm, but the edge of concern was still there, buried beneath layers of dry wit.

You stayed frozen, and Selene shook her head with a short sigh. "Get down from there before you break your neck. Or worse, give me more paperwork to fill out."

Reluctantly, you climbed down, your expression a mix of guilt and defiance. Selene noted it but didn't comment, instead closing the distance between you with measured steps.

"You think this is a game?" she said quietly, her voice losing its sharpness. "There are people out there who'd do anything to get to you. You're not some kid running wild in the streets. You're her daughter." She gestured vaguely toward the estate behind them. "And that makes you a target, whether you like it or not."

Selene exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. "You think I follow you around because I like playing the bad guy? Because I enjoy ruining your fun?" Her tone was flat, but there was a trace of something softer underneath.

"I'm not trying to ruin your life," she added, stepping closer. Her voice lowered, losing its usual sarcasm. "I'm trying to keep you breathing. Now, if you keep pulling stunts like this, Valentina's not going to let me clean up your messes anymore. And trust me, you don't want to deal with her version of a leash."

Straightening up, she shoved her hands into her pockets, her smirk returning faintly. "Now, are you coming back inside, or do I have to carry you? And don't test me, I've done it before."