Sofia learned the first rule by breaking it.
She opened the door before anyone told her not to.
The hallway outside her room was empty, lit by soft recessed lights that made everything look calm, intentional. She stepped out barefoot, listening. No alarms. No shouts. Just the quiet hum of a house that assumed obedience.
She walked.
The second rule revealed itself halfway down the corridor.
"Going somewhere?"
She stopped.
Alessio leaned against the wall near the staircase, jacket back on, phone in one hand. He didn't look up from the screen when he spoke, like he'd been expecting her.
"I got bored," Sofia said.
"That didn't take long."
"You left my door unlocked."
"Yes."
"So this was a test."
He finally looked at her. "Everything is."
She crossed her arms. "Congratulations. I failed."
"No," he said. "You confirmed."
"Confirmed what?"
"That you don't ask permission."
"And you don't like that?"
"I like knowing it."
She glanced past him, down the stairs. "Am I allowed down there?"
"No."
"Am I allowed to ask why?"
"You can ask."
She waited.
"I'm not answering," he added.
Sofia smiled thinly. "You're predictable."
Alessio pushed off the wall and pocketed his phone. "You came out here for a reason."
"I wanted to see how big the cage was."
"And?"
"It's bigger than I expected."
"Still a cage."
She took a step toward him. "What happens now?"
"Now," he said, "we set boundaries."
"By sending me back to my room?"
"By explaining what happens when you don't listen."
She tilted her head. "You going to lock me up?"
"No."
"Take away food?"
"No."
"Threaten my family?"
Alessio's expression sharpened by a degree. "Careful."
"So what?" she pressed. "You lecture me?"
"Yes."
She laughed. "That's it?"
"For now."
"For now," she echoed. "You keep saying that like it's comforting."
"It isn't meant to be."
A door opened down the hall. Giulia stepped out, took in the scene in a single glance.
"She's wandering," Giulia said.
"I noticed," Alessio replied.
Giulia looked at Sofia. "You're not supposed to leave your room unescorted."
"I wasn't told that."
"You weren't told a lot of things," Giulia said. "That's intentional."
Sofia looked between them. "Let me guess. Rule one: don't wander."
"Rule one," Alessio said, "is don't assume silence means freedom."
"And rule two?"
"Don't test me in public spaces."
Sofia gestured around. "This counts as public?"
"In my house," he said, "everything does."
She considered that. "What if I test you in private?"
Giulia inhaled sharply.
Alessio didn't react immediately. When he did, it was with a small, humorless smile.
"You're not ready for that mistake," he said.
"Is that a challenge?"
"No," he replied. "It's a warning."
Silence pressed in again, thicker now.
Giulia broke it. "Alessio, the call—"
"I know."
He looked back at Sofia. "You wanted to see the cage," he said. "You have."
"And if I try to open it?"
"Then you'll learn which doors stay unlocked out of courtesy."
He stepped aside, clearing the path back to her room.
Sofia didn't move right away. "You're very sure of yourself."
"Yes."
"People like that usually fall hard."
"Only when they forget where they're standing."
She held his gaze for a long second, then turned and walked back toward her room. This time, she didn't hesitate at the door.
Before she went in, Alessio spoke again.
"Breakfast is at eight," he said. "You'll be there."
"And if I'm not?"
He met her eyes. "Then we stop pretending you don't need rules."
She went inside and closed the door.
It stayed unlocked.
Sofia didn't sleep.
Not because she was afraid because the house wouldn't let her forget it was awake.
Footsteps passed her door at irregular intervals. Voices murmured somewhere far enough away to blur words but not intent. Once, she heard laughter. It irritated her more than silence would have.
At precisely eight, a knock came.
Not loud. Not polite.
Giulia entered without waiting for an answer. Sofia was already dressed, seated on the edge of the bed like she'd been expecting it.
"Good," Giulia said. "You're learning."
"Learning what?"
"To be ready before you're told."
Sofia stood. "Breakfast?"
"Yes."
"Am I allowed to speak?"
Giulia paused, considering. "That depends on what you say."
They walked together, unescorted this time. That, Sofia noted, was intentional.
The dining room was different in the morning. Sunlight filtered through tall windows, softening the stone, making the long table look almost inviting. Almost.
Three men were already seated.
One was older, silver at the temples, posture rigid. Another leaned back too comfortably, chair tilted, eyes sharp and amused. The third sat nearest the head of the table, back straight, expression unreadable.
Alessio.
He didn't look at her when she entered.
"Sit," he said, voice calm.
Sofia took the seat directly across from him.
That earned her attention.
The amused man smiled. "Bold."
"Quiet," Alessio said, not raising his voice.
The man chuckled and lifted his hands. "Just observing."
Giulia took her place against the wall.
Sofia glanced around. "Am I interrupting something?"
"Yes," Alessio replied. "And no."
"Helpful."
The older man studied her openly. "This is her?"
"Yes," Alessio said.
"She's smaller than I expected."
Sofia smiled sweetly. "You're older than I hoped."
A sharp intake of breath from someone at the table.
Alessio didn't react. "Sofia," he said, "this is Marco. And Luca."
Luca, the amused one tilted his head. "I've heard so much."
"Then you should stop listening to gossip," Sofia said. "It rots the brain."
Luca laughed outright. "I like her."
"That," Alessio said, "is not relevant."
Food was served. No one touched it yet.
Marco leaned forward. "You're aware of where you are."
"I'm aware I was brought here," Sofia said. "I'm still deciding why."
Luca grinned. "Because you're interesting."
"No," Alessio said flatly.
Sofia looked at him. "Then why?"
Alessio met her gaze across the table. "Because you're effective."
She frowned despite herself. "At what?"
"At being seen."
Silence followed. Heavy. Deliberate.
Marco cleared his throat. "Rules," he said. "She needs to understand them."
"She understands enough," Alessio replied.
"I don't," Sofia said. "And I don't like being discussed like furniture."
Luca raised his brow. "You're not furniture."
"No," Alessio agreed. "You're a variable."
Sofia's fingers tightened around her fork. "You keep talking like I'm a tool."
"That's because you are," Marco said bluntly.
Alessio's gaze snapped to him. "Careful."
Marco leaned back, unimpressed. "Or what?"
Alessio didn't answer.
That was the answer.
Sofia broke the tension by picking up her fork and taking a bite.
Every head turned toward her.
She chewed slowly. Swallowed. "Good," she said. "You have decent taste."
Alessio watched her for a long moment. Then, finally, he lifted his own fork.
The meal began.
No one spoke for several minutes.
That, Sofia realized, was another rule.