Chapter 1: The Crimson Stain

The crystal chandelier above the grand ballroom hummed with a cold, electric brilliance, casting sharp shadows across the polished mahogany floor. Arthur Sterling sat alone at the massive dining table, a lone figure amidst an excess of opulence, surrounded by empty crystal glasses and half-melted tallow candles. The silence of the estate was absolute until the heavy oak doors groaned open from the far end of the hall. A