Chapter Twenty Five

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

ARIA

I flipped a page of the old, giant hardcover book I was holding, my fingers skimming across the letters inked on the pages. I had gone exploring in Maximo’s mansion, deciding to take advantage of the little freedom he had given me. I was shocked to find out that he had a library here. Not just any basic library, a large, well-decorated one, with shelves and bookshelves upon bookshelves stacked high with ancient, leatherbound books in pristine condition.

Like the rest of the house, this large room had an antique, Victorian-style interior design. The furniture was very rich and dark wood, and the carpets were thick and fluffy. A grand fireplace, complete with fire, lined the back wall of the room, giving it a warm glow. I took a deep breath as the scent of cinnamon filled the air. The pleasant scent of old, crisp book pages was calming and relaxing.

I had always loved reading, and that made me wonder why a man like Maximo had a well-maintained library in his h