The envelope sat in the middle of the table—blank, nameless, silent.Both of us stared at it.I broke the silence."What is this supposed to be?"
"What does this mean?"
"That's what I'm wondering too," Caner said."Someone slipped it under the door. By the time I opened it, no one was there. Not in the hallway, not in the street."
The mystery pulled me in.A letter with no name. No sender. No hint.Caner handed it to me.He had already opened it. I could tell.The seal was broken, and the crease was worn.I pulled out the paper and read:
"Haven't you grown tired of serving the same doors for years? Of being factory workers, servants, tools — burdened by shame, ignored, humiliated? Wondering how we know all this? We know everything. If we didn't know who you were, this letter would never have found you. And yes, we knew you would read it together. If you want answers… if you want a different life… be at the same place, at the same time, two days from now."
Are you ready to start over?"
How did they know so much?And more importantly—how were they so sure we'd read it together?
"Alpay," Caner said cautiously.
"Just say it—who do you think sent this?You think it's real? Some kind of prank?Someone from your side? Mine?"
"I don't know. But if they know this much…Then either they know us, or they've been watching for a long time."
"So… we go? Same spot? Same time?"
"Caner… they'll find us either way.They almost put our address on the envelope.They're watching us. And they're not backing off."
Caner went quiet.There was something different in his eyes—something alive.He didn't speak for minutes.Then suddenly, he stood up.
"I'm done, man. That's it.I want to be someone else.I'm sick of living for other people."
"You accepted it that fast?"
"Weren't you the one who wanted to change your life?What now? Are you scared?"
"Maybe.But I never said I wouldn't go."
"I'll be there.You decide by then."
He jumped off the boat and disappeared down the coast.I watched him go.A strange chill crept into my bones.I stepped off the boat and made my way back to the estate, lost in thought.I didn't even notice when I arrived.I snuck over the wall and entered my room.It was almost 3 a.m.If Father saw the lights, he'd give me another speech.Instead, he simply called from the hallway:
"I know youth is important to you. But this job matters for your future.All I ask is that you follow in our footsteps.Honor our family's name…"
I ignored him and curled into bed.I couldn't sleep.My mind kept spinning—torn between fear and the desire to change.They knew too much.It made my skin crawl.In the morning, I rose early.Not that I'd slept much.I dressed, put on my chains—my servant's uniform—and crossed to the mansion for breakfast duty.As I climbed the stairs, my eyes landed on the wall again.And my mind flashed to her… the girl I saw last night.I'd never seen her in the mansion before.Then again, I'd never been upstairs.
Even here, class was absolute.Unless it was a formal gathering, servants couldn't eat in the lower level.The bottom floor was our world—a corridor, a kitchen, a back path.We belonged there.The nobles' lives—meals, events, everything—existed above us.Those who proved themselves could eventually serve upstairs.My father was one of the most well-known among them.Then a voice echoed down from above:
"Prepare for breakfast service! All trays to the dumbwaiter!" My father stood with his hands behind his back, looking at me.
"Son, get ready. You'll be working upstairs in a few days."
"What? Upstairs? What am I supposed to do there?I'm fine down here."
"You've been chosen to serve a noble directly.Tomorrow they'll make the final selection.Ethem is retiring."He walked away.Yesterday, I wasn't even allowed upstairs.Now I was being pulled into their inner circle.And all this—right after that envelope arrived?As if my mind wasn't full enough, now I was expected to become a noble's shadow.
The day passed in a blur.As I was about to return to the servant quarters, I changed my mind.I climbed the same wall from the night before.I had to know more.Her balcony was close to the edge.If she wasn't inside… maybe I could peek inside.The room was dark.She was either out… or asleep.I climbed slowly.Just as I reached to touch the balcony door—The lights flicked on.
She came out of the bathroom in a pink robe.A towel wrapped around her head.Then she dropped the robe from her shoulders.She was completely bare.Her skin… flawless. Pale. Elegant.Yes—this was wrong.
I had become the most disgraceful kind of servant.A small white cat was also on the balcony, knocking through the flowers.It leapt onto the table and knocked over a vase.
"Shhh! Get out of here! Go!"But it was too late.
"Who's there?!" she shouted.I turned to run.The door flung open.She saw me and was about to scream.I rushed forward and covered her mouth with my hand.
"If you promise not to scream, I'll let go.Just nod."She nodded slightly.I removed my hand.She was still tense.Then she picked up a shard from the broken vase.
"Relax, I didn't do anything! I didn't even look at you!"
"You're a thief! Stay away from me!"Before I could finish—She slashed at me.Blood welled on my hand.
"In a world of chains and stars, I was bleeding between them."