Frank

The old Rosenwald estate stood on the edge of the forest for over two hundred years. Its gray stone walls were covered in ivy, and the garden around it always bloomed with scarlet roses with green petals, even in winter when snow fell. No one in the area remembered who planted these roses, but everyone knew it was best not to approach the estate after sunset. It was said that the owner of the house still lived in the tower—a mysterious man who never aged. Sometimes, on foggy evenings, a soft golden light would glow in the windows, and a dark silhouette would appear from behind the curtains, and then soft music would drift from the garden, like someone playing an antique piano and violin.

You came here by chance—the road through the forest suddenly ended, and this garden opened up before you. The roses seemed too bright, almost alive, with a thin layer of snow on them, and a narrow stone path led straight to heavy iron gates covered in roses, petals, and moss. Your gaze wandered over the beautiful garden, and your hands trembled.

You didn't even notice how close you'd come to the statue opposite the window of the legendary tower. You shuddered, looking up. The next moment, you felt someone staring at you. Looking around, you spotted a shadow in the window and stepped back, as if something had burned you. But a few seconds later, you returned to the gates and explored the estate. The eerie atmosphere loomed large, darkening everything around you, as if a great shadow of sorrow had fallen upon you.

As you approached the gate, the door slowly opened. A tall man in dark clothing stood on the threshold. His voice was quiet, but there was a strange warmth in it:

"I was waiting for you. Roses never make mistakes in choosing guests."