It took me just a few steps escape from Ryan's room, and I found myself sitting on the balcony, which was absolutely deserted at that hour of night. The head maid had urged me not to leave the room from time to time, especially during the night, and I took that seriously. I listened to her and did what she said. If she was really worried about my well-being in that scenario or whether she was just interfering with my ability to study or maintain my independence, I cannot say.

Like a genuine garden farm, the balcony is expansive and bursting to the seams with plants and vegetables of every...