"The Beast"

Outskirts of Marquis Henry's territory.

The carriage rattled down the dusty road, its wheels bouncing over the uneven ground. The sun beat down mercilessly, making Edward regret his choice of wearing a coat and tie. Letting out a sigh, he reclined against the cushioned seat and shut his eyes. He didn't expect his sister to join him on his trip to Marquis Henry's territory. He was hoping for some quiet time to think.

"Are you that unhappy that I tagged along?" Evelyn's cheerful voice broke through his thoughts, making him grumpily reply, "No, of course not. It's just that I didn't expect you to come with me."

Evelyn smiled at Edward. "I can't wait to finally meet my future sister-in-law. I'm sure she'll be lovely."

Edward smiled back weakly. "I hope so too."

The maid sitting across from them watched the exchange with amusement and chuckled to herself. "Don't worry, Master Edward. Miss Evelyn always knows what's best for you."

Evelyn beamed at the maid. "See, even Margaret agrees with me."

Edward groaned and leaned his head against the window. He watched as the scenery passed by, trying to relax before the meeting. Suddenly, the coachman called out that they would soon arrive at Marquis Henry's territory.

Edward's nerves kicked in, and he sat up straighter. Evelyn noticed and teased him, "Aw, is little Eddie nervous?"

Edward scowled at her. "I am not nervous. I just don't want to mess this up."

Evelyn patted his arm. "Don't worry, big brother. I'm sure everything will be fine. And if it isn't, we can always leave and find a better match for you."

Edward let out a small chuckle. "I wish it were that easy,"

He shook his head, trying to calm his nerves. He knew that his sister meant well, but he couldn't help feeling anxious.

______

Mingya sat in her room, staring blankly at the wall. The news that Edward had arrived at Marquis Henry's territory had left her feeling disheartened.

She muttered to herself, "I can't escape this, can I?"

Just then, the door to her room opened, and several maids bustled in. The maids remained silent, without chattering, as they helped Mingya get ready. They moved around the room with practiced efficiency, occasionally asking Mingya to hold still or to lift her arms, but otherwise working in silence.

Mingya couldn't help but lament the cumbersome process of getting ready.

"How do the ladies of this time put up with all of this?" she wondered.

Soon, Mingya stood before the mirror, mesmerized by her own reflection. She was wearing a blue silk gown that complemented her brown hair and almond-shaped eyes perfectly. The intricate embroidery on the bodice of the dress sparkled in the light, and the delicate lace collar added a touch of elegance to the ensemble. She couldn't help but feel enchanted as she looked at herself.

As she walked downstairs, the head butler, Mr. Wilson, greeted her. He was a tall, dignified man with a neatly trimmed mustache and a stern expression. "Good evening, Miss Charlotte. You look stunning," he said, bowing slightly.

Mingya smiled at him, feeling grateful for the compliment. "Thank you, Mr. Wilson. Where is William? I thought he would be here." she asked, noticing the absence of Marquis Henry and William.

Mingya had expected the absence of Marquis Henry, as he would only meet someone of his own rank at the door, but she was surprised not to see William either. She voiced her doubts to the Head Butler.

The Head Butler's expression turned serious. "I'm afraid Lord William has gone to attend his duties at the royal capital. He won't be back for some time."

As Mingya pondered over the news of William's absence, she wondered why he would be in the Capital city. Then, she remembered that as the captain of the Silver Knights, he would only be called there on serious circumstances.

Suddenly, a realization hit her - the novel had given a vague backstory of an evil terrorist organization that was already well-established by the time Isadora returned. William, as the captain of the Silver Knights, was present in the capital at that time, as he was responsible for dealing with them. By connecting the dots, Mingya realised that this must be the time when the organisation first made its appearance.

"Zero Dawn," she whispered to herself. She remembered the description of them in the novel - they were a group of lunatics who harvested the blood and mana of the killed mages to experiment. And one of the side male leads was the byproduct of this organization.

As she thought of him a deep feeling of dread filled her. In the novel, this side character was described as a terrifying and ferocious man who is second only to William, in terms of being possessive of Isadora.

Mingya's mind raced with all sorts of thoughts and emotions, but she managed to compose herself and take a deep breath. As a side character with no role in the novel, she should have no contact with this him, right?

The Head Butler, seeing Mingya go through different emotions all at once, assumed that she was sad that her brother wasn't present during this moment.

"Ah, I see. Don't worry, my lady. I'll make a note to inform Lord William that he missed a wonderful opportunity to see his sister at her best."

Mingya, lost in thought, barely registered the Head Butler's words. She was too preoccupied with her own concerns to pay attention to anything else.