Mingya snapped out of her thoughts as the head butler's voice pierced through her mind.
"Young Miss," he said, "the carriage has arrived."
Mingya nodded. "Of course. Let's get to it."
As she walked, she asked the system just to be sure that the plot hadn't started yet. "System, has the plot started yet?"
[Ding!]
[The plot deviation percentage is still 0%.]
Mingya breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't want to deal with any unexpected twists.
"Young Miss," the head butler called out to her.
She looked at the head butler, who nodded at her. "You should be the lead, Young Miss," he said. "It would be the appropriate choice considering Young Master William isn't present."
She nodded, feeling a little nervous. The head butler briefed her on the proper etiquette for the situation, telling her what she should do.
Mingya was weirded out by all of this fuss. She wondered why he was explaining this much. But then she remembered that Charlotte was currently in her rebellious stage and had never wanted to learn any of this stuff. It was important to make a good impression on Edward and his entourage. Otherwise, Charlotte's reputation would suffer.
Soon they heard the sounds of a carriage, and Mingya straightened her shoulders. "Let's go," she said, leading the way out of the hall.
Edward and his younger sister, Evelyn, arrived at the grand mansion. Their carriage rolled smoothly up the long, winding driveway that led to the front gate. As they approached, they caught their first glimpse of the sprawling estate, a grand structure of brick and stone with towering columns and an impressive facade.
"We are here..." Edward muttered to himself.
Edward wasn't surprised by the grandeur of the mansion. After all, he and Evelyn were also the children of a Marquis, and they had grown up accustomed to such luxurious surroundings. Still, he couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension as they drew nearer.
As the carriage came to a stop, one of the attendants of the household opened the door for them. Evelyn, always eager and full of energy, practically leaped out of the carriage before Edward could even take a step. He shook his head in amusement, wondering what had gotten into her.
Then he heard her exclaim, "Wow!" and he couldn't help but smile. She was always so easily impressed.
He stepped out of the carriage and looked around, taking in his surroundings. And that was when he saw her.
Charlotte Valois.
For a moment, it felt as if the world had come to a standstill. Everything was moving in slow motion as he took in the sight of her. She wore a flowing blue silk gown that clung to her curves in all the right places. The bodice was decorated with intricate embroidery that glimmered in the sunlight. A delicate lace collar adorned her neck, adding a touch of sophistication to her already stunning appearance. Her brown locks cascaded down her back, the strands gleaming in the light.
'Beautiful...'
Edward was stunned. He had seen many beautiful women in his life, but none had ever taken his breath away like Charlotte. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts, and then he noticed her looking at him.
For a moment, he thought he saw a hint of a smile on her face, but then it disappeared, and she was all business, introducing herself.
"Good day, I am Charlotte Valois. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." She gave a slight bow of her head, adhering to the proper noble etiquette.
Edward replied with equal formality, "Good day to you as well, Miss Valois. I am Edward Lancaster, delighted to make your acquaintance." He too bowed his head slightly, trying his best to match her impeccable manners.
Evelyn chimed in, "And I'm Evelyn Lancaster, Edward's sister. It's lovely to meet you, Miss Valois."
Mingya smiled warmly at Evelyn and thought to herself, 'Such a cute child.'
The head butler, who had been observing the exchange, spoke up. "If you will follow me, I will show you to your rooms so that you may freshen up before dining."
Edward and Evelyn nodded in agreement, following behind the butler as he led them to their rooms. As they walked, Edward couldn't help but feel self-conscious about how he had been standing and staring at Charlotte awkwardly.
"Damnit, I acted like a bumbling fool," he cursed himself.