The Everhart family's cottagecore-style house stands on the east side of Bluebill, right on the edge of a small road leading to Evendale. Surrounded by expanses of wild grass and rows of towering maple trees, the house looks like a piece of an old rural painting. The two-storey building features a sloping red-tiled roof, a hallmark of classic, warm, and simple village architecture. The exterior walls are painted ivory white, softly contrasting with the dark brown wood accents on the window frames and doors. Green vines climb up part of the walls, framing each window that reflects the sunlight, adding to the natural, peaceful, romantic feel.
Katerina Everhart or Kat as she is affectionately known, stands gracefully in front of an antique gold-framed mirror hanging in the living room. Her lips, bare of artificial colour, broke into a perfect smile—a stage smile that she had practised for hours in front of the mirror until it became a part of her. Kat is the third of four Everhart siblings and the only one who chose the path of a theatre actress.
Although she had never set foot on a big stage outside of Bluebill, her name was familiar to local theatre lovers. In the small town's art community, Kat was known not only for her talent but also for the charm that radiated from her every movement. With her natural blonde hair and lovely lips, often polished with red lipstick, Kat received much love and admiration from her fans.
Among the four of them, only Kat always stood out, as if she was born to be the centre of attention. Her appearance was like that of a noblewoman from a bygone era, always elegant and charming. Even the simple house dress she was wearing at the time looked like luxurious clothing when she wore it.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the living room, Rayana Everhart or Rae as she was affectionately called, was running from one corner to another, instantly breaking Kat's concentration.
"My red ribbon is gone! Who took it?!" she cried in frustration.
Her tiny hands rummaged through the pile of cushions on the sofa, throwing them one by one without caring where they landed. The seventeen-year-old girl was known to be the most difficult to control. Her curiosity was unstoppable, a true mystery lover, and the most troublesome.
"Rae, try checking your bedroom drawer again," Elsie suggested calmly, though the look in her eyes betrayed how tired she was of watching the youngest sibling's endless antics.
Evelise Everhart or Elsie, the eldest of the four Everhart siblings, had been in the room since earlier. She sat casually in an old rocking chair, combing her long hair while looking at the party invitation from Baron Kingsley that she had received a few days ago.
Before Rae could reply, the front door swung open from the outside, followed by the heavy footsteps of someone who appeared with an annoyed expression.
"For God's sake, Rae! I can hear you screaming all the way outside! Can't you be quiet for a moment?"
Rae turned quickly, glaring sharply with her hazel eyes at her second sister, Josie. "I'd be very grateful if you could help me find my red ribbon, Jo. Then I'll be as quiet as a mouse."
Kat sighed deeply, her shoulders rising and falling slowly. The smile that usually graced her lips was now replaced by a slight frown. "When you start talking, your voice is enough to scare the birds in the garden, little sister," she whispered to her reflection in the mirror, her delicate fingers pressing against her throbbing temples.
Rae turned dramatically. A wry smile was exaggeratedly etched on her face as usual. "Thank you for your compliment, Lady Grace," she replied in a deliberately forced voice, emphasising the nickname with a teasing tone.
The nickname "Lady Grace" was originally just a joke thrown out by Josie. However, over time, it became her siblings' favourite weapon to tease Kat about her perfection except for Elsie, of course. Among the four of them, only Elsie was mature and patient enough to deal with her three sisters' very different personalities.
Sitting in her rocking chair, Elsie watched her three siblings exchange words while taking a deep breath. "Rae," she called softly but firmly, "shouting won't make your things appear out of thin air." Her hazel eyes radiated boundless patience, enough to make Rae, who was about to retaliate against Kat, deflate like a balloon losing air.
Rae shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Her hands clutched the hem of her skirt as she snorted softly. "But the ribbon is important," she muttered softly, like a child who had just been scolded. Her usually cheerful face now looked sulky, although her stubbornness had not completely faded.
Elsie stood up from her chair. "Let's look for it together," she said, holding out her hand. "We'll definitely find it before dinner."
"I'll help, but please don't be so noisy!" Josie's voice was tinged with annoyance because her imagination on the way home had been shattered when she heard Rae's screams from inside the house. "My Captain Valrick character was almost finished before your voice broke my concentration!"
Elsie raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly. "Your story will be fine, Jo."
"No, it won't!" Josie clenched her hands, her usually unkempt black hair looking even more messy, like a bird's nest. "I need a real man as a reference, not just my imagination! And I haven't found that man yet."
Kat, who was still standing in front of the mirror, rolled her eyes before glancing at Josie. "Just use your 'handsome men' list again," she said, rearranging the strand of blonde hair that had fallen forward and was blocking her view.
"I need something different, Kat." Josie sighed dramatically. "Someone with a mysterious, dangerous aura, but still dignified. Unfortunately, there isn't a single man in Bluebill who fits that description!"
"You think all men are handsome, Jo. Even that cross-eyed postman was on your list last month."
"What about Leon?" Rae suddenly exclaimed, her face brightening like a child who had found candy under her pillow.
Immediately, three pairs of eyes turned to Elsie. Realising that she was the centre of attention for her three siblings, Elsie did not move from where she stood, instead shrugging her shoulders with a calm expression.
"You can ask Leon directly if you need his help," she said with a smile as sweet as honey. In fact, the man they were talking about was none other than her own husband, who was now being considered as the inspiration for the main character in her sister's latest novel.
Josie narrowed her eyes, her index finger tapping her chin. "Leon is handsome, but he's still not good enough to be Captain Valrick," she muttered before looking at Elsie guiltily. "I didn't mean to—"
"It's okay, Jo." Elsie cut her off with a smile that was too warm to refuse.
"There's still Henry Beaumont," Kat said casually, mentioning one name from the long list of handsome men who were often the subject of their discussions.
Josie shook her head as fast as the wind, her messy hair swaying wildly. "I already used him for Count Bernandez in my last novel. No character repetition allowed!"
"Ed?" Rae enthusiastically suggested another name.
"Ed is just—" Josie stopped when she saw Rae's gaze suddenly dim. "I mean, he's … umm … too friendly to be Captain Valrick."
Rae almost disagreed with her statement. However, she couldn't argue because no matter how you looked at it, Ed was indeed a friendly man. Too nice, in fact. Josie knew him better than anyone because they were good friends, while Rae liked him as her sister's male friend.
"We understand, Jo," said Elsie. "But we're sure you'll find your dream man soon."
"Definitely! At The Blooming Waltz!" Josie pumped her fist in the air, her blue eyes shining with new enthusiasm.
"Oh, I love that spirit!" Rae cheered, completely forgetting about her missing red ribbon.
Elsie smiled at her two sisters' enthusiasm. Kat, on the other hand, just shook her head resignedly and muttered that The Blooming Waltz would end in chaos. She was sure that whatever Josie planned to find her handsome man would only be the beginning of a big mess.
Meanwhile, on the western side of Bluebill, a large procession slowly entered the grounds of Raventon Hall, a magnificent building that surpassed even the luxury of Baron Kingsley's mansion. Two black carriages and three horse-drawn carriages decorated with silver carvings drove slowly through the gate.
As soon as the vehicles stopped in the main courtyard, a neatly dressed servant immediately walked out from the side of the building. He reached the side of the car just as the engine stopped humming. With a practised movement, he bowed deeply, but even his perfect posture could not rival the figure that emerged from the vehicle.
That figure stepped out with a movement that made time seem to stop. His black coat fluttered gently, revealing the silver sheen of his uniform collar, which seemed to have been sculpted specifically for his body. His hair was slicked back, jet black, not a single strand out of place. His jaw was firm and his cold eyes swept across the mansion courtyard in a single glance, causing the servants around him to unconsciously hold their breath.
The figure stood for a moment, allowing his presence to permeate every corner of Raventon Hall. His broad shoulders and perfect military posture needed no words to declare who was in charge here.
Yes, it was Major General Raymond. A figure whose presence was like a hurricane sweeping across the battlefield. Firm, authoritative, and untouchable. But more than that, he was the embodiment of "Captain Valrick" whom Josie Everhart, the writer, had been searching for for weeks, unaware that her dream character might have just arrived in Bluebill.