All day long, Josie kept thinking about the stranger she had seen the night before at The Blooming Waltz. Although she had worked hard to find out his identity, Josie still didn't know what she could do to meet him again. It was too difficult for her, really!
The man's identity was not insignificant. If it weren't for the help of her best friend, Josie might never have found out who he was. Atlas Raymond—that was the man's name. A newcomer from the capital, a military nobleman, and a high-ranking figure in the military world.
A Major General. Not just any status that anyone could have.
Josie sighed deeply, a little frustrated because she had no idea how to approach a Major General, especially after finding out that the man lived at Raventon Hall. A luxurious building that stood quietly and isolated on the west side of Bluebill.
What Bluebill resident didn't know Raventon Hall?
Raventon Hall was more than just a grand mansion standing proudly on the western side of Bluebill. It was a historic estate that symbolized power, noble lineage, and something almost akin to a legend among the people of Bluebill. Perched atop a low hill overlooking Lake Lysmere, the mansion was surrounded by ancient pine trees and fields of lavender that only bloomed in summer. The path leading to the estate was a private dead-end road stretching two kilometers, protected by tall gates adorned with the family's emblem—a silver eagle with sharp eyes and claws clutching crossed swords.
Not many people know what's inside. Only the permanent servants, nobles, and a few military officers have ever been officially invited to enter the mansion. There are rumours that Raventon Hall has a greenhouse, a hidden training room, and a basement room where screams are often heard coming from inside.
And now, the place is inhabited by Atlas Raymond—no, Major General Raymond, Josie corrected herself in her heart. She couldn't forget the Major General's perfect appearance at the spring celebration dance. His grey eyes, which seemed cold yet intoxicating, kept reappearing in her mind. His lips were thick at the bottom but strangely sexy when he spoke, and his jaw was firm like a carved ancient statue.
The problem was, how could she enter the world of a man like that? If he were a man of low social status, it would not be difficult for Josie to approach him. Unfortunately, he was not the kind of man who would be seen sitting casually in a tea shop or walking in the town square.
Josie twirled her pen between her fingers, staring blankly towards the west. The sun was beginning to set, leaving a soft golden glow in the Bluebill sky. And as usual, in the midst of her frustration and confusion, a simple sentence popped into her head.
"Maybe, I should make an excuse to sneak over there."
Please, stop! Josie ordered herself to stop messing with her own mind, when her thoughts were filled with crazy ideas. Eh, but this wasn't the first time she had acted recklessly, right?
She took another long breath. Josie had spent hours just thinking about a man. Who, of course, was not just any man.
Sneak in, huh? Did she think that by sneaking into Raventon Hall, everything would be fine? Obviously not!
Imagine if she was caught sneaking in, and the owner of the place caught her. Not only would she be thought of as a thief, she could even be accused of being a member of the monarchy restoration group. Especially since lately, that group had been actively infiltrating the people of the Montreveille Republic. If caught, not only would he be imprisoned for days in the basement, he could be chopped up or, in the worst-case scenario, hanged from a pole and put on display in the town square. Josie's spine tingled at the thought of herself becoming the laughing stock of the military just because of one reckless act.
So what should she do? The man was the perfect embodiment of Captain Valrick, the main character in her latest story. It was impossible for Josie to ignore his existence and find a replacement.
Throughout Bluebill and perhaps even all of Montreveille, there was no one more perfect as the inspiration for Captain Valrick than Major General Raymond. And Josie desperately needed him as the living material for the character that had been flickering in her imagination for days.
It's okay if I can only see him from afar, she thought. As long as I can observe him ….
Yeah, maybe by observing the way the man walked. The way he spoke to his subordinates. Did he like coffee or tea? Did he ever laugh sincerely, or did his lips only know a straight line and silence? How did he read? With one hand flipping the pages, or both hands touching the cover as if the book were a weapon?
God, Josie needed all of that. Everything about that man!
As a writer, she understood very well that great characters are not only built from facial descriptions or mysterious personalities. The greatness of a character lies in the small details that are often overlooked. Things that make the character feel more alive in the reader's mind.
A character's strength can also lie in the movement of their eyes, especially the soft gaze that appears when their lover appears. Or the way a character taps their fingers when they are anxious. Or the small gestures of attention towards the woman they love, which are often considered "romantic" by many women who long for a romantic man. Perhaps even the way the character thinks silently when the world around him is unaware. And to create such a character, he needs real inspiration that can be observed directly.
But how can he observe all that if his Captain Valrick lives in Raventon Hall?
Josie stared at her still empty book. There was only one page that had been written on this morning. "Captain Valrick. Inspiration, Major General Raymond." The handwriting was slightly slanted, scribbled hurriedly as if controlled more by emotion than logic. Even the ink at the end of the letter Raymond seemed a little thicker, as if the pen had hesitated before finishing his name.
She sighed deeply again—oh, how many times had she done that? Her eyes stared blankly at her still-empty notebook. The blank page seemed to stare back with a hollow gaze that was more heartbreaking than mocking.
This is bad! her mind snapped. My main character will die in the womb if I can't figure out his source of inspiration.
Josie looked up. The sky, which had been pale blue, had now completely changed into a glowing orange expanse. Her empty eyes scanned the lazily moving clouds, hoping to find answers among the ever-changing shapes.
Was there really nothing she could do?
Her thoughts then spun wildly between Atlas Raymond, Raventon Hall, and the characters that still lingered in her mind. She was like a castaway on the edge of an imaginary world, able to see but unable to touch. Her Captain Valrick was still just a name on a piece of paper, while her source of inspiration was buried behind the high walls of Raventon Hall.
Listlessly, her eyes returned to the blank page on her lap. The ink at the tip of her pen was still wet, but her creativity felt as barren as a desert.
"Josie. Josie!!!"
The shout snapped Josie out of her reverie, as she had been sitting pensively all day on the rusty iron swing in the front garden. Josie looked up only to find Ivy running towards her. Her eyes narrowed in curiosity when she saw the clothes her friend was wearing.
"What's wrong with your horse this time?"
Everyone knew Ivy hated horse riding. That was why she always failed to control the animals. Rather than spending time in the stables, Ivy preferred to throw dice at the casino. But for some reason, Baron Kingsley insisted that his daughter accompany him to horse riding practice almost every day.
"No—I mean, yeah, you know I'm terrible at horse riding," Ivy replied breathlessly, "but that's not why I ran here!"
Josie raised an eyebrow, her head tilted like a cat watching a bird in the air. "Then why did you come here as if you were being chased by all of Baron Kingsley's servants?"
And it was no secret that Ivy was often chased by Baron Kingsley's servants. Besides, what sane person wouldn't chase after a crazy woman who almost sold the family land for a gambling game?
Ivy took a deep breath before finally blurting out, "Atlas Raymond came to my house."
"WHAT?!" Josie sat up straight in her swing, the pen that had been tucked between her fingers falling to the ground without her noticing. "To your house?"
"He came to see my father. Of course, it was about military matters or something like that, I don't care," she said and continued, "but because I remembered you always complaining about your Captain Valrick, I eavesdropped on their conversation."
Eavesdropping ... that one word alone was enough to make Josie excited to hear the whole story from Ivy.
"So, what did you hear?" she asked, unable to hide her curiosity.
"I didn't hear much, but ...," she paused deliberately, just to see her friend's reaction, "you know the routine that newcomers often do in Bluebill?"
"Hmm ... sightseeing?" she replied hesitantly.
"More than that, Jo!" Ivy shook Josie's shoulders. "For the next few days, my father will accompany him to see all of Bluebill. You know, like a tourist who needs a guide to places they've never been before."
"So you mean your father is the Major General's guide?" Josie frowned, confused. Even though Atlas Raymond's status was clearly higher than the Baron's, it seemed strange to imagine a nobleman becoming a tour guide.
"Of course! The Raymond family are high nobility. Isn't it natural for my father to accompany him?"
"Not you or your brother, but Baron Kingsley himself?"
"Oh, that's not the point!" Ivy shook Josie's shoulders harder, as if she wanted to shake all thoughts of Captain Valrick out of her friend's head. "The point isn't about who is most suitable to be the guide, Jo. It's about their itinerary!"
Josie narrowed her eyes, her eyebrows arching high in surprise. "Itinerary?"
"Yes. This afternoon he's inspecting the Southern Garrison. He says he wants to evaluate the defence system and troop training that the previous commander neglected. And—" Ivy paused dramatically, "he'll be passing through the main road of the city. Including in front of your favourite bookshop."
Josie froze in place. Slowly, her pupils dilated. "The bookshop ...."
"The Blue Quill!" Ivy emphasised her words, as if delivering a prime minister's order. "Ed is even setting up an outdoor table for a used book promotion this afternoon. And we know who could 'coincidentally' sit there scribbling in his notebook, right?"
Josie's eyes sparkled with disbelief. "You ... this is crazy."
"Not as crazy as a writer who would follow a high-ranking officer for novel material," Ivy replied with a smirk.
A short burst of laughter escaped Josie's lips, her face flushed, but her eyes were already sparkling. "That means I have to get ready before I go stalk him."
"You're crazy!" Ivy laughed amusedly, but her eyes were very warm. She was happy to be able to help her friend out of the rut that had been haunting her. "Well then, what are you waiting for? Pack your things and go!"
Josie's eyes widened as if she had realised something important that she had almost forgotten. "Oh my God!" she muttered in panic as she frantically stuffed all her things into her bag. After making sure everything was inside, she rushed off, leaving the swing—the silent witness to her day's contemplation.
She even ran off without saying goodbye to Ivy, who could only laugh as she watched Josie's back grow smaller and smaller.