Page 7 of Their Pretty Little Monster

I study the man who has white wisps of hair at his temples, standing in my way now.

“I thought it suitable to notify you that supper will be served shortly in the main hall. I have personally selected the nobles and families to join us. Many have questions about your appointment.” He wrings his hands in front of him nervously.

“Right, of course.”

“It’s been a long time since we’ve had true leadership, so your arrival couldn’t be more imminent for all of us.”

He refers to the last Viscount, who fucked up his mission, taking advantage of his position in this village, claiming three of the girls as his brides, so this man’s comment is an understatement.

Edwards regards me intently, and already I’m exhausted from his presence.

“My plan isn’t to keep men who, for all I know, harbor the same doctrines as the previous Viscount. So, time will tell.”

Fear behind his eyes darkens his gaze. Of course, Your Grace. Change is inevitable, and I am yours to do your bidding. Shall I escort you to the hall?”

“I’m capable of seeing myself around. I require no escort. And I’ll join you when I’m ready.”

His smile falters slightly but quickly recovers, and he moves out of my path.

I stroll past him, continuing my journey through Nightingale Village.

Locals keep their distance, hurrying back into their homes as I pass, yet I catch the weight in their stares and the faint whispers about me. Sunlight dapples the field as I leave the farmland behind and follow the winding paths between homes.

A couple gives me a wide berth, hastening their pace as I approach. As I round the corner, a breeze carries the sweet scent of berries to me. While most human food is barely tolerable to me, providing little of the sustenance I need, berries have always found favor with my taste.

Ahead, in front of a worn cottage, a young woman sits on a log, her back to me, busily sorting through a harvest of red berries. Her fingers are stained a deep red.

The breeze picks up again, tugging at her simple brown cotton dress and fluttering through her silver hair, which flashes with a faint violet hue under the sun—just like in the footage I’ve studied.

My feet stop of their own accord.

Chest tightens.

It’s her.

Though I need more confirmation that she’s truly the girl we’ve been looking for, the odds seem promising. After searching for so long, it feels inevitable that she must be the one.

Just as I’m about to step forward, another young woman in a more vibrant blue dress emerges from another path. I retreat into the shadows, observing, waiting for a moment when she might be alone again.

“Sage, you still haven’t finished the berries for the feast? It’s about to start,” the newcomer says, her tone sharp and somewhat condescending. “Haven’t you heard? The new Viscount, Killian, expects perfection.”

The girl on the log, Sage, shrugs and rubs her berry-stained fingers with a nearby rag. “I don’t care who he is, Lany. As long as he leaves me and my mom alone.”

“Hush, are you missing part of your brain? Don’t say those things so loud,” Lany hisses, glancing around nervously. “I hear he’s watching everyone, taking notes on who needs punishment.”

That’s news to me.

Sage drops her rag into the large bucket of berries. “Well, you better take the ones I’ve finished.” She points at the smaller wooden pail, where the fruit is free of twigs and leaves.

Lany hurries over to collect the bucket. “My family got invited to the feast tonight, you know. I’m guessing you weren’t?” she sneers.

“I wouldn’t want to attend,” Sage bites back instantly, voice almost deflated, yet beneath it, I hear a spark of her frustration.

Lany’s laugh, laced with mockery, echoes around us.

“Sure, you wouldn’t. Everyone knows those selected might end up in good standing with the new Viscount,” she answers sarcastically. “The Protectors even selected the Jonas family to attend. I mean, they clean the animal stalls for a living, so that says a lot about you and your mom not being chosen.” She scrunches up her nose, eyeing Sage with such disgust.

Sage lifts her head, her gaze locking on the girl. “I hope you gain all the attention you crave from the Viscount. We all remember how well our last Viscount cared for girls…Perhaps the new one is just as… attentive.”

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