For the past three hours, the scenery outside had been nothing but endless pastures and sprawling grain fields.
Five-year-old Edmund stared out the carriage window at the rolling waves of spring green, utterly unimpressed.
‘Ugh, the countryside is so boring. I should’ve just stayed home and played with Sophie.’
His mother, noticing her sulking son, spoke gently, trying to coax him out of his bad mood.
“Edmund, just be patient a little longer. You heard what the tollgate officer said, didn’t you? There are only five kilometers left to Roder Town.”
“Five kilometers? So we’re practically there already,” his father chimed in from across the carriage, folding his newspaper. Recently, he’d been coughing more often, so he cleared his throat before continuing,
“Ahem… And today’s party will be different from the last one. There will be children your age this time. There’s even a particular friend I want you to meet.”
His father’s attempt to lift his spirits failed miserably. Edmund, naturally shy and antisocial, wasn’t thrilled at the idea of meeting strangers his age.
Instead of listening, his blue eyes drifted to his father’s newspaper, scanning the bold headlines and cartoon beneath it.
[“The Reckless Expansion of Western Territory by the Adams Administration—Southern Conflict Must Be Resolved First…”]
What truly caught young Edmund’s attention wasn’t the political headline but the ridiculous caricature of the current president drawn underneath. The president’s belly was exaggerated to enormous proportions, making him look like a gluttonous buffoon.
Completely engrossed by the silly drawing, Edmund completely missed the part where his father mentioned the “particular friend” he had to meet.
__________𓍯𓂃𓏧♡𓇢𓆸_________
The event the Shore family was attending today was the groundbreaking ceremony for Roder Town’s new railway station.
As the railroad craze swept through the northeast—the industrial and commercial heart of the Westmis continent—the railway business became a goldmine not only for the government but for investors like Mr. Shore.
Thanks to the expanding railway network, the northeast was rapidly transforming, and even riverside trade towns like Roder Town couldn’t resist the wave of change.
The small town was buzzing with excitement over the promised development and economic boom.
As the Shore family’s carriage rolled through the streets adorned with colorful banners, the crowd packed the streets so densely it was nearly impossible to pass.
They barely managed to reach the large tent set up on the plot of land where the new station would be built. High-ranking executives from Melsus Railway personally greeted the Shores, eager to welcome their significant investors.
“Mr. Shore, thank you for making the long trip,” one said.
“Right this way, sir. The mayor has been waiting to meet you,” said another.
While Mr. and Mrs. Shore exchanged pleasantries with local dignitaries, a tall man from the crowd recognized them and waved enthusiastically.
“Carl!”
The man was towering, broad-shouldered, and impossible to miss. Carl Shore’s face lit up as he recognized his old friend.
“My goodness, George!”
George Panning was more like a brother than a friend to him. The two embraced warmly, overjoyed to reunite after years of only exchanging letters.
“It’s been so long!”
“Three years, to be exact! The last time I saw you was when I briefly returned from Queensland.”
“You’ve gotten more wrinkles, old friend!” Carl teased, playfully slapping his shoulder.
“Try raising four kids and see what happens to your face!” George laughed heartily in reply.
George’s wife soon joined them. With her fiery red hair and vivid green eyes, typical of the Iren people, she was undeniably beautiful.
She greeted young Edmund, who was half-hidden behind his mother’s skirt.
“Hello there, you must be Edmund.”
The little boy’s golden-blond hair, deep blue eyes, and rosy cheeks made him look like an angel. Mrs. Panning couldn’t help but gush.
“I thought my sons were the most handsome in the world, but it seems there’s someone even better-looking.”
“Such a shame to pair him with our daughter Rose, isn’t it?”
Edmund, accustomed to compliments, remained unfazed until he heard the next part. His head snapped up, eyes wide.
Pair… me… with someone?
Oblivious to Edmund’s growing horror, the adults continued their nostalgic conversation.
“George, surely you’re not saying you don’t want your daughter marrying my son after all these years of planning?”
“Of course not! How could I forget? We promised, didn’t we? If we had a son and daughter, they’d marry each other.”
Frozen in disbelief, Edmund’s mind went blank.
Marriage? What nonsense was this?
Frantically, he tugged on his mother’s velvet gown, silently demanding an explanation.
Mrs. Shore, entirely missing his distress, smiled brightly as she clarified,
“Edmund, remember how your father said there was a special friend you’d meet today? That friend is your fiancée.”
His mouth fell open in shock.
A fiancée? No one had ever mentioned this to him before. Not over dinner, not during bedtime stories, never. His photographic memory turned up nothing.
Oh, God…
His pale face drained of color.
His parents might not know, but Edmund already had someone in mind—the perfect girl who fit his refined tastes: his maid and playmate, Sophie Mason.
And now, they expected him to marry some stranger he’d never even heard of?
“Ah, here she comes now! Rose, come say hello to your future husband!” Mrs. Panning called out cheerfully.
Edmund whipped around, his heart pounding. First, to confirm this “fiancée” existed, and second, a tiny spark of hope… What if she was even prettier than Sophie?
But the only thing approaching was a scruffy boy in a dress, racing across the field.
The closer the child came, the more Edmund’s face twisted in horror.
The red curls atop the kid’s head flared out like a tangled mess struck by lightning, and the pudgy face buried beneath them resembled… a piglet. Covered in grass and dirt, the boy looked like he’d rolled through the fields instead of walked.
There wasn’t a single redeeming quality. Hideous. Absolutely hideous.
“Rose, say hello. This is Edmund, your future husband,” Mrs. Panning announced.
“Friend?” the boy chirped, blinking large green eyes. A stream of snot slid from his nose, which he loudly sniffed back up.
Edmund’s brain short-circuited.
Gross… Disgusting… Hideous…
“Hi there!”
As Rose approached, Edmund recoiled, his tiny body trembling as he retreated behind his mother.
Something was terribly wrong. There was no way he was marrying this mess of a child.
Wide-eyed, he pleaded with his parents, silently begging them to reconsider. But to his dismay, they were beaming as they welcomed Rose.
“Oh my, you must be Rose!”
“Hello, Rose!”
They had betrayed him. Abandoned to this nightmare, Edmund finally snapped.
“I—I’m not marrying that boy!”
“…I’m a girl,” Rose corrected quietly, wiping her nose on her sleeve.
But Edmund wasn’t listening.
“No! I’m not marrying a boy! I’m marrying Sophie!”
Truthfully, he hadn’t planned on marrying Sophie, but right now, she was his only lifeline.
Wailing, Edmund stomped his feet and burst into tears.
As Rose approached to comfort him, he screamed again, retreating behind his mother.
Rose’s bright green eyes shimmered with confusion and hurt.
Why… Why is he crying?
The rejection stung, but even so, Rose’s tender heart wanted to cheer him up.
Determined, she rummaged in her pocket and produced a beetle she’d caught earlier in the field. Holding it out, she beamed,
“Here, this is for you.”
She was certain he’d love it—every boy she knew loved bugs.
But the moment Edmund saw the beetle, his horror intensified.
“Take it away!” he shouted, swatting her hand.
The beetle tumbled to the ground as Edmund’s wailing grew louder, sending the adults into a frenzy.
Holding her stinging hand, Rose hung her head in silence.
Seemingly defeated, her green eyes darted around, searching frantically for something.
‘Where… where did my beetle go?’
That day, Edmund was convinced his parents would reconsider the engagement after seeing his distress.
And when he noticed them whispering seriously nearby, he felt reassured.
What Edmund didn’t know…
Was that the adults were already cooking up an even more horrifying plan—one beyond his worst imagination.
