The remainder of the day passed quickly.
Katherine spent most of it reading, and soon evening arrived.
Now, she lay upon the daybed beside her window, her book resting forgotten on her lap as she closed her eyes.
It was during quiet moments like these that thoughts of her previous life occasionally resurfaced.
She didn't miss her old life.
Not really.
But she missed Nathan.
Her best friend.
"Do you think he's doing alright?" Ker asked quietly.
Katherine considered the question.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then she sighed.
"I mean, he's Nathan."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"Of course he is."
Ker huffed softly.
Katherine continued.
"I'd like to believe the packs' hatred for us didn't extend to our beta."
Her expression softened.
"And besides, they signed that soul contract."
At the very least, Nathan was alive.
That much, she was certain of.
A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.
"MLady," a maid called from the other side. "The Marquis requests your presence at the family dinner."
Katherine opened her eyes.
Ker immediately groaned. "Ugh, why are they suddenly holding a family dinner?"
Katherine sighed, "It's at times like this, I miss being Ruler." She stood up begrudgingly.
"You can say that again." Ker agreed. "Where's Lily? I haven't seen her since this morning when we sent her to send the reply."
Katherine shrugged, "I'm not sure. But I am somehow thankful she isn't here. I know for a fact she would be overreacting over the fact that we're attending a family dinner."
Katherine made her way to the dining hall.
---
The Marquis, Lady Victoria, and Rose were already seated at the table.
Dinner had already been served.
Several platters occupied the centre of the long table.
Roasted stag glazed with herbs.
Slices of honey-roasted boar.
A rich stew still steaming inside a silver pot.
Fresh bread.
Roasted vegetables.
And enough side dishes to feed a small army.
Ker immediately forgot about the awkward family dinner.
"Meat."
Katherine resisted the urge to sigh.
"Calm down Ker, we'll be eating soon."
Katherine's gaze briefly swept across the table.
For once, Ker wasn't exaggerating.
The Marquis clearly preferred hearty meals.
Most of the dishes consisted of some variation of roasted, grilled, or slow-cooked meat.
"Perhaps family dinners aren't entirely terrible." Ker was practically drooling at this point.
"You were complaining thirty seconds ago." Katherine internally rolled her eyes.
"I've grown as a person." Ker's eyes never left the table
"Uh-huh." Katherine was unconvinced.
"Hey no judging, okay? A wolf needs her proteins."
Katherine pulled out her chair and took her seat.
Only then did she notice that every other member of the family was watching her.
Ignoring all of them, she turned her focus to the food before her.
A servant quickly came to her aid. "What would you like to begin with, M'lady?"
"A heavy cut of the stag." She said calmly. "And two slices of the honey-roasted boar."
The servant hesitated before placing the slices onto her plate.
"And the stew."
A second servant ladled a portion into a bowl before setting it before her.
She picked up her silver folk and knife.
"Shouldn't you be careful of your figure, seeing as how you'll soon be a married woman?" Lady Victoria commented, looking at the atrocious amount of food on her plate.
Katherine glance up from her plate, "Now, isn't it rude to assume my fiancé is vain enough to not like me because I put on some weight?"
Her comment left an awkward silence at the table.
"Ahem..." The Marquis cleared his throat. Trying salvage the growing tension at the table. "I'll be leaving for the boarder soon." He announced.
Everyone paused.
"Why so sudden?" Lady Victoria questioned.
"There have been reports of increased magic beast activity."
The Marquis set down his wine glass.
"The situation isn't critical, but it has become troublesome enough to require my attention."
He sighed.
"And Rowan hasn't been able to handle everything on his own."
Rose looked surprised.
"Well, that's unusual."
Ker perked up.
"Who is Rowan?"
Katherine searched her memories.
"Father's nephew and heir. He stays at the Mooncrest ancestral estate at the border"
"Ah."
Ker immediately lost interest, returning her attention to food.
The Marquis continued.
"He has managed well enough, but there are just some things that require the marquis' intervention."
A faint note of pride entered his voice.
"There's only so much an heir can do."
"But daddy, isn't it too dangerous for you to go?" Rose asked. She has never like the idea of the Marquis going out to protect the border.
What if something bad were to happen to him?
She dreaded the thought.
"Nonsense, our family is one of the families with the best knights. And we have three mages, those magic beasts don't stand a chance." The marquis said, pride evident in his tone.
"So when will you leave?" Katherine asked. She wondered if she asked for some beast cores from her father, if he would bring some for her.
After all, they didn't have that type of father-daughter relationship.
But it wouldn't hurt to ask, right?
"In two days' time."
Katherine made a mental note.
If Aurora's theories proved useful, beast cores would likely become necessary sooner rather than later.
Perhaps she could ask for some before he left.
Using Aurora as an excuse would certainly make the request easier to explain.
After all, if anyone in the kingdom was likely to require magic beast materials for questionable research, it was Aurora Stirling.
The dinner continued.
The Marquis and Lady Victoria discussed his upcoming journey.
Katherine continued eating.
Rose kept shooting jealous glances at Katherine's engagement ring.
No diamond, regardless of its size, could compete with the Tear of the Moon.
After dinner, Katherine retired to her room.
Tomorrow was going to be tiring.
She just knew it.
---
The following morning arrived far too quickly.
Katherine woke before sunrise.
As usual, she completed her morning exercises before breakfast.
The routine had become familiar.
Comfortable, even.
By the time she finished preparing, a carriage from House Stirling was already waiting outside.
Ker immediately perked up.
"I have a good feeling about this."
"Looks like someone's in good spirit." Katherine smiled.
"Of course I am, we are finally taking a step towards our shift."
The journey passed without incident.
Not long after, the Stirling estate came into view.
Before Katherine had even fully descended from the carriage...
"My Lady Katherine!"
Aurora appeared.
Practically materialized.
The young lady hurried down the estate steps with enough enthusiasm to concern several nearby servants.
"You came!"
"You invited me."
"That's not the point."
Aurora immediately grabbed Katherine's wrist.
"We don't have time."
Katherine blinked.
"For what?"
Aurora looked genuinely scandalized.
"The research, obviously."
Without another word, she began dragging Katherine toward the estate.
Ker sighed.
"We've been kidnapped."
Servants hurried to open doors as Aurora marched through the manor.
Corridors passed in a blur.
Then another set of doors appeared.
Large.
Reinforced.
Covered in enough warning signs to make Katherine pause.
Aurora beamed.
"We're here."
The doors swung open.
And Katherine's eyes widened.
Aurora had led her to a massive laboratory.