A WOUNDED BEAST.
WHAT A PERFECT DESCRIPTION FOR NOAH ASTRID.
HE'S PERFECT, YET INCOMPLETE AT THE SAME TIME.
IT'S AS IF THE GAP MADE BY THAT CONTRADICTION IS HIS VERY IDENTITY.
I GET THIS STRANGE DESIRE TO FILL IN THAT GAP FOR HIM.
I WANT THAT PERFECT YET INCOMPLETE PRINCE FOR MYSELF.
GOODNESS, LADY SEYMOUR!
I'VE HEARD THE COUNT SPEAK PROUDLY OF HIS DAUGHTER...
...AND HE SURE HAD REASON TO!
THANK YOU FOR THE COMPLIMENT, LADY BEROTO.
OH, MY.
PRINCESS MARGUERITE HAS COME.
SHE'S WITH THAT COMMONER...
...GUEST...
OH MY...
HEAVENS...
LOOKS LIKE THE ROYAL FAMILY'S GUEST IS TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY THE NOBLE.
LEAVE HER BE. SHE MUST WANT A AUTUMN NIGHT'S DREAM.
OR MAYBE SOME OTHER AMBITIOUS DREAM...
IN THE SECLUDED CORNERS OF THE GARDEN, NO?
MY, MY. A YOUNG LADY'S HERE! MIND YOURSELVES, LADIES.
OLIVIA.
DON'T EVEN GIVE THOSE WOMEN A GLANCE.
I WON'T, PROFESSOR.
NOR THAT LOT.
NOR THOSE.
YEAH!
NOR THOSE!
THEN I HAVE TO JUST STAND HERE ALL ALONE, MA'AM...
THAT MIGHT BE BETTER.
PLEASE, PROFESSOR!
YOU SAID I SHOULD ENJOY MY LAST NIGHT IN HEROD!
LOOK, THE QUEEN IS COMING.
LET'S GO PAY OUR RESPECTS, OLIVIA.
YOUR HIGHNESS.
OH, PRINCESS MARGOT.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO THIS GORGEOUS BANQUET.
THANK YOU, PRINCESS...
AND OF COURSE MS. LIBERTY. PLEASE ENJOY YOURSELVES.
I WISH YOU COULD STAY JUST A FEW MORE DAYS... ANYHOW, HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING, OLIVIA!
?
OH...
MARGOT! IF I MAY HAVE A MOMENT.
ANOTHER POLICY MEETING?
PROFESSOR, DON'T MIND ME.
I'LL CALL FOR YOU IF ANYTHING HAPPENS.
HMM...
ALL RIGHT, EXCUSE ME FOR A MOMENT. DON'T GO TOO FAR!
FOLLOW HER.
YES, YOUR HIGHNESS.
YOU MUST NOT TAKE YOUR EYES OFF MS. LIBERTY TODAY.
I TRUST YOU HAVE THE LIST OF PEOPLE WHO GAVE HER TROUBLE AT THE LAST BANQUET.
IF THEY TRY TO APPROACH HER, SAY I SUMMONED HER AND TAKE HER AWAY.
IF SHE GOES INTO THE MAZE ALONE, SEND SOMEONE AFTER HER.
YES, YOUR HIGHNESS.
BUT I MUST ASK, WOULDN'T IT BE BETTER...
...TO HAVE MS. LIBERTY STAY IN THE CENTRAL GARDEN IF YOU ARE SO CONCERNED?
SHE COULD BE SAFER THAT WAY. BUT...
WOULDN'T IT BE A SHAME...
IF SHE COULDN'T ENJOY THIS BEAUTY BECAUSE OF SOME RECKLESS FOOLS?
I WONDER WHAT'S IN THAT MAZE.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LOOK, BUT...
...I UNDERSTAND WHAT PROFESSOR MARGUERITE WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT.
SHE LOOKS LIKE SHE WANTS TO TAKE A LITTLE TRIP INTO THE MAZE.
BUT OF COURSE. A COMMONER LIKE HER WOULD'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.
WHY DON'T WE LET HER HAVE A LOOK?
PARDON?
I THINK SHE WOULD ENJOY IT. WE CAN TAKE HER INSIDE FOR A BIT AND COME BACK.
WOULDN'T IT BE UNFORTUNATE IF SHE WERE TO LEAVE HEROD WITHOUT VISITING ITS MAZE GARDEN?
THAT WOULD BE A SHAME.
GOOD EVENING, MS. LIBERTY.
SHE'S LIKE AN ADORABLE LITTLE BUNNY.
GOOD EVENING.
AREN'T YOU JUST DYING TO KNOW WHAT THE MAZE IS LIKE?
I'M SORRY...?
UM, I--
LET'S GO TAKE A LOOK NOW!
WE WERE JUST ABOUT TO STEP IN OURSELVES.
WE'LL BE YOUR GUIDES.
The narrator sees Noah Astrid like a wounded beast — perfect yet incomplete — and longs to fill his emptiness. At the grand banquet, Olivia, arriving with Princess Marguerite, becomes the target of mocking whispers from noble ladies. As Olivia greets the queen with her professor, spending her last night in Herod, the queen orders her to be secretly protected. Meanwhile, several noble ladies approach Olivia, who is curious about the labyrinth, to take her inside.
