Anit’s thoughts about the Duke weren’t good. She thought that he had a bad reputation, and that he’d be a good Lord and a master but not a good husband. But the truth lied to her after staying in the duke’s castle for a few weeks.

Ever since rumors began to spread among the servants that the Duke had a crush on Lady Miller, who was staying in the house, Anit was more enthusiastic than anyone else to make the rumor true.

There was a saying that Anit talked like a mantra as she combed Miss’s hair every morning.

〈“A high envy, high authority, and such wealth! There is only one reason why the unmarried duke, who is so well-rounded, permitted a Lady like you in his house until the Marquis castle is repaired! Already among us, there are even rumors that it is the Duke himself who is delaying the repair work of the Marquis Castle. Lady, a man can only listen to women and have the ability to feed his wife and children. His Grace is so handsome, Lady, what’s there to postpone, right?” 〉

It was Eun-woo, who had already been deprived of her honey-like morning sleep for several months because Anit decorated her with flowers every morning saying that she might run into the Duke every morning.

Her hands and feet were always so clean, that they are being commanded by Anit.

Of course, it was the maids who made the mess, but Eun-woo was also working hard to match the assortment by hand sewing a small cloth beside her.

As it turned out, Selena, along with Hannah, suddenly joined the group.

Thus, the duke’s Fortress was able to bloom because of a group of women sewing with a higher academic enthusiasm than ever before, and to fight off the cold autumn wind.

“Is it really true that Calista is running for this Flora Festival?”

“No way. She has so much to lose, you know? Calista is the best singer in the continent, therefore why would she trouble her reputation and run for Flora?”

As the women clapped their hands and talked about various things, the topic of discussion turned to the Flora Festival, an agency of autumn that is a hot topic in the capital these days. The Flora Festival was a festival for commoners to offer food and drinks while offering this year’s grain and fruit in honor of Flora, the goddess of harvest.

As it turned out, it was also a national holiday and a public holiday.

The festival usually lasts for several weeks, and it has become synonymous with the season of relaxation, in which people eat, drink, and have fun, whether in the capital or the countryside, aristocrats or commoners.

However, the most talked about thing was the contest to select Flora, the goddess of harvest.

“Last year, the girl who worked as her maid was chosen as Flora, right? Rumors circulated that she received enormous support and married a wealthy, well-known foreigner….”

“She remembers that last year she was a lady of a noble family. She was the seventh daughter of a Korean-American family, and she is now a Countess.”

Anit nodded her head at the chatter of the maids and added.

“Once a man is married to the chosen Flora, it’s not the Flora’s job to marry into a good family. In the first place, it was only for the privilege of baptizing in the Black Cathedral, where only the great heirs and elders are allowed.”

Eun-woo clenched her hands while quietly listening to their story, and suddenly a curiosity arose at the words of Anit.

“Baptism…?”

“Ah… Miss. Literally giving you a blessing. On the day of the coronation of the Emperor himself, it is an opportunity to enter the sanctuary, which is only accessible once.”

“Is that really possible?”

Eun-woo was surprised and asked a question. If it were a black cathedral, wouldn’t it be the home of the heir who is said to be the country’s highest authority and the elders who will protect him? Even the Crown Prince Ikshid was forbidden to enter except on the day of the coronation when he was crowned emperor.

It was also the place where Fedellamon’s candlestick, a treasure of the Empire, was kept.

Anit spoke with a proud attitude.

“Of course! Lady Flora is the daughter of the Black Virgin. That’s the privilege for a lady who passed three exams during the festival and proudly qualified for Flora.”

Eun-woo organized her thoughts carefully. Now that she thinks about it, Selena once joined in for being the Flora while in full swing of her relationship with Ikshid.

‘By the way, the winner wasn’t Selena.’

Selena was close to being chosen for being the goddess Flora, but unfortunately she didn’t win. But ironically, that was the most decisive moment for her to decide her marriage with Ikshid.

Eun-woo silently grabbed her own piece of cloth in front of her and glanced at Selena, who was preoccupied with her embroidery.

She was dressed with a green gown, and her coveted red hair was tied in a tight ponytail.

Even with the same woman, Eun-woo swallowed dry saliva at the beauty of the main character.

‘But who was the winner……?’

However, no matter how much Eun-woo thought about it,  while looking at Selena’s hair, no answer came out.

Her head was spinning steeply with new information.

“Selena, do you think you will run for Flora this time?”

Eun-woo asked carefully, rolling a small needle with her index and thumb. She looked up at her sewing cloth, where Selena was preoccupied with her own cloth, and she answered.

“Yes. It’s embarrassing, but I’m going to try it. The Flora Festival is a big support for single virgins just by participating.”

“Participating?”

“Yes. The Flora Festival is held along with the Knights Battle. My cousin’s brother is participating in the knight battle this time.”

Eun-woo’s eyes widened at the unexpected answer.

I suddenly remembered that her family was a knightly family with a long history.

Eun-woo’s hand, touching the needle, became busier.

“… Anyone can participate?”

“Yes. Eleanor, are you going to join too?”

Eun-woo threw the needle she was holding and held her hand.

“No! Absolutely not!”