“Oh my, these flowers are so beautiful,” Kristin said as Duke Raphael handed her the bouquet.

As she received the bouquet, it seemed every gaze in the marketplace turned toward the couple.

Kristin had become well-known after foiling Princess Rebella’s schemes at the royal palace, for which she had been awarded an honorary medal. The story spread throughout the empire.

She had worn a coat with a hood to avoid drawing too much attention, but when Duke Raphael arrived, she pulled down the hood.

The moment she did, her stunning beauty was revealed.

Despite all the hardships she had endured, her appearance remained radiant, captivating everyone around her.

Holding a large bouquet that barely fit in one hand, Kristin continued to draw countless gazes as she walked.

However, she no longer felt uncomfortable under such attention.

“I’m not too late, am I?”
“Not at all. You’re perfectly on time.”

“Good day, Duke Raphael,” greeted Lenci and Cindy in unison.

“It’s been a while, Duke Raphael,” Cindy added.

The Duke smiled at them briefly before turning his gaze back to Kristin.

“How about a stroll down the flower path set up for the festival?”

“Oh, my lady! You must walk down the flower path!” exclaimed Lenci. “It’s said that walking there with your partner ensures a lifetime of happiness and love.”

“She already looks happy enough,” Cindy teased. “But still, you must walk the Margaret flower path—it’s the festival’s highlight!”

Encouraged by their words, Kristin hesitated briefly before nodding in agreement.

The Duke extended his arm to her. “Shall we?”

“Yes, Your Grace,” she replied softly.

Kristin carried her flower crown, floral necklace, and bouquet, and strolled beside Duke Raphael. She was adorned with flowers from her head to her neck and hands, Walking along the flower-covered path, she looked like a fairy emerging from the heart of a magical forest.

Seeing Kristin, Lenci, and Cindy, arms linked, gazed at her with admiration.

“Our lady is the most beautiful woman in the empire,” Lenci whispered.

“Did you think so too? I’ve always thought that,” Cindy agreed.

“Every day we served her, I thought so. Even when she wakes up from sleep, she’s breathtakingly beautiful.”

As they spoke, Lenci suddenly spotted two familiar figures: Marquis Winston Zenon and Lady Selena Scarlet.

The two seemed closer than ever, smiling warmly at each other. Selena held a small bouquet, most likely a gift from the Marquis.

Winston watched Selena Scarlet with joy as she delighted in walking along the flower path like an excited child.

“Look over there, Cindy. It’s Marquis Winston Zenon and Lady Selena Scarlet,” Lenci pointed out.

Cindy turned her head in the direction Lenci indicated and smiled as she saw the pair.

“That’s wonderful. Marquis Winston Zenon has found someone special. They look so perfect together,” Cindy said.

“Honestly, I used to think he and Lady Kristin would’ve made a good match, but this feels right too. In the end, the Marquis has found his match,” Lenci laughed.

Cindy chuckled, “You’re right. I wonder if we’ll find our perfect matches someday. I mean, for me… your brother Oliver would be—”

“Pardon?” Lenci interrupted, startled.

Just then, a familiar voice called out, “Lenci.”

“Brother?!”

It was Oliver. Due to his work as a mine supervisor, he rarely visited the town, but today, he managed to find some free time to stroll through the marketplace.

Overjoyed by the unexpected encounter, Lenci ran toward her brother. Behind her, Cindy’s face turned beet red.

Standing beside Oliver was his assistant, Jack, gazing at Lenci with a look of clear affection. Even a casual observer could tell from his trembling eyes that he was infatuated with her.

Jack continued to avert his gaze, but unable to resist the urge to see Lenci’s face, he stole a glance at her. Lenci noticed and responded with a warm smile.

At that moment, Oliver spoke up.

“Yes, I came with Mr. Jack here. I’ve heard that Duke Raphael has suggested that today is a day to enjoy the festival. What do you say we join in? Mr. Jack, is that alright with you?”

“Oh, uh, yes. That’s fine with me,” Jack replied to Oliver.

Lenci turned her eyes toward Jack as he answered, and soon, the four of them, after watching Kristin and Duke Raphael walk through the streets for a while longer, headed toward the festival.

—

“Kristin, how was it? You looked even more like a fairy walking on those flower petals. It was like a fairy had dropped straight from the sky and started strolling here.”

Duke Raphael spoke with a face so filled with admiration it seemed as if honey would drip from his eyes.

Kristin utterly captivated him, constantly trying to hold her hand or stealing kisses on her cheek whenever no one was looking.

Kristin felt shy yet happy at the duke’s unexpectedly affectionate demeanor.

However, she quickly noticed that Lenci and Cindy were nowhere to be seen and hurriedly told Duke Raphael.

“Lenci and Cindy are gone!”

“Haha, don’t worry. They must be having a wonderful time,” he replied.

“What?”

Not immediately understanding what Duke Raphael meant, Kristin paused to think. Soon, she nodded as she grasped his meaning.

“So, you already knew about Lenci and Jack’s relationship, Your Grace?”

“I’ve known for a while. Jack kept bringing up Lenci in our conversations. At first, I was against it. After all, the difference in their social status is too vast. Even if he’s my aide, a commoner and a noble can’t easily be together.”

“That’s true,” Kristin said, acknowledging the reality.

In the Union Empire, it was nearly impossible for a commoner servant and a noble aide to have a romantic relationship. Yet, Lenci had confided in Kristin about Jack and expressed her feelings for him.

“But you know, Kristin, if Lenci works hard, graduates from the academy, and becomes a woman who serves the empire rather than just a servant, wouldn’t there be some hope for their relationship?”

“That’s true,” Kristin agreed.

“And besides, Oliver and Cindy also seem to have something special going on.”

“H-how did you know?” Kristin asked, surprised.

Despite not seeing Oliver and Cindy together often, Duke Raphael seemed well aware of their relationship.

Kristin was about to ask him further when the duke answered preemptively.

“I’ve visited Oliver often since he became the mining supervisor. While the mines are technically yours, I know them better and check in regularly. That’s when I saw Cindy visiting Oliver. It wasn’t hard to tell their relationship wasn’t ordinary. After all, it’s rare for a lady to go out there without a good reason.”

“I see. Cindy didn’t tell me, so I had no idea,” Kristin replied.

As she thought about it, Lenci’s earlier words came to mind.

“I was so surprised! Cindy and my brother…”

“Oh, now I understand,” Kristin said aloud.

Duke Raphael took her hand and continued the conversation.

“If things work out for those four, nothing could be better. In any case, it’s a good thing. And shouldn’t we also ensure things work out even better for us?”

Kristin smiled at Duke Raphael’s playful words, then spoke to him carefully.

“It’s about a child.”

“A child?”

Kristin hesitated to answer his question before, and it had weighed on her mind. Now, she finally decided to respond to him.

Perhaps, more than anyone, Kristin herself deeply desired a child.

“If we have a child, I hope they resemble you more than me.”

When Kristin spoke, Duke Raphael pulled her into his embrace and whispered in her ear.

“What are you saying? They should be wise and kind, just like you, Kristin. I’d love us to have an adorable and beautiful daughter who takes after you.”

“A daughter?”

“Just imagining it makes me smile. If she looks like you, her beauty will be unmatched—that’s a fact no one can deny.”

“Your Grace.”

“Don’t worry. We have plenty of time ahead of us. And we must make the most of that time, especially after the trial we’ve already endured.”

Kristin wanted to tell him something.

That it wasn’t just one trial.

It was two.

Duke Raphael undoubtedly knew this too.

They had overcome not just one, but two trials, making every moment spent together even more precious.

Kristin gently touched the pocket watch she wore around her neck and spoke to the duke.

“You’re right, Your Grace. The time we have ahead is incredibly precious. And I have a favor to ask. I’d like to visit my father. To be honest, I still feel angry with him, but…”

Understanding her intent, Duke Raphael nodded.

“Of course. The bond between parent and child can’t be severed so easily. Let’s go see him, Kristin.”