Lucia suddenly burst into the room, full of energy.
"Lucia," Lucas sighed, shaking his head. "Where is your dignity as a lady?"
She ignored him completely and plopped down beside Serena. "Mother, do you want to go to the harvest festival?"
"Harvest festival?" Serena blinked in surprise. "I thought only the imperial capital celebrated such an event."
Lucas shook his head. "Not at all. Selwyn provides crops to the empire. In fact, we even sell them at half the market price. So it's no surprise we host a harvest festival here as well."
"Strange… has Mother truly never been to one?" he added curiously.
Serena's cheeks warmed with shame. She was the Dowager Duchess, and yet she barely knew anything about Selwyn.
Lucia quickly shot Lucas a sharp look, signaling him to stop. Lucas froze, suddenly flustered. "O–oh no, Mother, I didn't mean it as a bad thing! I was just saying—"
Lucia rolled her eyes in frustration. Ugh, that idiot ruined the moment. She turned back to Serena with a bright smile. "Mother, don't listen to him. Let's go to the festival together!"
Serena chuckled softly. "Alright then… let's go together."
The day of the harvest festival.
The usually calm streets of Selwyn were transformed into a sea of color and laughter. Bright banners swayed overhead, strung from one house to another. The air carried the scent of roasted chestnuts, spiced wine, and freshly baked bread, mingling with the sweet aroma of honeyed pastries from the vendors' stalls.
Children darted between the crowds—some wearing garlands of wildflowers, while musicians stood at the corners playing lively tunes with flutes and fiddles. Farmers proudly displayed baskets of grain, pumpkins, and apples, symbols of a bountiful harvest, while merchants called out cheerfully, trying to draw customers to their stalls.
Lanterns, shaped like suns and moons, had already been hung in preparation for the evening, promising that the festival's joy would last long into the night.
Serena walked side by side with Lucia and Lucas, as they moved through the lively streets. Lucia's eyes sparkled as she darted her gaze from one stall to another, her excitement bubbling over.
"Lucia, stop running around like that," Lucas scolded lightly, though his tone carried more fondness than sternness.
Behind them, Dyanne and Rika strolled together, whispering and laughing as they admired the festival decorations. The Selwyn knights were scattered discreetly among the crowd, watchful but not intrusive, ensuring their safety.
Then, all at once, a thunderous crack split the air.
Lucia froze mid-step, her head snapping upward. "Mother, look—it's fireworks!"
Serena lifted her eyes to the night sky. Bursts of gold and crimson bloomed above, scattering like shimmering petals before fading into the dark. Her breath caught, and for a moment she forgot the noise of the crowd. All she saw was light—brilliant, fleeting, and impossibly beautiful.
The harvest festival lasted three days in a whirl of laughter, music, and celebration. But once it ended, life in Selwyn returned to its usual rhythm, the streets bustling once more with merchants and townsfolk busy at their work.
A carriage bearing the Selwyn crest came to a stop in front of a grand boutique. It was Serena's store. She hadn't visited in some time, and as always, the place was lively. Noblemen and women browsed the displays, chatting animatedly, while children could be seen excitedly trying on their fittings under the guidance of attendants.
Serena moved quietly through the store and climbed to the third floor, where her private office was. The door was half-open, and inside she found Robert seated on the chair, papers in hand, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"You're here, Robert," she said warmly. "It seems you've hired more staff since the last time I came."
Robert set down the documents and stood. "Yes, your grace. Orders are coming in not only from Selwyn but also from the other regions. We needed the extra hands to keep up."
Serena eased into her chair behind the desk, her gloved fingers brushing over the neat stacks of parchment. She pulled one closer—scanning.
Just then, a young staff member burst into the office—panting.
Robert immediately rose from his seat, his face darkening. "Where are your manners, barging in like this?"
"I–I'm terribly sorry, sir," the staff stammered, bowing hastily. "But… someone has come, demanding a refund. She says there's something wrong with one of our dresses."
Serena tapped lightly on the desk. Her expression remained calm. "Is that so? Very well, Robert. Let us go. We must take care of our customers properly."
Robert bowed, his annoyance melting into composure. "As you command, Your Grace."
Together, they left the office and descended the stairs, the murmur of voices from the shop floor growing clearer with each step.