As time passed, the day of the engagement banquet finally arrived.
Though November signaled the approach of winter, it wasn't particularly cold yet—especially for those used to harsh winters. Even with snow in the air, people would still venture out in just a thick robe. The truly frigid weather wouldn't come until December, around Christmas time.
Fortunately, the weather cooperated. November 21st turned out to be a sunny day in Aldridge. Although the winter sun didn't offer much warmth, its cheerful light was enough to lift spirits.
The engagement banquet was scheduled for that evening. Since all the guests lived in the city, there was no need to arrange accommodations, and no one would arrive too early and burden the hosts with additional preparations.
From early morning, the entire Aldridge Castle was bustling. Servants hurried about, attending to every detail of the banquet preparations. Salina went to do a final check with the butler—and she brought Elina with her. Her daughter's marriage had come too suddenly, and Salina still felt she hadn't had time to teach her everything she needed to know. She now seized every opportunity to give Elina a crash course in how to be a proper lady of the house—how to manage estates, organize events, and conduct herself in social settings.
Elina studied earnestly. After her fiancé's accident and her father's subsequent illness, her mother and brother had been too busy to pay much attention to her. Soon after her father passed away, she was sent to the capital to marry Prince Andrew. She'd had little opportunity to learn household management.
But as the consort of the Second Prince—and likely future Duchess—Elina couldn't afford to be ignorant of such matters. Whether for her own sake or her family's, she was determined not to be a source of ridicule. So now she made use of every moment she had to learn from her mother.
Before the engagement banquet, even Wei Wei and Dolores had followed Salina to study under her wing—and they both benefited greatly. Wei Wei had always relied on her steward couple and her instincts to manage Sardinson Castle. She thought she did fairly well, but compared to an experienced Countess like Salina, she still had much to learn. If she felt that way, then it went without saying that Dolores had even more ground to cover.
But today, as the guest of honor, Dolores only needed to stay in her room and get ready for the evening. Wei Wei stayed behind to keep her company and help her with the final touches.
"I thought you'd use silk to make your dress," Wei Wei remarked.
Back when Dolores was preparing her gown, the Great Song trade delegation hadn't yet arrived. But Wei Wei had given her a generous amount of silk fabric salvaged from her fashion collection. She'd assumed Dolores would use it to make a dress, but to her surprise, Dolores had chosen a different material altogether.
Now, Dolores stood wearing a vivid red gown, dyed from safflower—the same flower used to make rouge. It was a rich, striking red rarely seen, like a dewy rose in full bloom—lively and delicate.
The gown's design was simple, lacking the popular petticoats or even the bows and ribbons Dolores usually adored. It was an understated A-line dress but cut with such skill that its high-waisted silhouette perfectly hugged her curves. The entire surface was overlaid with lace in a matching red, giving it a refined texture. With her golden hair and blue eyes, Dolores no longer looked like a shy girl—there was a subtle, budding allure of womanhood about her now.
She stood in front of the mirror, gently swaying the hem to check for flaws. "I want to save the silk for my wedding."
Dolores dreamed of wearing a silk wedding dress like Wei Wei. She'd even thought of borrowing Wei Wei's gown for her ceremony since silk was expensive and hard to find.
But then Wei Wei had gifted her enough fabric. At first, Dolores had refused—it felt too extravagant. But Wei Wei insisted that she had no use for it, and silk tended to fade over time. If not used, it would only go to waste. Convinced, Dolores accepted and decided to make her dress.
Still, she couldn't bear to use such precious material on an engagement dress. She wanted to save it for the real moment—her wedding. Even after the Great Song delegation brought in more silk, she didn't change her mind.
Besides, by then, the base of this gown was already finished, and the lacework had begun. She couldn't bring herself to abandon the carefully prepared piece.
Wei Wei teased her with a grin, "Looks like our little Lola can't wait to get married."
Dolores's face flushed scarlet as she let out a squeal of protest and launched herself at Wei Wei. The room erupted in laughter as Wei Wei hoisted up her skirts and darted away, pulling a maid in to act as a human shield. Amid the playful chaos, all of Dolores's nervousness was swept away.
After some more giggling and chasing, Wei Wei surrendered and gently guided her back to the vanity for the final touches.
As the star of the evening, Dolores's makeup had to be flawless—elegant, polished, and captivating. Softly defined brows, radiant eyes, and lips like fresh petals—everything had to be just right.
The jewelry was delivered earlier that morning by Salina herself: a complete set of heirloom gemstones from the Aldridge family collection.
By the time Dolores was fully dressed and ready, guests had already begun to arrive.
And with their arrival, the castle came alive with excitement.
Every guest who stepped from their carriage onto the front steps couldn't help but glance back repeatedly.
What were they looking at? Simple: a formation of striking, long-legged knights in tailored military uniforms.
Felix had brought around fifty knights with him. Now, all of them were stationed on either side of the path from the castle gate to the front door, dressed in sharp black uniforms with knee-high riding boots, standing at attention. The uniform's design emphasized their long legs and slim waists, masking flaws and making even average faces seem heroic. They radiated pure masculinity.
And most of them were newly promoted—young, handsome, and full of energy.
It was no exaggeration to say that they drew more attention than they would've in full suits of armor. The ladies—especially the young ones—were practically swooning.
Were it not for the occasion, some might have already gone over to flirt. But just because it wasn't appropriate now didn't mean they wouldn't try later.
After all, noble banquets were often social playgrounds—opportunities for discreet flirtation or even the start of romantic affairs. Finding a mutual lover was practically routine. But tonight, many of the usual male favorites would likely be neglected—because the hearts of the noble ladies had been thoroughly stolen by these dashing knights from Sardinson.
Of course, these knights weren't part of the castle's regular security. They were only stationed here temporarily to enhance their master's prestige. Once all the guests arrived, they'd be free to mingle.
And indeed, in the lull before more guests appeared, some knights began chatting casually among themselves.
"Another one's staring," one knight said, nudging his companion with a wink. "I have a feeling tonight might be a very special night."
Even the youngest knights were seasoned enough to sense when someone was watching them. The stares from the castle's grand windows hadn't gone unnoticed. Some knights had even made eye contact with women half-hidden behind curtains—sometimes rewarded with a flirtatious wink.
Of course, such bold looks usually came from married women or widows. Unmarried ladies were much more reserved. If caught staring, they'd immediately turn away and hide behind the curtain, their hearts pounding with shy excitement.
But it wouldn't be long before they peeked out again, perhaps flashing a timid smile at a knight who caught their eye. If he returned the smile, they might gently fan themselves—sending a subtle signal—before hurrying away to a more discreet location, hoping for a follow-up encounter.
Most of tonight's guests weren't particularly high-ranking. Some were noble in name only—descendants without titles. For such families, marrying their daughters to a Sardinson knight would be quite respectable.
And the knights, noticing the signals being sent their way, were hardly indifferent.
Some were tempted by the allure of beautiful older women and dreamed of a fleeting affair. Others, however, saw potential for something more meaningful.
They were all young, eligible men. Hoping to marry a noble lady wasn't unrealistic. After all, among nobles, only the heir usually inherited the title. The rest often joined the clergy, became knights, or entered business. Many noble daughters didn't marry other nobles—especially those from modest or less-favored households. Marrying a capable, well-positioned knight was quite common—and even strategic.
And the knights from Sardinson weren't just anyone. Their lord had power, influence, and a bright future. They had fiefs, salaries, stable lives, and excellent prospects. With some effort, they could even become nobles one day.
Handsome, well-off, and single—of course they were prime targets for noble daughters from families of average means or limited favor. Miss this chance, and those girls might have to settle for wealthy merchants instead.
Everyone knew what the stakes were.
And just as hearts began to stir, the engagement banquet finally began.