‘You can’t spit on a smiling face!’

While comforting myself like that, I remembered Shaina’s anniversary.

“Oh, right. Kashar. Do you know about the Shaina Sacred Fire Ceremony? I heard it’s like a festival, and the princes want to go.”

“Ah, that. I know it well.”

His voice, sounding like a murmur, came across as chilly.

“Fine, we have to participate anyway.”

“Was it something we had to attend originally?”

“There’s a gathering where all members of the imperial family attend during the Sacred Fire Ceremony. This year it’ll be at the Second Temple.”

It was an event for awakened imperial family members over 15 to receive the blessing of the sacred fire.

‘Come to think of it, in the original story too.’

Michael couldn’t attend the gathering because he hadn’t awakened.

Still, feeling lingering attachment, he wanders around the temple and ends up meeting Elcius.

‘So that gathering was this.’

It was something that would happen next year, but I found it fascinating anew.

“Then Kashar won’t be able to go around with us?”

“I’ll just drop by briefly, so it doesn’t matter.”

He shook his head as if he didn’t want to waste more time.

“That’s good then. The princes are really looking forward to it. It’s the first time we’re all going out together.”

It seemed like a good opportunity to spend time together.

Seeing me clap my hands, Kashar said something nonsensical.

“Children need a mother and father.”

“Don’t say things like that or the family tree will get tangled!”

When I shouted angrily, his eyes curved.

It was a smile that felt subtly different from usual, with a strange sense of discomfort.

“What’s wrong?”

“…Nothing.”

Kashar shook his head.

His red eyes took me in. His face was getting closer.

“No, actually, I want to kiss you.”

I wondered if the children might be watching.

The kiss we shared at the base of the magic tower was filled with tension.

The Aletmang territory, where the Second Temple was located, was busy preparing for the Sacred Fire Ceremony.

The colors symbolizing the goddess – white, gold, and blue – filled the territory, and the festive atmosphere that had begun from the day before had reached its peak.

Soon after, the carriage carrying us arrived in front of the pure white temple.

‘In the original story, it felt really conservative.’

It nagged at Elcius, saying this wasn’t allowed, that was impure, more than a mother-in-law would.

‘It gave the impression that not just anyone could become a saint.’

While I was thinking about this and that, Louis and Evan expressed their admiration for the pure white temple.

“Wow, it’s huge!”

“…This is the goddess’s temple.”

The two little ones were very excited about their first outing since coming to the duke’s mansion.

“They say the Sacred Fire Gate will open soon.”

The Sacred Fire Gate was where the goddess’s flame was kept, divided among the five great temples.

“We can go play after making a wish!”

Louis recalled the festival he had seen while riding in the carriage.

We followed Kashar to our pre-assigned seats.

The Sacred Fire Gate behind the temple was a massive dome-shaped structure centered around the gate.

‘I didn’t know we had to buy tickets.’

To sit in the closest seats to view the sacred fire, you had to pay five years’ worth of donations at once per person.

Well, it would be unreasonable for everyone to view from the same place with so many people.

‘Even though Kashar paid, it’s still a shame.’

A lover’s money was precious.

But seeing how happy the children were made me feel a bit better.

“Ah, it’s starting.”

Soon all the surrounding lights went out, and the high priest ascended to the platform.

After a long blessing speech ended, the massive golden gate finally opened.

‘So that’s the goddess’s flame.’

The sacred fire that appeared looked vaguely like a human figure at first glance.

But it really was a flame.

It was the goddess’s light, burning with tens, perhaps hundreds of colors.

Soon the sacred fire flared up greatly as if blessing everyone, then burst like fireworks.

It was the highlight of the sacred fire viewing, the ‘Touch of the Goddess.’

“Wooooow-!”

“Blessings from the Goddess of Light!”

Along with people’s cheers, the smaller flames sparkled everywhere.

The sacred fires, looking like powder at first glance, soon found their places and returned to their original form.

‘It feels just like watching a fireworks show.’

On our way out after seeing the sacred fire, I gripped the children’s hands tightly to avoid losing them in the crowd.

We had about five hours left until the imperial family gathering, so there was plenty of time.

“What did you wish for?”

“It’s a secret!”

While Louis and I were chattering, Kashar stopped walking.

“What’s wrong?”

Two men were standing in front of Kashar.

‘Who are they?’

The priestly robes with intricate gold embroidery didn’t look ordinary.

The orange-haired man at the front paid his respects.

“Greetings, Duke Bladis.”

His purple eyes curved gently as they met mine.

“I am Ferberoff, the high priest in charge of managing the First Temple.”

A high priest with a face that didn’t look over thirty.

While I was inadvertently surprised, Kashar asked.

“What is it?”

“I’m delivering a message that the imperial family gathering has been moved up. It seems you’ll need to move right away.”

Ferberoff handed over the emperor’s decree.

Kashar’s brow furrowed at this.

The middle priest who was to escort him looked very urgent, as if to confirm whether the sudden change was true.

“I am Feraxit, middle priest of the Second Temple. I’ll escort you to the gathering.”

At this, Kashar’s gaze turned to me.

“It’s fine, go ahead.”

It was disappointing but unavoidable.

After sighing briefly, Kashar moved.

“Stay within the temple.”

“Alright.”

Because it happened so suddenly, we were stuck here.

As Kashar disappeared, Louis clung to me.

“Eileen, does this mean we can’t go to the festival?”

“He’ll be back soon. We’ll all go together then.”

I was in the middle of trying to comfort Louis.

The man who had introduced himself as the high priest of the First Temple was looking at me.

‘Why is he still standing there instead of leaving?’

It did catch my eye that he was a high priest at such a young age.

After our gazes met repeatedly, Ferberoff approached.

“The young princes seem bored. It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Eileen Hallen.”

“You know me?”

“Of course. Aren’t you the one who decorated Oloze’s donation along with the twin princes?”

Come to think of it, wasn’t the Shaina Temple the recipient of Oloze’s donation?

‘Is he trying to express gratitude or something?’

As I remained silent, Ferberoff continued.

“If you need to stay within the temple, how about attending a party honoring the donor devotees?”

“Donor devotees?”

“Yes. It’s an event to honor the devotees who have contributed to the temple out of reverence for Goddess Shaina.”

It’s probably my imagination that it sounds like a donation party.

Seeing me hesitate, he brought up something else.

“Do you know about Golden Eden?”

It was a combination of words I’d heard somewhere before.

After racking my brain, I was able to dig up a past memory.

‘Isn’t that the cafe in the Street of Wealth!’

It was the room cafe where Kashar and I had met face to face.

“The original owner was Madame Evelyn Balut. She left behind many achievements before returning to Goddess Shaina’s embrace. This year’s party is prepared to honor her.”

I was quite curious how much one had to donate for the temple to throw a party for someone who had passed away.

‘A party, it feels a bit uncomfortable.’

The memory of my first party wasn’t good, so just hearing related words made me hesitant.

But the twins were an exception, and they started urging me.

“Eileen, can’t we go? I’m bored.”

Well, it would be strange to just stand here blankly.

After contemplating, I finally decided to go to this party place.

“May I ask for your guidance?”

“Of course. Now, this way please.”

The pure white corridor was dazzling just to look at.

‘The person cleaning here must have a really tough job.’

While I was thinking something along those lines, Ferberoff, who was walking a step ahead, stopped in front of an open door.

“This is the place. Originally only invited devotees can participate, but you three certainly have more than enough qualifications.”

The interior of the party venue was bustling with nobles and what looked like wealthy merchants.

However, what caught my eye wasn’t the beautiful people but the interior design of the party venue.

‘It’s hard to pinpoint exactly… but it feels somewhat modern.’

Bright yellow wallpaper. Single-seat sofas with floral patterns decorated with carriage wheel ornaments.

Decorative vines were wrapped around the pillars and corners.

‘It’s not exactly sophisticated, but it looks like something old folks would set up. I mean, not quite to the point of selling ssanghwa-cha, but…’

The eternal memory of the 80s and 90s generation. It reminded me of ‘Canmore.’

‘…It looks like they might give out free whipped cream and bread.’

If not that, then there should be a menu listing various fruit juices, shaved ice desserts, oven spaghetti, and coffee.

As I looked around searching for a swing chair, there really was one prepared.

‘…The strangest thing is.’

Instead of kids in school uniforms that should be in such a cafe, there were nobles wrapped in elaborate Rococo-style dresses and suits, and priests in pure white uniforms, all laughing and chattering away.

“Um, you said this was an event to honor Evelyn Balut…”

“Yes, that’s right. She was a businesswoman who created countless businesses during her lifetime. The interior design you see now was all Madame Balut’s idea.”

At this point, it was beyond peculiar and felt downright ominous.

‘Just what kind of person was she?’

The food at the party was also out of the ordinary.

Various dishes were laid out along a large central table.

I carefully observed the nobles serving themselves food from there.

‘What are they eating?’

As I narrowed my eyes sleepily, my gaze met with a noblewoman who was serving food.

I quickly pretended not to notice, and the noblewoman tilted her head before moving away.

‘Doesn’t anyone else think this is strange?’

It seemed better to go and check up close.

A moment later, confirming that no one was around the food, I quickly moved to the center.

On the white table were neatly arranged desserts including cakes, bread, meats like ham and sausage, and pieces of butter and cheese.

The most eye-catching thing on the table that looked like a medieval Western meal was,

“…Rice?”

Pure white rice grains that looked like they might fly away if you blew on them were heaped generously on a large plate.