Lucion probably thought I influenced Darius to hold this event.

“I don’t think the event is necessary. Even though I found the gold, our duchy’s finances are not yet stable.”

“No, it’s not about the event. Well, it is, but not just that.”

“Excuse me?”

The beautiful blond knight knelt before me.

“Commander Temeri!”

“I was rude to you, Lady Annette, but you repaid my rudeness with kindness. This incident has been a great lesson for me.”

When did I teach him anything?

“You found the gold while studying our castle’s history, not by accident. Despite our rejection for being an outsider, you approached us with a warm heart.”

No, I was just treasure hunting like the heroine!

“I came today not to swear allegiance to the North’s mistress, but as a knight moved by Lady Annette’s character, to pledge my oath in advance.”

Soon, Darius would have all the knights swear allegiance to me, but Lucion wanted to express his heartfelt feelings separately.

“Yes, it’s quite serious and heavy.”

“Commander Lucion, I didn’t do it for your gratitude.”

“I know. To someone as noble as you, my respect is nothing.”

“In fact, renovating the training ground was something I should have done as an employer.”

“Your humility, not boasting of your achievements, is something I am learning from.”

“Ugh, it’s tiresome. Believe what you want.”

‘Commander Lucion is quite… consistent.’

Before he knew me, he saw me as a spy from the North; now that he knows me, he regards me as an ideal lady.

In the ducal hall, a red velvet road was laid. Before the two masters, a group of knights, fully armored, knelt.

A priest from the temple blessed the sacred ceremony.

“To our lords of the North, we pledge our eternal loyalty.”

“We swear our allegiance.”

In front of the group of knights stood Commander Lucion Temeri of the Black Knight Order, presenting his sword, sheath and all, to Darius.
Darius drew the sword from its scabbard, swung it to test its sharpness, then handed it to me after confirming its lethality.

‘Surprisingly heavy.’

In front of everyone, I couldn’t afford to falter, so I braced my wrist and accepted the sword Darius handed to me.

“You are my pride, and I am yours.”

The ceremony of the knights pledging allegiance to the Duchess instead of the Duke was the first in a hundred years.

〈The Duke shows his trust in Lady Annette to all of the North!〉

I vividly remembered the maids chattering excitedly, helping me prepare for today.

“To all these knights, and my loyalty, I pledge to the lord of the North.”

I gracefully curtsied to Darius, who smiled at me.

“Wow!”

The crowd erupted in excitement at the scene, reminiscent of a fairytale illustration, boosting morale.

“Ah!”

In the crowd, a small girl turned her back and disappeared. It was undoubtedly Rose Temeri.

‘I think I scolded her when I first arrived at the castle.’

“Today is your day. I hope you fully enjoy it.”

Darius beamed with confidence.

‘Right.’

Rose was not my concern right now. The knights were waiting for me.

‘All I did was find two jars of rotting gold in the castle! What’s so great about that?’

“Ah, Miss Rose!”

“Get out of the way!”

Rose ran without looking ahead, tears blurring her vision. That woman was laughing brightly beside her Darius brother.

‘What right does she have to be there? A woman from the South!’

Initially, everyone doubted and mocked her.

Despite being from an enemy family, who would accept her as part of the Duke’s family? Everyone said so.

But after she arrived, things changed. Annette formed her allies by selecting her maids from the castle’s staff.

Moreover, she dived into the Duke’s affairs immediately after arriving, significantly changing the castle’s atmosphere from when she first came.