"El, where were you all morning? I couldn't find you in your room," Louis inquired as we sat down at the lunch table.

"Oh, I was just helping out in the kitchen," I explained casually. 

"The kitchen?" Louis raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Hold on, did you prepare lunch today? No wonder it looks different!"

"Yeah, I did," I said, gesturing towards his plate. "Please, have a taste."

"Wow, really? That's impressive, El," Louis said sincerely, picking up his fork. 

As he took the first bite, his expression shifted slightly, a moment of uncertainty crossing his face. 

"Hmm, good job, El," Louis nodded thoughtfully, his gaze flickering between me and his plate. "It's good, just... not as good as the usual."

"Don't worry," he added, flashing me an encouraging smile and reaching out to pat my hand gently. "I'm sure you'll have it perfected in no time."

As Louis finished his comment, Pierre the cook, who had been discreetly nearby, couldn't help but overhear. 

"What's this I hear? Whose cooking is not up to par today?" Pierre teased, raising an eyebrow in mock concern.

Louis glanced at me and pointed with a grin, "El's cookin- huh?" 

Before Louis could finish his sentence, I burst into laughter, unable to contain the joke any longer. His eyes widened in realization as he caught on to the playful ruse.

"Hahaha, she had you fooled, Louis!" Pierre exclaimed, joining in the laughter.

Louis chuckled, shaking his head in good-natured disbelief, his hand instinctively covering his face. 

"El, you..." He started, his words trailing off as he couldn't help but smile at the clever prank.

"What high standards, Lou," I quipped, eliciting laughter from all the servants around us.

"Alright, El, so what were you actually doing in the kitchen?" He asked, his tone defeated but still amused. 

"I was just helping Pierre take inventory of the food items for the harvest festival," I replied with a grin, before starting to eat my meal.

"The harvest festival?" Louis's eyes lit up with interest. "Are you going?"

"Uh I'm not sure," I admitted, glancing briefly at Emma before replying. "I've never been to one before..."

"Then your first time will be with me," Louis said with a grin. 

As his words sank in, I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. 

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, unsure of how to respond to his unexpected remark.

"Louis, like I said this morning," Felix interjected, "we should hold off on making any definitive plans until we have His Grace's approval."

"Ugh Felix, again with that," Louis groaned, shooting Felix a playful yet exasperated look. "And when will he be back?"

"Soon, Louis," Felix replied. 

"Fine," Louis conceded, shooting me an apologetic glance. "Sorry El, I'll ask Lucius first thing when he comes back."

"Alright, Lou," I replied with a smile.

"Good boy," Felix said with a supportive nod.

- - -

After spending the rest of my day assisting Henry and William with the other donations, I stumbled into the room and collapsed onto the bed. 

"What a long day," I mumbled into the mattress before drifting off to sleep, my legs still dangling in the air.

Sometime later, I stirred at the sound of the door creaking open, rousing me from my slumber.

"Looks like someone had a long day," a voice chuckled softly.

"Emma?" I rubbed my eyes sleepily, watching as Emma walked towards me, a gentle smile gracing her lips.

She leaned in closer and spoke in a conspiratorial whisper.

"I heard from Sarah that you were a tremendous help today," Emma said, a glint of adoration in her eyes. "You're proving to be quite the capable young lady."

"... I barely did anything, Emma," I replied, sitting up and feeling a blush creeping onto my cheeks at the unexpected praise.

"You did a wonderful job, Miss Elise," Emma said softly, tucking me into bed as she always did, gently pulling the covers over me.

"Sorry for waking you, now go back to sleep," she added apologetically.

"No story tonight?" I asked with a hint of disappointment.

"Haha, of course, Miss Elise," Emma replied with a smile. "How could I forget?" 

"Let's see..." She paused for a moment. "You've never been to the harvest festival, have you?"

I shook my head. "No, I haven't."

"Well then, you most likely haven't heard of this tradition," Emma remarked softly. "It's called the Harvest of the Hearts." 

"Harvest of the Hearts?" I asked. 

"Yes, that's right," Emma replied with a nod. "For the harvest festival isn't merely a celebration of abundance, but a sacred ritual of gratitude to the earth." 

"On the night of the harvest festival, children gather eagerly around a crackling bonfire," Emma began. "As the fire danced in the darkness, the children each prepared a token — a small offering to the spirits of the earth." 

"Then, led by an elder, they began to chant ancient verses as they circled the flames. As they chanted, their voices rose and fell in a mesmerizing rhythm," she continued. 

"Each step they took was a tribute to the bountiful harvest and the gifts of the land. Only when their chanting reached its culmination did the offerings begin to glow softly, eliciting gasps of wonder and awe from the children as they beheld the manifestation of their gratitude."

"And so, the children felt a deep connection to the earth and all its wonders," Emma concluded, her eyes glinting with nostalgia for festivals past. "It's a beautiful tradition, isn't it?"

"But Emma, how did the tokens glow like that?" I asked.

"Some say it's the spirits of the earth responding to the genuine gratitude of the children, while others believe it's the earth itself blessing their offerings." 

"Have you experienced it before?"

"I have, Miss Elise, once, when I was around your age."

"What did you offer then, Emma?"

"I offered a small clay figurine that I had made. I remember spending hours carefully crafting it," Emma revealed, her eyes lit up as she continued. "And did you know? Mine glowed the brightest that night. It was truly a magical moment." 

"Wow, do you still have that figurine with you?" 

"No, not anymore. Offerings are placed at the foot of the bonfire," Emma replied. "Legend has it that the earth absorbs them, granting strength and prosperity for the coming year."

"How about the chant? Do you still remember it?"

"I'm afraid I don't recall the exact words," Emma replied. "Now, get some rest. Tomorrow will be another busy day."

"Good night, Emma," I whispered, my eyelids growing heavy. 

"Good night, sweet dreams, my dear," Emma said, her voice warm as she gently brushed a stray hair from my forehead.

With a contented sigh, I held onto my bolster, the images of the harvest festival and glowing offerings swirling in my mind as I eased into sleep.

- - -

The next morning, I awoke to the distant sound of a carriage approaching the manor, its rhythmic clatter echoing through the quiet morning air.

"His Grace has returned!" A voice proclaimed with a sense of urgency, setting the servants in motion as they hurried to prepare for the Duke's arrival.