“Oh, who put that on your chest?”

“I did.”

The girl blushed and replied. Rubica looked around, and all the children appeared to have a ribbon on their chest.

Of course, they were linen ribbons, which were very different from silk ribbons the nobles used, but they made them all look even livelier.

“You look like a princess.”

Rubica complimented her while tasting the sesame flower. Its sweet scent and flavor filled her mouth. That made the knight guard who was escorting her break in a cold sweat, but she didn’t mind. She had done that quite often as a child.

“Father Gregory promised us to buy silk ribbons later if we behave.”

Her compliment delighted the child and she went on talking even without being asked.

“Wouldn’t silk ribbons be expensive?”

“He said we will be able to buy enough of it to make ribbons if we work hard. Then I would really look like a princess.”

Rubica didn’t know how to feel about that. A dress made of silk was expensive, and commoners couldn’t even dream of having one.

Moreover, jeweled stomachers were even more expensive. To even get to touch one, they had to get themselves employed as the maid of a great family.

Actually, most commoners lived their entire lives wearing plain linen clothes that were nothing more than nightwear to nobles. Because of that, it was quite easy to discern whether someone was a noble or a commoner by the clothes he or she was wearing.

However, even commoners could afford to buy a silk ribbon and, unlike jewels and embroidery, it didn’t require much money and work.

It could also be put and removed with a pin, so they would no longer have to wear crowns made of clay to play princesses.

With one silk ribbon, each child could be a princess. Even if her dress wasn’t luxurious, she could feel and pretend whatever she wanted. The big difference between the nobles’ and commoners’ clothing could become small.

“I’ll send you some ribbons when I get home.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Why would I lie to you?”

The girl smiled happily.

Rubica watched the children in simple dresses as they ran in the yard.

Their dresses had dirt on them, and the only piece of prettiness was their linen ribbons, but they were much more beautiful and charming than luxurious dresses made for balls and tea meetings.

Rubica was even happy to see them brag about the ribbons they made themselves.

‘I thought it would be only in fashion for a while as a decoration for noble ladies’ dresses…’

But now, she could see she had been wrong. Unlike any other decorations that were used on dresses, the ribbon wasn’t limited to certain materials.

Nobles made ribbons with silk, but it could be made with ordinary fabrics, and it was simple enough for a five-year-old to make.

It could be used to decorate tables, tie curtains, and as a hair accessory.

It was only right as it had started from a simple knot that Chris, who was a commoner himself, invented.

‘Something simple and yet pretty.’

Rubica realized what she had made, although it was a bit late. It wasn’t a beauty that would be in fashion for a few months and then go away.

It was eternal, and it could be possible only because it had been adopted for the commoners. The dress she was wearing, the uncomfortable corset, and the engageantes sleeve that made the dresses, they were all going to be gone with time.

But not the ribbon, it had already become a part of the people’s lives. It was going to be one of the few unnecessary things that would survive only thanks to their prettiness.

“I hope it would be possible to produce linen that is stronger and last longer.”

She muttered to herself at seeing a hole in a girl’s dress. She had been focusing on imported fabrics lately, looking for even more splendid fabrics.

“If less work is required to make clothes, these people will be able to wear better clothes.”

When she asked Edgar to invent something that would help with needlework, she thought it would be enough to have the machine that would do a small bit of Khanna’s work for her.

Delicate hands were required to make noble ladies’ dresses. Even with the machine, more than half of the procedure would have to be done by hands. Plus, some ladies may not want their dresses to be made with machines.

However, clothes for commoners were different. Rubica started to think about a design that would minimize the handwork. It had to have as many straight lines as possible, but it had to be comfortable when put on.

‘I think it would be even better if one can wear it easily on one’s own…’

Dresses that had to be tied at the back couldn’t be worn without a helper. It would be better to have it in the front. But straps would often get loose in time, so it would have to be something simpler and more comfortable.

‘Yes, buttons!’

Her peers preferred to have their clothes sewed to fit their body and fixed with pins, so to them, buttons were nothing more than a decoration for clothes and shoes.

Moreover, commoners couldn’t afford the time to make button holes as it required a lot of time and had to be sewed well.

However, Rubica had someone who could free her from all those restrictions: Edgar.

‘I’m sure he will be able to make a machine that makes button holes.’

She knew Edgar could make almost everything. It was even more magical than Ios’s power.

The dragon’s magic went away with time, but Edgar inventions didn’t.

One of the most mysterious charms he had was that he could make what she wanted to have come true without any restrictions.

Even his beauty and immense wealth couldn’t be compared to that.

“Your Grace!”

Rubica was playing with the children when someone called her. The strong voice was Ann’s.

The mana stone carriage had arrived. Really, playing with children always makes people lose track of time.

“Ann, it’s nice to see you again.”

“Oh, Your Grace, look at your face! And these wounds on your hands! Oh, how could Stephen do this to you after all that kindness we’ve shown him?”

Rubica normally found Ann’s talking a little tiring, but this time, she couldn’t welcome it more.

They hadn’t seen each other for only one day, but it felt like it had been years…

Rubica felt her kindness, and Ann’s words made her realize it was finally over. She didn’t burst in tears only because there were so many eyes watching.

“You must have suffered a lot. Let us go home now.”

“Okay.”

It no longer felt awkward to think Claymore Mansion as her home. Even after falling in love with Edgar, Rubica had felt coldness rather than warmth when thinking about the place.

As they were both hiding secrets from each other, she hadn’t been able to get rid of her anxiety, even when whispering love.

But now, she didn’t think of the abbey or Berner Lodge when she heard the word ‘home’.

‘When I go home, I want to change the curtains to ones that have warmer colors.’

Claymore Mansion now felt like the place she would love and cherish. She finally had a family, a large family that included her ladies-in-waiting and the butler, thanks to her husband being a duke.

Claymore’s servants including Carl were all good at their jobs. Rubica was quite impressed to see the two mana stone carriages in the back yard.

Even in that emergency, they had sent two carriages, one for the servants and one for Edgar and Rubica.

‘I guess they were in a hurry as they didn’t send my carriage.’

It felt quite weird to get on Edgar’s carriage instead of the duchess’s carriage. She had decided on their terms of marriage with him and slapped him in that very carriage.

It was quite an embarrassing memory, so she asked Ann, “Where’s Edgar?”

“He’s already in the carriage. He’s waiting for you.”

“I guess I’ve spent too much time with these children.”

Nevertheless, she didn’t forget to thank the people there for taking good care of her and Edgar before she got on the carriage.

The priest saw it as an opportunity and asked her to look around the dukedom with her husband from time to time. Edgar should have started doing it a long time ago as he was the land’s lord, but he had been postponing it because of his curse.

Rubica replied she would do it. She was kind, unlike her cold husband, and the priest smiled happily thinking she was just as kind-hearted as the people said.

“Edgar, I’m here.”

She went inside the carriage and called his name, feeling quite pleasant, but to her surprise, Edgar didn’t welcome her.

He just lay on the bed and said nothing. He seemed to be still mad at her for running away earlier.

“Edgar.”

She called him again, but no answer came. He was behaving like a little boy. It was hard to believe he was normally so strong, wise, and dependable.