The two of them had their share of bitter talk and a good drink. But they didn't dare to be lazy for too long, and Kristina quickly cleaned everything up as she rewrapped the cloth towel around her. They were going to wait until the dinner was over to discuss what would happen afterward in the moonlight.
Kristina winked at her and said, "It's almost the full moon; I can't wait to share my inspiration with you."
When they opened the cellar door, the setting sun had already colored the garden leaves into a carpet of gold and red. It made Dill wonder what the view of the Green Valley River would be like at this time of year, but a few noisy crows brought back her gloomy thoughts, and she heard the guys whispering about doom, death, and disaster.
Holtzog. Hearing the family name again, Dill couldn't tell if she was scared or looking forward to it.
The knight was a fake, and so was the teenager; he was a wolf.
Nevertheless, when confronted with Kristina, she subconsciously avoided Mucha and did not confess to the other Moon Witch the true mask of the Wolf Rider.
Perhaps she should confess before "Sir Holtzog" arrives. Dill opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
Suddenly, there was a thrust behind her and she fell into a warm cloud of fallen leaves. The golden, ripening sunlight was plentiful in the gaps between the leaves, as if she were lying on a blanket of freshly tanned goose feathers. Behind her came the sound of Kristina's laughter and the flapping of the great white goose's wings, and all of Dill's thoughts swirled and fragmented as the colorful leaves swirled and fragmented.
The two girls played for a while in the leaf litter, reminiscing about the fall harvest festival in Miller's Hollow, the fragrant roasted groundnuts and chestnuts, and making a promise to each other that they would go back together at the end of the day. Kristina was confident enough to tell her friends that when she arrived at the temple, she would first tell the goddesses about Oya.
Unlike the ornate halls and heavy fortresses, the Virgin's Tower was a spired tower built entirely of white stone, with a slender grove of aspen trees planted in front of it. Cristina told her that none of it was white, symbolizing the purity of the women who lived here. The Virgin's Tower is forbidden to outside men, only young maids are allowed in and out, and even married women have to ask permission before being allowed to visit.
There was only one entrance here, a red oak door that required the combined efforts of four people to push it open, and as Kristina flashed Lady Lester's token, four burly servants immediately stepped forward to lift the bolts of the door, which were as thick as a round log.
They entered the tower, and inside was a spiral staircase made of white quartz, swirling all the way up the pillars, leading to a delicate iron window at the top of the tower. The light from outside was like the crystal lamps of a sanctuary draping down, which was indeed fitting for the residence of a pure maiden.
"The eldest daughter Rosalie, the second daughter Barbara, and the youngest Chloe are still babies; it's rumored outside as if all three are the same age, and most importantly, Miss Rosalie, she's just turned sixteen; you don't have to worry about that; she's just like Mrs. Lester; she's a gentle, sweet, and nice girl."
Thinking of Mrs. Lester, Dill's mind was instantly quite impressed with that of Miss Rosalie, and she went on, "It is for Miss Rosalie's marriage that I have come this time to make preparations."
"Marriage? Those people think so... well."
Kristina suddenly stopped talking when she heard the sound of hurried and heavy footsteps coming from upstairs, and several maids of honor dressed similarly to Kristina were hurrying downstairs.
Kristina told her, "The door to the lady's room has four layers of black iron lock sets, each with a different key. The Duke and Duchess of Ester each hold one, the Nanny holds the other, and the young lady herself has one, which the young lady or the Nanny may lock as she pleases on weekdays, and before going to bed, all four floors must be locked, so you can only visit her here in the daytime, and come on, we must be quick."
Just as Kristina said, when they arrived at the young lady's boudoir, an old servant girl with a pulpy white dress was half covering the door, carrying two black iron keys in her hands, obviously preparing to lock the door.
"You are late! Miss is going to rest." The servant girl evidently recognized Cristina, and as soon as she saw her, she hastened to close the door.
"Mag! Please!" Kristina skillfully went up to pester her, the young girl's voice as sweet as sugar water, the servant girl's face softened at her shouts, and in the end she couldn't bear to pin the young girl's ankles with the door panel.
Still, her eyes couldn't help but be wary at the sight of the unfamiliar Dill.
"This is the tutor Madame asked me to introduce to the young lady, a good nanny, if you would be so kind as not to frighten Madame's guest."
"I'm not your nanny, Miss is really not feeling well today, so don't make too much noise and don't stay too long."
Kristina whispers to Dill after she leaves, "She's the same every day, like a burglar is going to break in and steal someone at any moment."
Dill could see that the two were on good terms and couldn't help but snicker.
Miss Rosalie and her two younger sisters slept separately, and behind the door was a spacious and exquisite bedchamber with carved pediments and doorframes and large pieces of furniture such as a dressing table and closet, which showed how much Miss Lester was favored and respected as the jewel of the family. The room also has a small balcony to look out over the Green Valley River. The setting sun's afterglow burns a rolling wave of fire on the horizon, haloing the entire river of abundance as if it were molten gold.
The pink and green silk tent was draped down and there was no one else in the room but a figure curled up on the bed. Just as Nanny Mag had said, Miss Rosalie wasn't feeling well.
Kristina and Dill looked at each other for a moment, not sure whether to go in or not, when they heard a weak female voice from behind the silk curtain:
"Tina?"
Kristina went up at once and pulled up the green silk with a silk thread.
"It is I, my lady, the madam has asked me to bring you your new governess."