The estate was transformed, its gates flung wide, lanterns strung like stars across the blooming lavender and rose beds. The air was thick with the scents of fresh bread, roasted apples, and Lila's herbal teas, a feast laid out on long tables under a twilight sky. The village of Eldridge had come in droves—children darting through the grass, parents laughing, elders sharing stories of days long past. The east wing's schoolroom stood ready, its doors open to reveal polished desks, colorful books, and a chalkboard adorned with a child's drawing of a sun.
Elara stood at the garden's edge, her simple green dress catching the evening breeze, her heart swelling with the sight. This was the festival they'd planned—the moment to cement the Valmont estate as a beacon of community. Cassian was beside her, his dark coat unbuttoned, a rare ease in his posture as he watched a group of children chase Gideon through the flowerbeds. Lila presided over a table of herbal displays, showing a cluster of mothers how to steep rosemary for healing teas, her smile radiant.
"It's alive," Elara said, her voice soft with wonder. "The estate, the village—it's like they're breathing together."
Cassian's hand found hers, his grip warm and steady. "You made this happen, Elara. Your vision brought them here."
She shook her head, her curls swaying. "Our vision. You opened your heart to them, Cassian. That's what they're responding to."
He smiled, a quiet light in his eyes. "Maybe. But it's your courage that lit the way."
The festival pulsed with energy. Gideon, true to his word, gathered a circle of wide-eyed children under an oak tree, spinning a tale of a brave bride who tamed a shadowed manor. His voice carried, dramatic yet warm, drawing laughter and gasps. "And she faced the darkness," he said, winking at Elara, "with a heart so fierce, even the stars took notice."
Nearby, Lila handed a young girl a sprig of thyme, explaining its uses with gentle patience. The girl's mother, the baker's wife, nodded approvingly, her earlier wariness gone. "This is good," she said to Elara as she passed. "My daughter's already talking about planting her own garden."
Elara's chest warmed, her smile bright. "That's what we want—for her to grow, to dream. The school will be hers as much as ours."
As the night covered, Cassian took Elara's arm, guiding her to a small platform where the village council waited. The crowd hushed, faces turning expectantly. Cassian's voice rang clear, carrying over the gardens. "Eldridge, welcome to the Valmont estate—not as guests, but as family. This school, this night, is our promise to you: a future built together, where no one stands alone."
A cheer rose, glasses clinking, children clapping. Elara stepped forward, her voice steady despite the weight of eyes on her. "This schoolroom is just the start," she said, gesturing to the east wing's glowing windows. "It's for your children, your stories, your dreams. We'll teach reading, gardening, history—but we need you to make it yours. Join us, teach us, build with us."
An elder from the council, his face lined with years, stood. "I remember your mother, Cassian. She'd be proud. And you, Elara—you're one of us now. Eldridge stands with you."
The crowd roared, the sound a wave of trust washing over the estate. As the music resumed—a lively fiddle tune—Elara and Cassian stepped down, greeted by handshakes and smiles. A young boy tugged at Elara's dress, offering a daisy. "For the school," he said shyly.
She knelt, accepting it with a grin. "It'll be the first flower on our teacher's desk."
The night unfolded with joy—dancing, storytelling, plates piled high with food. Gideon led a group in a raucous game of tag, while Lila taught a cluster of teens to weave lavender into wreaths. Cassian and Elara moved through the crowd, their hands linked, their laughter mingling with the village's.
As the clock neared 8:00 PM, they slipped away to the balcony overlooking the gardens. The stars above shone brighter, as if celebrating with them. Cassian pulled Elara close, his voice a low murmur. "This is our legacy now—not shadows, but this. You and me, and them."
Elara leaned into him, her heart full. "A family, a home, a beginning. I love you, Cassian."
He kissed her, soft and sure, the world fading to just them. "I love you, Elara. Always."
Below, the festival glowed, the Valmont estate no longer a place of secrets but a beacon of unity. As the night deepened, the seeds of tomorrow took root, promising a future where love and trust would forever shine.