Chapter 13. The Name of a Stranger
2023.09.13.
Herdin looked at that hand, then swallowed a sigh and rose from his seat.
"……Rest."
Contract. Contract. Contract.
Seeing how she kept harping on about the contract the moment she opened her mouth, it seemed his fake wife had resolved to stake her life on that one-year contract.
He didn't know why that fact, which had been predetermined even before the marriage, suddenly hit home now, or why it sparked such irritation.
Herdin swept back his bangs somewhat irritably and left the room. Waiting outside was Ruth.
"Cut that hypnotist."
At the low-spoken command from his lord, Ruth's eyes widened in surprise.
"Pardon? But didn't you say to keep one on staff?"
"Get a new one. The current one's a quack."
Herdin passed by Ruth and headed back to his office, adding:
"And tell that maid from the Imperial Palace to come to my office."
Remembering 'that maid' Herdin was referring to, Ruth unknowingly stiffened his expression.
The woman who looked at everyone in the ducal household with eyes full of hostility, sharp and piercing. He had never exchanged a word with her, but her gaze alone was enough to make him not want to approach her.
"W-why that woman?"
At Ruth's question, Herdin's cold gaze turned back.
One could not object to a lord's command.
"……I shall follow your order."
Ruth offered an unusually formal bow and withdrew.
* * *
Suddenly summoned to Herdin's office, Lina fidgeted with her fingers, staring intently at his desk.
Even with that handsome face—other maids would lose themselves gawking at if they passed by—right in front of her.
That was because she couldn't even guess why he had suddenly called for her.
The only thought that came to mind was the absurd suspicion, 'Did he hear me cursing him in my head!'
But there was no need to be scared.
The one in the wrong was the Duke who ditched his bride on their wedding night, not her who had served Blair with all her heart.
Just as Lina was straightening her cowering posture, Herdin, who had removed the cigar from his mouth, spoke.
"I heard you served my wife for quite a long time."
Contrary to her recent resolution not to be intimidated, Lina flinched and answered.
"Y-yes! That's correct."
"The fireplace in the room not being lit—is it because Blair is afraid of fire?"
On their wedding night, the fireplace in Blair's room hadn't been lit. Even in weather cold enough to snow. At the time, he had simply thought she disliked the stifling air.
But the moment he saw Blair agonizing over the memories extracted through hypnosis today, he suddenly realized.
"Ah, yes. So when we do warm the room, we try to do it when she's away. It's fine as long as she doesn't get too close, but she still seems uncomfortable."
"Because of that incident ten years ago?"
"I believe so. Though she's never spoken of it directly……."
"And the chronic cough as well?"
"Yes. I heard her respiratory system was weakened as an aftereffect of the accident."
So that was it.
Herdin's lips twisted as he received confirmation.
"You may go."
Lina left, and the sound of the office door closing was heard.
As Herdin unconsciously moved to put the cigar back in his mouth, Blair's cough suddenly came to mind.
And the sight of her looking at him with dazed, tear-filled eyes just moments ago.
He let out an irritated sigh and set the cigar back down. Then he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes fretfully.
The sunlight flickering beyond his eyelids was irritating, reminding him of that beautiful platinum hair.
* * *
The next day, Blair took to her bed with a fever.
"Sometimes, when people receive a great shock, their immune system weakens as an aftereffect, and they fall ill. It seems that is the case with the Madam as well."
The attending physician gave that diagnosis and left.
Herdin, who had come upon hearing the news, looked at the sleeping Blair with an expression of disbelief.
How could a person be this weak?
By nature, a woman's body was inevitably weaker than a man's.
But even taking that into account, his wife seemed to possess a constitution far below the average health of a normal person.
"Please call if you need anything."
Realizing that Herdin wouldn't be leaving right away, Lina quietly exited the room.
He watched the sleeping Blair in silence.
Amidst the peaceful scene, the frail woman exhaling rapid, heated breaths through her slightly parted red lips looked quite pained.
After keeping his post for some time, Herdin approached the bedside. He then brought the back of his hand to her flushed cheek, heated with fever.
The breath escaping from her small lips, barely touching the back of his hand, still carried heat, but she was definitely better than before.
It seemed the fever reducer was taking effect.
It was then that Herdin withdrew his hand with a soft sigh.
"……El."
A faint voice seeped into the silence.
Herdin stared at the lips from which that voice had slipped. Then Blair, her beautiful brow furrowing as if in pain, labored to move her small lips.
"Asiel……."
The pitiful voice, breathed out with a sob, scattered through the quiet room. His withdrawing hand halted.
Hearing the unfamiliar name spill from her lips, the image of Blair obsessing over the 'contract' every time suddenly came to mind.
Only then did her actions make sense.
Asiel.
A lover's name, someone she loved enough to want to meet even in her dreams, enough to want to fulfill the contract even if it meant recalling those horrific memories.
Was her claim of not believing in love ultimately a lie to hide her true purpose?
To tightly conceal the existence of that precious lover, lest he expose it to the world?
Herdin let out a laugh and rose from his seat.
The hypothesis he had lightly dismissed before had now taken shape, but whoever that fool was who had recklessly fallen into forbidden love with a princess was no concern of his.
Even so, the reason that name spilling from the woman's lips grated on him must be because the woman who had hidden her true intentions and deceived him was laughable.
The fact that the name happened to be that of a Delmark ancestor probably played a part as well.
Herdin immediately left the room.
Ruth, who had come looking for him just then, flinched in surprise at facing his lord. He always wore a cold expression, but right now he was more frigid than ever.
While Ruth hesitated at that imposing air, Herdin asked first.
"What is it?"
"Baroness Sionel has sent a catalog."
Baroness Sionel was undeniably considered Ardel's foremost fashion designer. Originally born a commoner, she was a remarkable talent whose skills had been recognized by Empress Dowager Katrina, earning her a title of nobility.
They had planned to summon her to the ducal residence today to create the formal attire for the upcoming New Year's Festival, but Blair falling ill had disrupted the arrangement.
The servant who had gone to deliver the news had returned with the catalog instead.
Herdin took the catalog Ruth offered.
"She asked that you select the fabrics first so they can procure any hard-to-find materials in advance."
Opening the catalog, he saw small swatches of fabric glued inside. Detailed notes on the pros, cons, and prices of each fabric were written in small script beside them.
Herdin closed the catalog and handed it back to Ruth.
"Tell her to get whatever fabric is good for keeping warm. I don't care about anything else."
For the Duke of Delmark, who possessed wealth rivaling the imperial family, the price of fabric was never a consideration.
* * *
A few days later, when Blair's condition improved, Herdin brought in a new hypnotist.
She was a woman in her mid-thirties with a gentle demeanor, said to be from a vassal family of the Delmark ducal household.
The woman, who introduced herself as 'Agnes Laurelain,' explained the plan going forward to Blair.
"People who lose their memories from great trauma sometimes end up burying their memories even deeper as a reaction if you try to force them out."
Agnes continued her explanation with a soft smile directed at Blair.
"So rather than trying to hastily extract the memories, I'd like to start by slowly becoming familiar with the memories of that time."
"How?"
"First, would you share stories of your childhood with me over tea once a week? Any stories will do."
Blair faced Agnes with her usual composed expression, but her fingers beneath the table fidgeted with the hem of her dress.
With the method Agnes proposed, she wouldn't be able to access her memories quickly.
There was only one reason she was so obsessed with recovering those memories. No matter what, she absolutely had to recover them before having Asiel.
If she couldn't end this contract marriage even after becoming pregnant, Herdin would discover the pregnancy.
Moreover, since her body suffered every time she tried to recover her memories, she wouldn't be able to attempt it while pregnant.
Less than half a year remained before she could have Asiel.
It was a tight timeframe, even for wrapping up everything here and preparing to leave.
Lost in thought, Blair couldn't readily respond to Agnes's words. Even with her hand on the table, she only traced the rim of her teacup.
As if reading Blair's mind, Agnes spoke.
"Don't be too anxious. I will definitely help you recover your memories. Just relax your mind, and trust and follow me."
In her gentle gaze lay an irresistible power.
Would she be able to share personal stories in front of a stranger?
She wasn't inclined to do so, but strangely, she didn't feel like refusing Agnes's proposal.
"Alright."
Seeing Blair finally nod with ease, Agnes smiled softly.
"I look forward to hearing what stories you'll share. Because by listening to those stories, I get to learn about another life."
Just as the two were setting their next tea appointment, a presence was felt from behind.