Chapter 145. Conclusion
'Could it be…….'
Blair's heart sank.
Growing anxious at the thought that something might have happened to Herdin, Blair spoke to the maid.
"Could you go fetch Sir Colin?"
She knew there was nothing she could do in this situation. That hiding was the best course of action.
But staying idle like this, she felt she would be consumed by helplessness and unable to endure it. She needed to leave the forest and see for herself how the situation was unfolding.
What to do would be decided after assessing the situation.
It was then that the maid descended from the carriage upon Blair's command.
"Madam!"
A knight who had gone to reconnaissance the situation outside the forest had returned. Blair struggled to calm her anxious heart, took a deep breath, and asked.
"What is it?"
"The magical beasts' movements are strange."
"……How so?"
"They suddenly started returning the way they came. Even the ones that went to Nerha."
The moment she heard that news, Blair intuitively knew.
That something had completely ended.
Blair commanded the knight.
"We're going to Nerha."
"Understood. Then we'll depart right aw—"
Blair's following words stopped the knight who was about to go tend to the horses.
"I'm coming too."
Blair's eyes were resolute as she said that. The knight, who had been about to dissuade her, bowed his head upon seeing that gaze.
"I will make the preparations."
After the magical beasts had passed, Blair's party emerged from the forest and headed toward Nerha. Since the beasts had already gone through, there was nothing obstructing the roadside.
Thus they rode the carriage for a while. The全景 of Nerha began to appear in the distance, gradually growing closer.
The knights who finally arrived at the entrance of Nerha stopped their horses.
"There may still be magical beasts remaining inside the city, so please allow us to scout first, Madam."
Though they had brought her this far unable to refuse her, their duty was to protect the safety of the Duchess.
They couldn't let Blair enter a city where unknown dangers might be lurking.
The knights divided into a reconnaissance team and an escort team. And just as the reconnaissance team was about to enter the city—
"Huh?"
The reconnaissance team discovered something and stopped their horses. The other knights, puzzled, followed their gaze.
Against the backdrop of the city silhouetted by a golden sunset, the sound of hooves and carriage wheels approached, and a familiar figure slowly drew nearer.
Recognition dawned in the knights' eyes, which gradually filled with relief.
"Your Grace!"
Hearing the knights' voices, Blair hurriedly stepped down from the carriage. Her violet eyes trembled slightly as she spotted Herdin at the end of the road.
Herdin was approaching. Though the clothes on his left arm were notably torn and blood-soaked, he was unharmed.
Facing Blair, who had appeared in this still-dangerous place, Herdin frowned but soon relented with a softened expression.
Dismounting from his horse, Herdin strode toward her, looking only at Blair. And Blair likewise couldn't take her eyes off him.
When the shadows of the two had drawn close enough to reach each other with outstretched hands, Herdin stopped.
He had instinctively reached out toward Blair but hesitated upon seeing his own blood-covered hand, then lowered it and quietly gazed at her.
Seeing her worried eyes, he thought that he was glad to have survived.
Herdin, whose dry lips parted slightly, finally spoke the words he had desperately wanted to say upon returning to her.
"I'm home."
Blair, who had been looking into his blue eyes, lowered her gaze to examine his body.
From his left arm that was intact despite being covered in blood, to his entire body bearing minor scratches.
After carefully assessing his condition, her gaze rose again to meet his.
Confirming that he was safe, Blair cautiously stepped closer and embraced him. She felt Herdin's body stiffen at the contact.
Blair gently stroked his back and whispered.
"……You worked hard."
For keeping your promise to me.
* * *
The Pope of the Ardel Empire had died.
More shocking than his sudden death was the fact that the Pope, who had stood closest to God, had been a dark mage.
Uncovering this truth was aided by Mikhail, who had been gathering evidence while investigating Gerard's background.
The news spread rapidly across the entire continent.
Raymond, the lord of Nerha who had heard the truth from Mikhail, came to Libren and immediately dropped to his knees.
"I am truly sorry, Your Grace."
He apologized for his mistaken judgment and expressed his desire to provide some compensation to the Duke and Duchess, who must have been greatly shocked.
They had nearly gone to war with the Ardel Empire over a momentary misunderstanding. And with Herdin Delmark, no less, who was called a war hero.
If Herdin had truly used dark magic to invade Nerha, Raymond's side would have garnered international sympathy and the war would have been justified. But since that turned out to be a misunderstanding, Nerha had attacked the Duke of Delmark, their invited guest, without any evidence.
In this situation, Raymond had no choice but to grovel.
Herdin, who had been leaning deep into the reception room sofa, drawing in cigar smoke and watching him, finally spoke.
"Keep your compensation. Go back and focus on restoring your territory."
Raymond's eyes went wide.
It was unbelievable that he was showing mercy in a situation where it wouldn't be strange to extract a hefty price. But Herdin never went back on his word.
In truth, that was Blair's wish.
'The people are already struggling with territory restoration, and I don't want to burden them further. Though it wasn't intentional, we also bear some responsibility for drawing His Holiness here.'
Raymond repeatedly expressed his gratitude and left the reception room. Now only Mikhail remained in the reception room with Herdin.
"What is it you wished to discuss?"
Mikhail didn't hide his desire to quickly finish his business with Herdin. Since Herdin felt the same way, he didn't hide it either.
"I was thinking of putting your name on the family registry, if that's what you want."
Mikhail, who had been lifting his teacup, paused at the proposal.
He had revealed that he was Gerard's illegitimate son while wrapping up this incident, but he had never imagined receiving such a proposal.
What Gerard had so desperately wanted, the son who had been denied it was now being offered.
But Mikhail felt no particular emotion about it.
"I appreciate the offer, but I'll accept only the sentiment. I'm different from that man."
Herdin stared intently at Mikhail as he answered.
It was a futile reason to refuse something as significant as being entered into the noble registry, but considering the life he had lived, it was an understandable choice.
"Above all, harboring feelings for one's cousin's woman would be ethically wrong, wouldn't it?"
At the blatant provocation, Herdin's lips twisted around his cigar. A cold chuckle leaked through the gap.
Still an insufferable bastard.
"Then I won't ask twice."
Herdin snuffed out his cigar in the ashtray, stood up, and added.
"Hope we never cross paths again."
As Herdin turned away first, Mikhail's voice came from behind him.
"Please give my regards to the Madam. Tell her I'm grateful and sorry."
Herdin left the reception room without any reaction. Despite the impossibility of not having heard the voice that echoed in the quiet room.
* * *
"When are you planning to return to the capital?"
Rus asked.
There were matters to discuss with the Temple regarding Gerard's death and Miella's punishment, and diplomacy with the Kingdom of Clania was also entangled due to the Nerha issue, so he needed to report directly to Ivan.
Because the schedule had grown longer than expected, matters that needed to be resolved upon returning to the capital had also piled up.
At Rus's question, Herdin's gaze deepened.
When they return to the capital, Blair would……
Herdin, who had been lost in thought for a moment, stood up and answered.
"Prepare to leave sometime next week."
After parting with Rus, Herdin went straight to the bedroom.
The bedroom of the Libren estate was chosen for its large balcony windows that filled the room with a view of the sea. It was for Blair, who loved the sea.
However, Blair was nowhere to be seen in the room. Startled, Herdin stopped in his tracks at the gentle voice coming from in front of the balcony.
"Where should we live, baby?"
Blair was sitting where she could see the sea, talking to the baby in her womb. She did so naturally, as if it were familiar.
When she first spoke to the child, she must have felt awkward too. And he hadn't been there at that moment.
The absence of himself in her time newly weighing on his heart, her quiet voice continued.
"Mommy likes the sea, but I'm not sure if you will too. I wish you'd be born soon and tell me. Then we could travel together to wherever you want……."
Her voice, speaking of the future, brimmed with happiness.
But the happy future she whispered of did not include him. So naturally. Just as it had been throughout their entire past life.
'After this matter is over, let's part ways.'
It was an already agreed-upon matter between them, a separation he had also braced himself for.
And yet, like someone who had overheard a conversation they shouldn't have, he couldn't move from his spot. He wanted to turn away pretending he hadn't heard.
If he did, would it all become as if it never happened?
Even knowing that the one who made her naturally dream of a future without him was none other than himself, he shamelessly wanted to do so.
Herdin, who brushed his lips and gathered his emotions for a moment, deliberately knocked on the door once.
Hearing the sound, Blair turned to look at him.