Chapter 16. The First Meeting
2023.09.16.
"The Madam has visited a guild."
These were the first words from Ruth, who had come to Herdin as he was reviewing documents in his office late at night after returning home.
Herdin, who had been smoking a cigar without taking his eyes off the documents regardless of who came in, looked up at Ruth at the unexpected news.
"What are you talking about, all of a sudden?"
"Sir Jerome, who was patrolling the mansion, saw the Madam and a maid sneaking out about an hour ago. So he followed them, and he said they entered the guild street."
Herdin set down the cigar he was holding and asked.
"Now, at this hour?"
"Yes. She just returned to the mansion."
A chuckle escaped Herdin's lips.
Who would have thought his seemingly demure wife had a taste for such charming transgressions. The unexpected blow to the back of his head stung quite a bit.
"Shall we dig into what the request is about?"
"Why?"
"She might be plotting something with the Imperial family, might she not? She might even be planning to absorb Delmark."
"If that were the goal, she wouldn't risk moving the princess. The Emperor has more than enough people he can mobilize."
"True, that's right."
"And while she might be hatching such plans in the distant future, it won't be now. The Emperor needs my power."
A powerful steed that would bring victory in the war of conquest.
Herdin could vaguely guess the purpose of Ivan's pushing for this marriage from the conversation at the luncheon held at the Imperial palace last time.
"Then why did she go to the guild?"
At Ruth's question, Herdin irritably swept up his still-damp black hair and pressed his throbbing temples from a headache.
That was exactly what he wanted to ask.
What on earth was going through that little head of hers, what she was scheming.
But the guild wouldn't easily confess a client's purpose, and forcing them to confess would blow things up. If Blair found out about it, she would hide her purpose entirely.
Herdin, who had been smoking his cigar in silence, lost in thought for a while, commanded in a low voice.
"Just guard her for now. Without being noticed."
* * *
Before long, the New Year's Festival was only a day away.
It was also the last day of the year.
Blair came down to the dining room for breakfast as usual. Herdin's seat was empty again today.
"His Excellency left the mansion early this morning due to business."
Mason, who pulled out the chair, said as if making an excuse.
That was understandable, since she hadn't had a meal with Herdin since the day of the incident with the maids.
But this was already familiar to Blair.
'Still, I wanted to thank him for what he did for Lina.'
She didn't want to owe him any more emotional debts.
Blair finished her meal, thinking that if she ever ran into him, she should thank him before it was too late.
Afterward, she tried on the dress for the New Year's Festival that Baroness Shionel had made, and then took a short rest.
"Madam, Lady Lorellaine has arrived."
She had dozed off, and when she woke up at Lina's voice, she realized it was time for the tea appointment she had made with Agnes.
When she went to the greenhouse where she was waiting, Agnes, who had been waiting, greeted her warmly.
"Hello, Madam. It's been quite cold, I hope you've been well this past week?"
"Yes. Have you been well too, Lady Lorellaine?"
"Of course, thanks to you."
They had made an appointment at their first tea time last week, and since today was their second tea time, this was essentially the first proper consultation.
Blair somewhat nervously traced the rim of her teacup.
She didn't particularly like meeting strangers to begin with, but she usually wasn't the nervous type. Born as a princess, there were many strangers she had to meet obligatorily whether she wanted to or not.
As an exception, before her regression, dealing with the people of the Delmark Duchy was difficult and nerve-wracking.
Because their gazes, felt at every moment, seemed to judge whether she was fit to be the Duchess, whether she was someone worthy of Herdin.
After returning to the past, those gazes no longer frightened her, but strangely, facing Agnes made her nervous.
Because it felt like Agnes could see right through everything about her.
Telling someone her story was unfamiliar. Since Esmeralda's death, she had never told anyone her story.
Agnes swallowed some warm tea to thaw her frozen body and broke the ice.
"Anyway, it feels like we just welcomed the new year, and in the blink of an eye, it's already the last day of the year. Time really does fly."
"It really does."
Blair didn't want to answer so briefly, but she didn't particularly have anything to say.
It was especially so because she had always lived a life where someone else would lead the atmosphere first, without her having to strain herself to think of something to say.
Fortunately, Agnes didn't seem to mind.
"We agreed to talk about old stories starting today, didn't we?"
"Yes. What story shall we start with?"
"Hmm, it might be hard to think of something if we just try to recall randomly... Shall we talk about memories related to the New Year's Festival?"
"The New Year's Festival?"
"Things that happened at the New Year's Festival the year the accident occurred. Do you happen to remember any episodes? Even very trivial things would be fine."
Blair recalled the memories of that day without difficulty.
Because that day was the day she first met Herdin.
* * *
The day before Blair turned eleven.
On the last day of the year like today, she used to meet with relatives she couldn't see often and exchange New Year's greetings in advance.
Blair put more effort into her appearance than ever and visited the Empress's Palace. She didn't know why, but lately Esmeralda had been busy and hard to meet.
'I should ask Her Majesty the Empress to play a card game. I'm definitely going to win today.'
She entered the Empress's Palace with a swelling heart.
However, there was a guest who had arrived first.
"Oh my. You came at just the right time, Blair."
Beside Esmeralda, who welcomed her with the same affectionate face as always, sat an unfamiliar boy.
A handsome boy with beautiful black hair of the same shade as Esmeralda's, a pale face, and piercing blue eyes.
Blair recognized who he was at a glance.
That he was the young head of the current Delmark Duchy, and Esmeralda's only nephew, Herdin Delmark.
Esmeralda had sometimes talked about Herdin.
'He's a very lonely child. It would be nice if he could have a good friend like our Blair.'
At Esmeralda's worried words, Blair had wanted to reassure her and promised, "If I meet him, I'll be his friend."
But when actually facing Herdin, Blair looked at him with eyes full of wariness. She didn't like the uninvited guest who had disrupted her cozy time with Esmeralda.
"Greet her, Herdin. This is the Princess."
Esmeralda gently wrapped her arm around Herdin's shoulder and introduced Blair.
The boy with the cold impression stood up and bowed politely.
"Herdin of Delmark greets the shining star of the Empire, the Princess."
The boy's attitude as he bowed was impeccably polite, but his eyes revealed an unconcealable boredom.
Blair flinched when she saw those eyes.
For Blair, who had always been surrounded by well-meaning people, the indifference of a boy a few years older than her was unfamiliar and frightening.
But she couldn't run away after receiving his greeting, nor could she betray Esmeralda's expectations, so she awkwardly accepted his greeting.
"N-Nice to meet you. Duke Delmark."
"I thought it would be nice if you two met at least once, and I'm glad you could meet like this."
Esmeralda was happy about the meeting of the two children, but Blair only found Herdin's presence uncomfortable. Whether fortunately or unfortunately, the boy seemed to have no interest in Blair.
Esmeralda, observing the two children who wouldn't even make eye contact with each other, suggested first.
"Shall we play a card game today too?"
"Yes, that sounds great!"
Blair was excited at the thought of playing a card game, and Herdin wore an indifferent expression, but he indulged them in the game.
But as the game went on, Blair's expression gradually grew sullen as well. It was already the fourth round, and Herdin kept winning.
Herdin, who kept winning, also lacked any sense of tension, and grew indifferent.
Blair, who desperately wanted to win, and Herdin, who had no intention of losing.
Yet they didn't so much as exchange a word, nor even meet each other's eyes. At this rate, it seemed difficult for the two children to get closer no matter how many more games they played.
Esmeralda, feeling troubled, thought of another way.
"Playing the same game over and over seems a bit tedious. Shall we play 'Catch the Thief' this time?"
And so the game of 'Catch the Thief' began.
At first, matching cards came out in strings, making the game progress quickly, and soon enough cards were depleted to the point where it was time to start the psychological warfare.
"Oh my."
Esmeralda let out a small gasp as Herdin drew a card from her. It meant Herdin had drawn the thief card.
This time it was Blair's turn to draw from Herdin's cards. Herdin, with his usual indifferent expression, held out his cards to Blair.
However, Blair hesitated, unable to easily draw from Herdin's cards.
'This person is scary...'
To play psychological warfare, she needed to look at the opponent's face and read the cards, but she was afraid to look straight into Herdin's eyes.
It was partly because of his cold impression, but also because the rumors about the 'power' passed down in the Delmark Duchy had come to mind.