Chapter 22. Change
2023.09.22.
At that moment, the presence of several people could be felt from not far away. Footsteps were approaching this way.
Soon, priests revealed themselves from the corridor.
Among those wearing the same vestments and looking quite similar, the middle-aged man at their center stood out prominently.
With common black hair and peculiar green eyes, he was a middle-aged man who looked ordinary at first glance, but an unapproachable aura flowed from him.
Upon discovering Blair and Herdin, he strode over and offered his greeting first.
"To encounter the two of you like this, I must be fortunate."
Gerard Lumiel.
The surname 'Lumiel' was a name given only to the Pope, proving his life.
A man born in the red-light district, called the dirtiest bottom, who rose to the position of Pope, the closest to God.
He never forgot his childhood and lived protecting the weak, as if practicing the saying, "God descends to the lowest places of the world."
Thanks to that, he had deep popularity and received the reverence and respect of all. Even Katrina trusted and relied on his words.
While some said he was clinging to power, others evaluated that it was rather wise to make the Emperor his ally rather than turning him into an enemy.
Regardless of others' evaluations, to Blair, he was the benefactor who saved her from severe internal injuries caused by the fire accident, and she had always lived with gratitude toward him.
Blair greeted Gerard together with Herdin.
"I greet Your Holiness the Pope."
"I heard there was an unpleasant incident at the hunting grounds today, and that Your Excellency took the lead in resolving it. I offer my thanks to you both."
"It is not something to receive thanks for. Anyone in that position would have done the same."
"How magnanimous, like a hero."
Even at Herdin's somewhat blunt response, Gerard smiled. He had the leisure that came from age and position.
Since Gerard was also on his way to offer worship, the three headed to the main temple building together.
Gerard looked at Blair and Herdin with satisfaction and spoke.
"Be that as it may, you've truly become a couple within a month. To think the two of you would safely grow up and marry, I am truly overwhelmed with emotion."
"It's thanks to Your Holiness saving me that day."
Blair mentioned 'that day' without realizing and belatedly checked Herdin's reaction. But Herdin himself had an impassive expression.
Then suddenly, she realized that Gerard's words also applied to Herdin.
'They said that when the previous Duke and his wife passed away, Your Holiness took the lead in commemorating them.'
Herdin's mother, the previous Duchess of Delmark, was famous for being devout during her lifetime.
She served and donated for the weak, accumulating virtue. She heard that among the temple people and the common folk, some secretly revered her as a 'saint.'
When she, who shared the same values, passed away in an unexpected accident, Gerard grieved deeply and personally presided over the funeral of the Duke and Duchess of Delmark.
For the Pope himself to preside over the funeral of someone who was not his family was an extremely rare occurrence in history.
That connection continued to this day, and the Delmark Ducal House still donated large sums every year, carrying on the previous Duchess's will.
'Come to think of it, it's strangely fascinating.'
The fact that the two children of noble and imperial families who had a special connection to Gerard through unexpected accidents had formed a marital bond.
Gerard's words about being overwhelmed with emotion might not have been empty words after all.
While conversing, the three arrived in front of the main building.
The entrance of the main building was crowded with nobles who had gathered to offer worship. They were all murmuring about what had happened at the hunting grounds today.
Gerard, who had stopped walking, said.
"Please go in first, you two. I have some preparations to make outside."
"Then I'll visit the temple soon."
"Anytime."
Gerard responded to Blair's words.
At that moment, between the collar of Blair's clothes, a faint magic circle was visible. Gerard's eyes, which discovered it, sank coldly.
Gerard looked at the backs of the newlywed couple heading into the temple and muttered softly.
"May the two of you build a fortunate family."
* * *
"Peep— Peep—"
The baby marten in the basket cried while looking at Blair. It was pestering her to play with it.
When Blair put her hand into the basket, the marten turned its belly over as if it had been waiting and playfully nipped at Blair's hand. When the palm-sized creature rubbed its body against her, it tickled and made her laugh.
During the New Year's Festival, the marten, which hadn't even opened its eyes properly and couldn't move well, received Blair's devoted care for half a month and grew robustly, opening its eyes. Now, with overflowing energy, it peeped all day long, pestering to be played with.
Blair offered her hand to the marten and fell into thought.
'It's about time the guild contacted me.'
The divorce preparation entrusted to the guild and the identity of the assailant had no progress yet, and regarding the fire incident, she was still in conversation with Agnes, but similarly, there was no significant progress.
Because of that, Blair had been spending a monotonous daily life since the New Year's Festival. Taking care of the marten, and learning from Mason what the lady of the house should do.
Although she could count on one hand the times she had seen Herdin since the New Year's Festival, she rather felt more at ease not seeing him.
She liked this boring peace, but she became anxious that she might become accustomed to it and settle for things as they were.
The more she felt that way, the more Blair read books about the country she would live in after the divorce, or studied the ducal house's budget, redirecting her loosening mind elsewhere.
"Madam, I've brought the milk here."
Blair snapped out of her thoughts at the maid's voice. The maid who entered the room hesitantly held out the milk for the marten.
'This child is...'
Blair then realized that the maid was one of those who had their wages docked for tormenting Rina at that time.
The maids who were caught had apparently been so frightened when the incident escalated to even Herdin finding out, that they hadn't touched Rina since then. They said they didn't even speak to her and avoided her.
They couldn't bring themselves to avoid Blair, their master, but they seemed to be keeping their distance as much as possible, trying not to offend her.
Delivering milk was a simple task, but Blair, who was somewhat aware of their feelings, knew that it must have taken considerable courage for this child to stand before her.
'Her name was... Melly, I think.'
What this child did to Rina was clearly wrong, but that matter had already received appropriate punishment and been concluded.
In her previous life, it was something she had passed by without knowing. Because of that, she couldn't become close to the people of the ducal house until she died.
'But this time, it might be different.'
Now that Herdin had taken on the role of the villain by giving a harsher punishment than she had stated, if she reached out her hand, they might be able to become close easily.
There was no need to try hard to win their favor, but there was no reason to miss the opportunity to become close with just a few words, was there? It would be good for Rina too.
Blair took the milk bottle the maid handed her and gently wrapped her hand over the maid's.
"Thank you, Melly."
"Ah, no. It's something I should naturally do."
At the unexpected response, Melly was flustered and bowed her head.
It was natural for a servant to assist with their master's work, but to be thanked? And by someone she thought would naturally dislike her—no, someone who would have every right to dislike her.
'Come to think of it, I couldn't even apologize for that time...'
Because everyone was in an atmosphere of rejecting Rina, she was swept up in it and stood by. She felt that if she didn't participate, she herself would be rejected.
But that was ultimately her own circumstance.
Late as it was, she wanted to ask for forgiveness. To Rina, and to Blair.
But she was afraid to bring it up. She was also afraid of potentially offending Blair, whose displeasure had settled down.
As her lips moved without words and she hesitated, a peeping sound came from the basket. Naturally, her gaze flowed to that small, cute creature.
At that moment, Blair spoke to her.
"Do you like animals?"
"Ah, yes..."
"Then could I ask you to take care of this child when you have time?"
"Pardon?"
"I read in a book that martens live in groups. So it seems like it would need friends, but I can't bring a baby that's living well with its mother to make friends for this child, right? So I thought I'd have it make lots of human friends at least."
"Ah..."
"Of course, only if you're okay with it."
"Y-yes. Please leave it to me. I've been taking care of the cats at the sponsorship too."
"Really? That's a relief."
At Melly's answer, Blair smiled brightly. Seeing Blair value her own will, Melly felt shy.
Over such a mere word, why couldn't she make the obvious apology?
Melly bowed her head deeply to Blair.
"Madam. About that time... I'm truly sorry. Born as a lowly person without education, I audaciously behaved presumptuously without knowing my place. I'm truly sorry. I really wanted to apologize."
Blair blinked in surprise at the maid's sudden apology, then smiled gently and said.
"I'll accept your apology. In return, will you take good care of this child?"
Even if Blair brought up that incident again and scolded her, Melly was prepared to listen willingly. But what came back was an unexpectedly kind attitude.
Melly blinked her eyes and then nodded vigorously.
"Yes! I'll take good care of it."
"Oh, by the way, this child's name is Peepy."
"Peepy...?"
"Yeah. Doesn't it sound similar to its crying sound?"
Blair asked with a genuinely serious face. In response, the marten cried with a peeping sound as if answering its name.
'...Our madam has no naming sense.'
Melly bit her lip to hold back the laughter that seemed about to burst out. Still, the name was quite cute. The madam looking proud was also somehow a bit cute.
At that moment, a knocking sound was heard.