Chapter 44. Three-Way Encounter
Blair looked up with startled eyes, following that hand. Before her stood Mikhail.
Blair naturally placed her hand atop his and asked.
"How did you know it was me?"
"People who usually come to places like this are anxious to show off their prestige. Unless they're trying to display their family crest larger, people rarely arrive by hired carriage."
"Still, I doubt I'm the only one who came by hired carriage."
"Well, let's just say it's the power of magic."
Mikhail smoothly brushed it off with a smiling face and guided Blair into the art gallery.
This private art gallery held an art auction once every season.
Today was the day of the spring auction.
Among the works up for auction today, there was a painting that Ivan's attendant was planning to purchase.
Blair had come here to preempt that painting, and also to acquire a few artworks to fill the sparse ducal residence.
"This way, please."
Following Mikhail downstairs, a spacious hall resembling a theater unfolded before them. However, unlike a theater, the lighting was bright.
The two found seats in a moderately secluded area. Looking at the stage, the auction seemed to still be in preparation.
Blair kept glancing around. On the table before them lay several cards with numbers written on them, an oak board, and a placard with a circle drawn on it.
Mikhail watched Blair, who was thoroughly examining her surroundings like a child full of curiosity, as if finding her adorable.
"It seems this is your first time at an auction."
Only then did Blair realize her behavior was unbecoming of a lady, and she set down the placard she had been examining.
"I never had occasion to leave the imperial palace. My father the Emperor forbade me from going out because it was dangerous, and my body was weak as well..."
In truth, the decisive reason was something else entirely.
Blair hated drawing people's attention.
That merely because she was a princess, every word she spoke and every glance she made came with numerous conjectures attached.
That so many people judged her based on fragmentary glimpses shown in fleeting moments.
And...
"Blair, if you're a princess, act like one. Please, don't embarrass this mother!"
That Katrina would obsess pathologically over that single mistake.
That was why she still disliked drawing people's attention.
After becoming the duchess and gaining some freedom from those gazes, Blair wanted to venture out into the outside world she had never properly explored when she was a princess. With Herdin.
Because if she was with him, other people's gazes wouldn't matter at all.
'Herdin. If you have time, would you go see the clock tower in the square with me?'
'I'll inform the knights. It's cold, so dress warmly.'
But he was always busy, and when he did have time, it was hard to leave the bedroom.
Back then, she had believed that was love. After all, he had worried about her so affectionately.
Though her desire to see the outside world was overwhelming, being held in his arms was also wonderful.
'That man always put his own desires first.'
Perhaps she had known, but desperately rationalized by pretending to understand him, to keep herself from becoming miserable.
Blair scoffed at the past memories that suddenly surfaced. Seeing the bitter smile draped across her lips, Mikhail smiled gently and spoke.
"I suppose I'll have to escort you around often under the pretext of commissions. I know many good places in the capital. I suddenly feel my responsibility has grown immense."
Blair blinked at Mikhail's words. She couldn't understand his willingness to offer such hospitality.
After pondering for a moment, Blair easily reached a conclusion.
'As expected, money makes everything possible.'
His hospitality was simply capitalist goodwill for a client.
That was why it was hard to imagine any ulterior motives hidden behind his refreshingly candid smile and hospitality.
The auction preparations were nearly complete. Watching this, Mikhail spoke.
"Before the auction begins in earnest, there is something I would like to ask you, Madam."
Blair intuitively sensed that the topic he would bring up was related to Kaligo. And as expected, he mentioned that name.
"This man Kaligo Elphind, a knight of the Delmark ducal family. May I ask what reason you have for investigating him?"
Blair hesitated at his question.
One of the purposes of meeting Mikhail today was to hear news about Kaligo. But she couldn't speak about it in detail.
'...I can't say that man will be the one to kill me in the future.'
When Blair couldn't readily answer and hesitated, Mikhail asked again as if he had expected such a reaction.
"If it's difficult to explain, could you at least tell me whether you're looking for him for a good reason, or for a bad one?"
"For personal... unsavory reasons, I am investigating him."
Mikhail's brow furrowed at Blair's answer. The vague ominous premonition he held grew stronger.
Of course, it was still just a 'premonition.'
If he spoke of something uncertain, it might instead put her in danger. He needed to dig a little deeper.
"I will investigate a bit more first. He may be more dangerous than anticipated, so please keep your distance from him as much as possible."
Just as Mikhail finished speaking, the auctioneer who would conduct the auction appeared on the platform.
Soon, the auction began.
* * *
The art gallery director clasped his hands modestly and looked up at the man standing beside him.
A tall, straight stature, and a handsome face that deserved the descriptor 'beautiful.'
Merely standing and appreciating a painting, yet he himself became a work of art alongside it.
This was Herdin Delmark, the greatest investor of this art gallery.
His mother, Eloise, the former Duchess of Delmark, was from the Piache Marquis family, renowned for patronizing artists.
Perhaps because she grew up under such a family tradition, she too had a deep appreciation for art and had sponsored many impoverished artists during her lifetime.
Her son Herdin was carrying on her legacy, continuing to invest in the art gallery.
However, the director found him frightening every time he saw him.
Part of it was his unrealistically handsome appearance, but more than that, this man possessed an indescribable cold intimidation. Even setting aside his position as the gallery's largest investor, that remained true.
Especially today.
'He looks oddly sharper than usual today...'
Still, when his adjutant was with him, he wasn't this frightening.
The director, who had been carefully observing Herdin's mood, cautiously asked a question.
"Um, did your adjutant not come with you today?"
"He had other business."
Ruth had voluntarily gone out on fieldwork for several days now.
The person in question was completely unaware that this was a choice made after observing Herdin, who had become extremely sensitive due to the contract marriage discussion a few days prior.
"Ah... I see."
The director's expression darkened rapidly, but Herdin, whose gaze was fixed on the painting, didn't notice.
"I see many fine paintings from a brief look. I'll drop by again soon."
The private art gallery periodically replaced the exhibited paintings. The purpose was to attract visitors with new exhibitions each time while also discovering emerging artists.
The artworks that finished their exhibition were passed on to nobles through auctions or sales.
"Are you looking to purchase paintings? If there's a work you desire, please let me know now. I'll set it aside for you."
"No, my wife will choose the paintings."
A few days ago, Ruth had relayed the story of when he helped Blair prepare for the banquet. He said Blair mentioned it would be nice to hang more paintings on the walls.
Coming to the art gallery reminded him of those words, so he rather impulsively made an appointment with the director.
The director looked at Herdin with puzzled eyes.
'Is he on better terms with his wife than I thought?'
When the news of Herdin and Blair's marriage spread, people thought he would neglect Blair. The bad blood between the imperial family and the Delmarks was well known to everyone.
But the current Herdin seemed to cherish his wife, at least on the surface. Of course, it could be an act for his public image.
Whatever the truth was, it was enough to just play along with him appropriately.
"Haha, indeed, the lady of the house's taste comes first when decorating the home. Then, if you give me notice beforehand, I'll be waiting."
Herdin left the viewing room with the art gallery director. Coincidentally, people were streaming out of the basement in large numbers.
When Herdin looked at the scene, the director quickly explained.
"Ah, today is the spring auction day. It seems the auction has just ended. If you're interested..."
While the director was explaining, a wave of people exited, and belatedly, a man and woman came up.
Herdin, who was about to pass by indifferently, stopped in his tracks when he saw them. Though the mesh veil attached to her hat covered part of her face, he recognized her at a glance.
That the woman was his wife.
Blair, who was conversing with an unfamiliar man, was smiling brightly as if enjoying herself.
That sight was unfamiliar. How utterly ridiculous.
The art gallery director was saying something beside him, but it didn't even graze his ears.
"Your Excellency?"
At the same time the director called him, Mikhail, who had been looking at Blair with a soft eye-smile, raised his gaze.
The smile faded from his face as his eyes met Herdin's.
Only then did Blair, sensing that something was off about the atmosphere, follow Mikhail's gaze.
At the end of it, her eyes widened in surprise as she discovered Herdin.
"...Herdin?"
Her blinking eyes contained only the shock of an unexpected encounter, with no trace of being caught in a secret.
Herdin's lips twisted as he read that emotion.