Chapter 47. Focus Only On Me
2023.10.17.
The person most delighted by his unexpected appearance was not Blair, but Baroness Sionel.
"How fortunate that you've come, Your Grace! Couple outfits certainly look much better when both people try them on together, making the final adjustments much easier."
Perhaps excited at the prospect of dressing her creation on the finest models, she chattered away in her characteristically high-pitched voice.
"Now then, everyone, please assist the two of you."
Baroness Sionel snapped her fan shut with a crack. As if that were a signal, her assistants efficiently led Blair and Herdin away to the dressing room.
Lina and Melly exchanged glances and smiled with satisfaction. Then Lina caught Mason's eye and gave him a thumbs up.
Herdin coming here was largely thanks to him, having urged the Duke a second time.
Mason, seeing this, didn't reveal any emotion as usual, but his expression seemed to soften subtly.
While Ruth was eyeing the three of them with suspicion, Herdin, having finished changing, came out first. Soon after, Blair also emerged from the dressing room.
Both were dressed in midnight blue clothes. The dark-toned outfits made their distinct features stand out even more strikingly against their fair skin.
Though not suited for the bright daylight outside, it was a color that would be perfect for an evening banquet.
Seeing them, Lina thought to herself.
'Honestly... the two of them do look good together.'
Setting aside background, personality, and everything else—looking solely at appearances—she had to admit that the only man in this empire who matched Blair's side was him.
It didn't seem to be Lina's thought alone.
Baroness Sionel, in particular, appeared deeply moved by the clothes she had made and the models who adorned the finale of her creation.
"Oh my, putting them on their rightful owners finally brings the clothes to life. Anyone would think you're a passionately enamored newlywed couple."
As the Baroness, with her characteristic fussiness, stood the two side by side and finished her final inspection, a servant entered with a knock.
"The painter for your portraits has arrived."
* * *
The two changed into the outfits they would wear for their portraits and came to the greenhouse in the rear garden.
Even within the greenhouse, chairs for the two were placed in the sunniest spot where flowers were in fullest bloom.
Blair looked at the spot with renewed emotion.
In her past life, she had been the one to suggest painting a portrait first.
Even though everyone in the ducal household disapproved of her becoming the lady of the house, she had wanted to feel like she belonged in Delmark, even just a little.
But this time, she had no intention of painting a portrait.
She would leave this mansion in a few months anyway.
Someone else would become the lady of this household—what good would come from leaving traces of a duchess who lasted barely half a year? It would only be troublesome.
Yet, in this life, Mason had been the one to suggest it first.
'Since this is the first banquet Her Ladyship is hosting, how about commissioning portraits of the two of you to hang?'
Blair had declined his proposal for the reasons mentioned earlier, but like with the couple outfits, she reluctantly accepted because Lina and Melly earnestly wished for it.
However, there was something she had failed to consider...
'Why didn't I think about having to stay stuck to this man for hours...'
Blair glanced sideways at Herdin standing next to her.
Since the day they argued at the café in front of the art gallery, Blair had been avoiding him. It seemed he similarly had no particular desire to see her either.
But now she had to sit side by side with him and have their portrait painted.
She couldn't very well send away the painter they had already called, so at this point, she had no choice.
Blair took her seat next to Herdin, following the painter's guidance.
The painter adjusted Herdin's pose first.
"Your Grace, if you would place your hand on Her Ladyship's shoulder like this... Yes, perfect."
Following his instruction, Herdin's hand came to rest on Blair's shoulder. At that, he felt Blair's body flinch.
Given this posture, it would have been more comfortable to lean completely against him, but Blair sat with her back rigidly straight. As if wanting to distance herself from him as much as possible.
Herdin stared at such a Blair intently, but she never once looked at him. She seemed to be deliberately avoiding his gaze.
Herdin's gaze, which had been watching his wife, turned forward. Only then did he feel his wife's small frame exhale a long breath.
The portrait session continued for over an hour.
"Would you two care to take a short break?"
The moment the painter offered a break, Blair rose from her seat as if she had been waiting for exactly that. Then she slipped out of the greenhouse as if fleeing.
Herdin, resting his chin languidly, watched her retreating figure with a gaze that carried a chill.
* * *
After leaving the greenhouse and parting ways with Lina, who had gone to fetch some light refreshments, Blair decided to use the brief interlude to inspect the garden.
If it were winter, no one would normally come outside, so it would be fine, but since this was a spring banquet, there would likely be people coming out to the garden.
'The landscaping has been well-maintained, and the fountain is working properly too.'
Blair surveyed the garden—into which she, Mason, and the gardeners had poured their devotion—with satisfaction.
With the tension released, her attention was drawn to her back, which had been aching since earlier.
It was a newly purchased dress from Baroness Sionel, but perhaps because the ribbon tying the open back had been pulled too tight, it kept chafing against her tender skin.
Blair moved behind a nearby hedge and looked around. There was no one nearby.
She tried to loosen the ribbon on her back little by little and retie it, but without being able to see behind her, it wasn't as easy as she'd thought.
"This isn't working..."
As Blair struggled with the ribbon that wouldn't tie properly, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind her.
"Surely our refined lady isn't attempting to undress out here."
Startled, Blair turned around to find Herdin, who knew how long he had been watching, leaning against the wall with his gaze fixed on her.
What kind of person does this man see me as?
Blair, understanding his words a beat late, looked at him with a sullen expression and retorted.
"...Of course not."
Blair proceeded to walk past him toward the greenhouse.
Or rather, she tried to. Until his firm arm wrapped around her waist.
A sudden warmth drew close from behind.
"L-Let go of me."
Startled by the sudden contact, Blair tried to pull away from him, but his voice descended from above her head.
"Stay still."
Though there was no force behind the words, the moment she heard that voice, Blair ceased her resistance. Resisting would have been a futile effort anyway.
Herdin released her waist and reached for the loosened ribbon on her back.
His fingers, as long as his large hands, brushed against her skin revealed between the ribbons. Every nerve in Blair's body stood on end.
Blair bit her lip tightly so he wouldn't notice her reaction and protested in a small voice.
"I can do it myself."
"For someone who claims that, you seemed to be struggling for quite a while."
"..."
He had been watching from the start...
For some reason, that fact wounded her pride. Not wanting to lose to him, Blair retorted.
"I can go back and ask Lina for help."
"So you intend to show this state to other men?"
His voice dropped lower than before as he said this, but Blair, preoccupied with checking her attire, didn't notice.
Because she had loosened the ribbon overall, the front of the dress had slipped slightly, revealing her shoulders completely.
If she returned in this state while Herdin was here, there was indeed a risk of inviting embarrassing misunderstandings.
Unable to find words to refute him, Blair fell silent. Over her shoulder, his question came.
"How long do you plan to keep avoiding me?"
Blair felt a pang, but soon attempted to deflect.
"...I haven't been avoiding you."
"What about just now, when you tried to run away?"
"I was simply busy with work."
One corner of Herdin's mouth tilted slightly as he finished tying the ribbon.
What an obvious lie that wouldn't fool anyone.
She had started avoiding him precisely from the day after she met Mikhail.
Of course, that morning he had ignored her when she tried to see him off. Her face, incapable of lying, had clearly shown signs of seeing him off out of obligation and reluctance.
But after that, Blair began avoiding him as if she had been waiting for the opportunity. She was making it so obvious that she was furious—he couldn't possibly not notice.
"It would be ridiculous if you're acting like this over some man who means nothing to you."
If she were simply angry at him, he wouldn't have thought much of it.
But the fact that the reason she was angry with him was because of that man named Mikhail twisted his insides.
"Do you have feelings for him?"
"...Why does that matter to you?"
"It matters."
Herdin released the tied ribbon and added.
"You're my wife right now."
"..."
"I hate sharing what's mine with other bastards. So..."
He wrapped his arms around her waist again. Before Blair, who had flinched, could even try to escape, his lips descended onto the back of her pale neck.
"What are you—!"
Disregarding Blair's resistance, Herdin sucked on her tender skin, leaving a red mark.
Mine.
He rather liked that brand.
"While you're by my side, focus only on me."
With a voice that had fallen coldly calm, the arm that had been wrapped around her waist loosened. To be precise, it was more accurate to say he released her.
Like releasing a beast he had collared.