Chapter77. The Way to Protect You
2023.11.16.
The carriage of House Delmark arrived at the Ethel estate. It was the mansion where today's banquet was being held.
Herdin watched Blair as she observed the carriages entering ahead of them one by one, then called out to her.
"Blair."
"Yes."
"If your condition worsens, tell me immediately. Don't endure it."
"Yes."
"Let me say it again, the purpose of today's banquet is to show that you are perfectly fine. As if you had never been kidnapped. So, pushing yourself until you collapse won't help."
Herdin emphasized this to her.
Because his wife had a stubborn streak; it was obvious she would tenaciously push through even if she wasn't feeling well.
"I understand."
Blair answered softly, nodding as if she understood his words.
She certainly gives prompt answers, at least.
Herdin looked at her and let out a faint chuckle.
Regardless of her physical condition, she seemed to be in good spirits, perhaps because it had been a while since she went out. Seeing her eyes sparkle like that.
That alone made him think he had made the right choice in deciding to attend today's banquet.
Soon, the carriage came to a stop in front of the Count's mansion.
As they stepped down from the carriage and entered the mansion, Count and Countess Ethel, who were welcoming guests, spotted the two and strode over.
"You've come, you two!"
"Thank you for gracing us with your presence."
As one of House Delmark's vassal families, they welcomed the couple more warmly than any other guests.
After exchanging greetings with the Count and Countess of Ethel, the two naturally mingled in the banquet, greeting the gathering nobles.
Blair went among the noblewomen and young ladies, while Herdin joined the noble men.
As soon as Herdin stepped away from Blair's side, one of the noblewomen intruded upon her group.
Blair recognized her face immediately.
Viscountess Perthe.
She was one of the nobles trying to curry favor with Katrina.
She gauged Blair's reaction before casually bringing up a topic.
"By the way, Duchess, your face seems to have grown thinner since we last met. Has something happened?"
She was feigning concern, but the question was clearly intended to probe her.
Blair offered her a gentle smile.
"I was a bit unwell. Thanks to your concern, I'm feeling much better now."
"Ah, I see. The Duke must take better care of you. Perhaps he should have some tonic brewed for you."
"Indeed. It won't do for a new bride to be ill."
A few noblewomen chimed in on the Viscountess's remark, and the first probing attempt naturally passed.
But she didn't stop there and threw out a second topic.
"Oh, by the way. Have you heard the news? Apparently, one of the villas in the outskirts of the capital recently burned down?"
"Just a few days ago, I was wondering where all that smoke was coming from. So it was from there."
When a few noblewomen showed interest in her story, the Viscountess directed a question at Blair, who hadn't reacted.
"The forest scenery around that villa was quite lovely. Such a shame. Did you hear the news as well, Duchess?"
"I imagine there are more people who don't know that news. Since those villas are located on the outskirts of the capital, one wouldn't really know unless they purposely visited. How did you come to know of it, Viscountess?"
As Blair skillfully evaded the question and struck a weak point, the flustered Viscountess's expression distorted.
The villas in that area were mostly used for nobles' secret trysts. Knowing about that place was essentially admitting to having affairs.
Of course, those who had absolutely no interest in trysts wouldn't even grasp the implication of knowing that fact, but it was a clear case of a guilty conscience.
The Viscountess hid her stiffened expression behind her fan and forced a smile.
"I-I happened to be passing by that way that day, so I witnessed it by chance."
The area where the villas were located was filled with forests and barren plains, situated in the exact opposite direction of the Perthe Viscounty.
Meaning there was no way the Viscountess could have just been "passing by."
However, Blair decided not to point that out.
The Viscountess had tried to probe her twice and received a counter-strike once; Blair figured she wouldn't go for a third. Besides, if her vulnerability was exposed one more time, it would only breed resentment.
'There's no need to make an enemy needlessly.'
Unaware of the silent battle of wits between Blair and the Viscountess, the other noblewomen quickly moved on to a different topic.
The atmosphere of the ordinary socialite conversation, exchanging updates and pleasantries, shifted when the Viscountess's maid approached.
"It seems there's an important matter. Will you excuse me for a moment?"
The Viscountess stepped back from the conversation and listened to the maid's whisper. Her gaze was fixed on Blair.
Just as Blair was sensing an inexplicable sense of foreboding from that peculiar gaze, Ruth approached Herdin, who was conversing with the other nobles.
"Your Grace. I have an urgent report."
For Ruth to interrupt in the middle of a banquet meant it was a truly urgent matter.
Herdin immediately excused himself from the conversation.
"What is it."
"There is an unfavorable rumor circulating right now."
"What rumor?"
"Well..."
Ruth covered her mouth with her hand and spoke softly enough so only Herdin could hear. As he listened, Herdin's expression gradually hardened.
His eyes, now grown icy cold, sought out Blair in the banquet hall. His wife was conversing with the noblewomen on one side of the room.
To fulfill her duty.
In an unwelcome place, among unwelcome people, forcing a smile.
Her appearance overlapped with his own past self.
Back when he had to endure the nobles' whispers, pretending not to hear them, for the sake of his family's prestige and for Esmeralda.
Herdin hastily approached Blair. At that moment, the Viscountess's voice rang out.
"Duchess, I am very hesitant to ask this, but... what are your thoughts on the Empress's Palace fire incident from ten years ago? You are the sole survivor of that incident, after all."
Blair's eyes wavered at the unexpected question. The Viscountess didn't miss that opening and continued with a smile.
"Well, you see. There is a strange rumor going around right now. A rumor that you and the Duke suspect Her Majesty the Grand Empress as the mastermind behind the incident ten years ago."
The smiles vanished from the faces of the noblewomen and young ladies who had been watching the pair with bewilderment.
The topic the Viscountess had brought up was an unspoken taboo in high society.
"They say the reason the mastermind behind this recent kidnapping hasn't been revealed is because it's none other than the Imperial Family. That's not true, is it?"
A noblewoman from the Emperor's faction, who had been gauging their reactions, interjected to mediate the atmosphere.
"H-how could that be? Her Majesty the Grand Empress cherished you so dearly. You wouldn't possibly suspect your own mother."
However, not only the noblewomen of the Emperor's faction, but even the ladies of House Delmark's vassal families were waiting for Blair's answer.
Amidst the countless stares waiting for her answer alone, just as Blair was merely moving her lips without speaking, a large hand enveloped her shoulder.
Immediately after, a familiar voice fell upon her ears.
"I apologize for interrupting your conversation, but my wife has not long recovered, so we must be taking our leave now."
His words sought their understanding, but the look in his eyes as he surveyed the room was murderous enough to want to kill someone.
Herdin immediately led Blair out of the banquet hall. Blair, being dragged along helplessly, belatedly came to her senses and called out to him.
"Herdin."
But he did not stop walking. Blair gasped for breath and grabbed his hand.
"Herdin, let's... talk for a moment."
Only then did Herdin come to a halt. However, he still hadn't let go of her hand.
Blair said, catching her ragged breath.
"If we just leave like this, everyone will think it's strange. Let's go back and—"
"Go back and say what?"
The expression on his face as he looked back was so icy that Blair momentarily faltered.
Herdin looked down at Blair, who was staring up at him with startled eyes, and sneered.
"Are you going to admit that the rumors are all true? Or will you say it's all a lie?"
"……."
"Do you think what they want is the truth?"
"……."
"No. They'll be too busy tearing you apart regardless of what you say. Or calculating which side to cling to."
"But... running away like this is strange."
After moving her lips for a long time, that was all Blair could muster. Saying she didn't want to run away.
Herdin let out a hollow laugh.
"So, you're going to walk right back in there on your own two feet and endure all their speculations and insults."
And you expect me to watch you do that?
To him, it was now a memory that couldn't even leave a scar, let alone a wound, but this fragile woman wouldn't be able to endure it. He had no intention of throwing her to the wolves as their prey.
"Don't be so pointlessly stubborn, Blair."
"……."
"That's not a sense of responsibility, it's foolishness."
At his words, which struck like a dagger, Blair's expression crumpled as if she were about to cry. Her tightly bitten lips trembled pitifully.
He knew she would be hurt by his words. But rather than watching her crumble from the wounds inflicted by others, it was better for him to bring her down himself.
He alone was enough to be the one who caused her pain.
Gazing at Blair, Herdin let out a low sigh and scooped her up into his arms. Her small frame was lifted limply, as if in resignation.