Chapter 90. Summer Night Sparks
2023.11.29.
By the time the two stepped out into the backyard, the darkness of night had fully settled in. However, lamps placed here and there chased away the shadows, setting the mood.
As they followed the path through the backyard, the boisterous noise gradually grew louder.
At the end of the path, the members of Delmark, who had finished preparing for the cookout, were all gathered. Not only the servants, but the knights as well.
"You came just in time. The meat has just finished roasting."
Mason guided the two to the center of the gathering.
There, a massive, blazing fire was roasting venison. Upon seeing it, Blair came to an abrupt halt.
Even though she had fully regained her memories of the accident, her fear of fire still remained.
In particular, a fire this large—entirely incomparable to the candle flames she had been practicing with—evoked even greater terror.
Noticing Blair frozen, unable to tear her eyes away from the fire, Heurdin waved his hand in front of her face to distract her.
"It's alright."
As his low voice settled in her ear, a large hand clasped hers.
Blair slowly raised her head and met his lake-blue eyes. The moment she looked into them, the tension in her body slowly melted away as if it were a lie.
Just then, Ruth approached holding a skewer of roasted meat.
"Here! Your Grace, My Lady. Please, have a taste. The first bite must go to the two of you, after all."
Only then did Blair realize why the knights were glaring at them like starving wild beasts, and she burst into laughter.
"Thank you for your consideration."
"You all could have started without us. It's not poisoned, is it?"
"Shall I eat it first and digest it for you, then?"
At Heurdin's suspicion, Kaligo abruptly interjected.
Blair was inwardly startled by his appearance, but she didn’t let it show. Right now, he was merely a loyal knight of Delmark who had committed no wrong against her.
"Let me try it."
Heurdin took the skewer Ruth offered and took a bite of the meat.
Ordinarily, nobles strictly used cutlery to maintain their dignity while eating, but for the knights of Delmark, who had spent long years roaming battlefields and subjugating magical beasts, eating roasted meat off a skewer was far more familiar.
The meat skewers were a remnant of that custom.
The knights watching Heurdin swallowed hard.
"How is it?"
Instead of answering the knights' question, Heurdin called over Mason, who was standing by nearby.
"Mason."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Take the men and bring out the alcohol."
Those words meant that the knights were also permitted to drink. Realizing this, cheers erupted from among the knights.
Whistling and chattering noisily, the knights followed Mason back to the mansion to fetch the alcohol, while the remaining servants began receiving their portions of meat under Ruth's direction.
Still dazed by the whirlwind of activity, a skewer of meat was held out to Blair.
"Eat. It seems it's not poisoned."
Blair accepted the skewer from Heurdin. The beautifully browned, perfectly roasted meat looked incredibly appetizing at a single glance.
She had worried about what to do if the baby in her womb rejected it, but fortunately—perhaps touched by its father's devotion—the smell of the meat didn't make her nauseous.
Blair took a bite of the mouthwatering skewer. Along with the smoky aroma, rich meat juices spread across her palate, whetting her appetite.
Chewing and swallowing the meat with diligent motions, Blair felt a gaze and looked up, meeting eyes with Heurdin, who had been staring at her.
Knowing he was waiting for her reaction, Blair opened her mouth.
"It's delicious. Thank you, Heurdin."
As Blair smiled, Heurdin finally let out a soft smirk and used his index finger to wipe the ash from the corner of her mouth.
By the time Blair finished off the skewer of meat, the knights returned from the mansion, each carrying an oak barrel on their shoulders.
"Infinite loyalty to Delmark!"
Elated, the knights lavishly pledged their loyalty as they began pouring the drinks. The filled cups were systematically passed around to everyone gathered.
Just then, Kaligo approached Blair with a glib smile and offered her a full cup.
"My Lady, please have a cup as well. Consider it my thanks for the delicious sandwiches you brought me last time."
Blair hesitated, unable to accept the cup readily.
Firstly, it was uncomfortable having the person who killed her in her past life approach her so amicably, even if he must have had a hidden mastermind backing him.
Secondly, she couldn't drink alcohol because of the baby in her womb.
However, the atmosphere made it awkward to refuse, and just as she was at a loss for what to do, Heurdin's hand abruptly reached out and snatched the cup away from her.
"Don't give alcohol to someone who's unwell."
"Eh? Is My Lady feeling unwell?"
"Ah... It's nothing like that, I'm just a little tired."
Blair hastily agreed with Heurdin's lie, trying to brush it off. Seeing this, Kaligo looked at her with worried eyes and brought over another skewer of meat.
"Then please eat plenty today. There's nothing better than meat for recovering your strength."
This time, Heurdin didn't stop him. Feeling flustered, Blair accepted the skewer Kaligo offered.
"Thank you. I'll enjoy it."
Kaligo wore a proud expression, but right on cue, the voices of the knights looking for him rang out.
The gathering he rejoined had already cultivated a boisterous and festive atmosphere, with everyone trading drinks back and forth.
Spotting Lina already mingled in among them, Blair quietly let out a laugh.
The imperial palace where she had grown up was always quiet.
Katrina had always wanted to draw a strict line between herself and the servants, and thus disapproved of Blair being too close with the maids.
For that reason, her socializing consisted of occasionally gathering Rachel or her cousin's young ladies for a quiet tea time, and at most, handing out snacks to the maids.
However, this atmosphere—where everyone gathered in one place and mingled noisily—wasn't bad either.
'No, actually... I think it's much more enjoyable.'
Blair wiggled the hand held by Heurdin, glancing up at him from the corner of her eye before shifting her gaze to the blazing flames before her.
Or more accurately, to the peaceful early summer night scene created by this massive fire.
'It's beautiful.'
At this moment, for the first time in her life, the thought that fire was beautiful, rather than terrifying, crossed her mind first.
With a smile on her face, Blair quietly took in the scene for a while.
As the final memory she would take with her when she left this mansion.
* * *
The carriage of the Delmark Ducal family passed through the main gates of the imperial palace.
Blair swallowed a sigh as she gazed at the imperial palace, which had begun to appear in the distance.
The last banquet she had attended was the one hosted by the Ethel Earldom. That day, she had heard the rumors regarding the incident from ten years ago and had fled without properly responding, so today, all eyes would be focused on her.
Whether the discord between the Imperial Family and Delmark was true or not.
And if the rumors of discord were true, whether she stood with the Imperial Family or with Delmark.
But more terrifying than those gazes was...
'...Mother.'
If she went to the banquet today, she would have to face Katrina.
This would be her first time seeing her since the kidnapping incident.
Staring at the approaching palace buildings and anxiously fidgeting with her fingertips, Blair turned her head to look at the husband sitting across from her.
"Heurdin."
His gaze, which had also been staring out the window lost in thought, returned to her instead of a verbal response.
Blair carefully broached the subject.
"Is there still no evidence?"
The day he said he would permit her to leave the estate was after the Founding Festival banquet concluded.
She didn't know why it had to be starting from tomorrow, but she figured there must be a reason he had chosen that specific date.
For instance, perhaps they were expecting to secure a clue by today.
However, the answer she received was not what she had hoped for.
"We are still looking. It seems it won't be easy, considering it's a case from ten years ago."
Letting out a low sigh, his voice and eyes seemed heavier than usual as he answered.
'Then again, Heurdin would be the one who wants to clear Her Majesty the Empress's name more than anyone else.'
Feeling apologetic for unnecessarily rushing him, Blair firmly clamped her mouth shut.
Eventually, the carriage came to a halt.
Contemplating the countless eyes that would soon be upon her and the impending meeting with Katrina, Blair took a deep breath. Then, holding Heurdin's hand, she stepped down from the carriage.
"Their Graces, the Duke and Duchess of Delmark!"
As the two entered the banquet hall, beneath the bright lights of the chandeliers, the gazes of the nobles who had arrived first naturally converged on them.
Just as she had expected, she could hear the voices of people whispering about her.
Her tense heart pounded rapidly in response. Perhaps because of that, her stomach—which had been prone to nausea lately—began to churn.
'...It's fine. I'm not the person they say I am.'
She hadn't sold out her mother, bewitched by a man. She had merely sought to reveal the truth that ought to be brought to light. No matter what anyone else said, she had a clear conscience.
Blair steadied herself with those thoughts.
The attention that had been directed at Blair was diverted the moment Katrina and Ivan made their appearance.
"His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager!"
Standing beside Ivan, who had appeared atop the stairs overlooking the banquet hall, was a young woman. Thanks to the memories of her past life, Blair recognized her instantly.
Roen of the Vilhearn Marquisate.
She was the woman who would be officially announced as Ivan's fiancée at this very event. She had to be someone from the house that would bring the greatest benefit to the Imperial Family and to herself, carefully chosen by Katrina after much deliberation.
After concluding his customary congratulatory address, Ivan introduced his fiancée.
"This beautiful lady, who I'm sure you are all curious about, is my fiancée, Lady Roen Vilhearn."
Ivan's fiancée offered a gentle smile as she stepped closer to his side.
"Having married off my only sister and feeling rather lonely, I am now welcoming someone who will become my new family. I ask that you bless our union."
Amidst the applause and congratulations of the nobles, the Founding Festival address and the announcement of the Emperor's fiancée came to a close.
So, was the discord between the Imperial Family and Delmark real?
Just as that curiosity shifted back to focus on Blair and Heurdin, an attendant approached.
"His Majesty is requesting your presence."