Chapter 17: An Ordinary Boy
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 17: An Ordinary Boy
Herdin’s ancestor, the First Duke of Delmark, was a national hero who had saved the Empire in the last great Magical War.
To obtain the power to protect the Empire, he had formed a contract with a Divine Beast, a creature that had now passed into legend. What he received in return was a powerful body capable of wielding both aura and magic simultaneously.
Normally, humans could only wield one of the two—either aura or magic. Through his contract with the Divine Beast, however, the First Duke of Delmark mastered both, and that power led the Empire to victory.
But great power always comes with a price.
Wielding aura and magic together was like mixing fire and oil. Handled correctly, they created an incredible synergy; handled poorly, the slightest slip could trigger a catastrophic rampage.
The power inherited by the first duke was passed down through the bloodline to future generations. While this power was usually an immense asset capable of saving the nation, it occasionally brought great misfortune.
Herdin's father, the Late Duke, was one of the descendants who had inherited that power. Just as his ancestors had, he used his abilities for the people of his territory and the Empire. Everyone feared and admired him.
But tragedy struck without warning.
The year Herdin turned twelve, his mother was found slaughtered by a magical beast during a family trip. Upon discovering her body, the Late Duke flew into a rage, brutally killing every magical beast in the forest. It was said that he ultimately took his own life to protect his son from his own rampage.
Thus began the fall of the House of Delmark, a family once revered by all.
Their tragedy spread far and wide, a delectable dessert for those who feasted on the misfortunes of others. The story even reached the ears of Blair, who lived in the Imperial Palace.
In public, people lamented the fall of the House of Delmark, but in private, they whispered, wondering if Herdin—who had inherited his father's power—would also lose control one day and commit a ruthless massacre.
'But I really want to win this time…'
Ultimately, Blair’s competitive spirit suppressed her fear, and she approached Herdin.
Across the card table, his eyes, deep as a blue lake, came into sharp focus. So did his long eyelashes, which cast soft shadows over them.
'He's pretty.'
Up close, the boy she faced seemed ordinary, even if he was a little intimidating. He was nothing like the terrifying monster from the rumors.
Just as she had that thought, Herdin, who had been looking down at his cards, raised his gaze. Their eyes met.
Startled by his deep blue eyes, Blair flinched and hastily grabbed the first card her hand touched.
'Ah.'
Of all the cards to grab in a rush, it had to be the thief card.
Fortunately, Esmeralda took the card from her, allowing Blair to win. The game ended with the thief card in Herdin’s hand. He had lost on purpose to bring the game to an end, but the young Blair had no idea.
Just as Blair, her competitive spirit ignited, was about to shuffle the cards again, Herdin spoke.
“I should take my leave now.”
“Oh dear, is it that time already?”
“I will see you tomorrow, Your Majesty.”
Esmeralda looked at Herdin with worried eyes. “Herdin, I understand how you feel, but you don’t need to force yourself to attend tomorrow.”
“I am fine.”
Herdin gave a polite bow to Esmeralda and Blair, then stood and departed.
Once he was gone, only Esmeralda and Blair remained in the drawing room, just as Blair had hoped. As if she had been waiting for this moment, Esmeralda asked gently, “What did you think of Herdin? Do you think the two of you can become friends?”
Blair hesitated, unable to answer right away.
To be honest, she didn't think they could ever be friends. The boy she had just met was far too different from anyone she had ever encountered. His demeanor had come as quite a shock.
He hadn’t spoken warmly to her like others did, nor had he smiled. It was only after meeting Herdin that she realized a neat appearance, fine clothes, and polite speech did not automatically make someone a good person.
Of course, he wasn't the terrifying monster of the rumors, but he didn't seem like a good person either. No matter how polite he acted, there was an underlying intensity to him that was frightening.
Yet, unwilling to disappoint Esmeralda, Blair lied.
“Um… He doesn’t talk much, so it’s a little hard, but… I think he’s a good person.”
However, she couldn’t hide her fidgeting fingers or her eyes, which darted away to avoid Esmeralda’s gaze.
“Lying is a bad habit, Blair,” Esmeralda chided gently.
Blair flinched. In the end, she had no choice but to confess.
“Actually… I think Lord Delmark is polite, yet somehow rude.”
Hearing Blair’s honest assessment, Esmeralda burst into laughter. “It’s a good thing Herdin didn’t hear that.”
Only then did Blair worry that she had been too blunt, and she quickly added, “B-but today was our first time meeting! Since Your Majesty cares for him so much, I’m sure he must be a good person. I really mean it!”
Watching Blair scramble to paint Herdin in a positive light, Esmeralda smiled warmly and gestured for her to come closer. Knowing exactly what that meant, Blair scurried over and sat beside her.
Esmeralda gently stroked Blair’s hair. “To be honest, Herdin is not a warm child. He carries many deep wounds in his heart, so he is clumsy when it comes to interacting with others.”
Blair quietly basked in the comforting touch and looked up. Esmeralda’s blue eyes shone with their usual gentle warmth.
“But just because he is hurting doesn’t mean you have to force yourself to be uncomfortable around him, Blair.”
Esmeralda pressed a light kiss to Blair’s round forehead and whispered, “Because you are just as precious as he is.”
Those tender words made Blair incredibly happy, yet also a little melancholy. It was something she had never once heard from Katrina.
Even so, Blair offered Esmeralda a bright smile.
* * *
The next day, the New Year dawned.
The schedule was packed: in the morning, the Imperial Family and the noble houses would venture into the winter forest to hunt offerings for the gods; in the afternoon, they would attend a service at the temple; and in the evening, they would gather for the New Year’s banquet at the Imperial Palace.
Since the daytime rituals of the New Year’s Festival were strictly for adults, Blair spent the morning and afternoon playing with Ivan and her cousins, only joining the festivities for the evening banquet.
Blair sat alongside her father, Empress Esmeralda, her mother Katrina, and Ivan, receiving New Year’s greetings from the assembled nobility.
As the tedious, formal greetings dragged on, a sudden stir rippled through the crowd. Blair wondered at the sudden shift in the room’s atmosphere, only understanding the reason when she saw who was stepping forward.
It was Herdin.
The young duke, who had lived in complete seclusion since the tragedy three years ago, was making his very first public appearance.
The nobles whispered among themselves as they watched Herdin approach the Emperor.
“My, the Young Duke… no, the Duke actually came. I didn’t think he would show his face at the banquet.”
“I know. I was surprised enough when he attended the morning hunt and the temple service.”
“Well, he is the head of the House of Delmark now. He ought to rebuild his family’s prestige and become a source of strength for Her Majesty, though it won’t be easy.”
At first glance, their words sounded sympathetic, but in truth, Herdin was nothing more than a juicy piece of gossip to them. Blair watched him with an anxious heart as she listened to their whispers.
“I am deeply honored to welcome the New Year under the reign of Your Majesties. May you continue to bestow your grace and watch over the Empire in the coming year.”
Standing before the Emperor and the assembly of nobles as the head of his house, Herdin was still young, yet his poise and dignity rivaled that of any seasoned lord. If anything, his youth only made his composure all the more striking.
Yet, was it just her imagination, or did he look incredibly fragile, even as he calmly fulfilled his duties?
Even after Herdin finished his greetings and stepped back, Blair’s eyes continued to follow him.
Once the formal greetings to the Imperial Family concluded, the banquet officially began. While the nobles gathered in small groups to mingle, Herdin remained entirely alone. Not a single soul approached him, yet every eye in the room was on him, and every hushed whisper was about him.
“The Duke of Delmark… I heard he was right there beside the Late Duke when he took his own life.”
“Heavens! How tragic. It’s a miracle he’s managed to keep his sanity.”
“It’s impressive, but on the other hand… he’s still so young, yet so hardened.”
They all gossiped about the same things: the tragedy that had struck his family and what his future held. They took a twisted pleasure in the misfortune of the House of Delmark, even as they feared it.
“Rachel, stay away from him. What if he suddenly loses control like his father and tries to slaughter us all?”
Had Esmeralda been present, they wouldn’t have dared to speak so carelessly. Unfortunately, the Empress had been feeling unwell and had retired early.
In other words, there was not a single person on Herdin’s side in the entire banquet hall.
Blair watched with worried eyes as he silently endured the whispers. He maintained his usual indifferent expression, but how could he possibly be fine on the inside?
Those who had been gossiping about Herdin soon lost interest and moved on, as if progressing to the next course in a grand meal. Only after the crowd’s attention shifted did Herdin quietly slip away.
Unable to shake the image of him leaving with such hollow eyes, Blair slipped out after him, heading toward the banquet hall’s rear garden.
The moment she stepped outside, a biting winter wind whipped across her cheeks.
Bathed in the soft glow of lanterns, the night garden was utterly still. Had it been summer, guests would have drifted out to enjoy the cool air, but the freezing winter cold kept everyone inside.
'Where did he go?'
As Blair looked around for Herdin, a low, pained groan echoed from not too far away.