Chapter 44: A Three-Way Confrontation
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 44: A Three-Way Confrontation
Blair looked up in surprise at the offered hand. Standing before her was Mikhail.
She placed her hand in his as she asked, "How did you recognize me?"
"Most people who attend these events are desperate to flaunt their status. They make a show of their family crests; very few arrive in a hired carriage."
"Still, I doubt I'm the only one."
"Well, let's just call it the power of magic," Mikhail said, glossing over her question with a playful smile as he guided Blair into the art gallery.
This private art gallery hosted an auction once a season. Today was the Spring Auction.
One of the pieces up for bid was a painting Ivan's servant intended to purchase. Blair had come to buy it first, as well as to find a few other pieces to decorate the empty walls of the Ducal Mansion.
"This way."
Mikhail led her down to the basement, where they entered a spacious, theater-like hall. Unlike a theater, however, it was brightly lit.
The two took their seats in a relatively quiet, uncrowded area. On the stage, preparations for the auction were still underway.
Blair glanced around, taking in her surroundings. On the table in front of them lay several numbered cards, an oak board, and a paddle marked with a circle.
Mikhail watched her with an amused, affectionate gaze as she examined everything like a curious child.
"I take it this is your first time at an auction."
Blair suddenly realized her behavior was hardly proper for a noblewoman and quickly set down the paddle she had been inspecting.
"I never had much reason to leave the Imperial Palace. My imperial father forbade me from going out, claiming it was too dangerous and my health was fragile..."
But in truth, there was a more significant reason.
Blair hated drawing attention to herself.
She hated how, just because she was a princess, a single word or glance could spark endless speculation.
She hated being judged by so many people based on nothing more than a fleeting, superficial glimpse.
And...
'Blair, behave like a princess. Please, do not embarrass your mother!'
She hated how Katrina would pathologically obsess over a single mistake.
That was why she still felt reluctant to draw public attention.
Becoming the Duchess had liberated her somewhat from those watchful eyes. Blair had wanted to explore the outside world with Herdin—the world she had never been allowed to see as a princess.
She felt that if she were with him, she wouldn't care about anyone else's gaze.
'Herdin. If you have some time, could you go with me to see the clock tower in the plaza?'
'I will instruct the knights. It is cold out, so dress warmly before you go.'
But he was always busy, and on the rare occasions he had free time, they seldom left the bedroom.
Back then, she had believed that was love. After all, he had still worried about her, and she had taken his concern as a sign of affection.
Though she had desperately wanted to see the outside world, being held in his arms had been wonderful, too.
'His own desires always came first.'
Perhaps she had known all along but had desperately rationalized his behavior, pretending to understand, anything to keep from feeling miserable.
Blair smiled self-deprecatingly at the sudden rush of memories. Seeing the bitter smile on her lips, Mikhail grinned.
"It seems I'll have to escort you out more often under the pretext of our commission. I know plenty of wonderful places in the Imperial Capital. I suddenly feel a great weight of responsibility."
Blair blinked. She couldn't understand why he so readily offered his goodwill.
After a moment's thought, she easily reached a conclusion.
'As expected, money really does make everything possible.'
She figured his kindness was merely the capitalistic courtesy shown to a client. It was hard to imagine any ulterior motives hiding behind his clean, straightforward smile and pleasant demeanor.
Before long, the preparations for the auction were nearly complete. Watching the stage, Mikhail spoke up.
"Before the auction officially begins, there is something I would like to ask you, my lady."
Blair instinctively sensed he was about to bring up Caligo. Sure enough, he spoke the man's name.
"The man named Caligo Elparind—he is a knight of the House of Delmark. May I ask why you are investigating him?"
Blair hesitated. One of her reasons for meeting Mikhail today was to get an update on Caligo, but she couldn't explain the full story.
'...Because I can't exactly tell him that man is the one who will kill me in the future.'
When Blair fell silent, Mikhail, as if expecting as much, asked again.
"If it's difficult to explain, could you at least tell me this: are you investigating him for a good reason, or a bad one?"
"I am investigating him due to a personal... unsavory matter."
Mikhail's brow furrowed at her response. The vague sense of foreboding he had felt grew stronger.
Of course, it was still just a feeling.
If he voiced his uncertain suspicions, it might put her in even greater danger. He needed to dig a little deeper.
"For now, I will investigate further. He may be more dangerous than you think, so please, stay as far away from him as you can."
Just as Mikhail finished speaking, the auctioneer stepped onto the stage.
Soon, the auction began.
* * *
The art gallery director stood with his hands politely clasped, looking up at the man beside him.
He was tall and straight-backed, with a face so strikingly handsome that "beautiful" was the only word for it.
A man who, merely by standing and admiring a painting, became a work of art himself.
This was Herdin Delmark, the primary investor in this art gallery.
His mother, the late Duchess Delmark, Eloise, had hailed from the House of Piache, a family renowned for patronizing artists. Perhaps because she was raised in such a household, she possessed a deep appreciation for the arts and had supported many impoverished artists during her lifetime.
Her son, Herdin, was carrying on her legacy by continuing to invest in the gallery.
Yet, every time they met, the director found him terrifying.
Part of it was his almost inhuman perfection, but more than that, the man exuded an indescribable, chilling aura of intimidation—one that had nothing to do with his status as the gallery's largest investor.
Especially today.
'He has a sharper edge to him today...'
At least when his aide was with him, he wasn't quite this terrifying.
Stealing a glance at Herdin, the director cautiously asked, "Um, did your aide not accompany you today?"
"He had other business."
Ruth had been volunteering for field duty for several days now.
The man in question had no idea that Ruth had chosen this path solely to avoid walking on eggshells around him. Herdin had been exceptionally irritable ever since their discussion about the contract marriage a few days ago.
"Ah... I see."
The director's expression instantly darkened, but Herdin, his eyes fixed on the painting, did not notice.
"Having taken a brief look, there are many fine paintings here. I shall visit again soon."
The private art gallery rotated its exhibited paintings periodically, aiming to attract visitors with new displays while discovering rising artists. Once an exhibition ended, the artworks would pass into the hands of nobles through auctions or direct sales.
"Are you looking to purchase a painting? If there is a piece you desire, please let me know. I will set it aside for you in advance."
"No. My wife will choose the paintings."
A few days ago, Ruth had told him about helping Blair prepare for the banquet, mentioning that she had wished for more paintings to hang on the walls. Arriving at the gallery had reminded him of her words, and he had made an appointment with the director on impulse.
The director looked at Herdin with a puzzled expression.
'Are he and his wife on better terms than I thought?'
When news of Herdin and Blair's marriage first broke, people assumed he would mistreat her. The ill blood between the Imperial Family and the House of Delmark was common knowledge, after all.
Yet now, Herdin seemed, at least on the surface, to cherish his wife. Of course, it could just be an act for his public image.
Whatever the truth was, the director only needed to play along.
"Haha, indeed. When it comes to decorating the home, the lady of the house's taste must come first. Just let me know the day before, and I will be waiting."
Herdin left the exhibition room with the gallery director. Just then, a large crowd of people began pouring out of the basement.
As Herdin watched the scene, the director quickly explained.
"Ah, today is the Spring Auction. It seems the bidding has just concluded. If you are interested..."
While the director was speaking, the crowd thinned, and a man and a woman were among the last to emerge from the basement.
Herdin, who had been about to walk past indifferently, froze. Although the netting on her hat partially obscured her face, he recognized her instantly.
That woman was his wife.
Blair was talking to an unfamiliar man, laughing brightly, looking thoroughly delighted.
The sight was unfamiliar to him. Laughably so.
Beside him, the gallery director was saying something, but the words didn't even register.
"Your Grace?"
At the same moment the director called out to him, Mikhail, who had been watching Blair with a soft, smiling gaze, raised his eyes.
The moment his eyes met Herdin's, the smile vanished from his face.
Only then did Blair sense the unusual tension in the air and follow Mikhail's gaze.
Following his line of sight, she spotted Herdin. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"...Herdin?"
Her blinking eyes held only the shock of an unexpected encounter, not the panic of someone with a secret to hide.
Reading those emotions, the corners of Herdin's mouth twisted.