Chapter 46: Operation Commences
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 46: Operation Commences
"How well do you even know that man to speak so confidently?"
"Because nothing like what you're imagining has ever happened between us."
"That might have been the case until now, but it won't be for long. Every last one of them is the same."
"..."
"They have nothing in their heads but how to have their way with you."
Herdin added, tucking a stray strand of hair behind Blair's ear. She stood with her lips pursed in discontent.
"Though our noble Imperial Princess probably couldn't even begin to imagine such things."
Although the gesture seemed gentle, his gaze and his words were incredibly cold.
"When a pretty, wealthy, and naive woman who actually treats him like a human being appears right before his eyes..."
"..."
"Do you really think a man like him would be any different?"
Tears welled in Blair's anxious, trembling eyes, her face contorting as if she were about to cry—as if she were the one who had been insulted.
And all for a mere commoner.
"From now on, take a knight with you when you meet that man."
Herdin unilaterally ended the conversation and took Blair's hand. He meant to escort her, but she pulled her hand from his grasp.
His cold gaze fell upon her. Blair looked straight up at him and spoke.
"You have no right to insult him based on mere speculation."
Her body trembled as she spoke, just as it had when she refuted her brother's opinion at the Imperial Palace luncheon.
Her eyes, though filled with fear, burned with a sense of justice. She never backed down when she believed something was right.
He found her behavior both ridiculous and irritating.
"I... cannot agree with your opinion."
Having stated her piece firmly in a quiet voice, Blair left him behind and walked toward the carriage she had hired.
Herdin let out a dry laugh as he watched her carriage depart.
* * *
"Shall I put your hair up today as well?" Meli asked, seating Blair in front of the mirror.
Blair gave a small nod. "Yes, please."
Long hair was beautiful but difficult to manage. With so much to do today to prepare for the banquet, it was better to have it up and out of the way.
The soft, rhythmic sound of brushing filled the peaceful morning room. While Meli or Lina did her hair, Blair used the time to review her schedule for the day.
As she organized her tasks in her head, Blair’s eyes met Meli’s in the mirror. She called out suddenly, as if just remembering something.
"Meli."
"Yes?"
Blair parted her lips to ask her question, only to close them again. Instead, she shook her head.
"No, it's nothing."
In truth, she had wanted to ask if Herdin had gone out.
Yesterday, after she returned to the mansion first, Herdin must have had other business, as he didn't come back until late at night, long after dinner. They hadn't run into each other at all.
Normally, she would have breakfast with him every other day, but today she had no desire to see him.
The way he had insulted Mikhail was unforgivable. Did he think he could speak that way simply because of his high status, just because Mikhail was a commoner?
Such behavior was wrong.
It was disappointing that he, of all people, would act in such a manner.
But I shouldn't let it show in front of the girls.
It would be beneath her dignity.
"All done, Madam."
"Thank you."
Having finished dressing, Blair left her room and stood at the top of the stairs leading to the first floor. When she was about halfway down, she saw Herdin and Ruth descending the opposite staircase.
He must have spotted her as well, because his gaze turned toward her. Their eyes met, and Blair’s footsteps faltered.
Herdin’s gaze lingered on her for a brief moment before returning to Ruth.
Slowly, Blair started down the stairs again, arriving at the first floor a beat ahead of them. She waited. As uncomfortable as she felt, she couldn't just ignore him now that their paths had crossed.
Herdin reached the first floor and brushed right past her. Ruth gave her a polite nod, and just as Blair was about to follow Herdin to see him off, a cold voice rang out.
"There is no need for you to come out."
He walked away with long strides. He wasn't moving particularly fast, but his long legs carried him far away in just a few steps.
Ruth looked even more flustered at that, but he bowed slightly and hurried after Herdin.
Blair watched with a frown as Mason escorted Herdin's retreating figure from the mansion, then turned toward the dining room.
He was the one in the wrong, yet he was the one making their discord so obvious. There was no need for her to play along.
Still, Meli’s eyes were full of worry as she watched her.
* * *
"This really won't do."
Lina, who was eating lunch on a garden bench in the suddenly warmer weather, tilted her head at Meli's remark.
"What won't?"
"His Grace and Madam. It doesn't look like they've made up yet, does it?"
It had been understandable that they were awkward right after the wedding, since they had barely seen each other before marrying. But after the day Blair collapsed by the fireplace, they had seemed to be getting along well.
For a while, they didn't come out of the bedroom. I was actually worried about Madam…
But at some point, Herdin had stopped visiting her bedroom, and the atmosphere had frozen over. Anyone could see they were a couple in the middle of a fight. She had thought they'd made up after returning from the Palace of the Grand Empress Dowager together, but it seemed that wasn't the case.
Especially after their trip to the art gallery a few days ago, Blair seemed to be deliberately avoiding meals.
Servants were supposed to pretend they heard nothing and saw nothing, but that didn't mean they were blind and deaf.
The two had had a massive fight. That much was certain.
Even so, it wasn't their place as servants to interfere. A marital dispute was solely the business of the couple involved. But as the cold war dragged on for nearly a month, Meli was starting to genuinely worry about Blair.
After Herdin had caught the other maids bullying Lina, the ostracization had stopped, even if everyone wasn't exactly friendly.
But if the cold war between the two of them continues…
Meli didn't want Blair to go through that again. This was partly due to the lingering guilt from her past actions and partly due to the genuine affection she had grown to feel for Blair.
However, Lina was a staunch anti-Herdin supporter.
"It's absolutely His Grace's fault. Absolutely! Madam is completely in the right."
"I'm not trying to assign blame. It's their business, so it's not for us to judge. I'm just saying we can't leave them like this."
"Then what?"
"Whether they make up or have an even bigger fight, they have to at least see each other for anything to happen, don't they?"
But Lina, fiercely loyal to Blair, frowned.
"Why should Madam be the one to make an effort? Whoever's stewing about it should be the one to make a move."
"Madam isn't showing it, but she must be frustrated too. He is her husband, after all."
Lina couldn't argue with that and fell silent. Meli was right. No matter how close they were to Blair, they were ultimately maids, and she was their master. In this mansion, the only family Blair could truly rely on was Herdin.
Lina still disliked him, but for Blair's sake, she decided to hear Meli out.
"So? What's your plan?"
"How about we create an opportunity for them to be together?"
"And how on earth would we do that?"
"Well..." Meli contemplated with a serious expression for a moment, then let out a soft gasp. "I've got it."
* * *
This was a development that hadn't happened in her past life.
Blair stared with wide, surprised eyes at the scene unfolding before her. She had been summoned to the drawing room of her bedchamber while preparing for the banquet. There, Baroness Sionel and her assistants were laying out a completed dress and a man's formal wear.
Up to this point, it was exactly what Blair had expected.
Except for her husband, who was sitting right beside her, watching the scene unfold.
Blair glanced at Herdin with a bewildered expression.
Why is he here?
The situation had its origins a week ago, when Baroness Sionel had visited the Ducal Mansion to prepare their attire for the banquet.
"Madam, how about a matching couple's look? It's very popular among young lovers and newlyweds these days. Even in a crowded banquet hall, it makes it clear at a glance that you are a couple."
The Baroness had proposed the same thing in her past life.
Back then, Blair had eagerly agreed. The newlywed bride, deeply in love, had been desperate to show off her husband and their affection.
But now, having returned to the past, she knew it was all futile. Blair had been about to request a normal dress, not a matching one.
However, Meli and Lina, who were listening from behind, had suddenly chimed in.
"Madam, I really want to see you in a matching look."
"It's the first banquet you're hosting as the Duchess. Wouldn't it be best to dress in a way that makes the two masters of the Ducal Family stand out?"
After a moment's thought, Blair had readily accepted their earnest proposal. It wasn't that she particularly wanted to match, but there was no real reason to refuse their request.
And it would look good to wear matching clothes at the banquet, anyway.
Instead, she had chosen a different design from her past life. Wearing the same thing twice would be boring.
Whatever the process, the result was a matching look, just like in her past life. She had assumed the events that followed would be the same. In her past life, Herdin had only tried on his attire on the day of the banquet itself.
In other words, his appearance at this final fitting, before the day of the banquet, was something that had never happened before.