Chapter 61: The Lady of Delmark
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 61: The Lady of Delmark
"This room hasn't been used in a while, so it seems they forgot to clean it. I'll have them tidy it up immediately."
"Who is that?" Blair asked, looking at the boy in the painting.
Mason hesitated for a moment before replying, "He was the late master's younger brother."
That meant he was Casion's younger brother. But as far as Blair knew, Casion's only sibling was Esmeralda.
"I don't think I saw him in the family portraits. Or in the family register…"
"Master Logan was the late master's half-brother."
The Ardel Empire practiced monogamy. Since Casion was the son of the lawful wife, being his half-brother meant the boy in the portrait was an illegitimate child of the Delmark family. If he was illegitimate, it made sense that there was no record of him in the family register.
"Regrettably, he passed away early in an accident. That is the only portrait of him that remains."
"Ah… I see."
"Pee-ee!"
When Blair didn't come looking for it, a sulky Pippi crawled out from under the cloth and gave her hand a gentle nip.
Blair stroked Pippi's head and asked Mason, "By the way, what did you need to see me about?"
"A week from now is the anniversary of the late master and his wife's passing. I wanted to ask how you would like to handle the donations this year."
The House of Delmark made an annual donation to express their gratitude to Gerard, who personally conducted the memorial service for the late Duke and Duchess. While family events and special occasions were the duty of the lady of the house, Herdin had handled them until now in her absence.
But this year, the task fell to Blair.
"This year…"
Just as Blair, lost in thought, was about to speak, a knock sounded, followed by Lina's voice.
"Madam, are you in there?"
"What is it?"
Lina entered the room with a troubled expression. "The Marquis and Marchioness of Seldon are here to see you, Madam."
*
"It seems your business concluded early," Mason said as he opened the carriage door.
Herdin gave a slight nod. "Has anything happened?"
"The Marquis and Marchioness of Seldon are here to see the Madam."
At the news of the unwelcome visitors, Herdin's brow furrowed.
"When?"
"They are currently speaking with the Madam in the drawing room."
Their reason for seeking out Blair was painfully obvious. They knew he wouldn't even pretend to listen to them, so they must have seized the opportunity of his absence to plead with Blair for leniency for Rachel.
Indeed, his soft-hearted wife was liable to be swayed by their desperate pleas for their daughter.
Should I have told her in advance yesterday?
He had informed her that Wesley and Rachel were the masterminds, but he hadn't gone into detail about what he had done to them. The news would inevitably reach her through gossip anyway, but it wasn't a pleasant story for someone as tender-hearted as she was. He felt a twinge of regret for not having warned her beforehand.
"Did the Marquis's daughter come with them?"
"Only the Marquis and his wife came."
Herdin's lips curled into a cold sneer. "It seems she wants to cling to her pathetic pride, even on the verge of banishment."
Hiding behind her parents when she should be here begging on her knees. Was she foolish or just cunning? Then again, if she had been smart in the first place, she wouldn't have caused such a mess.
Instead of heading to his office, Herdin made his way to the drawing room. He had absolutely no intention of showing any leniency in this matter.
Just as he reached for the doorknob, Blair's characteristically soft, gentle voice drifted through the slightly ajar door.
"So, you're saying my husband has demanded a severe punishment for them?"
"Yes. It seemed His Majesty was inclined to show mercy for Rachel's sake, but the Duke opposed it."
"…I see."
"But if you, the victim, ask for leniency, surely the Duke will change his mind?"
The exact script Herdin had anticipated spilled from the Marquis of Seldon's mouth. Just as Herdin, who had been quietly eavesdropping, was about to intervene, Blair's voice rang out again.
"If that is my husband's wish, then I have nothing more to say."
Her voice was quiet, yet resolute.
"Wh-What do you mean by that? Are you just going to stand by and watch Rachel get banished from the Empire?"
"Rachel is no longer a child. She must take responsibility for her own actions. I already warned her once at the banquet."
"Blair, Rachel is your cousin! You two always got along so well. I don't understand why you're being so cold-hearted."
"Being family does not erase her wrongdoing."
At Blair's firm reply, a collective sigh of despair escaped the Seldon couple. But Blair wasn't finished. She pressed on, steadfast in her convictions.
"Furthermore, as long as I am the Duchess, this is not merely a personal matter."
"..."
"If my husband desired this, it must have been for the sake of the family's prestige. Therefore, as his wife and the lady of Delmark, I will respect and follow his wishes."
His wife. The lady of Delmark.
Though it was a simple statement of fact, hearing those words from Blair's lips pleased him immensely. The fact that she took such a firm stance because of him made it even better.
Herdin quietly closed the door he had pushed open.
Mason, who had been listening beside him, spoke as if reading his mind. "It seems the Madam has already made a wise decision."
Herdin walked past the drawing room and headed for his office, a faint smile playing on his lips.
*
That night, Herdin visited Blair's room again, carrying a bowl of marshmallows. He knocked and opened the door, only to pause at the unexpected sight.
"You're here?"
Her eyes, which usually regarded him with calm indifference, now held a hint of delight. She looked like a puppy waiting for a treat. He knew her excitement was for the marshmallows in his hand, not for him, but seeing her expression still put him in a good mood.
I should bring marshmallows every day from now on, he thought, approaching the table where a candle and a lighter were already neatly laid out. Herdin let out a soft chuckle at her thoroughness.
"I feel I should reward such an exemplary student for being so well-prepared."
Seeing her ready and waiting was a relief. Contrary to his worry that she might give up out of fear, she seemed quite enthusiastic.
Herdin set down the bowl of marshmallows and took a seat. Blair sat beside him, then spoke up as if suddenly remembering something.
"I've decided how to handle this year's donations. I'm going to visit the orphanage inside the temple and deliver supplies to the children."
"You're going to the orphanage yourself?" Herdin asked, surprised.
While it wasn't unheard of for noble ladies to visit orphanages for charity, most avoided it, finding the task tedious. He especially hadn't expected a Duchess who, by her own admission, was 'going to get a divorce' to show such dedication.
"I heard your mother did so every year. Rather than a donation in name only, I thought taking action myself would be a better way to honor her wishes."
Blair hid her true reason for choosing the orphanage. Of course, honoring Eloise wasn't a complete lie, but she had a more personal motive.
In my past life, I visited the temple to pray and make donations.
Back then, she had met with the priest in charge of donations rather than visiting the orphanage itself.
And… it was there that I first met Miella Elias.
There was no immediate need to avoid Miella, but there was also no reason to go out of her way to meet someone who made her so uncomfortable.
"That sounds like a fine idea. Do as you wish, Duchess."
From Herdin's perspective, there was no reason to object. He readily agreed and picked up the lighter.
"I helped you yesterday, but today you'll do it on your own. Even if the marshmallow catches fire, don't panic. Just shake it calmly to extinguish the flame."
Blair stared at the candle, her expression as tense as a soldier facing battle. She took a deep breath and picked up a marshmallow. Herdin, seeing her resolve, lit the candle.
Despite her solemn determination, Blair was now visibly terrified. Watching her with his chin propped on his hand, Herdin waved his hand between her and the candle flame to break her focus.
Only then did Blair seem to recall his lesson. She consciously blinked, breathed slowly, and tried to relax. The trembling marshmallow drew closer to the flame. Herdin watched with amusement as his star student diligently reviewed what she had learned.
He wondered if she would think him mean for finding her struggle so cute when she found it so terrifying.
Her first attempt failed miserably when the marshmallow caught fire and she panicked. Steeling her resolve for a second try, she almost burned it again at the last second, but Herdin helped her save it.
He extinguished the candle and gently patted her head. "You did well, just as I taught you. At this rate, you won't be afraid of the fireplace for much longer."
Blair stared at him blankly as he offered his casual yet sincere praise. To him, this must have been incredibly simple. He could have easily gotten annoyed, wondering why she couldn't do something so basic. Yet, as he watched over and taught her without a single hint of impatience, she realized he was a very good teacher.
"But by the time I'm not afraid, won't it be too warm to light the fireplace?"
"Then we can have a garden party in the backyard. We can even hunt a wild boar and cook it."
"A wild boar?"
"Or venison would be nice, too. Whatever you wish."
Blair paused at his words, at his promise to do whatever she wished.