Chapter 68: An Unwelcome Guest
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 68: An Unwelcome Guest
Suddenly, words she had spoken during their childhood came back to him.
“When I grow up, I want to leave the Imperial Palace. I’ll leave the capital and travel the wide world! I’ll even cross the sea to that far-off continent…”
Lost in that memory, Herdin looked at Ruth, who was sitting across from him, reviewing schedules and documents.
“Ruth.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“What do you think about Ardel having a port that connects to the Eastern Continent?”
Because the Ardel Empire was situated on the western side of the continent, it had no eastern ports. To trade with the Eastern Continent, ships had to sail all the way around the massive landmass.
A few territories, including the Duchy of Delmark in the northeastern part of the empire, bordered the eastern sea. However, the coastline was nothing but mudflats, making it impossible for large ships to dock.
Trade with the Eastern Continent—a prize Emperor Ivan coveted so much he was willing to start a war for it—was something Herdin had also set his sights on long ago.
The only problem was that there was no way to make it a reality.
Ruth wondered why his lord was suddenly asking this, but he answered diligently.
“It would be monumental, wouldn't it? We could import goods from the Eastern Continent for a fraction of what we pay now through other countries. Conversely, we could make far greater profits on our exports without paying exorbitant middleman fees.”
“Indeed.”
“It would usher in a golden age. That’s why His Majesty is constantly looking for an excuse to start a war with Clania. Personally, I think it’s a mad idea, but… why do you ask?”
“I’m thinking of building a port in Libren that connects to the Eastern Continent.”
Libren was a territory within the Duchy of Delmark that bordered the eastern coast.
“How? The coast of Libren is all mudflats.”
“What if we reclaim those mudflats? Extend the land all the way out to the deep water where large ships can dock?”
“With what?”
While Ivan was contemplating war, Herdin had devised a solution from an entirely different angle.
“With an immense amount of soil and money.”
An even madder method.
It was a ludicrous investment that only the House of Delmark could even dream of attempting.
“…Are you serious?”
Reading the sincerity in Herdin’s eyes, Ruth nearly jumped out of his seat.
“Do you have so much money rotting away that you’re planning to just throw it into the sea? If so, why don’t you throw some my way?”
But Herdin was filled with conviction.
“As you said, a port in Libren will bring immense profits to Delmark and, by extension, to Ardel. Not just material wealth, but civilization and knowledge of far greater value.”
It was true. If a port could truly be built as he described, a completely new era would unfold.
Still…
Reclaiming the mudflats of Libren was a project that, even by a rough estimate, would require an astronomical investment.
To reclaim the sea just to build a port… I don’t know whether to call it brilliant or reckless.
No matter how he looked at it, the idea was astonishing.
Yet Herdin seemed intent on seriously pursuing the plan.
“For now, draw up a budget and bring it to me.”
Since Herdin had made his decision, Ruth had no right to object.
“Yes, Your Grace…”
Just as their conversation ended, the carriage arrived at the Delmark Ducal Mansion. As always, Mason was there to greet them.
“Welcome back, Your Grace.”
“Where is the Duchess?”
“She went out for a lunch appointment.”
Herdin was about to ask about the appointment when Mason spoke first.
“Also, a guest is waiting for you.”
“A guest?”
As far as he knew, no one was scheduled to visit today.
“Who is it?”
“A cleric from the Temple. She said she had an urgent matter to discuss with you. Her identity was verified, so I showed her to the drawing room.”
“A cleric…”
He couldn’t recall any clerics he was close enough with to warrant a personal visit.
“She introduced herself as Miella Elias.”
The name was unfamiliar, but it immediately brought one person to mind.
“Serve some tea.”
Herdin pulled off his leather gloves and headed for the drawing room. Waiting inside was indeed the person he had expected.
“Ah, hello, Your Grace.”
Miella, who had been looking around the room, startled and greeted him. A blush rose to her cheeks, but Herdin’s eyes turned cold.
“We meet again, Cleric. Though I didn’t expect it to be at my home. I wasn’t aware we were close enough for private meetings.”
“I know it is rude of me to drop by unannounced, but the matter is so important that I took the liberty of visiting.”
“What matter?”
Just then, a maid knocked and entered, placing a cup of tea before Herdin.
Miella waited until the maid had left before she spoke.
“The Duchess…”
At her words, a throbbing headache shot through Herdin’s skull. At the same time, an unfamiliar memory surfaced.
“You must stay away from the Duchess. If you remain by her side, you might suffer a rampage as well, Your Grace. Just like the late Duke…”
The scene in the memory that flashed through his mind was identical to the one unfolding before him now.
However, the words Miella actually spoke were completely different.
“Are you aware, Your Grace, that the Duchess is having secret meetings with another man?”
The vision shattered, snapping him back to reality.
Frowning at the lingering afterimage, Herdin registered what the real Miella had said a beat too late.
Mistaking his momentary distraction for interest, Miella pressed on.
“Just a short while ago, I saw the Duchess riding in the same carriage with another man. If you follow her—”
“I didn’t realize you had a habit of meddling in other people’s affairs, Cleric,” Herdin cut her off, his tone freezing. He lifted his teacup, his gaze utterly cold as it fixed on her over the rim.
Miella flinched, stammering an excuse.
“I-I was only worried about you, Your Grace…!”
“I know the man. And I was already aware of her appointment.”
He spoke dismissively, but Miella couldn’t shake a sense of unease. Blair had been riding in a hired carriage. Noble ladies typically traveled in their family’s carriage, escorted by their own knights. There was no reason for her to ride in a common carriage with a strange man unless she had something to hide.
Yet, as Herdin set down his teacup, there was no trace of the emotion one would expect from a husband learning of his wife’s infidelity.
“I believe this concludes our conversation.”
His expression was as cold and impassive as ever. Now, a hint of boredom was settling into his features.
“I hope you won’t visit me for such matters in the future.”
Herdin stood.
“Ah. Feel free to finish your tea before you leave.”
Leaving Miella behind, he walked out of the drawing room. The moment the door closed, a cold laugh escaped his lips.
“…So she went to meet that bastard after all.”
He had vaguely expected it. If she wanted the divorce she so desperately craved, and if she wanted it in a way that wouldn’t harm him as she had promised, then a scandal was the simplest method.
But after her recent behavior, he had allowed himself to think that perhaps she had abandoned that plan.
In the end, it had been nothing but wishful thinking.
So, even while smiling at me like that, while resting in my arms, your little head was filled with nothing but thoughts of running away.
The moment that truth crashed down on him, the quiet anxiety that always hummed beneath the surface erupted into a rage that consumed him whole.
The grand vision of reclaiming the sea, so clear just moments before, was now completely erased by his fury.
* * *
“Welcome back, Madam.”
Mason greeted Blair as she stepped down from the carriage, just as he always did.
Blair asked out of habit, “Where is the Duke?”
“His afternoon schedule was changed, so he returned earlier than expected.”
Blair’s steps faltered as she entered the mansion. Herdin had been scheduled to return late after a dinner appointment. His early return meant he knew she had been out.
Remembering how displeased he had been about her meeting with Mikhail before, the thought of facing him over dinner sent a wave of unease through her. But she had never intended to deceive him. This was something they had to address sooner or later.
Steeling her resolve, Blair walked upstairs. Meli was waiting outside her room and approached as she drew near.
“Welcome back, Madam.”
“Yes. Did anything happen while I was out?” she asked, reaching for the door.
Meli hesitated before speaking. “His Grace is waiting inside.”
Blair’s hand froze on the doorknob.
She had anticipated this, though it had come much sooner than she expected.
“…I’ll change on my own. You may go.”
Meli bowed and walked away.
After taking a deep breath, Blair opened the door. The moment she stepped into the room, her eyes met Herdin’s. He was sitting on the sofa directly ahead, smoking a cigar.
Silhouetted against the evening twilight, a bleak light gleamed in his blue eyes.
Her heart instinctively sank.
Blair avoided his intense gaze and headed toward the dressing room. “I’ll just change my clothes. Please wait a moment.”
She entered the dressing room and reached for the wardrobe—
Thud.
He had crossed the room in silence, appearing behind her before she even realized. His hand slammed the wardrobe door shut. The sound echoed unnaturally loud in the still room.
Blair stared at the closed door for a silent moment before turning her head. In that instant, Herdin pressed his lips to hers.
“Mmph…”
The bitter scent of his cigar flooded her senses as their lips met.