Chapter 77: A Way to Protect You
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 77: A Way to Protect You
The House of Delmark's carriage arrived at the Esel estate, the venue for that evening's banquet.
As their carriage waited in line, Herdin quietly watched Blair gaze at the vehicles entering ahead of them. After a moment, he called her name.
"Blair."
"Yes?"
"If you start to feel unwell, tell me immediately. Don't try to endure it."
"Yes, I will."
"I'll say it again: the purpose of today's banquet is to show everyone that you are perfectly fine, as if you were never kidnapped. It won't do us any good if you push yourself to the point of collapse."
Herdin pressed the point.
His wife had a stubborn streak; he knew she would try to push through it even if she felt terrible.
"I understand."
Blair nodded, her quiet reply meant to assure him she had heard his words.
She certainly knows how to say the right things, he thought.
Herdin looked at Blair and let out a soft chuckle.
He couldn't be certain of her physical condition, but she seemed to be in high spirits, likely because she hadn't been out in so long. Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
That alone made him feel that attending the banquet had been the right decision.
Soon, their carriage came to a halt before the Count's mansion.
As they stepped out and entered, Count Esel and his wife, who were busy greeting guests, spotted them and hurried over.
"You've both made it!"
"Thank you so much for gracing us with your presence."
As a vassal family of Delmark, they greeted the couple with far more warmth than they did their other guests.
After exchanging pleasantries with the Count and Countess, the pair naturally mingled with the crowd, greeting the nobles who gathered around them.
Blair drifted toward the noblewomen and young ladies, while Herdin joined the noblemen.
The moment Herdin stepped away from Blair's side, one of the noblewomen slipped into her group.
Blair recognized her instantly.
Viscountess Pert.
She was one of the nobles desperate to align herself with Katrina.
The viscountess studied Blair’s reaction for a moment before casually broaching a subject.
"By the way, Duchess, you look rather gaunt since I last saw you. Has something happened?"
Though she feigned concern, her question was a thinly veiled attempt to fish for information.
Blair offered her a bright smile.
"I was feeling a bit under the weather. Thanks to your concern, I've recovered quite a bit."
"Ah, I see. The Duke will have to take extra care of you, then. Perhaps have some restorative medicine prepared."
"Indeed. It simply won't do for a new bride to fall ill."
A few other noblewomen chimed in, and the viscountess's first attempt to pry passed without incident.
But she didn't stop there. She cast a second line.
"Oh, by the way, have you heard the news? I heard one of the villas on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital was severely damaged by a fire recently."
"Ah, I wondered where all that smoke was coming from a few days ago. So that was it?"
As several noblewomen showed interest, Viscountess Pert turned her attention to the silent Blair.
"The forest scenery around that villa was so lovely. What a shame. Had you heard about it, Duchess?"
"I imagine most people wouldn't know of it. That villa is on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital; one would only hear about it if they went out of their way to visit. How did you come to know of it, Viscountess?"
Blair had cleverly evaded the question and struck a nerve. Viscountess Pert's face twisted in embarrassment.
Most of the villas in that area were used by nobles for secret trysts. Admitting she knew the area was tantamount to confessing she had affairs there.
Of course, those with no interest in such matters wouldn't even realize the implication, but the viscountess's guilty conscience got the better of her.
Viscountess Pert hid her stiffened expression behind her fan and forced a laugh.
"I-I just happened to be passing by that area that day and saw it by chance."
The villa was situated in a remote area of forests and fields, in the opposite direction of the Viscounty of Pert.
There was no way Viscountess Pert would have "happened to pass by."
However, Blair decided not to point that out.
Having been rebuffed twice, the viscountess was unlikely to try a third time. Besides, pushing her any further would only breed unnecessary malice.
There's no need to make an enemy.
Unaware of the silent battle of nerves that had just taken place, the other noblewomen quickly moved on to another topic.
The mundane chatter of pleasantries and updates shifted the moment Viscountess Pert's maid approached.
"It seems there is something urgent. Excuse me for a moment."
Viscountess Pert stepped away from the circle to listen to her maid's whisper. As she did, her gaze drifted toward Blair.
Just as an ominous feeling began to creep over Blair at the strange look, Ruth approached Herdin, who was still conversing with the other noblemen.
"Your Grace. I have urgent news."
For Ruth to interrupt in the middle of a banquet, the matter had to be incredibly urgent.
Herdin immediately excused himself from the conversation.
"What is it?"
"An unpleasant rumor is circulating."
"What kind of rumor?"
"Well..."
Ruth leaned in and covered his mouth, whispering so only Herdin could hear. As he listened, Herdin's expression gradually hardened.
His eyes, now icy cold, swept the banquet hall in search of Blair. His wife was still on the other side of the room, conversing with the noblewomen.
Doing her best to fulfill her duty.
Forcing a smile in a place she didn't want to be, surrounded by people she didn't care for.
He saw his past self in her.
Back when he had to endure the whispers of the nobility, pretending not to hear them for the sake of his family's prestige and for Esmeralda.
Herdin quickly made his way toward Blair. But before he could reach her, Viscountess Pert's voice rang out.
"Duchess, I must ask this carefully... but what are your thoughts on the Empress's Palace Fire Incident from ten years ago? You are, after all, the sole survivor."
Blair's eyes wavered at the unexpected question. Seizing the moment, Viscountess Pert pressed on with a smile.
"You see, a rather peculiar rumor has been circulating. It claims that you and the Duke suspect Her Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager of being the mastermind behind the incident."
The smiles vanished from the faces of the noblewomen and young ladies who had been watching them in confusion.
The topic Viscountess Pert had raised was a tacit taboo in high society.
"They say the reason you cannot reveal the mastermind behind your recent kidnapping is that it's none other than the Imperial Family. Surely, that can't be true, can it?"
Sensing the tension, a noblewoman from the Emperor's faction stepped in to defuse the situation.
"H-How could that be? Her Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager cherished the Duchess. Surely, you wouldn't suspect someone who was like a mother to you."
Yet, despite the attempt to smooth things over, everyone—from the Emperor's faction to the wives of Delmark's own vassal families—waited breathlessly for Blair's response.
Surrounded by countless eyes, Blair could only part her lips, no words coming out. Just then, a large hand wrapped firmly around her shoulder.
Then, a familiar voice washed over her.
"Forgive me for interrupting, but my wife has not yet fully recovered. We must take our leave."
Though his words were a polite excuse, the look he swept over the crowd was murderous.
Without another word, Herdin led Blair out of the banquet hall. Dragged along, Blair finally snapped out of her daze and called his name.
"Herdin."
He didn't stop. Panting, Blair grabbed his hand.
"Herdin, please... let's talk for a moment."
Only then did Herdin stop, though he did not let go of her hand.
Blair spoke, catching her breath.
"If we leave like this, everyone will think it's strange. We have to go back and—"
"Go back and say what?"
He turned to face her, his expression so icy that she instinctively flinched.
Herdin sneered, looking down at her wide, startled eyes.
"Are you going to admit that the rumors are true? Or will you claim they're all lies?"
"..."
"Do you honestly think they care about the truth?"
"..."
"No. No matter what you say, they'll only use it to tear you apart or to calculate whose side to take."
"But... running away like this will only make us look suspicious."
After hesitating for a long moment, those were the only words she could muster. She didn't want to run away.
Herdin scoffed at her words.
"So, you want to walk back in there and endure their endless speculation and insults?"
And you expect me to just stand by and watch?
For him, those memories were ancient history, not even scars. But this fragile woman would never survive such an ordeal. He had no intention of throwing her to the wolves.
"Don't be stubborn, Blair."
"..."
"That isn't responsibility. It's foolishness."
His words struck her like a dagger, and her face crumpled as if she were about to burst into tears. Her tightly bitten lip trembled pitifully.
He knew his words would hurt her, but he would rather shatter her will himself than watch her collapse from the wounds inflicted by others.
If anyone was going to cause her pain, it would be him and him alone.
Staring down at her, Herdin let out a soft sigh and swept her into his arms. Her small frame felt light, as if she had resigned herself completely to his hold.