Chapter 91: The Reason for Hesitation
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 91: The Reason for Hesitation
Blair’s hand, linked with Herdin's, tightened unconsciously on his firm arm. A faint tremor ran through her fingers.
How was she supposed to face her own mother? The woman who was involved in the accident that nearly killed her, the woman who had kidnapped her to erase her memories.
Before Blair could find an answer, she was standing face-to-face with Katrina.
“Congratulations on your engagement, to both of you.”
Herdin calmly offered his congratulations to Ivan and Loen. Unless they were prepared to expose the truth of the incident from ten years ago right then and there, they had no choice but to act as if nothing was wrong.
But as Blair stared at Katrina, who wore a warm smile as if no kidnapping had ever occurred, she found it impossible to speak.
She barely managed to open her mouth and echo Herdin’s words.
“My warmest congratulations on your engagement.”
“Thank you, dear.”
“Thank you for your congratulations, Duchess.”
Katrina, who had been watching from beside the smiling Ivan and Loen, took a step toward Blair.
“Welcome, Blair.”
Unlike Blair, who was struggling to control her emotions, Katrina welcomed her with open arms, embracing her daughter warmly.
Blair was acutely aware that every eye in the banquet hall was fixed on them. The sudden, overwhelming scent of strong perfume, combined with the unfamiliar warmth of her mother’s body, made her stomach churn violently.
She bit her lip hard to suppress the urge to retch.
“It’s so difficult to see your face unless it’s an official gathering like this. When you neglect me so, is it any wonder such foul rumors are spreading about us?”
“Mother is right. Even though you’ve married, you are still our family,” Ivan chimed in, agreeing with Katrina.
He said this despite knowing full well that the rumors were true—that Katrina was indeed involved in the fire ten years ago.
“Since we will soon have a new addition to the family, it would be wonderful if you visited more often to spend time with Mother and Loen.”
“I would always welcome an invitation from the Duchess,” Loen added with a smile, supporting Ivan’s words. “Even though you’ve married into another family, you know far more about the Imperial Palace than I do. I’m sure you have much to teach me. If you see anything I’m lacking, please don’t hesitate to tell me. I will humbly accept your guidance.”
How much does she know? Blair wondered. Is this woman, soon to join the Imperial Family, speaking earnestly, completely in the dark? Or does she know everything and is simply mocking me?
As Blair tried to gauge Loen’s intentions, a wave of dizziness washed over her, and she gasped for air.
To them, she was no longer family. The feeling was mutual.
They were enemies. Enemies to whom she could never show weakness.
The stark realization made her stomach roil, and she wanted nothing more than to escape this place.
“My warmest congratulations on your engagement, to both of you.”
As if on cue, the nobles who had been watching the Imperial Family and waiting for an opening began to crowd around with their own congratulations.
“Now that both His Majesty the Emperor and the Duchess have found their perfect matches, Her Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager must be greatly relieved.”
“The prosperity of the Imperial Family is a joy for the entire Empire! It seems the day we hear the laughter of precious children in the palace is not far off.”
As the well-wishing nobles swarmed them, Blair and Herdin were naturally pushed out of the spotlight.
But her stomach, once it had started churning, showed no signs of settling.
Unable to endure it any longer, Blair quietly slipped her hand from Herdin’s arm. Herdin, who had been politely acknowledging the greetings, immediately turned his attention back to her.
“Herdin, I’m going to get some fresh air.”
“Shall I come with you?”
“No, I’m fine. I’ll be right back.”
Blair stopped him from following, then turned and slipped out of the banquet hall.
As Herdin’s eyes narrowed, watching her hurried departure, Ivan’s voice came from behind him.
“Have you given any thought to what we discussed?”
When Herdin turned, Ivan handed him one of the two glasses he was holding. The crowd of nobles had since drifted toward Katrina and Loen.
“The convincing evidence you spoke of. I’m asking if you’ve found it yet.”
Herdin accepted the glass. “There is likely no need for Your Majesty to worry about such matters.”
Blair had not yet shown any clear signs of pregnancy. For now, it was best to pretend to be swayed by Ivan, keeping the Emperor’s guard down.
But Ivan proved to be more meticulous than Herdin had anticipated.
“Bring the evidence to me once you find it. I will see it and judge for myself.”
A faint, cynical smirk touched Herdin’s lips. Though Ivan claimed he wanted to judge the evidence himself, Herdin had already read between the lines during their last conversation. The true meaning was crystal clear.
He intends to destroy the evidence with his own hands before the tables can turn.
“I shall obey your command.”
Of course, Herdin had no intention of playing along.
* * *
“Haah…”
Having slipped away even from Lina, who had tried to follow her, Blair retreated to a secluded corner of the garden and dry-heaved. The cool night breeze swirled around her, but the heavy scent of perfume lingered like a phantom, still turning her stomach.
Only after clutching her empty stomach and retching for what felt like an eternity did the nausea finally begin to subside.
Blair collapsed onto a nearby bench, thumping her chest with a fist. The prolonged strain had drained her strength completely, leaving her body trembling.
She pulled a small pouch from her pocket. Inside were lemon candies—the only thing she had been able to keep down during the severe morning sickness of her past life.
She unwrapped one and popped it into her mouth. The tart lemon flavor and burst of sugar spread through her senses, slowly restoring her energy.
I hope this is just a temporary symptom…
In her past life, her morning sickness had worsened about a fortnight after the Foundation Festival, which was when she had first discovered her pregnancy. If things followed the same timeline, she still had some time. But if today marked the true onset, she was in grave danger.
By the way, I was supposed to meet Mikhail at the banquet tonight.
Just as she was wondering if she should hurry back, having no idea when, where, or how he would appear, a familiar voice reached her.
“Do you require assistance, Duchess?”
Turning toward the voice, she saw a servant walking toward her.
No, to be precise…
“…Mikhail?”
It was Mikhail, disguised as a servant from a noble house.
“It has been a while, Duchess.”
Though his hair color and facial features had changed, his melodious voice and gentle smile were unmistakably his. He stepped closer, studying her face, and his brows knit slightly.
“You look quite pale. Are you feeling unwell?”
“No, I’m fine. More importantly… what did you want to discuss?” Blair asked, glancing around. Though she had sought a secluded spot, they were still in a garden where anyone could wander by. She had no idea how Mikhail had infiltrated the Imperial Palace, but it certainly wasn’t through official channels. For his sake, it was best to finish their talk quickly.
“To address your most pressing concern first, all preparations for you to leave the Imperial Capital are complete. We have also made arrangements to leak the scandal whenever you wish.”
“Thank you. You’ve taken a great weight off my shoulders.”
“Is the tightened security at the Ducal Mansion due to the rumored kidnapping incident?”
Mikhail was already aware of the rumors. It would have been stranger if the guild master had remained in the dark.
“Most likely.”
“When do you wish to leave the Ducal Mansion?”
Blair hesitated.
Soon, her morning sickness would begin in earnest. It might have already started. If her pregnancy were discovered now, both she and her child would be in grave danger.
Yet, what made her hesitate was the promise she had made to Herdin.
“You are the sole survivor and witness of that incident. Your testimony in court will serve as powerful evidence to clear the Empress of her unjust death.”
And the vow she had made at Esmeralda’s grave right after her regression: to uncover the truth.
Sensing her hesitation, Mikhail spoke. “I have a way to temporarily divert His Grace’s attention.”
Blair’s eyes widened. A way to slip past Herdin’s ironclad surveillance?
Mikhail opened his mouth to answer her unasked question, but then closed it, a sudden thought giving him pause.
“…I cannot tell you right now, but I will be able to assist you whenever you are ready.”
The Duchess loved the Duke.
If she didn’t, the black magic engraved on her collarbone would never have taken hold.
Until he saw her tonight, Mikhail had fully intended to tell her the truth about that magic circle. But seeing her hesitate, he changed his mind.
If she learned that the mastermind behind the black magic could put Herdin in danger, her love for him would likely prevent her from ever leaving his side. She would stay, even knowing the grave danger she was in.
“But the window of opportunity to use this method is narrow. Therefore…”
He had no right to presume her choice—he was neither her secret lover from the rumors nor anyone who truly mattered to her.
Yet, despite knowing his place, he had already decided that her safety was his absolute priority.
“You must make your decision as quickly as possible.”