Although his tone was casual, as if he were asking in passing, Blair's heart began to pound in surprise.
She was almost ten days past the expected date, but she never imagined that he would be aware of the date of her menstruation.
After freezing for a moment in surprise, Blair expertly covered her face with the blanket and made a suitable excuse.
—It's true that I stopped taking the medicine for a few days, but I think it's because I've had a lot of things on my mind lately.
Sometimes I'm late like this.
The lie, which had begun with little confidence, flowed surprisingly smoothly once it broke the ice.
So much so that, even listening to herself, it seemed like you couldn't tell she was lying.
Herdin, remembering the day he switched from medicine to placebo, shortly nodded.
He didn't know the female body well, but since he had not long ago switched from medicine to placebo, it was possible that the effect of the drug still persisted.
It was a pretty plausible story.
—It would be a good idea to observe him for a few more days and, if he is delayed too much, it would be better to have a medical examination.
It could be that your health has worsened.
Of course, if that period was prolonged, there would be reason to be suspicious.
-…I will do that.
Thanks for caring.
Blair snuggled under the blanket, thinking that tomorrow she would have to tell him that she had gotten her period.
He had said he wanted to rest, so he assumed Herdin would leave soon.
If it wasn't to have sex with her, he would have no other purpose there.
However, he did not leave and remained by her side.
Absently playing with his hair.
Because of this, his sleeping plan was thwarted, but Blair did not kick him out and watched the scene in silence.
He didn't dislike that caress.
Herdin, who had been playing with Blair's hair for a while, twisting it between his fingers, raised his head as he felt the breeze coming through the crack of the half-open balcony door.
Through the window that connected to the balcony, you could see the landscape of the backyard, lush with vegetation.
Even the wind that blew through was filled with the scent of grass.
Contemplating that sight, Herdin opened his mouth.
"How would you like to organize a picnic in the backyard soon?"
—A picnic?
—As we talked in spring.
Summer will be here soon and you're not as afraid of fire as you used to be, so I think it would be fine.
Only then did he remember the stories they had shared about the time they roasted marshmallows by candlelight to overcome their pyrophobia.
The sweet memory of that spring.
At first he thought it was unnecessary greed when he was about to leave, but then he changed his mind: since he was about to leave, it wouldn't hurt to take at least one happy souvenir with him.
—Sounds good to me.
But since it will be warmer soon, the sooner the better...
Blair paused, as she was going to suggest moving the date forward as much as possible for fear of making the nausea worse.
He still hadn't cleared Esmeralda's name.
It didn't seem like the right time to throw such a boisterous party.
—No, better to celebrate it when the trial is over.
—If you want to do it soon, we can do it soon.
-Can?
At the unexpected answer, Blair asked, widening her eyes, and Herdin nodded willingly.
—Anyway, the trial will end well.
After all, for his wife, who was waiting, blindly trusting him without knowing his true intentions, there was no reason not to grant him at least that much.
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The backyard picnic was scheduled for a few days before the National Foundation Festival banquet.
After lunch, Blair was standing on the balcony looking at the scenery in the backyard.
From the other side, where the hustle and bustle of preparations for the evening picnic reigned, the sound of knocking came incessantly.
Just when Blair was thinking that and was preparing, out of habit, to put her hand on her lower abdomen, she heard Melly's voice behind her.
—Madam, Baroness Sionel has arrived.
Today was the day the finished dress arrived.
And also the day when Baroness Sionel's assistant came to bring news of Mikhail.
With Blair's permission, Baroness Sionel and her assistants entered the reception hall connected to the bedroom.
—Good afternoon, madam.
—Welcome, Baroness.
—How do you feel today?
Have you been unable to sleep because of the excitement of trying on the new dress?
Blair laughed at his trademark joke.
-That's how it is.
The clothes you make always exceed expectations, so since I was little I get excited the night before the finished dress arrives.
Today too, of course.
—I also get excited every time I bring a dress to dress Her Highness the Imperial Princess… no, the lady.
I am sure that today will also live up to your expectations.
As always, Baroness Sionel exuded confidence in her ability.
—I won't make her suffer any more by waiting.
Shall we try it on now?
When the Baroness closed her fan with a snap, her assistants led Blair to the dressing room.
Among them was the one who helped Mikhail.
During the entire time the dress fitting lasted, Blair couldn't take her attention off of that assistant.
After finishing the test, the assistants said goodbye politely and left the locker room one by one.
Then Mikhail's collaborator, who had stayed until the end, handed Blair a note.
The week before, Blair had sent a reply to Mikhail through the assistant who brought the dress for the first fitting.
Saying that the plan was still on.
And what he received today was the answer.
Blair unfolded the note immediately.
⌜’Then we’ll see each other at the National Foundation Festival banquet.’⌟
He was surprised how he could enter the Imperial Palace without being a noble or having an invitation, but he supposed that, being the Guild Master, he would have some other means.
Blair handed the note back to the assistant.
-Thank you.
Make sure you get this out of the way.
The assistant took the note again.
Blair left the locker room with the assistant and received the final inspection in front of Baroness Sionel.
Just as the test was about to end, Melly, who had been absent, returned and transmitted a message.
—Madam, Your Excellency has returned.
Herdin had gone out in the morning to hunt the deer that he would eat for the evening picnic.
Now that he was back, it was time to start preparing for snack.
—Then I will see you at the National Foundation Festival, Madam Duchess.
—Go back carefully.
Blair dismissed Baroness Sionel and began choosing, along with Melly and Lina, the clothes she would wear for the evening picnic.
—Still, it's still cool at night, so you'd better put on a shawl.
By the time she finished getting ready, the evening twilight was already spreading outside the window.
—I'm already done.
You go prepare yourselves too.
—Yes, ma'am.
Lina and Melly, visibly excited, headed towards the door to leave the room.
At that moment, the door opened with a bang and Herdin entered.
Lina and Melly greeted him politely and left the room in silence.
Blair, who was giving herself a final check-up in front of the dressing table, turned her head towards him as he approached through the mirror, and greeted him with joy.
—Has it arrived safely?
-Yeah.
Herdin was wearing a simple shirt and pants, but the scent of soap that intensified as he approached revealed that he had just washed.
He, who had strode over, leaned obliquely against Blair's dresser and watched her rummage through the jewelry box.
Blair was choosing between necklaces and earrings with a rather serious expression.
He found her slightly furrowed brow and small lips pursed in concentration adorable.
After rummaging through the jewelry box for a while, Blair pulled out two necklaces and showed them to Herdin.
—Which is better?
They were a necklace with a carved amethyst that recalled the color of her eyes and another with an aquamarine.
It was a meaningless question.
For him, the important thing was not the necklace or the earrings.
—I don't know, they both seem fine to me.
At his nonchalant response, Blair's lips jutted out slightly in a pout.
After a moment's hesitation, Blair chose the aquamarine necklace, a refreshing color that matched the summer.
Seeing him, a curve of satisfaction appeared on Herdin's lips.
He quite liked seeing a jewel of a color similar to his own eyes hanging from her neck.
Finally, Blair, who had also put on matching earrings, stood up from her seat.
—I'm ready.
Let's go.
Blair gently tugged on her hand to head toward the door, but Herdin held her back and turned her toward him.
An unexpected request came to Blair, who looked at him strangely.
—Kiss me.
Along with a playful look in his eyes.
Blair's eyes widened at the sudden request.
That image stimulated his latent sadism.
—I have brought you the deer you wanted, don't you think the price is too low in return?
—…But it was you who first proposed having the picnic.
—Who was the one who last night, all excited, said that she preferred deer meat to wild boar?
Blair, who had been slowly backing away as if dodging a wild beast, stopped dead.
However, his refined wife, as expected, did not give in so easily.
—Everyone will be waiting for us.
Of course, he had no intention of backing down either.
—For that reason, hurry up.
Herdin's hand, which held Blair's, was firm.
Blair, realizing that he wouldn't move until she got what she wanted, pretended to give in and approached him.
After standing in front of him, hesitating for a long while, fortunately, before Herdin devoured those lips on his own, she kissed him carefully.
Herdin, as if he had been waiting, put his arms around Blair's waist.
The corners of his lips lifted in satisfaction as he finally got what he wanted.
Certainly expensive lips, but equally sweet and soft.
So much so that, the moment their lips touched and their breaths mingled, all that vague irritation was completely forgotten.
He thought she didn't seem to be in her right mind, but right now, with her in his arms, he didn't care what she might become.
So, it was a moment when everything seemed perfect.
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When the two stepped out into the backyard, the darkness of the night had completely settled.
However, the lamps placed here and there dispelled the darkness and created atmosphere.
As they followed the backyard path, the bustle gradually grew louder.
At the end of the road, all the Delmark members who had already finished the picnic preparations were gathered.
Not only the servants, but also the knights.
…To be continued