Herdin's gaze shifted to Blair.
He waited for her words.
The maids also looked at Blair.
They planned to blame Lina and call it a day.
As much as Herdin did not view Blair favorably, they did not want to directly confront her, the Lady Duchess and Imperial Princess.
And they thought Blair wouldn't want to make the problem bigger either, so he would side with their version.
But Blair deviated from exactly that expectation.
—I was punishing these girls for ostracizing and harassing the maid I brought with me.
The maids were surprised by Blair's reaction, but didn't worry too much.
There was no reason for Herdin to side with Blair, the daughter of his enemy.
Blair herself also did not expect Herdin to believe her words.
But even if it was like that, he didn't want to end the matter by putting all the blame on Lina.
But then...
—It was my oversight not to have educated the servants well.
I'll see to it that I see these girls off soon.
He believed Blair's words without asking any more questions.
Hearing that, the faces of all the maids turned pale.
Blair herself looked at him with surprised eyes.
Lina, who was watching the scene, hurriedly said:
—Ex, Excellency.
I'm fine.
It's true that they joked a little, but it's part of the process of becoming friends.
Of course, the maids who had harassed her didn't agree with her.
But being in a similar situation to them, I knew better than anyone the difficulties they would face if they were fired.
Blair, understanding Lina's uncomfortable feelings, supported her opinion.
—Herdin.
I think… it's too harsh a punishment.
A sincere apology and a reduction of half of this month's salary would be enough.
The maids, who were uneasy, also knelt down.
—We are sorry, Your Excellency!
We have committed this fault due to our clumsiness and ignorance.
We ask you to forgive us just once.
—The apology should not be given to me, but to the Lady and this maid.
Herdin responded coldly, and then ordered Mason, who had just arrived one step late to hear the news:
—Mason, reduce their salary for two months.
—Herdin.
—I think this is an appropriate punishment.
-Excellence.
Ruth, who was checking her wristwatch, called Herdin.
It was the sign that it was time.
—I'll be back later.
Herdin pulled Blair lightly by the shoulder and placed a kiss on her smooth forehead.
Blair, who had been startled by her unusual behavior, understood her intention when she saw the maids standing over her.
It was a warning.
That this woman was his wife.
That something like this wouldn't happen again.
Blair stared dazedly at Herdin's back as he left the bedroom.
He had believed her words.
But why did he feel more desolation than gratitude?
The problem that had plagued Lina for three years before her regression had been resolved with just a few words from him.
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That night, Lina headed to Blair's bedroom with a silver tray of cold water and a towel.
Hitting someone is something that only people with a hard enough hand can do.
That delicate and beautiful hand that had never hit anyone, that had never done rough work, could not bear the great shock today.
I'm so sorry I realized so late...>Our Imperial Princess, so tender-hearted that she apologized even after defending her.
Thinking of the hard cheek of the maid she had hit with that soft hand filled her with indignation.
—Madam, it's me.
I'm going to go in for a moment.
Lina opened the door to Blair's bedroom with her elbow instead of the hand holding the silver tray, and entered.
At the same time, he dropped the tray he was carrying so carefully.
—Al, Your Highness?!
Blair was standing on the outside edge of the balcony railing.
Precariously, as if it would fall at any moment.
Blair also seemed quite taken aback, as if she didn't expect Lina to enter the room.
Lina, at that moment, ran towards her and roughly grabbed Blair by the waist.
-It just can't be!
I said no!
—Lina, wait!
It's a misunderstanding!
Let this go for a moment…
—No!
I can't let go of her!
If Your Highness says that you are going to die, I will also die with you!
—It's not that...
"I don't want to hear it!" I won't listen to anything you say until you get over to this side!
Get in quick!
Even in this state, he held onto Blair with all his might and pulled her in, as if he were reeling in a big catch.
—How could she go alone, leaving me?!
No way!
If you have such bad thoughts, kill me first and then leave!
—That's not it.
From a second floor, how am I going to…
But Lina, crying and sniffling, didn't seem to hear her.
Blair, unable to move in his embrace, had to bear her tears.
Only after a long while, Lina managed to calm down and asked Blair:
—But...
why did I think of doing something like that...?
His voice still sounded nasal from recent crying.
Blair, scratching her cheek awkwardly, explained:
—It wasn't what you think.
I was going out because I had somewhere to go secretly.
Hearing Blair, only then did he see the cloth tied to the balcony railing.
It was a rope made by skillfully knotting the quilt on the bed.
Lina was horrified.
—But what recklessness!
What if you fall by mistake and get hurt?
—It's only a second floor.
Also, there are weeds below.
Blair spoke proudly, as if she had meticulously planned her getaway, but Lina, who had known her for years, knew.
His adorable Imperial Princess, with such a demure appearance, sometimes did reckless things.
Lina sighed, putting her hand on her forehead, and suddenly remembered something and asked:
—With all this, where was I going to go at this time of night...?
Instead of answering, Blair smiled widely at Lina's question.
A dazzlingly beautiful, yet somehow sinister smile.
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—This is…
Lina, who was looking out the carriage window, widened her eyes.
The place they had arrived at after escaping from the ducal residence with Blair was the guild street in the back alley of the island.
Blair pulled up the hood of her robe and opened the carriage door as she said:
—I'll be right back.
—If she doesn't come out in 30 minutes, I'll really go look for her.
I'm serious!
During the entire ride in the carriage, Blair had repeatedly told her that he could not enter the guild with her, so Lina, although she warned her, meekly stayed behind.
Getting off the rental carriage, Blair stopped in front of a guild building.
Libellus Guild.
Among the numerous guilds, it was the information guild that enjoyed an unparalleled reputation in data collection.
Blair took a deep breath and entered the guild building.
The interior, at first glance, looked like an ordinary tavern.
As soon as Blair entered, the bustle of the guild died down as if a bucket of cold water had been poured.
Everyone scrutinized this intruder who didn't fit in there.
The woman covered her face with the hood of her tunic, but her straight nose and small reddish lips visible beneath it already revealed that she was a beauty.
A burly middle-aged man examining Blair's face set down his mug of beer with a thump and shouted:
—Hey!
Who invited their lover to the guild?
Let it be declared voluntarily.
—Oh, I think he's my lover.
-What are you saying?
Isn't she my wife?
The men mocked Blair, fighting over her as if she were their own.
Even his giggles were terrifying to Blair.
For her, who had grown up as a precious Imperial Princess, she had never encountered a group of men who showed their rawest nature.
But if he had thought about getting scared and running away, he wouldn't have come in the first place.
Ignoring them, Blair approached the bar in the center of the guild.
But the drunken men, with no intention of easily letting go of the visual entertainment they had achieved after a long time, cut him off.
—Hey, pretty.
What brings you here?
—I have come to see the Master of this place.
—Our Master is very busy, he does not accept small orders.
Why don't you tell us?
We will do it for you safely and at a low price.
—Tell us slowly while you have a drink.
What concern does our beauty bring to come without fear to this place full of sinister guys?
A man, so drunk he could barely control his own body, put his arm around Blair and pressed against her.
The smell of alcohol emanating from it and the unknown heat gave him goosebumps.
Blair calmly pushed the man's arm away.
Then, putting a ring on her hand, he said:
—Call the Master.
—Ha!
The man, whose reddened face clearly showed his drunkenness, gave a hollow laugh as if he was stunned.
He didn't like it at all that she completely ignored his words and gave him a jewel, treating him like a servant.
—Who do you take me for, a street mutt?!
Do you think everyone wags their tail just for money?!
The man raised his voice, splashing saliva.
His large build and loud voice were threatening enough on their own.
But Blair did not back down.
No, I couldn't go back.
To think that the future with Ashiel depended on that assignment to the guild.
Blair squeezed his instinctively shaking hand tightly to hide it and confronted the man.
—You, who have been in this job for a long time, will know better than anyone how to behave.
How stupid it is to open the belly of the goose that lays the golden eggs.
The man, who met Blair's gaze through the opening in the hood, shuddered.
He felt in the eyes of that fragile woman a strange authority that brooked no opposition.
Apparently, it wasn't just him who felt it, as the other guild members watching also sensed the peculiar atmosphere and exchanged glances with each other.
They didn't know anything else, but seeing the confidence with which the woman stood, they were sure that she was an important client that they should not let slip away.
One of the members who was exchanging glances went up to the second floor and, shortly after, came down accompanied by another man.
—Did the young lady say she wanted to see me?
Blair looked at the man once and spoke.
-No.
I want to talk to the Master.
—I am the Master of Libellus.
—Is it Libellus's rule to deceive customers like this?
Blair's gaze, as she spoke, was directed towards the bartender drying glasses at the bar.
He was a handsome man with a kind face, with somewhat curly brown hair and green eyes.
—I want to make an order to the Libellus Guild Master.
The man's gaze beyond his round glasses paused for a moment, but soon he smiled as if amused and asked:
—Can I ask how you knew?
—When I asked them to call the Master.
Everyone looked askance at you, waiting for your reaction, but you just listened.
—He has a good eye.
The man smiled widely at Blair and then looked one by one at the subordinates who had been caught with those "sidelong glances." The subordinates avoided his gaze little by little.
The man put down the glass and walked out from behind the bar.
—Let's change places.
Blair followed the man to a room on the second floor.
The room he guided her to was an ordinary empty room.
Once alone, the man bowed his head politely.
—Allow me to formally introduce myself, Madam Duchess.
My name is Mikhail Kines.
Blair was startled.
The man knew her identity without her having revealed it.
But, thinking about it, if the leader of an information guild didn't even know the face of the Imperial Princess, he would be even less trustworthy.
—…So the situation just now was a test to test me.
—I wanted to see how desperate you were, Ma'am.
Those who seek me, taking risks, pay a price according to their urgency.
I apologize if you have felt offended.
-It doesn't matter.
I suppose that means that you are confident that you can carry out the assignment impeccably.
Despite Mikhail's rude attitude in daring to test the Imperial Princess and Lady Duchess, Blair responded calmly.
However, his slow voice and gaze contained both indulgence and firmness.
An attitude that showed magnanimity and at the same time dominated the interlocutor.
A natural way of treating subordinates.
Mikhail smiled widely and responded to her words.
—Libellus will duly reciprocate that trust.
So, could you tell me the content of the assignment?
The more specific you are, the better we can help you achieve your goal.
At the mention of the assignment, Blair's violet eyes, until then serenely calm, lit up.
—What I want to order are three things in total.
At the mention of the "three things," Blair held up three fingers.
It was a habit he had when talking to Ashiel, but Mikhail, who didn't know it, thought that this gesture of his was quite adorable.
—Three orders that you trust in us.
Libellus will become even richer.
It was a joke born from the confidence that they would not fail in the task received.
Blair listed the assignments.
—First of all, get me a small villa on the outskirts of Argenta, the capital of the Kingdom of Klania.
And also a new identity to live with, leaving this name behind.
She had no intention of living in one place for long, but wandering from place to place while pregnant would be difficult, so she planned to stay in Argent until Ashiel was born.
…To be continued