—Piii… piiii!
The baby marten inside the basket squeaked, looking at Blair.
She asked him to play with her.
As soon as Blair put her hand in the basket, the marten, as if she had been waiting, turned on her belly and began to gently nibble her fingers, playfully.
The creature, the size of the palm of her hand, rubbed against her, tickling her and making her laugh.
During the New Year's Festival, the marten had not yet opened her eyes and could barely move, but in the past fortnight, thanks to Blair's careful care, she had grown healthy and strong until she opened them.
Now, with overflowing energy, he did not stop chirping all day demanding attention.
Blair, as she offered her hand to the marten, fell into thought.
The preparation of the divorce that had been commissioned by the union and the investigation into the identity of the assailant still showed no progress.
Regarding the fire case, I continued talking to Agnes, but there was no significant progress either.
Therefore, since the New Year Festival, Blair led a monotonous life.
Taking care of the marten and learning from Mason the tasks of the lady of the house.
It's true that he could barely count on one hand the number of times he had seen Herdin since the festival, but, to tell the truth, it was easier for him not to see him.
Although he appreciated this tedious peace, he was worried about the idea of getting used to it and ending up settling like that forever.
For this reason, Blair diverted his attention, which threatened to relax, to other things: he read books about the country where he would live after the divorce or studied the budgets of the duchy.
—Madam, here is the milk.
The maid's voice brought Blair out of her thoughts.
The girl, who had entered the room, handed him the milk for the marten with a somewhat shrunken gesture.
Only then did Blair recognize that she was one of the young women whose salary had been reduced for bothering Lina that time.
The maids trapped on that occasion, seeing themselves discovered even by Herdin and seeing how the matter was gaining magnitude, must have been very scared, because since then they had not messed with Lina again.
What's more, it was said that they didn't even speak to her and avoided her.
Although they did not dare to completely avoid Blair, their mistress, they seemed to take the utmost care not to upset her.
Delivering the milk was a simple task, but Blair, who somehow sensed what they felt, knew that in order for that girl to appear before her, she had had to muster considerable courage.
What that girl had done to Lina was undoubtedly reprehensible, but the matter had already been settled with a just punishment.
It was something that, before her regression, Blair had overlooked.
That is why he never became intimate with the people of the duchy until his death.
Now that Herdin had taken on the role of villain by imposing a greater punishment than Lina had hinted at, perhaps, if she held out her hand, he could approach them easily.
He didn't need to go out of his way to gain her favor, but should he purposely waste the opportunity to get closer with just a few words?
Besides, that would be good for Lina too.
Blair took the bottle from the maid and gently wrapped her hand in hers.
—Thank you, Melly.
—Ah, it's nothing.
It's my duty.
At the unexpected response, Melly lowered her head, bewildered.
It was natural for servants to help their masters, and she thanked them?
And on top of that, someone who, she thought, would rightly hate her...
or, rather, who would have every right to hate her.
As the general atmosphere was one of rejection towards Lina, she got carried away and stayed on the sidelines.
She felt that if she did not participate, she herself would be excluded.
But that was still just his own circumstances.
Even though it was late, he now wanted to ask for forgiveness.
Both Lina and Blair.
However, he was afraid to bring up the subject.
He feared it might upset Blair's mood, which now seemed calm.
As he hesitated, moving only his lips, he heard the peeps coming from the basket.
His gaze drifted naturally to that adorable little creature.
As if noticing his gaze, Blair spoke to him.
—Do you like animals?
—Oh, yes...
"So, could I ask you to take care of this little girl when you have time?"
-Sorry?
—I have read in books that martens live in groups.
So I think he needs friends, and I can't bring him a baby that lives happily with its mother just to keep him company, right?
So I thought I'd make him at least a lot of human friends.
—Ah…
—Of course, only if it's okay with you.
—Well, of course.
Trust me.
I also take care of the cats in the backyard.
—Oh, yes?
What a relief.
At Melly's response, Blair smiled radiantly.
Seeing that Blair was taking her opinion into account, Melly felt ashamed.
How was it possible that for a few simple words he had not dared to offer an apology that was lame?
Melly bowed deeply to Blair.
-Lady.
I am very sorry about that day.
I am a rude person who grew up without manners and dared to behave with an insolence inappropriate to my position.
I'm really sorry.
I wanted to apologize.
Blair blinked in surprise at the maid's sudden apology, but then smiled sweetly and said:
—I accept your apology.
Will you take good care of this little girl for me in return?
Even if Blair had brought it up again to reprimand her, Melly was happy to accept it.
But what he received was an unexpected kind attitude.
Melly blinked, then nodded vigorously.
-Yeah!
I will take good care of her.
—Oh, by the way, her name is Ppippi.
—Ppippi…?
-Yeah.
Doesn't it look like her crying?
Blair asked with a very serious face.
In response, the marten chirped as if answering her name.
<… Our lady doesn't have much sense in naming names.>
Melly bit her lip to contain the laughter that was struggling to come out.
Still, the name was pretty cute.
And somehow, the lady, so proud, also seemed a little adorable to him.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
—Madam, can I come in?
It was Mason's voice.
-Forward.
Blair handed Ppippi's bottle to Melly and walked to the table.
On it were some documents that I had already prepared in advance.
Blair handed the papers to Mason, who had walked over.
—It is a budget that I have prepared based on those of the last five years.
Take a look please.
Mason was inwardly surprised.
He thought that the figures in those documents would give him a headache and that he would put them aside after taking a couple of glances at them.
Considering that this perseverance alone deserved praise, Mason began to examine the budget that Blair had drawn up.
Blair, unable to hide her nervousness, fiddled with her fingers as she waited for Mason's assessment.
She felt exactly the same as when, as a child, her teacher was checking her homework.
His expression as serious as ever, Mason's brow furrowed more gravely as he examined the budget.
Seeing her review drag on, Blair, growing increasingly restless, was the first to speak.
"I did this as practice, so if I've missed anything, tell me honestly."
—No, it's excellent.
To the point that it's hard to believe that you did it alone and for the first time.
At the unexpected reaction, Blair looked at him with round eyes like saucers.
Mason's voice as he said it was tinged with an admiration he couldn't hide.
Mason was not one of those who exceeded his trust with his lords, but neither was he one of those who invented flattery to flatter.
So that praise was sincere.
—I think we could execute this year's budget based on this draft.
Blair's heart raced at the compliment.
It was the first time anyone had praised her since Esmeralda's death.
Throughout his life, praise had always gone to his older brother, Ivan.
Katrina didn't want Blair to stand out more than Ivan.
If Blair ever received something better from her father, he envied her and was jealous as if she had taken away what belonged to Ivan.
The most delicious, the most valuable, should always be for his son Ivan.
If Blair had something that Ivan didn't, Katrina was capable of taking it away and giving it to her son.
Thirsting for a bit of that motherly love, Blair hid her talent.
Always one step behind Ivan.
She must not stand out more than her brother, nor become a rival for him.
He lived like this for twenty years.
At some point, she herself stopped believing in her own worth.
It seemed natural to him to be inferior to Ivan.
And in those circumstances, hearing that praise...
It was so pleasant that he felt a sudden lump in his throat.
I can be recognized.>Only then did he feel that truth that he had lived forgetting was real.
—Of course, there are some points that leave a little to be desired...
Mason, with an always courteous attitude, pointed out precisely the aspects to improve.
Blair became a model student who listened attentively to her teacher's words and mentally reviewed what he told her.
Just as the budget review was coming to an end, Lina came in after knocking on the door.
—Madam, a moment ago—
Lina, who was going to get straight to the point, fell silent when she belatedly noticed Mason's presence.
Mason discreetly withdrew.
When Mason left, only Lina, Blair and Melly, who was taking care of Ppippi, were left in the room.
Lina glanced at Melly, absorbed in the marten, and whispered so that only Blair could hear:
—News has arrived from the guild, ma'am.
⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅∙∘☽༓☾∘∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅
—Mining at the recently discovered mana stone mine in the northwest is progressing smoothly.
The estimated reserves are…
Herdin stared blankly at the fading landscape beyond the carriage window.
Ruth's voice, reporting on the progress of business, flowed through his ears just like that landscape.
Everything was going smoothly.
Business, and also the search for Blair's memories.
A few days ago, Agnes had come to present a preliminary report.
It was just one month since the consultations began.
Agnes said that instead of immediately pulling up the painful memories, she was starting to recall the happy ones.
She added that although many patients distrust the therapist, Blair was opening up to her quickly, so everything was going well.
⌜In the lady's happy memories, Her Majesty the late Empress appears very frequently.
Maybe that's why he hasn't made an effort to recover his memory.
For fear of the possibility that the person she trusted and leaned on so much might actually have tried to kill her.⌟
⌜Even knowing that such a loved person could have been unjustly accused?⌟
⌜She suffered a serious accident that caused her significant injuries, and when she woke up she did not remember what had happened, while those around her told her that that person had tried to kill her...⌟
⌜…⌟
⌜Given the circumstances, it is natural that he came to that conclusion.
That that person tried to kill her and that perhaps she, because of the shock, lost her memory.⌟
⌜…⌟
⌜And even more so if the Empress Mother told her the same thing.
So as not to turn her mother, who is alive, into a liar, and not to want to investigate the possibility that the late Empress really wanted to kill her.⌟
⌜It's a selfish thought.⌟
⌜Excellence.
At that time, the lady was only eleven years old.⌟
Agnes defended Blair by saying that an eleven-year-old girl couldn't afford to think about anything other than herself.
⌜And in those happy memories, you also frequently appear.⌟
⌜…Me?⌟
⌜That would show how much he trusts, supports and loves you.
Therefore, from time to time, it would be good if you yourself talked to the lady about that time.⌟
Herdin let Agnes' words pass with a sarcastic smile.
Love?
What nonsense.
If anything, it would be because he was Esmeralda's nephew and they often met on matters related to her.
He didn't know what feelings Blair harbored towards him at the present, but at least they wouldn't be the kind Agnes was implying.
Especially seeing Blair's recent behavior.
Since the day they saw her go to the guild for the first time, Blair had not gone out again for personal reasons.
Whether it was contacting the guild behind his back, or spouting that nonsense about being able to see the future...
But seeing his candid face, he was struck by the idea that perhaps his suspicions were nothing more than misunderstandings.
And didn't the demonic beast really appear, just like she said?
No, maybe that's what he wanted to believe.
Surely that's why he felt so bad.
Herdin scoffed at himself.
That's why he had been on such a tight schedule since the New Year's Eve Festival, reducing the chances of meeting Blair to a minimum.
He wasn't going to let himself be fooled again by that innocent face.
With just one experience in that sense I had more than enough.
…To be continued