—Oh, have they argued?
—…
—They say that marriage fights are like cutting water with a knife.
Instead of an answer, Herdin's cold gaze turned to him.
When he returned to the mansion yesterday just after finishing the hunt for the magical monster, seeing Blair with Caligo had made his spirits fray.
His gaze that he couldn't take away from Caligo, that he had asked him about Caligo while they were together, that letter that he didn't know who it was addressed to, everything.
All of that combined to give rise to this.
—It's time, it's time.
Caligo, clueless, slapped Herdin on the arm.
But Herdin's expression as he looked at him was icy.
The faces of the knights watching Caligo paled.
Caligo then sensed that something was wrong.
And his late intuition was completely right.
Herdin nodded behind him and ordered:
—Go get your sword.
It was the beginning of a hellish fight.
—
—Is this little girl really the predator of the forest?
Meli looked at Pipi, who was drinking milk, with amazement.
With the position of lying on Blair's legs to suckle, he looked like a gentleman.
Blair nodded and enthusiastically explained the knowledge about martens she had read in a book.
-Yeah.
They say that they hunt in groups and eat even roe deer and deer larger than themselves.
—As cute as he is, it turns out that he's more scary than his appearance?
—That's why, among the nobles who like to hunt, some raise martens and take them hunting.
—I'll have to behave well with this bug.
If I don't want him to hunt me down.
Blair laughed at Meli's comment.
Since Blair had entrusted Pipi to Meli, the two had become much closer.
And also with Rina.
When Blair was talking to Meli about Pipi, they heard footsteps.
Blair turned around and seeing Rina approaching, her face lit up.
Would it finally be news from the guild?
But the words that came out of Rina's mouth were most ordinary.
—Meli.
The butler says that if you don't have anything urgent, come for a moment.
—See, Meli.
Blair's face, as she said goodbye to Meli, showed disappointment, which then disappeared with a bitter smile.
Fifteen days had passed since he had entrusted Mikhail with the information about Caligo.
And also fifteen days since he argued with Herdin.
He, as if the discussion had made him lose interest, had not returned to his bedroom at night, as he usually did.
They continued eating together, just like before, but only that.
You could barely call it a conversation, they just ate together.
He still didn't know why that day, suddenly, and for what reason, he had shown that anger, but it was better that way.
Since she had considered the possibility that he had killed her, it was difficult for her to see his face.
She would have to reconcile before she had Aziel, but for now she didn't want to think about that.
When Blair, getting rid of those thoughts about Herdin, was playing with Pipi, a maid entered through the open door.
—Madam, Mrs.
Lauraelain has arrived.
—
Blair went to the greenhouse in the back garden, where Agnes was waiting for her.
Agnes, who was reading a book, saw Blair enter and stood up to greet her.
—Today you have a good color, ma'am.
Although Agnes's words did not seem to have any ulterior motive, Blair felt strangely addressed.
A month ago, when I was trapped by Herdin and could barely leave the bedroom.
Blair hadn't been able to see Agnes for ten days.
Because she couldn't leave the bedroom because of Herdin, or because even when he wasn't there, she couldn't overcome the tiredness and fell asleep.
When he finally met Agnes after ten days, she had said worriedly, "You seem to have lost a little weight." Although Mason wouldn't have told anyone the truth about the couple's situation, she had still felt uncomfortable.
So today couldn't have had a better color.
Because the one who bothered her every night had disappeared.
Blair, with feigned calm, returned the question:
—Yes?
-Yeah.
Is it because time has improved?
Anyway, thank goodness it seems that he has recovered his health.
After the initial greeting, both began to talk about everyday topics.
Agnes told little anecdotes with her family, and Blair talked about Pipi's growth and her feelings about it.
—How about today we talk about memories related to fire?
They can be memories from before the accident or after.
And better if they are memories that the lady can talk about with pleasure.
As Agnes was about to begin the session as usual, Blair interrupted her.
-Lady.
-Yeah.
—When can we try hypnosis?
At the word that had suddenly emerged, Agnes' gaze towards Blair deepened.
—Something has happened.
Instead of response, Blair's eyes fluttered.
Blair, whom Agnes had been watching, didn't know how to lie.
—Can I ask what happened?
If the lady is relieved to tell me.
When Blair hesitated, Agnes, as if reading his mind, added:
—What we talk about now I will not tell His Excellency.
It will be our secret.
That Agnes would inform Herdin of the content of the sessions was something that had already been agreed with Blair.
Because this therapy was part of the process of getting closer to the truth of the event from ten years ago.
Blair, after a moment's hesitation, opened her lips.
—You said that you served the ducal family of Delmarck for a long time, right?
-Yeah.
Both I and my husband have always been vassals of Delmarck.
After hearing his response, Blair remained silent for a long time before cautiously asking:
—What kind of person is he, according to you?
In the past life, and going back to the past, she had become his wife again.
They had spent many nights together, and their relationship had become intimately known.
But I still didn't understand it.
What do you really think, if it's bad enough to want to kill her.
He had heard that Agnes was the one who treated him ten years ago, when he lost his parents in an accident.
She, perhaps, would know him better.
At least, better than a pageant wife like her.
—I… I still don't understand it well.
Blair, looking at her own eyes reflected in the teacup, looked down.
She wished that no one, not even herself, could see the emotion in her eyes at this moment.
—
—Your Excellency, I have returned…
Entering the office, Ruth frowned.
Because of the cigar smoke that hit him in the face as soon as he opened the door.
The entire office was filled with smoke.
…To be continued