In the past life, he only tried on the tuxedo on the day of the dance.
That is to say, it was something that had not happened in the past life: that he appeared at the fitting of the finished clothes before the dance.
The one who was most happy about his unexpected appearance was not Blair, but the Baroness de Sionel.
—How good it is that the duke has come!
In a couple's look, it is much better for both of you to try it on together to make the final adjustment.
She, excited to be able to dress her best models with her work, chattered with her characteristic high-pitched voice.
—Come on, girls.
Help them.
The Baroness of Sionel closed the fan she was holding with a snap.
As if on cue, his assistants led Blair and Herdin to the locker room with astonishing precision.
Rina and Meli looked at each other and smiled proudly.
Then Rina, who met Mason's gaze, gave a thumbs up.
Because it had been he who, by insisting, had gotten Herdin to come here.
Mason, although he didn't show any emotion as usual upon seeing him, seemed to have a softer expression than normal.
When Ruth looked at the three with suspicious eyes, Herdin, who had already changed, came out first.
Immediately afterwards, Blair also left the locker room.
Both were dressed in navy blue.
The dark-toned clothing highlighted the clear features of their white skin.
It was a palette that didn't fit the brightness of the day, but was perfect for a nighttime dance.
Seeing them, Rina thought:
they make a good couple.>Leaving aside origin, character, everything, and looking only at the external, he couldn't help but recognize that the only man in this entire Empire who was on par with Blair was him.
And it didn't seem like that was just Rina's opinion.
Above all, the Baroness of Sionel seemed excited about her work and the models who wore it.
—Oh, it's only when you dress them that the clothes come to life.
They look like a newlywed couple in full flame of love.
The baroness, with her characteristic exaggeration, placed the two side by side to make the final adjustments, and at that moment, with a few knocks on the door, a servant entered.
—The painter who will paint the portrait of the two has arrived.
—
The two changed into the clothes they would wear for the portrait and came to the greenhouse in the backyard.
In the greenhouse, in a place where the flowers especially bloomed, in the sunniest area, there were two chairs for them to sit on.
Blair looked at that place with renewed excitement.
In the past life, she had been the first to suggest getting a portrait done.
Because she wanted to feel, even if it was like that, that she was part of Delmarck, since no one in the ducal family looked favorably on her having become their mistress.
But this time he had no intention of taking a portrait.
After all, in a few months he would leave this mansion.
Another person would become the mistress of this mansion.
What use would it be to leave the trail of a duchess who is only half a year old?
It would only be a hindrance.
But in this life, it was Mason who suggested it first.
Blair rejected his proposal for the reasons above, but like with the couple's look, she reluctantly agreed because Rina and Meli wanted it so much.
But there was something I hadn't taken into account...
Since the day they argued in the cafeteria in front of the museum, Blair had been avoiding him.
For his part, he didn't seem to particularly want to see her either.
He couldn't fire the painter who had cost so much effort to bring in, so he had no choice.
The painter first placed Herdin.
—Your Excellency, put your hand like this on the lady's shoulder...
Yes, that's fine.
Following his instructions, Herdin's hand went around Blair's shoulder.
Then he felt her body shudder.
Although it would be more comfortable if she lay flat on him, Blair sat with her back very straight.
As if she wanted to get as far away from him as possible.
Herdin was staring at Blair, but she didn't even look at him once.
It seemed like he was avoiding her gaze on purpose.
Seeing his wife like this, Herdin's gaze shifted to the front.
Only then did he feel his wife's small body heave a sigh.
The portrait work lasted more than an hour.
—Do you want to rest for a moment?
As soon as the painter suggested a break, Blair jumped up as if she had been waiting for him.
And as if fleeing, he left the greenhouse.
Herdin, with his chin resting on his hand, watched his back with a cold gaze.
—
Leaving the greenhouse, Blair, after saying goodbye to Rina, who was going to get a snack, decided to take advantage of the time to walk around the garden.
In winter, since people don't usually go outside, there wouldn't be a problem, but since it was a spring dance, there would be guests who would come out into the garden.
Satisfied, Blair inspected the garden, the fruit of her, Mason's, and the gardeners' work.
As he relaxed, his back began to hurt, which had been bothering him before.
It was a new dress that she had bought from the Baroness of Sionel, and the bow that held the neckline at the back was too tight, and it rubbed against her skin, irritating it.
Blair moved behind a nearby hedge and looked around.
There was no one.
He tried to loosen the tie at the back a little to re-tie it, but since he couldn't see, it wasn't as easy as he thought.
—There is no way…
As Blair struggled with the ribbon that wasn't tied properly, she suddenly heard a familiar voice behind her.
—It's not that the naive lady is trying to undress here, I suppose.
Blair, startled, turned around and saw Herdin, who she didn't know how long he had been looking at her, leaning against the wall.
What kind of person do you think I am?
Blair, who understood his words a second later, looked at him with disgusted eyes and replied:
—…Of course not.
Blair, without saying anything else, walked past him and towards the greenhouse.
Or tried to, until his strong arm wrapped around her waist.
He felt its warmth suddenly approaching from behind.
—Sué, let go of me.
Blair, startled by the sudden contact, tried to pull away, but his voice fell on her head.
—Quiet.
His words had no force, but as soon as she heard that voice, Blair stopped resisting.
It wouldn't help either.
Herdin let go of her waist and touched the bow untied from her back.
His long fingers, like his big hands, brushed her skin as they passed between the ties.
All of Blair's nerves were on alert.
Blair, pursing her lips so that he wouldn't notice her reaction, protested in a low voice:
—I can do it myself.
—From the way you were complaining, it didn't seem like it.
—…
He saw me from the beginning...
For some reason, that hurt his pride.
Blair, not to agree with him, responded:
—I can ask Rina to help me when she comes back.
—So that others can see this image?
As he said it, his voice was deeper than a moment ago, but Blair, concentrating on fixing her dress, didn't notice.
…To be continued