—It seems that you have finished your business ahead of schedule.
Mason said as he opened the carriage door.
Herdin nodded slightly and asked.
—Any news?
—The Marquess and Marchioness of Selden have come to visit the lady.
Hearing the news of the visit of those he did not appreciate, Herdin's brow furrowed.
-When?
—They are talking to the lady in the reception room right now.
He didn't need to hear the reason for his visit to Blair.
Surely, thinking that it would go in one ear and out the other, they had taken advantage of his absence to come and beg for mercy for Rachel before Blair.
Certainly his soft-hearted wife could be swayed by his desperate pleas for her daughter.
He had revealed that Wesley and Rachel were behind the affair, but he had not told him in detail what had happened to them.
Sooner or later she would find out through the rumor mill, but it wouldn't be a pleasant story for her, as compassionate as she was.
Now he somewhat regretted not having told and warned her sooner.
—Did the marquis' daughter also come?
—Only the marquises came.
A grimace twisted Herdin's lips.
—Even on the verge of being expelled, it seems that they want to preserve their pride.
When it wouldn't even be enough for her to come in person to apologize and beg on her knees, she hides behind her parents.
I don't know whether to call it childish or clever.
Well, if he was smart, he wouldn't have caused such a problem in the first place.
Instead of returning directly to his office, Herdin headed to the room where Blair was meeting with the Marquises of Selden.
He had no intention of showing mercy in this matter.
Just as he reached and turned the doorknob, through the half-open crack he heard Blair's characteristic slow voice.
—So what you're telling me is that my husband has requested severe punishment for both of us?
-Yeah.
It seems that His Majesty wanted to be lenient in consideration of Rachel, but the duke objected.
-…I see.
—But if the interested party yourself, you, madam, expresses your desire for clemency, wouldn't the duke change his mind?
From the mouth of the Marquis of Selden came the expected speech.
Herdin, who had been listening to the conversation silently, was about to intervene when he heard Blair's voice.
—If that is my husband's will, I'm afraid I have nothing more to add.
It was a calm but firm voice.
—What, what do you mean by that?
Does he intend to stand by while Rachel is expelled from the empire?
—Rachel is no longer a little girl, she must take responsibility for her own actions.
I already warned him once at the banquet.
—Princess… no, Madam Duchess.
Rachel is her cousin.
Didn't they get along?
I don't understand why he is so inflexible with her.
—Just because he is my relative does not excuse his mistakes.
At Blair's firm response, a sigh was heard from the Marquises of Selden.
But Blair didn't stop there.
Just as she was, when she believed something was right, she defended it without hesitation.
—Besides, as I am Mrs.
Delmark, this is not a purely personal matter.
—…
—If my husband has desired it this way, it will be for the prestige of the family, and I, as his wife and lady of Delmark, will respect and abide by his will.
His wife.
Mrs.
Delmark.
Although it was nothing new, those words that came from Blair's lips were very pleasant to him.
And also the fact that she was so firm for him.
Herdin closed the door he had half-opened again.
—It seems that the lady has already made a wise decision.
Herdin walked past the living room and headed to his office.
A slight smile curved his lips.
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That night too, Herdin went to Blair's room with the marshmallows.
When he opened the door after knocking, he stopped, surprised by an unexpected scene.
—Have you arrived?
In Blair's eyes, which always looked at him with serenity, there was a hint of joy.
His expression was somehow reminiscent of a puppy waiting for his treat.
Although he knew that it was not directed at him, but at the marshmallows he was holding, he was not displeased to see that face.
Thinking that he should bring her marshmallows every day from now on, he approached the table and saw the candle and lighter prepared in advance and placed neatly.
Herdin giggled when he saw what he had prepared.
—It seems that I should give an award to the model student for her diligence with the preparations.
Seeing her so prepared calmed him a little.
Unlike his concern that I would stop trying for fear of the fire, he seemed enthusiastic.
Herdin put down the bowl of marshmallows and sat down.
—This year I have decided that the donation will be made by visiting the temple orphanage and delivering the supplies directly to the children.
—Do you plan to go to the orphanage personally?
Herdin asked in surprise.
It was not uncommon for noble ladies to visit orphanages as part of their donations, but most avoided it as it was considered annoying and cumbersome.
I especially did not expect that the Duchess, who in her own words "was going to get divorced", would show so much enthusiasm for this task.
—I have heard that the mother did it like this every year.
I believe that acting personally, rather than a merely nominal donation, better honors the will of the mother.
Blair hid the real reason why she had chosen to donate to the orphanage.
Although it was not entirely false that it was in honor of Eloise, there was a more intimate reason.
So, he had donated through the priest in charge, not at the temple orphanage.
There was no reason to avoid her immediately, but there was no reason to purposely meet someone uncomfortable either.
—I think it's a good idea.
Do as you wish, ma'am.
For Herdin, there was no reason to object.
He responded willingly and took the lighter.
—Yesterday I did it with you, but today you will do it alone.
Even if the marshmallow catches fire, don't panic and put it out by shaking it calmly.
Blair looked at the candle with a tense expression, took a deep breath, and picked up a marshmallow.
His face was as solemn as that of a soldier facing battle.
After obtaining her consent, Herdin immediately lit the candle.
Blair, contrary to her initial fierce determination, showed obvious fear.
Herdin, who was watching the scene with his chin resting on his hand, waved his hand once between Blair and the candle to divert her attention.
Only then, as if remembering his teachings, did Blair blink consciously, breathe slowly, and relax.
The trembling marshmallow approached the flame.
Herdin watched with interest as the gifted student remembered what she had learned the day before and diligently reviewed it.
She found him so scary and difficult, but if he found it adorable to see her like that, maybe it was a little annoying for her.
The first attempt failed miserably as he got scared when the marshmallow caught fire.
On the second attempt, with renewed encouragement, he almost burned it at the end, but was able to rescue it unscathed thanks to Herdin's help.
Herdin blew out the candle and gently stroked Blair's head.
—He did it very well, just as I taught him.
At this rate, he will soon stop being afraid of the fireplace.
Blair looked at him stunned as he gave her light but sincere praise.
For him, it was something extremely easy and simple.
He might get irritated that she couldn't accomplish something so simple.
But seeing him observe her and teach her without showing the slightest hint of annoyance, he seemed like a good teacher.
—But when the heat comes, won't it be difficult to light the fireplace?
—Then we could have a picnic in the backyard.
We could even hunt a wild boar and cook it.
—A wild boar?
—Or deer meat would be good too.
Whatever, whatever you want.
Blair stood still at his words that he would do whatever she wanted.
It would probably be summer when it was time for the picnic.
But at the beginning of summer she would conceive Aziel, and immediately afterward she planned to leave there.
He considered their contract marriage to last a year, so he probably spoke thinking she would still be there in the summer.
Blair hid that thought, smiled pleasantly, and nodded.
-OK.
Let's do it like this.
And when she was about to eat the toasted marshmallow, she remembered something and offered it to him.
Herdin looked at her strangely.
—I saw that you ate my marshmallow this morning.
You can eat if you want.
Herdin's eyebrow raised.
—…“Your” marshmallow?
"You gave it to me, so it's mine, right?"
-No.
Everything in this house is mine.
The food, the objects.
As he said that, a strange spark of joke and, at the same time, a subtle edge shone in his eyes looking at Blair.
—And people too, of course.
Like the look of a beast defending its territory.
Blair found his sudden declaration of ownership strange, but as he said, everything in the Ducal House of Delmark was his, so she didn't contradict him.
—In any case, I haven't eaten it.
At his natural response, Blair blinked.
If he hadn't eaten it, only Lina and Melly were left.
After a moment of thought, Blair protested with a surprisingly serious face.
—Lina and Melly are not the type who would touch my things without permission.
—Hmm, then there must be a ghost in this room.
Hearing Herdin's boastful response, Blair only then realized that he was joking and furrowed her delicate brow.
—Don't lie.
Instead of answering, Herdin giggled and took Blair's hand that was holding the marshmallow, covering it with his own.
Then, he guided that hand and took a bite of the marshmallow she was holding.
It was like Blair was feeding him.
Blair watched dazedly as he ate the marshmallow.
Was it your impression that the image of the soft marshmallow disappearing into your mouth was strangely sensual?
Just when she felt uncomfortable and wanted to look away, she swallowed the marshmallow, looked up, and her eyes met his.
In his pupils, like winter lakes, his own image was trapped.
She couldn't look away, as if she were bewitched by those eyes.
In the silence charged with a strange current, his lips, red for a man, broke the silence first.
—Today we will leave it here.
Along with his whispery voice, his firm arm wrapped around Blair's waist.
—I felt like eating something else.
What that "something else" was, his lips answered upon contact.
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—Madam, we have arrived.
Blair, who had briefly fallen asleep rocked by the jolting of the carriage, woke up at the sound of Melly's voice.
Through the carriage window the orphanage building could already be seen.
The orphanage, under the jurisdiction of the temple, had the temple emblem engraved on its exterior façade.
When she got out of the carriage, a priest who was waiting after having been notified received her with joy.
—Welcome, Madam Duchess!
It is an honor to receive it.
My name is Miriam.
—Delighted, Miriam.
Thank you for taking time for us despite being so busy.
—Oh, don't say that.
We are the grateful ones.
Blair ordered the knights to unload the donated items and entered the orphanage alongside the priest.
The children, who had already pressed themselves against the windows to see her before she entered, were now crowded in front of the living room door.
The children murmured among themselves as they looked at Blair.
—Wow, she is very pretty.
She looks like a princess.
—But they say she's a real princess.
—All that is a lie.
Why would a princess come to a place like that?
Surely they thought they were speaking quietly, but unfortunately, Blair heard everything.
Blair tried hard to pretend not to hear and hold back her laughter.
But Lina, without that intention, suddenly intruded into the children's conversation.
—These tadpoles have a good eye.
She is a real princess.
—What a blast!
Really really?
-Yeah.
Really really.
—And how do you know, lady?
—Because I am the princess's maid.
…But who are you calling madam?
—So you are not a lady, but a gentleman?
—No, I'm not a gentleman, I'm a stupid fool.
The children giggled at their own jokes.
Blair and Melly laughed as they saw Lina involved in the childish pranks.
—Calling a visitor a stupid fool, that's not done.
The priest, who reprimanded them, clapped his hands to get the children's attention.
—Come on, little ones.
Meet here.
The children, who were timidly watching Blair and her group, approached one by one.
The priest introduced them to Blair.
—This is the visit the teacher told you about before.
—The princess?
—She is no longer a princess, now she is a duchess.
-Hello.
Nice to meet you.
My name is Blair.
When Blair saluted, the children applauded enthusiastically just as the priest had instructed.
Then, a curious boy raised his hand and asked.
"But why did you come here?"
It was a question that might have been a little rude coming from an adult, but said by a child it was adorable.
As he was just going to explain the reason for his visit, Blair explained it in a loving voice.
—Today is the day my husband's mother went to heaven.
She wished that this was not a sad day, but a happy day for you.
So I have prepared treats and gifts.
—Weeeeen!
The sweets and gifts excited the children.
With endless interest in Blair, another boy asked another question.
—So, the princess's husband is a prince?
Blair smiled awkwardly.
In short, for the children, both a duke and a baron were important people, it did not seem necessary to give detailed explanations.
—Eh...
He's not a prince, but he looks like one.
—Wow, I want to meet a prince too.
—Me too, me too.
Both girls and boys who admired princes were filled with expectations about the “prince.”
After finishing the presentations under the expectant gaze of the children, Blair toured the orphanage with the priest and went out to the courtyard.
While they were inspecting, the knights had piled up the donations in a corner of the courtyard.
—Come on, boys on this side, girls on that side!
In two lines to receive!
And don't forget to say thank you!
…To be continued