Therefore, those who were born with sacred power, even if they did not amass enormous fortunes, could live honorably and comfortably as priests.
He was curious to know why he had chosen a hard and dangerous life.
At the question, Mikhail smiled and gave an ambiguous answer.
—Sometimes, a power that some desperately crave becomes for others a trace they would like to erase.
He didn't outright refuse, but Blair knew from his ambiguous response that he didn't want to talk about it any further.
After finishing the cure, Mikhail put the shoe back on Blair.
His touch was extremely careful and delicate, as if he were manipulating a piece of crystal.
—So, are we going back?
Blair stood up and took the lead.
The penetrating gaze of Mikhail, who was walking at her pace, briefly slid over the area of her collarbone.
But the black magic circle was not seen.
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The sleepy afternoon landscape passed behind the slightly trembling window of the carriage.
Seeing the rays of the evening sun that were already beginning to turn platinum, Herdin naturally thought of Blair.
His wife was a woman who resembled the sun in many ways.
First, because of the visible color of his hair; also because of its soft body heat, and above all because of its ethereal aura, as if it would vanish even when you hold it in your hands.
Would it be because of that?
Even when he had her before his eyes, even when he hugged her, a causeless restlessness always lurked at his feet.
Especially today, after seeing the geography book on his bedside table, he couldn't shake that strange restlessness.
Suddenly, he remembered the words she had said at some point in his childhood.
Leave the capital and travel the wide world!Cross the sea, to distant continents...>
Herdin, who was ruminating on those words, looked at Ruth, who was sitting opposite reviewing the agenda and documents.
—Ruth.
-Yeah.
—How would you like it if Ardel had a port that connected to the eastern continent?
The Ardel Empire was located to the west of the continent, so it had no ports in the east.
Therefore, to trade with the eastern continent, one had to go around the great western continent.
Although some territories, including the duchy of Delmark that encompassed the northeast of the empire, had seas connecting to the east coast, they were all marshes with no ports suitable for large ships.
Trade with the eastern continent, which Ivan coveted even at the risk of war, was something Herdin had also long considered.
The problem was that there was no way to do it.
Ruth wondered why he asked so suddenly, but dutifully answered her lord's question.
—It would be great, wouldn't it?
Now products from the East are imported through other countries, but we could get them cheaper, and conversely, we could get more profit from exports without intermediate commissions.
-I think so.
—A true golden age would open.
That is why His Majesty does not stop thinking about how to provoke a war with Klania at the slightest opportunity.
Although I think it's crazy...
But why do you ask it all of a sudden?
—I'm thinking about building a port in Libren that connects with the eastern continent.
Libren was a territory belonging to the Duchy of Delmark that bordered the east coast.
-As?
If all the Libren Sea is marshes.
—What if we fill in all those marshes until we reach deep waters where large ships can dock?
—With what means?
What Ivan considered a reason for war, Herdin solved it in another way.
—With a lot of land and a lot of money.
An even crazier method.
A crazy investment that only Delmark could afford.
—…Do you mean it?
Ruth, reading the seriousness in Herdin's eyes, gave an exaggerated jump that almost made her touch the roof of the carriage.
—Do you have so much money left over that it even rots and now you want to throw it into the sea?
Why don't you throw it at me instead?
But Herdin was convinced.
—As you say, a port in Libren will bring enormous benefits to Delmark, and by extension to Ardel.
Not only material benefits, but also civilization and knowledge of incalculable value.
Certainly, if the port were built as he said, it would open a completely different era than the current one.
Filling in the Libren marshes to build a port was a project that, at first glance, would require astronomical costs.
I don't know whether to call it grand or reckless...>As much as I thought about it, it was an amazing idea.
However, Herdin seemed to seriously consider the plan.
—Prepare a budget and bring it to me.
If Herdin was like this, Ruth had no veto.
—Yes…
Just as they finished their conversation, the carriage arrived at the ducal mansion.
As always, Mason welcomed them.
—Welcome, Excellency.
—The lady?
—He's out for a lunchtime date.
Just as I was going to ask what the date was, Mason stepped forward.
—And there is a visitor waiting for him.
—A visit?
As far as he knew, there were no visits scheduled for today.
-Who?
—A temple priestess.
He says he has something urgent to tell His Excellency.
Since her identity is certain, I have shown her into the reception hall.
—A priestess…
Did he have a personal friendship with a priestess?
—She said her name was Miela Elius.
The name was not familiar to him, but when he heard a woman's name, a person came to mind.
—Serve the tea.
Herdin took off his leather gloves and walked into the living room.
“That person” he had imagined was waiting for him there.
—Ah, good afternoon, Excellency.
Miela, who was observing the room, was startled and greeted him.
A blush appeared on her face at the sight, but Herdin's eyes turned icy.
—We meet again, miss.
Although I didn't know it would be at my house.
I don't think we have a close enough relationship to see each other in private.
—I know it's rude to come unannounced, but it's such an important matter that I dared to break protocol.
—What matter?
At this moment, a maid who came in after knocking put the tea cup in front of Herdin.
Miela waited for the maid to come out to speak.
-The Duchess...
At that moment, a throbbing headache passed through Herdin.
At the same time, an unknown memory surfaced.
If you stay by his side, you could lose control.The place in the memory that suddenly surfaced was identical to the landscape before his eyes.
But what Miela was saying in reality was completely different from the words in the memory.
—Do you know that she has secret meetings with another man?
Only then did the boundary between reality and memory fade, the memory disappeared, and only reality remained.
Herdin, who was frowning at the residue of the memory, belatedly assimilated what the royal Miela had just said.
Miela, thinking that he was interested in the story she had, continued talking.
—A moment ago I saw the Duchess get into a carriage with another man.
If you follow her…
—I didn't know you had a penchant for meddling in other people's affairs, miss.
Herdin cut her off in an icy tone before she finished, raising his teacup.
His eyes on Miela over the cup were extremely cold.
Miela, startled, excused herself.
—I, I was only worried about you...!
—It's someone I know.
I also know about today's appointment.
Although he said that, Miela couldn't shake a strange feeling.
A moment ago, Blair was in a rental car.
Normally, noble ladies traveled in the family carriages escorted by knights.
If I had nothing to hide, I wouldn't go with a stranger in a rental car.
But on Herdin's face when he put down the cup you could not read any emotion typical of someone who finds out for the first time about his wife's infidelity.
—I think we can end the conversation.
As always, a cold, indifferent and dry expression.
Now even tinged with boredom.
—I hope he doesn't come forward again for issues like this.
Herdin stood up.
—Ah.
Take your tea easy.
He left the room first, leaving Miela behind.
As he closed the door, a cold laugh escaped from between his teeth.
—…So in the end you went to see that guy.
I had vaguely anticipated it.
If she wanted to get divorced as she wanted, and in the way she promised without harming him, the simplest method was a scandal.
But seeing how he had been acting lately, he thought for a moment that perhaps he had given up on that plan.
In the end, it had just been his wishful thinking.
So you, while you smile at me like that and snuggle in my arms, in that little head you only think about running away.
The moment he became aware of that fact again, the restlessness that always lurked at his feet transformed into anger and consumed him completely.
To the point of forgetting the plan to fill in the sea that he had been devising a moment ago.
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—Welcome, madam.
Mason greeted Blair as she got off the carriage, as always.
Blair asked out of habit.
—The Duke?
—His afternoon schedule was suddenly modified and he returned earlier than expected.
Blair, who was entering the mansion, stopped for a moment.
According to the original plan, Herdin had a dinner and would return late.
That she had returned early meant that he knew of her absence.
But I wasn't going to hide it from him.
Anyway, it was something that needed to be clarified.
As Blair gathered her courage and went up to her room, Melly, who was waiting outside the door, approached.
—Welcome, madam.
-Yeah.
Any news?
As she asked and absentmindedly opened the door, Melly, who was watching her from behind, said carefully.
—The Duke is waiting for you inside.
Blair's hand on the knob paused.
It was a planned situation.
Although it had arrived faster than expected.
—...I'll take care of the clothes, you can leave.
Melly bowed and walked away.
Blair took a deep breath and opened the door.
As soon as she entered, she met Herdin's eyes, sitting on the sofa in front of her smoking a cigar.
…To be continued