—This incident happened because of me, so I want to take responsibility.
Her gaze was solemn.
—Allow me to do it, Herdin.
Herdin, who was watching her, let out a short laugh.
His wife was, more than she seemed, a person with a strong sense of responsibility, fearless and, as always, very stubborn.
She didn't dislike that.
"She will have been trapped in the mansion for almost a week, so it won't hurt to get some fresh air." He unfolded the invitation he had taken from Blair and, after reading it, returned it to her saying: "Do whatever you want, ma'am."
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The guild member, who was dozing as usual in the drowsy weather, watched the sunset filter through the window, yawned widely, and sat up.
It was time to prepare to receive the customers and guild members in earnest.
Just as he stretched his stiff body, the door bell rang with a clear jingle.
“Welcome!” The man, who greeted by reflex, frowned when he saw a woman in robes, but recognizing that it was the priestess who had come days ago, he suddenly became respectful.
“Ah, she has come.” “Is there something to report?” Miela, skipping the greeting, asked directly.
The man didn't like it very much, but since the sum of his order was quite substantial, he could ignore it.
"Ah, yes." Wait a moment, please.
The man entered the counter of the store, rummaged through some cluttered notebooks and took out a piece of paper that he unfolded.
“Last week, the Countess of Lorelain visited the ducal mansion.
—…The county house of Lorelain?
—It is one of the vassal houses of the Duchy of Delmark.
The countess is famous among the noble ladies as a psychological counselor.
Miela remembered the name Lorelain that she had once heard among the noble ladies.
Living as a priestess, she heard rumors about the nobles even if she didn't want to.
The noble ladies often visited the temple, and it was also common for her to be called to noble houses - usually to heal young aristocrats who had been injured while playing roughly -, as had happened a few days ago in the ducal mansion of Delmark.
Now that he thought about it, he thought he had heard that name several times.
“Seeing that the Countess of Lorelain visits that house every week, it could be deduced that the duchess has some mental or physical health problem.” The man added an assumption to the information he had gathered.
Miela nodded her head slightly in agreement with that deduction.
I couldn't enter the Imperial Palace, so I don't know what happened inside...—The Imperial Palace...—That day, on her way back to the ducal mansion, she was kidnapped.
Well, this is already common knowledge, so you've probably heard it.
Miela, of course, knew it.
That day, the person who had gone to the ducal mansion to cure Blair was herself.
—Since then, she has not left the ducal mansion.
Maybe I'm being cautious because of the kidnapping incident, or maybe it's because of the rumors.
“…I see.” “If you have any other questions or need more information, don't hesitate to tell me.” Miela postponed her answer for a moment, deep in thought.
“Who is behind the kidnapping of the Duchess?” The long-standing feud between the imperial family and the Duchy of Delmark, caused by the incident at the Empress's Palace ten years ago.
Blair, the only witness to the accident, but who had lost her memory.
And the counselor who visited her every week.
Then, the sudden visit to the Imperial Palace in the middle of the night and, right after, the kidnapping of the duchess...
But why doesn't the ducal house publicly proclaim those responsible for the kidnapping or punish them?
To reaffirm her prestige, it would be best to show what happens when she messes with Delmark.
Of course, perhaps they had not yet found those responsible for the kidnapping, but another possibility occurred to Miela.
"It could be that, if they made it public lightly, it would be an adversary who could also harm Delmark." the truth.
It is enough that it is minimally credible.
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The carriage of the ducal house of Delmark arrived at the residence of Count Essel.
It was the mansion where the party was being held that day.
While Blair watched the carriages entering in front of hers, Herdin, who was watching her in silence, called out to her.—Blair.—Yes.—If you are not feeling well, tell me immediately.
Don't put up with it.—Okay.—I repeat, the objective of today's party is to show that you are perfectly fine.
As if he had not suffered any kidnapping.
So resisting and eventually fainting is not helpful.
Herdin warned him.
His wife had a stubborn side, and it was clear that even if she was not feeling well, she would stick it out.
"I understand." Blair nodded slightly, as if she had understood his words.
She always answers yes very well.
Herdin looked at her and giggled.
I didn't know what her body was like, but just from her expression, she seemed in a good mood, maybe because she was going out after a long time.
Seeing how his eyes were shining made him think that his decision to attend today's party had been the right one.
Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the count's mansion.
When they got off the carriage and entered the residence, the Earl and Countess of Essel, who were receiving the guests, saw them and strode towards them.—Welcome, Your Honor!—Thank you for honoring us with your presence.
Belonging to one of the vassal houses of Delmark, the counts received the couple with more joy than any other guests.
After exchanging greetings with the Earls of Essel, both mingled naturally in the party.
while they greeted the nobles who gathered.
Blair among the ladies and ladies, and Herdin among the gentlemen.
As soon as Herdin left Blair, one of the noble ladies joined the group.
Blair recognized her face immediately.
The Viscountess Andez.
One of the aristocrats who wanted to ingratiate herself with Katrina.
She observed Blair surreptitiously and asked her subtly.
"By the way, Duchess, I see you a little haggard since the last time we saw each other." Have you had any problems?
It was a question that, under false concern, hid the intention of probing her.
Blair gave him a smile.
“I wasn't feeling very well.” Thanks to your concern, I am much better now.—Ah, I see.
The duke should take better care of you.
Maybe preparing some good restorative.—That's what I say.
It is not permissible for a newlywed to be sick.
Some ladies joined the Viscountess of Andez's conversation, and the first survey passed naturally.
But she didn't stop there and launched a second topic.—Ah, right.
Have you heard the news?
They say that a few days ago one of the villas on the outskirts of the capital suffered a big fire.—Ah, was that where the smoke was coming from the other day?
When some ladies showed interest in her story, the Viscountess of Andez also asked Blair, who had not reacted.—The forest landscape of that villa was very beautiful, it's a shame what happened.
Have you heard about it too, Duchess?—I think there are more people who don't know that news.
That town is on the outskirts of the capital, so, if you don't go expressly, you don't know much.
How do you know that, Viscountess?
When Blair, skillfully dodging the question, pointed out that weak spot, Viscountess Andez's expression twisted in bewilderment.
Most of the villas in that area were used by nobles as discreet places for their secret rendezvous.
Knowing the place was practically like admitting that one enjoyed such encounters.
Of course, those who had no interest in secret appointments would not even know what it meant to know that information, but it was like the saying "the thief thinks that everyone is of his condition." The Viscountess of Andez hid her rigid expression behind the fan and forced herself to smile.
- That day, I happened to pass by there on business and I witnessed it by chance.
The zone of the villas was an area of forests and desolate plains, in the opposite direction from the viscounty of Andez.
Which meant there was no reason for Viscountess Andez to drop by 'by chance'.
But Blair decided not to point that out too.
He'd already pointed out a weakness twice when trying to probe her, he probably wouldn't try a third time.
Furthermore, if I pointed out another failure again, she would only accumulate resentment.
"There is no need to make enemies." The noble ladies, oblivious to the tension that had existed between Blair and the Viscountess of Andez, quickly changed the subject.
The atmosphere of the social conversation, which ran between greetings and catching up, changed when the Viscountess of Andez's maid arrived.
"It seems that you have something important to tell me." Excuse me for a moment.
The Viscountess of Andez moved away from the conversation a little and listened to her maid's whisper.
Her gaze shifted towards Blair.
Just as Blair felt a vague unease from that strange look, Ruth also approached Herdin, who was conversing with other nobles.
“Your Excellency.” I have to inform you of something urgent.
Ruth interrupting in the middle of a party meant that it was a really serious matter.
Herdin left the conversation immediately.—What's going on?—A very unpleasant rumor is circulating.—What rumor?—You see...Ruth covered her mouth with her hand and conveyed the message in a voice so low that only Herdin could hear it.
Herdin's expression gradually hardened as he heard it.
His eyes, which had suddenly turned cold, searched for Blair in the party room.
His wife was in a corner, chatting with the ladies.
Forcibly smiling in an unwanted place, among unpleasant people, to fulfill her responsibility.
That image of her was superimposed on his own image from the past.
To that time when, for the prestige of his family, for Esmeralda, he had to endure the gossip of the nobles pretending not to hear them.
Herdin approached Blair urgently.
At that moment, he heard the voice of the Viscountess of Andez.—Madam, this question is very delicate, but...
what do you think about the fire at the Empress's Palace ten years ago?
You are the only survivor of that event.
Blair's eyes, who received an unexpected question, were troubled.
The Viscountess of Andez, without missing the opportunity, smiled and continued speaking.—No, you see.
A very strange rumor is circulating.
The rumor that you, along with the duke, suspect that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is behind the incident ten years ago.
The smiles disappeared from the faces of the ladies and young ladies who were watching the scene in bewilderment.
The topic that the Viscountess of Andez had brought up was considered an unspoken taboo in high society.—And they cannot reveal those responsible for the recent kidnapping because they are none other than the imperial family...
Isn't that true?
A noble lady from the imperial side, who was observing both of them cautiously, intervened to mediate the situation.—T- that's impossible.
How was it going to be?
…To be continued