Now that I thought about it, the people in this house had a special fixation with the word family.
They seemed to consider her little more than a leash to tie up a disobedient dog.
That word was repugnant to her.
If it weren't for that damn "family," his wife wouldn't be going through what she was going through now.
Those who, just because she was family, had plunged Blair into guilt, clung to her, repeating incessantly that she was family.
It seemed ridiculous to him.
Ivan, oblivious to his thoughts, put down the cup of tea and asked: "Do you like chess?" "On second thought, I haven't played since I was little." "So, why don't you show your skill after so long?" Despite Herdin's response, which showed reluctance, Ivan insisted on calling the chamberlain to prepare a chess board.
The fun of the game was in the tension generated by facing a rival of a similar level and in the victory achieved by the skin of its teeth in the end.
But since Kassion's death, Herdin had not had a worthy rival and had long lost interest in chess.
“You start.” Ivan, who had lived as crown prince and then as Emperor, would probably have lost only rarely.
Beating him would only fuel his competitive spirit, so Herdin thought about allowing himself to be beaten properly.
If he thought that he was no match for him, he would not propose to play such a dull game again.
The game went exactly as Herdin intended.
When a comfortable gap was opened with Ivan in the lead, the main topic finally arrived.—Have you also heard the rumor that is going around?—Does he mean the rumor that the lady was kidnapped, that Her Majesty the Empress is behind it?
Widow, and the reason is the incident ten years ago?—Yes.
Lately, that rumor is giving me more than a headache.
Ivan, who was holding a chess piece while thinking about where to place it, continued speaking.
"Although it is nothing more than a baseless rumor, we cannot allow the authority of the imperial family to be undermined." Then, as if he had found a good place, he placed the piece on the board and ordered in a calm voice.
"You will clarify it." "What kind of clarification are you referring to?" "You will clarify that Blair's kidnapping has nothing to do with it." with my mother.
Herdin scoffed at Ivan's words.
—...It seems that he is not interested in knowing if the lady was really kidnapped or who is behind it.
A normal brother, at least one with a minimum of brotherly affection, would worry first about his kidnapped sister.
But he acted as if the only thing that mattered to him was the safety of the imperial family and his own prestige.
Although he had already expected it, the fact made him angry again.
"That girl is now your wife, so that matter will be resolved by you properly." Ivan responded cheekily to her observation, as if it were not the slightest importance, and went even further.
"By the way, I would like you to also clarify your position on the incident from ten years ago.
It's ridiculous that now that we're family this matter continues to be mentioned.—…—If you clarify it, there won't be any more headaches over rumors like this, don't you think?
The corner of Herdin's lips twitched at Ivan's words.
It seemed that for him, the incident from ten years ago was nothing more than a ridiculous anecdote.
He changed his mind about letting himself win.
"I think that more than clarifications, what is needed are proofs." Herdin responded like this while moving his chess piece.
His piece attacked Ivan's horse without an ounce of hesitation.
It was the knight that until a moment ago was roaming freely around the board, devouring Herdin's pieces.
Ivan was startled by the surprise attack.
Although he had only neglected one move, he suddenly felt a sense of danger, as if the tides of the game had completely turned.
“Because everything that rumor tells is true.” Their gazes met over the silent chessboard.
Herdin, even seeing Ivan's rigid expression, continued speaking naturally.
“Of course, I understand that Your Majesty may not know that.
It is difficult for a son to suspect his mother.—…—I will soon bring you evidence that you can accept, so I beg you, this time too, to make a fair and impartial judgment.
At that moment, the faint sound of a bell was heard in the distance announcing the hour on the hour.
The conversation could end there.—It seems that His Majesty has won the game.
I have other business to attend to, so I must retire.
May I have your permission?
Herdin thought that Ivan would let him go without problems.
But, contrary to what I expected, Ivan relaxed his stiff expression and brought up another topic.
“If your statement is true, as my mother's son, I would have to apologize to you.” Naturally, I will make a judgment accordingly.
First of all...
He tapped his fingers on the chess board for a moment and then paused, as if he had thought about a proper judgment.
"You'd better start by divorcing Blair." At his unexpected words, a subtle crack appeared in Herdin's until then jaded eyes.
"To begin with, this marriage was forged by my ambition." If what you say is true, the imperial family is an enemy of Delmark, so I cannot allow this marriage to go ahead.———Wouldn't Her Majesty the Empress in her grave be saddened to see her beloved nephew married to her enemy's daughter?
Although Ivan spoke as if it were a consideration, his eyes, which were scrutinizing Herdin's expression, shone with coldness.—Anyway, the internal opinion in Delmark must not be good, and no I like to leave her in a place full of people who don't appreciate her.—…—There are no children among you yet, so it can be resolved cleanly and without problems.
Herdin scoffed inwardly.
It was a funny story coming from Ivan.
If he cared so much about Blair's opinion, he shouldn't have proposed this marriage from the beginning.
So, the reason why Ivan brought up this topic now was...
"We will discuss the arrangement regarding my mother after I see the reliable evidence you mention......to blackmail him." He couldn't ignore it.
In other words, he was telling him to cover up the matter if he didn't want to divorce Blair.
"You can leave now." Herdin stood up from his seat and turned around.
A late spring and early summer breeze, heavy with a floral scent, brushed against him.
As her heated head cooled, her rational thinking began to function again.
Rationally, Ivan was right.
If Esmeralda's name was cleared, Blair would clearly become the daughter of the enemy.
If Ivan, to atone for Katrina's crimes, proposed a divorce from Blair, there would be no reason to maintain this marriage.
"Wasn't that what I wanted?" From the moment he accepted this absurd marriage contract, it was already planned.
Only that the moment had come a little ahead of what was agreed.
Clarifying the truth of the incident ten years ago was his lifelong desire.
It was not something that should be affected by a contract marriage that would last only a year.
So why am I hesitating?
"Why?" What has that woman done to me?
Herdin abruptly loosened his bowtie, which was squeezing him as if it were strangling him.
⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅∙∘☽༓☾∘∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅
The sky, which had begun to cloud over at dusk, unleashed a heavy downpour as soon as it got dark.—Wow, suddenly it's raining a lot.
You can already say it's summer rain.
Said Lina, who was combing Blair's hair in front of the dressing table, while looking out the window.
Blair, who was watching the drips hitting the glass, nodded.
"It seems so." "By the way, ma'am, have you had any trouble today?" "Can I tell?" Blair looked at her face reflected in the mirror.
Her expression was the same as always.—…It can't be.
If today is the day she longed for so much.—Mmm, is it because of the rain?—I guess.
Blair smiled as she responded, and Lina did not insist on the matter any further.
When she finished combing her hair, Lina said goodbye with a “sweet dreams” and left the bedroom.
Through the crack of the door as it closed, the sound of the pendulum clock striking ten o'clock could be heard.
Herdin had not yet returned.
Blair huddled in front of the bedroom door and strained her ears toward the outside.
Then, suddenly, she caressed her still flat belly.
She would soon be able to meet Aziel.
Of course, she would have to wait ten more months, but just by confirming that the child was growing safely in her womb, she would feel calm.
Just thinking that she would soon see her son again made her forget all the past hardships.
The fact that she had been abandoned by Katrina, her guilt over the incident ten years ago...
everything.
But why didn't she feel completely happy?
She found the answer to a question that not even she herself understood when she heard the footsteps approaching on the other side of the door.
Her heart began to pound when she realized that they were Herdin's footsteps.
Only then did she understand.
That this night would be her last with him.
That after tonight, she would have to put an end to that feeling that she felt.
Herdin, who was walking more slowly than usual, stopped when he saw her.
A bitter laugh escaped from between his teeth as he inevitably faced the answer to the question he had been avoiding.
Now I know why I can't let you go.
In the end, it was love.
Makku:
…To be continued