This is how Marina Florang died, and the soldier who first arrived to control the scene of the fire found this coin among her clothes and confiscated it.
The soldier, not knowing what the coin was for, tried to sell it to a scrap metal dealer to earn some money to drink, but he realized that it was an important clue in that case.
And for fear of being accused of hiding crucial evidence if he sold it, he had hidden it for ten years…
That was the full story Kalligo had told him.
"I would have thrown her into the river as soon as I knew."
It was questionable why, despite fear, he had kept it for more than ten years.
But in any case, since the person who was supposed to pay for the coin was related to Katrina, this coin would become important evidence.
None other than the brother of the Empress Dowager's trusted maid.
But Herdin's expression, as he looked at the coin shining in the candlelight, was grim.
—…Good job so far.
Go rest for today, and tomorrow look for the craftsman who minted this coin and get his testimony.
At the same time, a circle of black magic appeared on the back of Kalligo's neck and then vanished.
—Uh...
Excuse me?
The memories from a moment ago remained intact, but they felt like something lived in a dream, as if they were not his.
Herdin, who was looking strangely at Kalligo while he responded with a bewildered expression, repeated.
—I told you to go rest.
—Ah...
Yes.
So, have a good night, Your Excellency.
Kalligo scratched the back of his neck vigorously, bowed his head, and left the office.
Herdin, who was left alone in the office, stared at the coin in his hand.
Now, just by obtaining the testimony, he could clear Esmeralda's name.
It was something he had ardently desired and longed for for the past ten years.
The moment to fulfill that fervent desire was just around the corner, and it turned out that he was hesitating due to a mere personal feeling.
Just as Herdin was mocking himself, the sound of the grandfather clock echoed faintly in the silent mansion.
Suddenly, he remembered that before Kalligo came to look for him, he had left Blair in the room, who had fallen asleep as if she had fainted after being harassed by him from morning until night.
The face that was sleeping soundly with its long eyelashes beautifully moistened by tears, the small lips reddened from biting and sucking on them all day, the small body that was once again searching for her chest, that of the very culprit who had tormented her so much.
The moment he thought of her, sleeping alone and helpless in the bedroom, his body reacted instinctively.
—…Ha.
Even now, after having possessed her without rest, he felt pathetic seeing that he wanted her again without tiring.
Feeling a pang in his lower abdomen, Herdin put the coin in his drawer, locked it, and hurriedly left the office.
But what awaited him when he returned to the bedroom was…
—…Blair?
An empty bed.
⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅∙∘☽༓☾∘∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅
Plop.
Plop.
In the silent bathroom only the sound of falling water drops resonated.
Blair, who had entered the bathtub, curled up in a ball as she listened to that sound, her body exhausted.
"How warm..."
As she closed her eyes immersed in the warm water, her body relaxed languidly.
She felt like she could fall asleep herself.
It was a peace that I had not felt in a long time.
She didn't know how many days had passed since Herdin started harassing her without knowing day from night.
It was even strange to open your eyes and not feel his heat, not be attached to his torso.
A moment ago, when he woke up, there was no sign of him after several days.
Blair took that opportunity to go to the bathroom.
He wanted to wash his body covered in all kinds of bodily fluids.
She also rejected Melly and Lina, who wanted to serve her, because she wanted to have a moment alone.
When Herdin was around, they bathed together, so there was really no point in bathing.
Because as soon as they washed, he would immediately dirty her again.
Even so, she had not rejected him to ensure the pregnancy a little more.
In his past life, Aziel had been conceived only on that day, but just in case in this life things had changed a little.
For the same reason, he had accepted her opinion of maintaining the contract until the trial to clear Esmeralda's name was held.
By then, the symptoms that would confirm the pregnancy would appear.
Blair covered her lower belly with her hand and caressed it gently.
It was a habit she had acquired since the day she conceived Aziel.
"Now that I think about it, I haven't had my period yet this month."
Blair mentally calculated the dates and realized that her normally regular menstruation was running late.
A delay of a few days was something that often happened, but since he knew that Aziel had been conceived at this time, he reacted more sensitively.
"I hope the nausea starts soon."
Of course, I knew that when clear symptoms appeared it would be a problem to hide the pregnancy, but I also really wanted to confirm it as soon as possible.
That way she would feel calmer.
It was an ambivalent feeling.
“Should I start dating now?”
Just as Blair, who had rested for a moment, was going to wash her body, she heard the sound of the bathroom door flying open without warning.
Blair, surprised, turned and saw Herdin entering through the arched door that connected to the bathtub.
—…Herdin?
Blair looked at him with eyes quite taken aback by the unexpected intrusion.
His blue eyes, which were staring at her under the arched door, seemed strangely cold to her.
A dead silence hung between the two.
Even the surrounding air seemed to hold its breath.
Embarrassed by his lingering gaze, Blair crept under the water of the bathtub to hide her body and opened her mouth, but suddenly felt short of breath, perhaps from the humid heat.
Blair caught her breath and spoke.
—I thought I would wash quickly and come back...
Were you looking for me?
—…
He just stared at her, without responding.
Even though her appearance, with her hair slightly disheveled, her chest rising and falling in her loosely tied robe, clearly indicated that he had been looking for her.
Blair, who was observing her attitude for a moment, changed the subject.
—It seemed urgent, has the matter been resolved well?
—…
—Ah, have you found the proof?
Blair thought that was why he had searched for her so urgently.
Because it was good news, the news he had been waiting for so long, and he wanted to give it to him quickly.
Not knowing that those innocent questions, as if he had only been waiting for that news, were irritating his mood.
Herdin twitched the corner of his lips and responded.
-No.
—Ah… I see.
So why have you searched for me so urgently?
That doubt was resolved the moment she met his gaze, which was openly observing her naked body.
They were eyes of a wild beast.
Eyes that seemed ready to pounce and bite his neck at the slightest movement or if he let out a sigh.
…To be continued