“He probably didn’t act directly, and you caught the kidnapper, right?”

“No. Finding Blair was the top priority.”

Wesley, who likely orchestrated Blair’s kidnapping, would have been killed by now. Despite knowing that, Herdim had let him go to deploy as many knights as possible to find Blair.

However, he had no intention of treating this matter as if it hadn’t happened.

“What about the Regent?”

Herdim took something out of his pocket and tossed it to Ruth.

“That’s your job from now on.”

Ruth skillfully caught what Herdim threw. The sharpness in her eyes as she looked at what was in her hand was intense.

She put it in her pocket.
“I will find the answer you seek as quickly as possible.”

Ruth left the room, leaving only Herdin and Blair. The silent room was occasionally filled with Blair’s coughing.

Herdin silently watched the scene. Except for the outerwear he gave to Blair and the gloves he took off in the carriage, he was still dressed in his outing attire.

Despite feeling uncomfortable due to grass stains on his clothes from searching the entire forest, he couldn’t leave because he had to guard the fireplace.

He pulled something out of his pocket while quietly keeping watch by Blair’s side. It was the old lighter that Blair had clung to desperately.

Click.

Herdin meaninglessly opened and closed the lighter’s lid. The clicking sound echoed in the quiet room.

He stopped making the meaningless noise, realizing how much he disliked the dreadful silence filling the room.

Deeply asleep, Blair struggled to open her eyes. It was warm, almost hot. It was because of the layers of blankets covering her.

As Blair blinked slowly, trying to focus, she turned her head and saw a familiar face.

Herdin sat with his fist against his chin, leaning on a chair uncomfortably. His attire was the same as during the hunting competition, and his hair remained disheveled.

The warmth from the fireplace, filling the room, answered for him instead of the sleeping person. The reason why he had fallen asleep in this spot without even washing up.
Blair rose and took his hand.

“Herd—”

But before Blair could wake him, Herdin opened his eyes first, and their eyes met.

Herdin unconsciously grasped Blair’s hand that had found its way into his. Waves rippled in his eyes, which had been steadfast.

Blair, who had momentarily paused at his reaction, spoke first.

“I’m sorry, Herdin, for causing a disturbance.”

“…….,”

“I’m fine now, so go and rest comfortably.”

As she spoke, a faint tremor was felt in Blair’s fingertips, subtly pulling her hand out of Herdin’s grip.

Herdin’s eyes, briefly showing surprise at Blair regaining consciousness, soon turned cold again.

Why is this woman pushing me away even at a moment like this, apologizing first?

With a face that wouldn’t look strange collapsing right away, why doesn’t she lean on me even once?

It was frightening, painful, difficult…

Why doesn’t she want me to see even a word, even a momentary vulnerability?

“Is that all you have to say?”

At Herdin’s question, Blair blinked. It seemed as if she were angry, but the reason was unclear. What words he wanted to hear also remained a mystery.

Herdin, looking at Blair like that, exhaled a small sigh and spoke.

“We are looking for the mastermind behind the kidnapper, so it will be revealed soon.”

As the story of the kidnapper came from his mouth, Blair’s eyes widened.
Herdin wasn’t present at the scene, and he assumed Blair knew only that she had been stranded, as he hadn’t mentioned anything about the kidnapper.

So, he had intended to handle the matter related to the kidnapper alone.

“…… Rest.”

After gazing at Blair for a while, Herdin got up, extinguished the fireplace, and left the room.

Blair lay down again and tried to sleep. However, sleep didn’t come easily. Although the fireplace was out, leaving a lingering warmth, and the blanket covering her was warm, closing her eyes brought back memories of being kidnapped. Despite being in a safe place now and no longer feeling scared, her body reacted.

Even though her tired body had endured a challenging day, sleep eluded her.

She tossed and turned for a while, unable to fall asleep.

The sound of a lighter clued her in that someone had entered the quiet room.

In the sleeping hours of the room’s owner, there was only one person who could enter without permission.