Blair didn’t resist, but her lips, now liberated, avoided him.

Even in this moment, the passionately desiring body and the heart racing towards him made her unbearably pitiful.

As her body started to tremble intensely, Blair, unable to endure any longer, finally pulled him closer.

Like embracing a cactus, the sharp thorn that couldn’t be pulled out painfully dug into her heart.

The flickering light of the shaky lighter lingered on the wick for a moment. As the wick finally caught fire, the flame of the lighter went out.

Lina admired Blair as she lit the candle.

“Wow! Are you okay, madam?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

Sweat clung to Blair’s forehead as if she had done intense exercise. Her breathing was rougher than usual, her hands were shaking, but still, compared to the panic she used to experience when facing fire, it was a significant improvement.

Lina, who had been watching Blair closely for a longer time than anyone else, was even more impressed by her.

“Wow, you’re really amazing. I don’t know anything about phobias, but honestly, this must be incredibly challenging. Now you could probably live alone.”

Blair felt embarrassed at Lina’s casual remark, even though she knew nothing about her arranged marriage.

Lina, still not taking her eyes off the fire, quickly extinguished the candle for Blair and added, “Oh, of course, it’s just something I’m saying. You shouldn’t leave me alone.”

“Uh-huh…”

“Well, where would the Duchess go alone anyway?”

Facing Lina, who seemed even more pleased, Blair responded with a smile instead of a feeble lie.

Since the argument with Herdin a week ago, the practice of overcoming the fear of fire was no longer done with him. Since that day, the practice became Blair’s sole responsibility.
However, it’s not that he didn’t seek the bedroom.

At night, he would find her, and as usual, their bodies intertwined, but that was it. There was no exchange of any conversation between them.

Blair chose to remain silent, not wanting to talk to him, while Herdin behaved as if he had no purpose or interest other than her body. Sometimes, his demeanor was so relentless that it felt almost animalistic.

Nights continued with only the sounds of rough breathing and moans lingering in the air.

Herdin seemed to have given up on Blair, who showed no reaction. He no longer sought the bedroom.

Recalling the conversation they had on the day of the fight, where he seemed to expect her to quickly recover her memories as he wished, there was no sign of that happening.

His actions and the flow of the situation were eerily similar to their past lives.

However, there was one difference—Blair had no intention of repeating the behaviors of her past life, where she did nothing in such situations.

“What Herdin wants is the truth about the Empress’s Palace incident.”

So, she was willing to give him what he wanted and leave.

It was not entirely for him but rather because she didn’t want to break the promise she made to herself, that she wouldn’t run away from the truth no matter what.

And it was also for Esmeralda.

“Madam, Lady Lorelei is here.”

While Blair absentmindedly opened and closed the lid of the lighter, lost in thought, Melly’s voice came with a knock.
“Ask her to come in.”

With permission granted, Lina exited, and Agnes entered the room.

“Come on in, Agnes. It rained a lot last night, so I’m not sure if the way here was difficult.”

“Fortunately, I traveled only on well-maintained roads, so I came comfortably. Thank you for your concern.”

As always, Agnes greeted Blair with a kind smile. Then, she noticed the lighter Blair was holding and widened her eyes.

“Isn’t that a lighter?”

“Yes, it is. I was practicing lighting candles.”

“It seems the practice with His Excellency is effective. You are adapting so quickly. After all, a husband is more reliable than others, isn’t he?”

Instead of answering, Blair just smiled at Agnes. It was a vague response, but Agnes seemed unaware of its meaning.

“By the way, why did you call me to the bedroom instead of the greenhouse today? Is it because you’re not feeling well…?”

“No, it’s not that.”

Before stating the main purpose, Blair hesitated for a moment, then finally opened her mouth.

“I want to try hypnosis.”

As expected, Agnes reacted as if she was reluctant.

“Is it something His Excellency agreed to?”

“No, but… I feel like there’s no more time to wait.”

“No more time to wait?”

“Yes.”
“If Mother is really involved in that incident, she won’t just stand by. Then, the incident might be buried forever.”

Instead of a perfect lie, Blair chose to conceal her true intentions and provoke Agnes by revealing only certain reasons.

As a subordinate to Herdin and, at the same time, her loyalty to Delmark itself.