In the painting, a strikingly handsome man and a beautiful woman were seated side by side at a glance. On the woman’s lap, there was a boy who appeared to be around three years old. Although these were people Blair was already familiar with, Ruth, unaware of this fact, quickly provided an explanation about them.

“They are the former Duke and Duchess. And this child is His Excellency now.”

The three families in the painting were happily smiling, oblivious to the future tragedies, making the family portrait even more poignant for those who knew the impending fate.

However, Blair had a separate reason for not being able to take her eyes off the painting.

Blair looked at the baby Halden in the portrait with a longing gaze.

Slightly curly, black, and soft hair, chubby cheeks with a milky hue, clear and large pupils, and even the smile on his face. Aside from the eye color inherited from his mother, Asiel resembled his father Halden remarkably well.

“Asiel…”

Every time she tried to recall the fading memories of the child, how much her heart ached.

“It’s fortunate that you resemble Dad.”

At least she could draw you like this.

Back in the days when Blair was immersed in longing.

Ruth, who speculated that the reason Blair couldn’t take her eyes off the painting was something else, interjected without tact.

“The former Duchess is indeed a beauty, isn’t she? And the former Duke, well, no need to say much. His Excellency now looks just like him.”

“…….”
“Even though His Excellency now has a completely different atmosphere, still, doesn’t it seem strangely like his face from this time is preserved?”

Ruth’s expression as she talked about the former Duke and Duchess, as well as Halden, couldn’t be hidden and appeared genuinely joyful. She even revealed those emotions in front of me.

Blair realized that these emotions weren’t mere sentiment but stemmed from a deep belief and love as one human to another. The pure sincerity in Ruth’s heart was so adorable that it brought a smile to Blair’s face.

“It seems you truly admire the former Duke and Duchess.”

Only then did Ruth, who had just snapped out of her thoughts, hurriedly composed her words.

“Well, they are benefactors to me.”

“Am I making you uncomfortable?”

At Blair’s abrupt question, Ruth’s voice trembled, and he stammered a response.

“Um… It’s not because of the Madam.”

Perhaps Blair heard him sigh earlier…?

Worried whether Blair was upset, Ruth, scratching his cheek, answered hesitantly.

“That… It’s not the Madam’s fault.”

It’s just that he doesn’t like the Madam’s background.

Blair immediately understood what was left unsaid behind his words.

Blair understood Ruth.

Lina also dislikes Halden, only because he likes the Madam more.

Ruth feels the same way. Only because Halden prefers him over the Madam.
Of course, Ruth knows that avoiding someone because of their background is never the right thing to do.

“But at least it’s different from the others who gossip behind my back.”

Most people dislike her not because of the sincerity towards Halden, but simply because they dislike her.

But Ruth’s feelings are purely driven by sincerity. Such clean emotions that will disappear when things are settled between him and Halden.

Not that he has any affection for him.

“I know.”

Blair said calmly with a face that even had a faint smile.

“But don’t be too guarded. I’ll leave Denmark without causing any harm, cleanly.”

“Leave?”

When Ruth asked with a puzzled expression, Blair, with widened eyes, asked in return.

“Oh, didn’t he mention it?”

“What story are you talking about? I’m not sure…”

“Our, the contract marriage.”

“A contract… marriage?”

Looking at Ruth, who seemed to be hearing the term for the first time, Blair nodded.

Seeing Ruth pondering the meaning of the word, she understood the significance a beat later and was shocked.

“Well, the lounge seemed a bit bleak earlier, so it’s better to add a few more paintings.”

Blair, who had thrown a bombshell statement at Ruth, left without realizing his reaction, thinking it’s time to meet Mikhail, who is due for a contact.
That evening, after finishing the extermination of monsters and returning to the mansion, Halden found Ruth in the study.

Normally, there was still time left even after finishing work, but seeing him there suggested that there was something to discuss.

“Or maybe there’s an issue with Blair.”

Approaching Ruth with a serious expression, Halden asked him curiously.

“Haven’t you finished work?”

“Your Grace, is what Madam said true?”

“What?”

“You and Madam had a contract marriage.”

Halden’s gesture of roughly drying his hair with a towel stopped. His gaze became sharp in an instant.

“…Did she tell you that?”

“Oh my, is it really true? You didn’t tell me such an important story! This contract marriage, once the agreed-upon deadline is over…”

Ruth’s nagging didn’t reach Halden’s ears.

“No, instead of talking, where are you going?”

Ignoring Ruth’s words, Halden briskly left the study. In the process, a towel fell, but he paid no attention to it.