“How well do you claim to know the author?”

“There has been nothing like that between us.”

“Maybe not so far, but it will be like that in the future. Men are all the same.”

“……”

“All I can think about is what to do with that woman in my head.”

Herdin, discontentedly, brushed Blair’s nonsense aside, adding, “The orphaned princess probably can’t even imagine it.”

Although his actions seemed somewhat kind, his gaze and the words that spilled out were chilling.

“In such a situation, a naive woman who is pretty, rich, and treats you with respect appears right in front of you.”

“……”

“Do you think he would differ?”

Blair’s eyes, once wavering with anxiety, eventually distorted as if she was about to cry. As if she herself had been insulted.

All for just one commoner.

“In the future, even when you meet the author, take a knight with you.”

Herdin concluded the conversation unilaterally, holding Blair’s hand for the escort, but she pulled her hand away.

Herdin’s cold gaze turned towards Blair. Looking straight at him, she said, “Just based on such speculation, you have no right to insult that person.”
The woman speaking like that was trembling all over. It was reminiscent of the time when she used to argue with her husband’s opinions at the royal palace banquet.

Her eyes, filled with fear, were icy. She had no intention of stepping back, as long as it was something she believed was right.

Her appearance seemed pitiful and annoying once again.

“I, I can’t agree with your opinion.”

Blair asserted her opinion with a firm voice, then turned away from him and left in the rented carriage.

Herdin chuckled as he watched her leaving first.

“Shall I put your hair up again today?”

Melie, who had Blair seated in front of the mirror, asked. Blair nodded slightly.

“Yeah. Please.”

Long hair is beautiful but difficult to manage. Since there is a lot to do for the banquet preparations today, it was better to tie it up so that it wouldn’t be bothersome.

The sound of brushing filled the peaceful morning in the room.

After Melina Lina combed Blair’s hair, it was time for Blair to check the day’s schedule.

Looking at Melie in the mirror, Blair suddenly thought of something and called out to her.

“Melie.”

“Yes?”

Blair, who wanted to ask something curious, just pursed her lips and closed them. Instead, she lowered her head.

“Never mind, it’s nothing.”

In fact, she wanted to ask if Herdin had left.
Yesterday, after Blair returned to the mansion first riding a rented carriage, Herdin didn’t return to the mansion until late at night, well after dinner time. So, they didn’t encounter each other.

Usually, they share breakfast together every other day, but today Blair didn’t want to see him.

What he did, insulting Mikhail to his face, was an action that should not have been done.

Perhaps he insulted him not because Mikhail was a commoner, but because of his high status.

Such behavior is not good.

It was disappointing that he, of all people, spoke in such a manner.

“But in front of these kids, I shouldn’t show any sign of it.”

Because that kind of behavior is not dignified.

“That’s enough, madam.”

“Thank you.”

After finishing her dressing, Blair left the room and stood on the stairs leading down to the first floor.

When she was halfway down the stairs, she saw Herdin and Ruth coming down from the opposite staircase.

Whether they noticed Blair or not, Herdin’s gaze turned in this direction. Blair’s steps, momentarily lingering, abruptly stopped when her eyes met his.

Herdin’s gaze, which lingered on Blair for a moment, returned to Ruth.

Blair, who had hesitated for a moment, reached the first floor first and waited for him. Despite feeling uncomfortable, once they encountered each other like this, it was inevitable to not offer a farewell.
Herdin, who descended to the first floor, passed by her. As Blair, who received Ruth’s greeting, was about to follow him, a cold voice was heard.

“You don’t need to come out.”

He quickly moved away with long strides. Despite not being particularly fast, he quickly distanced himself with a few steps due to his long legs.

Ruth, after making a puzzled expression at him, bowed and followed behind Herdin.

Watching Herdin leave the mansion with Mason’s farewell, Blair, with displeasure in her eyes, soon turned towards the dining room.

She had made a mistake, and in front of others, she had displayed a conflict first. There was no need for her to go out of her way to match his tempo.

However, in Melly’s eyes looking at her, there was a full sense of concern.

“I guess it won’t work.”

Lena, eating lunch on a garden bench in the suddenly mild weather, turned her head curiously at Melly’s unexpected words.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It’s about Your Excellency and the madam. It seems like you still haven’t reconciled.”