The memory of that day still burned within Herdin even after ten years.
However, he thought, “This is not a bad proposal.”
In any case, he couldn’t refuse the Emperor’s command. Well, to be precise, he had no intention of refusing it.
The Emperor had allowed the Duke’s army to be reinforced in exchange for Herdin becoming a member of the imperial family.
Currently, Delmarc’s military strength had been halved compared to the previous generation.
In the process, public opinion had played a significant role, citing the possibility of the Duke inciting rebellion to clear the Duchess’s name after she was accused of treason due to the Empress’s rebellion.
Although they possessed an impressive military force compared to other noble families, it was still not enough to counter the threats at the northern border and suppress the rebels.
Even though Herdin was a great war hero and a master swordsman, he couldn’t handle everything on his own.
Despite recognizing the Emperor’s trap, the offer of military reinforcement was an offer he couldn’t refuse.
However, the proposal that the Princess had added along with it was unexpected.
“Because the only way for a princess to legally leave the imperial palace is through marriage.”
“If that’s the reason, wouldn’t it be better to marry someone who cares for and loves you instead of a relationship that ends as soon as it begins?”
Even for a divorcee, life in the imperial court would not be smooth sailing.
There would be many people who would care for and love the Emperor’s sister, the daughter of the late Empress. If she didn’t like someone, she could choose someone else herself.
Herdin couldn’t understand why Blair, who had numerous options, chose him.
Rather than a marriage that was destined to end, there must have been a much better choice available to her.
Blair stared at Herdin without immediately responding.
Her violet eyes, which held his image, blinked slowly, and various emotions flickered.
At times, they seemed sad, as if she resented the question.
Blair spoke firmly, gazing intently at the man across from her.
Once, like all young girls, she had been enchanted by the gaze of a handsome man. She had believed in love and eternity.
But now, it was all in the past.
“If that’s what the Princess wishes, I’ll do it.”
Herdin didn’t take his eyes off Blair as she spoke. Over her fair face, the image of young Blair from the past overlapped.
“When I grow up, I want to leave the palace. Leave the rules behind and travel the wide world!”
When he remembered that face, his judgment wavered, but Herdin answered willingly.
“I accept that proposal.”
“Thank you.”
“If you have nothing else to say, I will take my leave.”
Checking the time, Herdin stood up as soon as Blair granted her permission.
In Blair’s eyes, as she watched his back disappear beyond the door, the resentment she had hidden for him became evident.
There was an unasked question.
A question that she couldn’t ask him right now.
Herdin.
Did you kill me?
The preparations for the wedding proceeded quickly.
Time passed swiftly, and before she knew it, it was the day before the wedding.
Blair visited the palace cemetery.
[Esmaralda Delmarc]The name of the late Empress was written on the gravestone before her.
Although her royal position and the Delmarc family name had been taken from her, the Emperor had granted her the mercy of being buried in the palace cemetery.
Whether that was true mercy or not, considering that her honor had been trampled upon and she couldn’t return to her homeland, Blair didn’t know.
In the greenhouse, she carefully wrapped a single flower in paper and placed it under the gravestone.
Katrina didn’t feel comfortable with Blair coming here.
From her perspective, not only had Blair become passive, but she was also visiting the grave of a woman who had tried to kill her daughter, making it even more incomprehensible.
However, Blair found it hard to believe that this fact was true.
‘Blair.’
If the warm embrace that always comforted her and pushed her aside was a lie, it was terrifying.
When she was young, she didn’t make an effort to recover her memories.
She was just scared.
Whichever side was the truth, she would lose her mother.
But several years after that incident, on the day she faced Herdin again at the banquet.
Blair had decided to confront the truth that she had turned away from.
So, she had summoned a hypnotist to the Royal Palace to perform hypnosis. However, it only had the opposite effect and harmed her health.
After marrying Herdin and falling in love with him, she had once again buried those memories.
She was afraid of losing him, no matter what the hidden truth was.
But when she realized that the person she loved resented her for her indifference over the years.
When she realized that she had given up love to uncover the truth.
Blair knew that her love might be false, but she still wanted to give him everything he desired. She wanted to cling to his love in any way possible.
Although she had once given up on regaining her memories in her past life.
“But if I keep avoiding it, nothing will change. In this life, I’ll face the truth and move forward.”
Whatever the hidden truth in her buried memories was.
As Blair was mentally organizing her plans for the future, she heard urgent footsteps from behind.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
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