Blair didn’t miss the chance and escaped from his embrace, heading towards the greenhouse. She didn’t look back at him.

If she turned around, made eye contact, she felt like she would be completely swallowed by him. Thump-thump, her startled heart pounded.

Fortunately, he didn’t follow. Blair, realizing this, gradually slowed down her steps.

Left alone, Blair touched the back of her neck where his lips had touched.

“…It’s warm.”

The skin touched by his lips somehow felt warm.

Blair looked at the affected area with a confused expression, gently caressing it until the sensation disappeared.

Time passed quickly, and it was the day of the banquet.

As the maids went to prepare for the final stages of the banquet, Blair, left alone in her bedroom, looked at the back of her neck in the mirror.

Fortunately, the marks left by Hérdin had faded, almost invisible.

Blair learned about these marks the morning after the artist’s visit when she was getting dressed.

“Madam, wouldn’t it be better to leave your hair down today?”

Melie, who was combing Blair’s hair, cautiously asked. When Blair, who hadn’t noticed the marks on her neck, asked for the reason, Melie stammered with embarrassment.

It was only then that Blair realized Hérdin had left marks on the back of her neck.

“At least they faded before the banquet.”
She sighed with relief and looked out the window. Gradually, the day had darkened, and the time for the banquet was approaching.

As Blair got up from the vanity to make final checks, she heard Lina’s voice.

“Madam, preparations are complete.”

Blair promptly left the bedroom.

Standing on the staircase, she saw the servants gathered in the lobby on the first floor. They wore silver brooches resembling the wings of the emblem representing Denmark on their chests.

These were the items Blair had ordered, specially made for the occasion. To show everyone attending the banquet that they were from Denmark and to instill a strong sense of belonging to Denmark.

Blair looked down at the scene with satisfaction and asked herself.

Is it perfect?

A question she had asked herself countless times in her past life.

And an answer she had constantly heard from others’ mouths.

But now, she didn’t need others’ answers.

In her eyes, it was already perfect. In her heart, she was already content.

So, that was enough.

Blair descended the stairs and stood in front of them.

“Thank you all for your hard work in preparation.”

She looked at each servant arranged in front of her. Among them, there might be those who harbored unfavorable thoughts about her, or perhaps those who were genuinely fond of her.

And she, the predetermined Duchess of the aristocrat.

But today, leaving everything behind, everyone in this place was from Denmark.
Blair smiled at them.

“Now, let’s begin welcoming the guests.”

The banquet was a success.

“I was worried as it’s been a long time since the mansion had a hostess, but coming here in person, I don’t feel that way at all.”

“I can sense how much the lady put into this. You must have worked hard.”

Every noble Blair conversed with praised the banquet she had prepared and spoke highly of the Duke.

Most of them belonged to the Imperial faction, and although the nobles from Delmark smiled and complimented her on the surface, there was an underlying discomfort behind her back. However, such things didn’t matter anymore.

Blair felt proud of herself.

“Yes, even in just a glass of this wine, you can feel the lady’s efforts. It doesn’t feel like it’s your first time hosting a banquet, does it?”

Blair listened to the lady’s praise with every sip of wine and answered in her mind.

“Of course not. It’s not my first banquet.”

However, keeping the secret hidden from everyone, Blair just smiled at them.

She lived her life as a princess, always elegant and dignified.

After the ladies finished their conversations and left, Blair’s surroundings momentarily quieted.

Pretending to drink wine, she lifted her glass and moved to a quiet corner of the banquet hall.