Noon, with the sun at its zenith in the sky.

In the greenhouse located in the rear garden of the Empress Dowager’s palace, a gathering was held to welcome the new imperial family member.

Katrina smiled with satisfaction as she looked at Blair and Herdin sitting side by side across from her.

They were her new trophy, having achieved everything she desired since becoming the Empress.

“When others called them a perfect match, I just brushed it off. But seeing them like this, they truly are a picture-perfect pair. Don’t you agree, Your Majesty?”

“Indeed. My heart is filled with pride. Now, if only they could produce an heir, it would be perfect.”

“The Delmark ducal family is known for having few children, so it would be good to have about three. Blair, you’ll need to put in a lot of effort.”

Herdin casually let the jovial conversation between the Emperor and his mother flow past his ears as he gazed at the woman beside him.

Blair wore her usual composed expression. It was far from the joyful look one might expect when meeting one’s family.

While Katrina and Ivan were giving their welcoming remarks to Herdin, their new family member, the food was prepared.

Ivan raised a glass filled with the pre-meal drink.

“To think that the Duke and I have become family like this, it feels as if I’ve gained a thousand troops. With the imperial family and the Delmark ducal house joining forces, what is there to fear under the heavens?”

“…”

“Now that we’ve become family, it would be good to create opportunities to meet often and talk. We have much to discuss in the future, don’t we?”

For the boundless glory and prosperity of this empire.

Ivan lightly clinked his glass against Herdin’s. The clear sound of crystal glasses touching rang out cheerfully.

Though the sound didn’t sit well with Herdin’s ears, he silently offered his glass.

As the meal was coming to an end, Ivan turned to Herdin as if suddenly remembering something.

“Ah, yes. I actually had something I wanted to ask your opinion on, Duke. This is perfect timing.”

Ivan finished his palate cleansing with wine and continued.

“Lately, there’s been active exchange between various countries and the eastern part of the continent.”

“Well, with the recent opening of sea routes to the Eastern Continent, trade has become more active. To make contact with the Eastern Continent, it’s inevitable to maintain close relations with the eastern regions.”

“That’s right. Upon closer inspection, there are many fascinating and useful items coming from the Eastern Continent. It would be great if we could open a closer sea route and engage in more active exchanges… It’s truly a shame.”

Ivan shook his head and clicked his tongue. Then he asked for Herdin’s opinion.

“What do you think about this, Duke?”

At Ivan’s seemingly casual question seeking his opinion, Herdin inwardly sneered.

The Emperor wants to open a path to the eastern part of the continent, and further, to seize the eastern ports leading to the Eastern Continent.

‘Even the old foxes in the noble council would have held back on this matter.’

When war breaks out, the first to be drafted are the young noble heirs. No matter how loyal they are to the Emperor, what could be more precious than their own bloodline?

In this situation, he had gained a powerful piece – the empire’s greatest sword master. Though not explicitly mentioned, what the Emperor wanted was clear.

War.

The Emperor, who had never even experienced a proper battle, let alone war, seemed to think of war as a game of chess. Like a game where one could easily capture the opponent’s pieces with just a flick of a finger.

No wonder he had so readily approved the reinforcement of Delmark’s troops.

Of course, he had no intention of going along with that foolish idea, but he decided to pretend to listen attentively to his words.

If only for the sake of his one-year wife sitting beside him.

“Well…”

Herdin casually replied while twirling the wine glass in his hand. The clear wine swirled gently.

But unlike him, his wife didn’t seem to have any intention of letting it pass quietly.

“War is not an option, brother.”

Blair, who had opened her mouth, gripped the hem of her dress under the table.

She didn’t mind if Ivan tried to manipulate her as he wished. But she couldn’t allow him to try to control Herdin.

From the beginning, she didn’t want to cause any more trouble for someone who had entered an unwanted marriage.

In her previous life, she had remained silent in the same situation. At that time, the thought of opposing Ivan was unimaginable.

And that remained as a debt of heart towards Herdin.

Now, she no longer wanted to owe him a debt of heart. She didn’t want to become small in front of him, as she had before her regression.

Not for his sake, but for her own.

“The scars left by war are hard to heal, be it for the losing or the winning country, though the degree may differ.”

“…”

“The people are not your chess pieces, brother. Don’t push them into war for your own ambitions.”

Herdin quietly watched Blair as she spoke.

Though her voice was small, Blair’s appearance as she clearly conveyed her opinion was more powerful than ever before.

Even as her small hand gripping her dress under the table trembled.

Ivan, who seemed taken aback by his usually compliant sister’s frank words, let out a laugh of disbelief.

Katrina, who had been observing Ivan’s expression, scolded Blair.

“Blair! His Majesty is in conversation with the Duke, isn’t he? What kind of ill-mannered behavior is this in front of guests?”

Blair, who had never shown any resistance before, had raised objections to Ivan’s words. And in front of Herdin, no less.

For Katrina, this was unacceptable.

“And what do you know about state affairs to be talking like that?”

“Let it be, mother. How could a woman who has never studied the art of kingship understand the mind of a monarch who thinks of his people?”

Ivan laughed casually as he restrained Katrina, but there was a clear tone of dismissal towards Blair.

Herdin observed Blair’s expression as he tilted his wine glass. The light that had briefly flashed in the woman’s eyes was fading away.

Seeing this, Herdin’s gaze turned cold. He parted his lips from the glass that had moistened them.

“From my perspective, it doesn’t seem that my wife has said anything particularly wrong.”

At Herdin’s languid voice breaking the silence, the gazes of the three people turned to him at once.

“How can one call it disrespectful when she, as a subject of her lord before being a sister, offers frank advice for the sake of good governance?”

Katrina, momentarily flustered by Herdin’s sudden intervention, retorted.

“Duke, this is a mother disciplining her child’s shortcomings. Please don’t defend her.”

The implication was clear – don’t interfere in matters between parent and child.

Herdin chuckled and set down the wine glass he was holding.

“They say a daughter becomes an outsider after marriage.”

“What does that suddenly…”

“She is now Blair Delmark.”

Herdin’s gaze towards Katrina was as sharp as that of a beast hostile to one who had touched its possession as he spoke Blair’s name.

“Who but I should point out my wife’s shortcomings?”

At his chilling aura, Katrina involuntarily flinched and gasped.

But Herdin calmly continued.

“Regarding the opinion Your Majesty asked of me…”

He added as he took Blair’s still trembling hand and helped her up.

“I’ll reconsider after enjoying the newlywed life a bit more. As you said, children are rare in the Delmark family.”

With that.

He stood up, embracing Blair’s back with his strong arm.

Blair blinked with a dazed expression as she was held in his arms.

His embrace, protecting her, was warm. Just like in the past, before her regression, when he had been kind.

* * *

The two left the greenhouse, leaving behind Ivan and Katrina’s dumbfounded exclamations.

“We’ll be departing now.”

As the two boarded the carriage, it set off.

Herdin, who had been gazing at the passing winter scenery outside the window with indifferent eyes, suddenly felt a gaze on him and turned his head.

Amethyst-like eyes, tinged with the afternoon sunlight, were quietly gazing at him.

As if they had been waiting for him to turn around for a very long time.

“Thank you.”

“I didn’t do it to receive thanks. As you know, my feelings towards the imperial family aren’t particularly good.”

“Still, thank you. And… I’m sorry.”

For making you be used by my mother’s and brother’s greed.

It was an apology that had always remained in a corner of her heart, even when her resentment towards him had grown uncontrollably.

Instead of answering, Herdin stared at her for a moment before turning his gaze back to the window.

How long had the silence lasted?

Regular breathing sounds began to echo in the carriage. Only then did Herdin’s gaze return to Blair.

At that moment, the carriage jolted, and Blair’s body shook greatly.

Herdin reflexively reached out to prevent Blair’s head from hitting the wall. Her silver-like hair wrapped around his hand and flowed down softly.

As a result, the distance between the two narrowed, but Blair was deeply asleep, unaware of the situation.

Herdin let out a soft sigh as he gazed at the woman’s clear face leaning on his hand.

The woman always wore an expressionless face, remaining composed even when he said harsh things, which irritated him. She was like a beautiful doll without emotions.

So he didn’t hide his hostility towards her. He deliberately said cruel things, drew lines, and treated her coldly.

He wanted to see that composed face distort. As much as he resented her.

But when he saw the woman’s eyes losing their light, crushed between Ivan and Katrina, he felt annoyed.

It felt like having his long-chased prey snatched away.

He alone should be the one to make her cry, torment her, and break her.

“…”

Herdin, who had been gazing at the sleeping Blair, laid her down sideways on the carriage seat.

Blair, who had stirred briefly, soon fell back into a deep sleep. With a more peaceful expression than before.

Herdin quietly took in that sight before turning his gaze back to the window.

The sound of breathing echoing in the quiet carriage completed the languid afternoon scenery.

* * *

“Mmm…”

Blair, who had dozed off, opened her eyes feeling her body floating in the air. It was dark in front of her eyes.

Startled, she flailed about, and the thing covering her face slid down. What had been covering her was Herdin’s coat.

In her eyes, still dazed from sleep, she saw the servants lined up and bowing.

And…

A face so handsome it seemed unreal, as if she hadn’t fully woken up.

“…Herdin?”

“You’re awake.”

At the same time as she met his eyes up close, Blair realized she had been sleeping in his arms and was startled.

“Put, put me down.”

Blair struggled to get away from him.

It was embarrassing for a grown adult to need her husband’s help, having fallen so deeply asleep that she didn’t even notice the carriage had arrived.

But instead of putting her down, Herdin held her even more tightly.

Seeing the woman, who had been as expressionless as a doll all along, with eyes rounded like a rabbit’s, he felt an inexplicable sadistic urge.

“It’s troublesome, so let’s just go.”

“It must be heavy…”

Herdin chuckled at Blair’s mumbling.

It seemed his wife didn’t know what ‘heavy’ meant. Or else she was underestimating her husband’s strength.

As he was about to climb the mansion’s stairs, brushing off his wife’s not-so-pleasant assessment, it happened.

“Your Excellency.”

Luth, who had remained at the mansion, approached him and delivered news.

“The hypnotist arrived a moment ago.”

A chilly gleam passed through Herdin’s eyes as he heard the news.

It was time to approach the ‘real’ purpose of this contract marriage.