“……Your Majesty?”

Gerard was alone, without his usual retinue of priests and ministers. He approached the two with a bright expression.

“I had some free time and stopped by. How fortunate to run into you like this.”

“Did Your Majesty also come to see the two of them?”

“Yes. The late Duchess was an old friend of mine.”

“Thank you for your constant concern. Mother would be pleased with Your Majesty’s visit.”

Gerard gazed towards the memorial hall with eyes filled with deep longing, then smiled as he spoke.

“Seeing that Your Grace has taken a consort, the two in heaven must feel more at ease now.”

“I hope they think so too.”

Blair flinched, unable to mention it was a contract marriage, but Herdin calmly gave a formal response.

“Then I’ll go ahead first.”

“Yes, take care.”

Herdin and Blair gave a slight bow and walked away.

Gerard watched the two from behind as they left, then entered the memorial hall.

After quietly closing the door, he looked at the portraits of Kashion and Eloise and spoke.

“I’m glad to see your son has grown up safely.”

“……”

“He resembles the Duke so much, doesn’t he? When I saw him return from war, for a moment I was shocked, thinking the Duke had come back to life.”

“……”

“Of course, that’s impossible.”

His next whispered words were scattered by the wind and inaudible.

Unlike the gentle words he spoke to his friend, his green eyes gazing at the two in the portraits were sunken with a chilly look.

* * *

The two boarded the carriage returning to the mansion after leaving the temple.

In the weary silence, Blair admired the scenery outside the window, while Herdin quietly took in the sight of his wife.

Her eyes, fixed on the view outside, sparkled in the sunlight.

A faint sound of music could be heard from outside where her gaze was fixed. Along with it, a sweet fragrance wafted in.

Herdin, who had been watching Blair unable to take her eyes off the window, turned his head to follow her gaze.

At the end of the cherry blossom-lined road on both sides, the clock tower in the square stood. Many street vendors were set up in front of it, as if there was a festival.

As he was absentmindedly looking at that scene, a memory suddenly came to him along with a slight headache.

In the memory, Blair was looking at the fully bloomed cherry blossoms in the mansion’s landscape, her half-naked body covered by a blanket.

She turned to look at him and asked while quietly gazing at that scenery.

‘Herdin. If you have time, can you go with me to see the clock tower in the square?’

Though she tried to hide her anticipation, it was a face that couldn’t be concealed.

As Herdin was about to answer instinctively, the memory that had surfaced dissipated like fog.

In place of that vanished memory was Blair, silently looking at the scenery outside.

Herdin frowned at the existence of this memory that had suddenly emerged, one that didn’t exist in his mind.

‘I thought it had been quiet for a while.’

What could this memory be, feeling like his own despite never having experienced it?

‘I looked into the phenomenon Your Grace mentioned, but there were no cases exactly like yours.’

‘Were there any similar cases then?’

‘Among black magic, there was apparently a spell that absorbs the other’s mana to read their memories.’

‘Absorbing mana to read memories?’

‘Yes. Something about mana being like our body’s organs and carrying parts of our memories? There was some difficult content written about it… But Your Grace hasn’t used black magic, right?’

It was certainly different from the case Luth had found out about.

In his case, although it was a memory he had never experienced, it was clearly his own memory, and he not only hadn’t used black magic, he didn’t even know any black magic.

After all, black magic was now a forbidden and extinct magic.

Then suddenly, he paused as he recalled a book in his private study.

‘…No, there is one that I do know.’

Of course, even though he knew about it, he had never actually used it, so it was irrelevant to him.

Herdin closed his eyes irritably, erasing his thoughts.

But when he looked at his wife before him, her image from the memory that had just surfaced overlapped.

Looking at that sight, Herdin opened his mouth.

“Blair.”

Blair, who couldn’t take her eyes off the window, finally turned her gaze to look at him.

Herdin gestured towards the window with his eyes.

“Shall we take a quick look around?”

It was a rather impulsive suggestion, stemming from a memory of unknown origin.

* * *

The area in front of the clock tower was bustling with people.

Street vendors who had come out to sell various foods and goods, people admiring the flowers, people buying things, people playing games, and so on.

For Blair, who had never been outside the imperial palace except for official events, it was all an unfamiliar scene.

Herdin let out an incredulous chuckle as he watched Blair looking around with shining eyes like a child to whom everything in the world was new.

The doll-like woman with her usual calm and detached expression was nowhere to be seen.

‘I should have brought her out earlier.’

He walked leisurely, matching Blair’s pace, then grabbed her hand as she drifted away, her attention caught by something else.

Feeling that warmth, Blair turned to look at him with surprised eyes.

“You’ll get lost if you keep getting distracted like that. Hold my hand.”

Blair obediently gave him her hand. Herdin interlaced their fingers to make sure he wouldn’t lose her grip.

Blair took in the festive scene, while Herdin took in the sight of her admiring it.

After walking for quite some time like this, Blair stopped in front of one street vendor.

This vendor was selling what appeared to be handmade accessories, but unlike other vendors, it was being tended by a girl who looked to be about six or seven years old.

“Welcome, customer.”

Blair smiled gently at the little vendor who greeted them in a clear voice and asked,

“Did you make these yourself?”

“No. My mom made them.”

“Where did your mom go?”

“She had to go somewhere for a bit. I have to watch the shop until then.”

“Do you know how to handle the money too?”

“Yes, my mom taught me.”

“How clever. And admirable too.”

Herdin, who had been watching Blair chat amiably with a child she’d just met, gestured towards the vendor’s display and spoke.

“Is there anything you like? I’ll buy it for you as a memento, so choose something.”

“Ah, no. I just talked to her because I was worried about the child being alone.”

“I think the little shopkeeper would be happier if we bought something.”

Blair, who only then realized her mistake, looked at the child. The girl, having understood their conversation, shook her head.

“It’s okay. You can just look.”

But seeing the admirable little girl made her want to buy something.

Blair carefully examined the display and chose a cherry blossom-shaped ring made of woven thread. It was perfect for commemorating today.

“I’ll take this one.”

“That’s 5 silver.”

Herdin held out a gold coin to the child.

“Keep the change. Don’t give it to your mom.”

The child looked up at him with a bewildered expression.

Blair glared at him for saying strange things to the child, but Herdin pretended not to see her look and turned away first.

After exchanging greetings with the child, Blair hurried to his side with quick steps.

“Thank you for the ring, Herdin. I’ll cherish it.”

Herdin stared at the thread ring on Blair’s finger.

Although the cherry blossom petal-shaped decoration of the ring didn’t appeal to him, it suited her slender white fingers well. That made it worthwhile.

The next place Blair stopped was a street vendor selling cherry blossom-shaped cream puffs.

Herdin bought that too for Blair, who couldn’t resist the sweet smell.

After eating one small pastry, Blair’s eyes widened. It seemed to suit her taste.

“Do you want to try one too? It’s quite sweet though…”

Blair took out a pastry and held it out to Herdin.

Herdin took her hand holding the pastry and brought it to his mouth. In the process, the tip of Blair’s finger briefly entered his mouth.

Blair flinched at the unfamiliar sensation on her fingertip. But Herdin just smirked.

“Not bad.”

Suddenly, with the fully bloomed cherry blossoms as a backdrop, the thought occurred that his blue eyes were like a spring lake with flower petals scattered on it.

At that moment, the sound of a bell ringing came from nearby. It was coming from the top of the clock tower in front of them.

The two had already reached the front of the clock tower.

Blair craned her neck up to look at the top of the clock tower. She had heard that the view from up there was beautiful.

“Herdin, have you been up there?”

“Do you want to go?”

Quick to catch on, he immediately grasped the intent behind her question and asked back. Blair nodded.

Herdin looked at Blair’s eyes sparkling with anticipation, then lowered his gaze to her shoes.

“It might be difficult in those.”

“I can go. I won’t be a burden to you.”

Seeing Blair speak with such enthusiasm, Herdin nodded readily.

Blair took the lead and started climbing the stairs of the clock tower. Herdin followed a few steps behind at a leisurely pace.