The carriage of the Duke of Delmark arrived at the estate of Count Ethel. It was the mansion where today’s banquet was to be held.

Herdin, who had been watching Blair as she observed the carriages entering one by one, called out to her.

“Blair.”

“Yes.”

“If you start feeling unwell, tell me immediately. Don’t try to endure it.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll say it again, the purpose of today’s banquet is to show that you’re fine. As if you were never kidnapped. So trying to endure and then collapsing won’t help.”

Herdin cautioned her.

His wife had a stubborn streak, and it was obvious she would try to endure even if she wasn’t feeling well.

“I understand.”

Blair nodded slightly as she answered, indicating that she understood his words.

At least she answers well.

Herdin looked at Blair and chuckled.

Regardless of her physical condition, she seemed to be in a good mood, perhaps because it had been a while since she’d been out. Judging by the way her eyes were sparkling.

That alone made him feel that his decision to attend today’s banquet was the right one.

At last, the carriage stopped in front of the Count’s residence.

As they alighted from the carriage and entered the mansion, Count and Countess Ethel, who were in the midst of greeting guests, spotted the two and strode over.

“You’ve come, both of you!”

“Thank you for gracing us with your precious presence.”

As one of the vassal families of Delmark, they welcomed the two more warmly than other guests.

After exchanging greetings with the Count and Countess Ethel, the two naturally blended into the banquet, exchanging greetings with the gathering nobles.

Blair among the ladies and young noblewomen, Herdin among the noblemen.

As Herdin moved away from Blair’s side, one of the noblewomen joined the group.

Blair immediately recognized her face.

The Viscountess of Pert.

She was one of the nobles who wanted to curry favor with Katrina.

After observing Blair’s reaction, she casually brought up a topic.

“By the way, Duchess, you seem to have lost some weight since I last saw you. Did something happen?”

It was a question that feigned concern but was clearly intended to probe her.

Blair smiled gently at her.

“I wasn’t feeling well. Thanks to your concern, I’m much better now.”

“Ah, I see. The Duke should take good care of you. Perhaps prepare some beneficial medicine.”

“Indeed. It won’t do for a new bride to be ill.”

As some noblewomen joined in the Viscountess of Pert’s conversation, the first probing attempt passed naturally.

She didn’t stop there and launched a second topic.

“Oh, have you heard the news? Apparently, one of the villas in the outer region of the island recently burned down quite badly.”

“So that’s where all that smoke was coming from a few days ago?”

As some noblewomen showed interest in her story, the Viscountess of Pert directed a question at Blair, who had shown no reaction.

“The forest scenery around that villa was so beautiful. It’s a shame. Did you hear about it, Duchess?”

“I think more people might not know about that news. Since that villa is in the outer region of the island, not many would know unless they specifically went there. How did you come to know about it, Viscountess?”

Blair skillfully avoided the question and struck at a weak point, causing the Viscountess of Pert’s expression to contort in surprise.

Most of the villas in that area were used for nobles’ secret rendezvous. Knowing about that place was tantamount to admitting to enjoying such meetings.

Of course, people completely uninterested in such affairs wouldn’t even understand the significance of knowing about it, but it was a case of the thief’s conscience pricking them.

The Viscountess of Pert tried to smile while hiding her stiffened expression behind her fan.

“Well, I happened to be passing by that area that day and witnessed it by chance.”

The area where the villas were located was surrounded by forests and open fields, and it was in the opposite direction of the Pert viscounty.

Meaning, there was no reason for the Viscountess of Pert to be passing by there by chance.

But Blair decided not to point that out.

She thought that after trying to probe twice and having her weak point exposed once, the Viscountess wouldn’t try a third time. Besides, pointing out another flaw might only build resentment.

‘There’s no need to make an enemy unnecessarily.’

The noblewomen, unaware of the subtle battle of wits between Blair and the Viscountess of Pert, soon moved on to other topics.

The atmosphere of ordinary social conversation, exchanging recent news and greetings, changed when the Viscountess of Pert’s maid arrived.

“It seems there’s an important matter. Excuse me.”

The Viscountess of Pert stepped back from the conversation and leaned in to listen to her maid’s whisper. Her gaze was fixed on Blair.

As Blair was feeling an inexplicable sense of foreboding from that peculiar gaze, Luth approached Herdin, who was conversing with other nobles.

“Your Grace. I have an urgent matter to report.”

Luth interrupting in the middle of a banquet meant it was truly an urgent matter.

Herdin immediately excused himself from the conversation.

“What is it?”

“An unfavorable rumor is circulating right now.”

“What kind of rumor?”

“Well…”

Luth covered his mouth with his hand and spoke quietly so only Herdin could hear. Herdin’s expression gradually hardened as he listened.

His eyes, now cold, searched for Blair in the banquet hall. His wife was talking with noblewomen in one corner of the hall.

To fulfill her responsibility.

Forcing a smile among unwanted people in an unwanted place.

Her appearance overlapped with his own past self.

Like when he had to endure, pretending not to hear all the nobles’ whispers, for the sake of the family’s honor, for Esmeralda.

Herdin hurriedly approached Blair. At that moment, the Viscountess of Pert’s voice was heard.

“Duchess, this question is extremely delicate, but… what do you think about the fire incident at the Empress’s Palace ten years ago? You’re the only survivor of that incident, aren’t you?”

Blair’s eyes wavered at the unexpected question. The Viscountess of Pert, not missing this opportunity, continued with a smile.

“Well, you see. There’s a strange rumor going around now. That you and the Duke are suspecting the Empress Dowager as being behind the incident from ten years ago.”

The smiles faded from the faces of the noblewomen and young ladies who had been watching the two with bewildered expressions.

The topic the Viscountess of Pert had brought up was one that had been tacitly considered taboo in social circles.

“I heard that you couldn’t reveal that the culprit behind this recent kidnapping incident was none other than the Imperial family. Is that not true?”

One of the pro-Emperor noblewomen, sensing the atmosphere, tried to mediate.

“How, how could that be? The Empress Dowager adored the Duchess so much. How could she suspect her mother?”

But not only the pro-Emperor noblewomen, but even the wives of Delmark’s vassal families were waiting for Blair’s answer.

As Blair’s lips quivered, unable to speak amidst the countless gazes waiting for her answer, a large hand wrapped around her shoulder.

Then, a familiar voice reached her ear.

“I apologize for interrupting, but as my wife has only recently recovered, we must take our leave now.”

His words were asking for understanding, but his eyes, as he looked at the crowd, were fierce enough to kill someone.

Herdin immediately led Blair out of the banquet hall. Blair, who had been dragged along lifelessly, finally came to her senses and called out to him.

“Herdin.”

But he didn’t stop walking. Blair, gasping for breath, grabbed his hand.

“Herdin, let’s… talk for a moment.”

Only then did Herdin’s steps halt. But he still didn’t let go of her hand.

Blair, breathing heavily, said:

“If we leave like this, everyone will think it’s strange. Let’s go back and—”

“Go back and what?”

His expression as he turned back was so cold that Blair momentarily flinched.

Herdin sneered at Blair, who was looking up at him with startled eyes.

“Are you going to admit that all those rumors are true? Or are you going to say it’s all lies?”

“…”

“Do you think they want the truth?”

“…”

“No. No matter what you say, they’ll be quick to tear you apart. Or they’ll be deciding which side to take.”

“But… leaving like this is strange, isn’t it?”

After hesitating for a while, that was all Blair could say. That she didn’t want to run away.

Herdin scoffed at this.

“So, you want to go back there on your own accord and endure all sorts of speculation and insults?”

Asking me to watch you like that.

It might not even be a scar for him anymore, let alone a wound, but this fragile woman wouldn’t be able to endure it. He had no intention of throwing such a woman to them as prey.

“Don’t be stubbornly foolish, Blair.”

“…”

“That’s not responsibility, it’s just being obstinate.”

Blair’s expression crumpled as if she might cry at his words that struck like a dagger. Her tightly bitten lips trembled pitifully.

He knew his words would hurt her. But rather than watching her crumble under the wounds inflicted by others, he preferred to bring her down himself.

He alone was enough to be the one to hurt her.

Herdin, who had been staring at Blair, let out a quiet sigh and lifted her into his arms. Her small frame was lifted without resistance, as if she had given up.