When the two of them came out to the backyard, night had fully fallen. However, lamps placed here and there chased away the darkness, creating an atmosphere.

As they followed the path in the backyard, the bustling noise gradually grew louder.

At the end, all the members of House Delmark who had finished preparing for the outdoor party were gathered. Not only the servants, but also the knights.

“You’ve come at just the right time. The meat has just finished grilling.”

Mason guided the two to the center.

There, a huge fire was blazing, grilling venison. Blair stopped in her tracks when she spotted it.

Even though she had fully regained her memories of the accident, the fear of fire still remained.

Especially now, a fire much larger than the candles she had been practicing with until now caused even more fear.

At that moment, Herdin, noticing Blair frozen in place unable to take her eyes off the fire, waved his hand in front of her eyes to distract her.

“It’s alright.”

As his low voice settled in her ear, his large hand grasped Blair’s.

Blair slowly raised her head and met his eyes, blue as a lake. Looking into those eyes, the tension in her body began to melt away as if by magic.

Just then, Luth approached abruptly, holding a skewer of meat.

“Here! Your Grace, My Lady. Please try some. The first bite should naturally go to you two.”

Blair finally realized why the knights had been staring at them with gleaming eyes like hungry beasts, and burst out laughing.

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“You could have started eating without us. You didn’t poison it, did you?”

“Then shall I eat first and digest it for you?”

Caligo suddenly interjected at Herdin’s suspicion.

Blair was inwardly surprised at his appearance, but didn’t show it. Right now, he was a loyal knight of House Delmark who had done her no wrong.

“Give it here.”

Herdin took the skewer Luth offered and bit into the meat.

Normally, nobles would always use cutlery to eat for the sake of appearances, but for the knights of House Delmark who had spent long periods on battlefields and hunting monsters, eating grilled meat on skewers was more familiar.

The meat skewers were a remnant of that custom.

The knights watching Herdin swallowed their saliva.

“How is it?”

At the knights’ question, Herdin called for Mason who was waiting nearby instead of answering.

“Mason.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Take everyone and bring the alcohol.”

Those words meant that he was allowing alcohol for the knights as well. Realizing the meaning, cheers erupted among the knights.

The knights whistled and made a ruckus as they followed Mason back to the mansion to fetch the alcohol, while the remaining servants began receiving portions of meat according to Luth’s instructions.

A skewer of meat was held out to Blair, who was dazed by the atmosphere that had just swept through.

“Eat. It doesn’t seem to be poisoned.”

Blair received the meat skewer from Herdin. The well-grilled meat looked appetizing at a glance.

She had worried that the child in her belly might reject it, but fortunately, perhaps touched by its father’s sincerity, the smell of meat didn’t feel nauseating.

Blair bit into the delicious skewer. The taste of fire and rich juices spread in her mouth, whetting her appetite.

As Blair diligently chewed and swallowed the meat in her mouth, she felt a gaze and raised her head, meeting Herdin’s eyes as he stared at her intently.

Blair, realizing he was waiting for her reaction, opened her mouth.

“It’s delicious. Thank you, Herdin.”

As Blair smiled, Herdin finally grinned and wiped the ash from the corner of her mouth with his index finger.

By the time Blair had finished one meat skewer, the knights who had gone to the mansion returned, each carrying an oak barrel on their shoulders.

“Infinite loyalty to House Delmark!”

The excited knights began pouring drinks while professing their loyalty. The filled glasses were distributed in unison to everyone gathered there.

At that moment, Caligo approached Blair with a friendly smile and offered her a full glass.

“My Lady, please have a drink too. It’s in return for the delicious sandwiches you brought last time.”

Blair hesitated to accept the glass readily.

Firstly, although there might be someone else behind it, she felt uncomfortable with the person who had killed her in her past life approaching her so familiarly.

Secondly, she couldn’t drink alcohol because of the child in her belly.

But as the atmosphere made it difficult to refuse, she didn’t know what to do. Then Herdin’s hand suddenly intervened and took Blair’s glass away.

“Don’t give alcohol to someone who’s ill.”

“Oh, My Lady, are you unwell?”

“Ah… It’s not like that, I’m just a bit tired.”

Blair vaguely agreed with Herdin’s lie. Then Caligo, looking at her with worried eyes, brought another meat skewer.

“Then please eat a lot today. Nothing’s better than meat for recovering strength.”

This time, even Herdin didn’t stop him. Blair, though bewildered, accepted the skewer Caligo handed her.

“Thank you. I’ll eat well.”

As Caligo looked satisfied, the voices of knights calling for him were heard.

The place he joined was already creating a boisterous atmosphere with people offering and receiving drinks.

Blair quietly laughed when she saw that Lina had already joined in the midst of it all.

The imperial palace where she had grown up was always quiet.

Katrina wanted to clearly separate herself from those beneath her, and therefore didn’t like Blair being close to the maids.

For that reason, she would occasionally gather Rachel or noble young ladies for quiet tea times, and at most, distribute snacks to the maids.

But this kind of lively atmosphere where everyone gathered in one place wasn’t bad either.

‘No, rather… it seems much more enjoyable.’

Blair wiggled her hand held by Herdin and glanced up at him, then shifted her gaze to the blazing flames in front of her.

More precisely, to the peaceful early summer night scene created by this large fire.

‘It’s beautiful.’

At this moment, for the first time in her life, she thought the fire was beautiful rather than frightening.

Blair quietly took in that scenery with a smiling face for a while.

The last memory she would take when leaving this mansion.

* * *

The carriage of House Delmark passed through the main gate of the imperial palace.

Blair sighed as she looked at the imperial palace buildings that were now visible in the distance.

The last banquet she attended was at Count Ethel’s mansion. That day, she heard rumors about the incident from ten years ago, and left hurriedly without properly responding, so everyone’s attention would be focused on her today.

Whether the discord between the imperial family and House Delmark was true or not.

And if that rumor of discord was true, whether she was on the side of the imperial family or House Delmark.

But more fearful than those gazes was…

‘…Mother.’

She would meet Katrina at today’s banquet.

This would be the first time meeting her since the kidnapping incident.

Blair, who had been nervously fiddling with her fingertips while looking at the approaching imperial palace buildings, turned her head to look at her husband sitting opposite.

“Herdin.”

His gaze, which had been lost in thought while looking out the window, returned instead of an answer.

Blair cautiously began.

“Is there still no evidence?”

He had said he would allow her to go out starting from the day after the Empire’s Founding Day banquet ended.

She didn’t know why it had to be from tomorrow, but she thought there must be some reason for choosing that date.

For example, that some clue was expected to be found by today.

However, the answer that came back was not the kind she had hoped for.

“We’re still looking. It seems it’s not easy since it’s an incident from ten years ago already.”

His voice and eyes were more subdued than usual as he answered with a quiet sigh.

‘Of course, Herdin would be the one who wants to clear the Empress Dowager’s name more than anyone else.’

Blair pressed her lips shut, feeling sorry for having urged him unnecessarily.

At last, the carriage stopped.

Blair took a deep breath, thinking of the many eyes that would soon be focused on her and her meeting with Katrina. Then she got out of the carriage, holding Herdin’s hand.

“The Duke and Duchess of Delmark have arrived!”

As the two entered the banquet hall, the gazes of the nobles who had arrived earlier naturally turned to them along with the bright light of the chandeliers.

As expected, she could hear the voices of people whispering about her.

Her heart pounded rapidly, tense because of it. Perhaps because of that, her stomach, which had been constantly queasy lately, began to churn.

‘…It’s alright. I’m not the kind of person they’re talking about.’

She didn’t sell out her mother, bewitched by a man. She only tried to reveal the truth that should rightfully be revealed. No matter what anyone said, she was clear in her own conscience.

Blair calmed herself like that.

The attention that had been focused on Blair was divided when Katrina and Ivan appeared.

“Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress Dowager have arrived!”

Next to Ivan, who had stepped onto the stairs overlooking the banquet hall, stood a young woman. Blair recognized her at a glance through her memories of her past life.

Roen of the Marquis Vilhern family.

The woman who would be announced as Ivan’s fiancée at this occasion today. She must be the person Katrina had chosen after much deliberation, from the family that would be most beneficial to the imperial family and herself.

After finishing the ceremonial congratulatory speech, Ivan introduced his fiancée.

“This lovely lady everyone seems curious about is my fiancée, Lady Roen Vilhern.”

Ivan’s fiancée approached his side with a gentle smile.

“Having felt lonely after marrying off my only sister, I am now welcoming someone who will become a new family member. I hope you will all give us your blessings.”

The nobles’ applause and congratulations concluded the Empire’s Founding Day speech and the announcement of the Emperor’s fiancée.

So, was the discord between the imperial family and House Delmark true?

As that curiosity gathered again on Blair and Herdin, a servant approached.

“His Majesty is looking for you two.”