"The Madam went to a guild."
These were the first words from Russ, who had come to Herdin late at night while he was reviewing documents in his office after returning home.
Herdin, who had been smoking his cigar without lifting his eyes from the papers regardless of who came or went, looked at Russ in surprise at the unexpected news.
"What nonsense is that all of a sudden?"
"Sir Jerome, who was patrolling the estate, saw the Madam and her maid sneaking out about an hour ago. So he followed them, and they entered guild street."
Herdin set down his cigar and asked,
"At this hour?"
"Yes. She just returned to the estate."
A scoff escaped Herdin's lips.
To think his seemingly prim and proper wife had a hobby for such cute escapades. The unexpected blow to the back of his head stung quite a bit.
"Shall I look into what the commission was?"
"Why?"
"She might be plotting something with the imperial family. Maybe scheming to absorb Delmark."
"If that were the goal, they wouldn't risk moving the princess herself. The Emperor has more than enough people he can deploy."
"Well, that's true."
"And while they might be plotting something like that in the distant future, it's not now. The Emperor needs my power."
A powerful sword that would bring victory in a war of conquest.
He could vaguely guess the purpose behind Ivan pushing this marriage from their conversation at the luncheon in the imperial palace last time.
"Then why did she go to the guild?"
At Russ's question, Herdin irritably raked back his still-damp black hair and pressed his throbbing temple, which ached with a headache.
That was exactly what he wanted to know.
What on earth was that little head of hers thinking, and what was she scheming?
But a guild wouldn't easily divulge a client's purpose, and forcing it out would escalate things. If Blair found out, she'd hide her intentions completely.
After pondering silently while smoking his cigar for a while, Herdin gave a low command.
"Just keep an eye on her for the time being. Discreetly."
* * *
The New Year's festival was now just a day away.
It was also the last day of the year.
Blair came down to the dining room for breakfast as usual. Herdin's seat was empty today as well.
"His Excellency left the estate early this morning due to business."
Mason, who pulled out her chair, offered the excuse.
And understandably so, since they hadn't shared a meal together since the incident with the maids.
But it was already familiar to Blair.
'Still, I wanted to thank him for Rina's matter.'
She no longer wanted to owe him any debts of the heart.
Thinking she should express her thanks the next time she saw him before it got too late, Blair finished her meal.
Afterward, she tried on the New Year's festival dress made by Sionele Baroness and took a short rest.
"Madam, Lady Lorellaine has arrived."
Having dozed off briefly, she woke to Rina's voice. It was time for tea with Agnes as scheduled.
Heading to the greenhouse where she waited, Agnes greeted her warmly.
"Hello, Madam. It's quite chilly—have you been well this past week?"
"Yes. I hope you have too, Lady Lorellaine."
"Of course, thanks to you."
They had set the next appointment after the first tea time last week, so today was their first proper session.
Blair fiddled tensely with the rim of her teacup.
She didn't particularly dislike meeting strangers, and wasn't one to get nervous about it. Having been born a princess, she had to meet unfamiliar people out of duty regardless.
The exception before her regression had been dealing with the Delmark Duke household. It had been difficult and tense.
Their gazes constantly felt like they were judging if she was worthy of being the duchess or suited to Herdin.
After returning to the past, those gazes no longer frightened her, but strangely, facing Agnes made her tense.
As if Agnes could see right through her.
Sharing her stories with someone felt unfamiliar. She hadn't done so since Esmeralda's death.
Agnes warmed her cooled body with hot tea and broached the topic.
"Anyway, it feels like we just welcomed the new year, yet here we are at the last day of the year in the blink of an eye. Time really flies."
"It does."
Blair didn't want to give curt replies, but had nothing particular to say.
Having lived a life where others always led the conversation without her needing to think of topics, it was even more so.
Fortunately, Agnes didn't seem to mind.
"Shall we start sharing old stories today, as we agreed?"
"Yes. Where should I begin?"
"Hm, it might be hard to recall randomly, so... how about memories of the New Year's festival?"
"The New Year's festival?"
"From the year the incident happened. Any episodes you remember? Even something small."
Blair easily recalled that day.
Because it was the day she first met Herdin.
* * *
The day before Blair turned eleven.
On the last day of the year, she would meet relatives she rarely saw and exchange early New Year's greetings.
Blair put extra effort into her appearance that day and visited the Empress's Palace. She didn't know why, but lately Esmeralda had been busy, making it hard to meet.
'I need to play card games with Her Majesty the Empress. I'll win for sure today.'
With eager anticipation, she entered the Empress's Palace.
But there was already a guest.
"Oh, you came at the perfect time, Blair."
Beside Esmeralda, who greeted her with her usual kind face, sat an unfamiliar boy.
With fine black hair like Esmeralda's, a pale face, and icy blue eyes—a neat and handsome boy.
Blair recognized him at a glance.
He was Herdin del Mark, the young head of the Delmark Duke family and Esmeralda's only nephew.
Esmeralda had occasionally spoken of him.
'He's a lonely child. It would be nice if he had a good friend like our Blair.'
To ease Esmeralda's worries, Blair had promised, 'If I meet him, I'll be his friend.'
But upon actually facing Herdin, Blair looked at him warily. She didn't like this uninvited guest intruding on her cozy time with Esmeralda.
"Greet her, Herdin. This is Her Imperial Highness the Princess."
Esmeralda gently wrapped her arm around Herdin's shoulder and introduced Blair.
The boy with the cold demeanor rose and observed formal courtesy.
"Herdin of Delmark greets Her Imperial Highness the Princess, the shining star of the Empire."
The boy's greeting was impeccably polite, but his eyes betrayed an unmistakable boredom.
Seeing that gaze, Blair flinched.
To Blair, who was always surrounded by kind people, the indifference of a boy just three or four years older felt unfamiliar and frightening.
Yet she couldn't run away after the greeting or disappoint Esmeralda, so she mumbled a response.
"N-Nice to meet you, Duke del Mark."
"I've been hoping you two would meet someday, and I'm so glad it's happening now."
Esmeralda was delighted by the children's meeting, but Blair only felt uncomfortable with Herdin's presence. Fortunately or unfortunately, the boy seemed uninterested in her.
Observing the two children who wouldn't even make eye contact, Esmeralda suggested first.
"Shall we play card games today too?"
"Yes, sounds good!"
Blair was excited about the card games, and though Herdin wore an indifferent expression, he joined them.
But as the games continued, Blair's face grew sullen too. It was already the fourth round, and Herdin kept winning.
Herdin, who was winning effortlessly without tension, also seemed bored.
Blair desperately wanted to win, while Herdin had no intention of letting her.
Yet they didn't exchange a single word, not even making eye contact. No matter how many more games they played, it seemed unlikely the two would grow closer.
Troubled, Esmeralda came up with another idea.
"Playing the same game keeps getting boring. How about thieves this time?"
And so the thieves game began.
At first, pairs of matching cards came out in a row, progressing quickly, and soon it was time for psychological warfare as the easy cards ran out.
"Oh my."
Esmeralda let out a small exclamation as Herdin drew her card. It meant Herdin had taken the thief card.
Now it was Blair's turn to draw from Herdin. He extended his cards with his usual indifferent expression.
But Blair hesitated, unable to draw readily.
'He's scary...'
For psychological warfare, she needed to read his face and cards, but she was afraid to look straight into Herdin's eyes.
It was partly due to his chilling demeanor, but also because rumors of the 'power' passed down in the Delmark Duke family came to mind.