Chapter 8
His True Feelings
2023.09.08.
“Honestly, Your Grace is being far too harsh. How can you leave your bride alone on the very first night after the wedding?”
While drying Blair’s hair after her bath, Lina vented indignantly. She sounded as if she had personally suffered the injustice herself.
Yet the actual person involved only smiled faintly, listening to the complaints as if it had nothing to do with her.
“I’m fine. I actually prefer sleeping separately anyway.”
Nobles usually used separate rooms except when fulfilling marital duties. This was no different.
But Lina’s outrage did not subside.
“That’s not the point! It wasn’t just any day—it was your first night!”
“…Lina, you’re pulling the comb too hard. It hurts.”
“Oh—sorry! I got too emotional.”
Lina loosened her grip, which had looked like she might snap the comb in half, but she could not calm her anger.
“Anyway! It’s unacceptable! A newlywed bride who left everything behind to marry a man, in a strange mansion full of strangers—you don’t just abandon her on the first night! That’s grounds for disqualification as a husband!”
“You’re an unmarried lady. How do you even know these things so well?”
“I’ve read it all in books—treasures of knowledge and nourishment for the soul.”
Blair chuckled, remembering the books Lina had stayed up all night reading—ones with red warning stickers on them.
“Well, the Duke’s looks are honestly straight out of a male protagonist… but his personality still needs more observation.”
Lina’s chattering made Blair feel a little lighter.
As she looked at her reflection settling in the mirror, something faintly sparkling appeared between her neck and collarbone.
“…A magic circle?”
Blair quickly pulled open her collar—but all she saw were faint red marks left from the previous night.
Heat rose to her face as memories resurfaced.
She hurriedly closed her collar.
“I must have seen wrong.”
Lina tilted her head.
“My lady? Is your clothing uncomfortable?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Blair shook her head, embarrassed, then noticed a thin bandage wrapped around Lina’s finger.
It hadn’t been there when she bathed her last night.
“Did you hurt your hand?”
“Ah…”
A flicker of panic crossed Lina’s face.
“I’ll call a doctor. Let’s get it treated.”
“W-wait, no! I’m fine! It’s just a small cut!”
“How did it happen?”
“Just… I cut it while working this morning. You know how clumsy I am.”
Though Lina insisted it was nothing, Blair’s worried gaze did not ease.
Lina had also left everything familiar behind to come here, trusting only Blair. That thought made her uneasy.
Especially because of memories from her past life.
I was so consumed with my own situation back then that I barely paid attention to Lina…
Lina, sensing her expression, quickly added in a light tone:
“It’s really nothing to worry about. I just wrapped it so no blood would get on Your Highness—no, My Lady’s hair.”
“…Really?”
“See? There’s no blood on the outside of the bandage.”
It did not seem serious.
“So Your Highness should just focus on figuring out how to live comfortably here—and how to make that handsome duke cry, okay?”
Lina’s teasing eased her worries, but another thought lingered.
A cut means there was a knife. And Lina isn’t in the kitchen… so why would she use a knife? Could she be being mistreated?
But the thought did not last long.
“Ta-da! All done. I’ll take you to the dining hall.”
Lina finished her hair and helped her up.
Following Lina, Blair descended to the dining hall, where a servant opened the door.
On the first day of marriage, it was customary for the newlyweds to have breakfast with the groom’s family.
Normally, such a dining room would be full of relatives—but today, only Herdin was there.
He had no family.
No siblings, and both parents had died early. He had grown up alone. The only person who had ever been like family to him was Empress Esmeralda.
Seeing the empty hall, Blair understood a little more clearly why he hated her.
The butler pulled out her chair and poured pre-meal wine before leaving.
Once they were alone, Herdin spoke.
“Did you sleep well?”
It was almost ironic, considering he had kept her awake and tormented her until dawn.
Still, Blair answered calmly.
“Yes.”
With that brief exchange, breakfast began.
The silence was heavy—too cold for a couple who had just married yesterday.
It was Herdin who broke it.
“After breakfast, the butler will introduce the staff to you.”
He sliced his steak with practiced ease.
“After that, I’ll show you around the mansion. The rest of the day is free, so you may rest.”
“Thank you.”
“If you have questions, feel free to ask.”
“Then—how will you investigate the fire incident ten years ago?”
His knife stopped.
His usually indifferent blue eyes turned to her.
Even if this marriage had been arranged for that purpose, he had not expected her to bring it up so immediately—especially on the morning after their wedding night.
“I am currently arranging for a hypnotherapist, since you claim you have no memory.”
At the word hypnosis, Blair’s body flinched.
“I’ve tried hypnosis before. It didn’t work.”
“Then perhaps this time will be different.”
His tone was casual, but there was an edge beneath it. He did not believe her.
He suspected she was pretending to have lost her memory.
“…You doubt me.”
“How could I possibly trust you?”
His answer was blunt, as if the question itself was obvious.
“You are the daughter of the imperial family, which is politically opposed to mine. That alone is reason enough.”
Blair understood this well from her past life.
But knowing it intellectually and facing it directly were different things.
“I accepted the contract—but that doesn’t mean I trust you.”
That was true.
This was a contract, not a marriage built on love or trust.
Blair accepted it.
“…Understood. Then let’s begin with hypnosis, as you suggest.”
Thus, the first meal of their married life ended in silence.
After introductions to the staff, the butler, Mason, guided Blair through the mansion.
As a servant who had served the Delmark dukedom for generations, Mason was deeply loyal and knew the estate better than even Herdin.
The tour continued until evening.
Blair already knew most of it from her past life, but she listened attentively anyway. Seeing it again after death made everything feel strangely new.
As they walked toward her room, Mason suddenly apologized.
“I may have been too hasty today. You must be tired after the wedding.”
“As the lady of the house, I should know these things. Thanks to you, I understand the estate much faster.”
Mason was not fond of her, like most of the household—but he never showed it openly.
Blair did not want to make him uncomfortable. And truthfully, she found the tour interesting.
Soon they arrived at her room.
“If you have any questions, feel free to ask anytime.”
“Bring me the list of staff names and the household accounts.”
Mason looked surprised.
That was normally the lady’s responsibility, but nobles rarely handled it themselves.
“Are you sure you wish to do it personally?”
“I am part of the Delmark household now. I should do my share.”
In her previous life, Blair had left such matters to Mason. The servants had disliked her involvement anyway.
But now, she did not care what they thought.
Even if this marriage only lasted a year, she wanted to fulfill her role.
Not for recognition—but because she no longer wanted to feel small in front of herself.
