Chapter 28
The Gap of a Relationship
Katrina’s birthday banquet was the first official social event Blair and Hedrin attended as a married couple.
It should have been the New Year’s banquet that marked their first appearance together, but a monster outbreak had led to the cancellation of all scheduled events afterward.
Because of that, Lina and Melly worked with near-mission-level determination to prepare Blair.
“Lina, how about this style?”
“Oh, that actually looks good.”
The two of them had grown noticeably closer, exchanging opinions and working together to dress Blair.
Blair watched them through the mirror. Seeing Melly now share the work that Lina had once done alone in her previous life made her smile softly.
So even if I leave this place, Lina will be fine.
That thought eased her mind.
“Lady, it’s done.”
“How does it look?”
At last, their shared creation was complete. Blair laughed at the two women’s sparkling, expectant eyes.
“I love it. Thank you, both of you.”
It wasn’t just polite words—their effort truly made her styling feel special.
When Blair appeared after dressing, Hedrin—who had been waiting on the first floor—lifted his gaze at the sound of footsteps.
The moment he saw her, his eyes stopped for a fraction of a second, then slowly followed her as she descended the stairs.
If Blair had once resembled a snow fairy in her wedding dress, tonight she looked like a flower that had bloomed foolishly in the dead of winter.
Hedrin approached her and held out his hand. After a brief pause, Blair placed her hand on his large palm.
“Then we will be leaving, Your Grace. My lady.”
Seeing them off, Mason and the servants bowed as the couple boarded the carriage. Soon after, it departed.
Blair stared out at the passing night scenery, lost in thought.
What happened on this day in my previous life?
Two years of memories made it hard to recall every minor detail. Only major or emotionally intense events remained.
But no matter how she searched her memory, nothing in particular came to mind.
Good… so nothing serious happened.
As she sifted through the past, she suddenly remembered something she had once said to Hedrin about the future.
After the day he met Miela, he never brought up future-related topics again.
Well… from his perspective, it must sound unbelievable.
And probably something he didn’t want to believe either.
In any case, it was a relief that she could stop talking about seeing the future.
As she turned her head absentmindedly, her eyes met Hedrin’s. It seemed he had already been watching her for a while.
…Since when was he looking at me?
His deep blue eyes, submerged in the darkness of night, quietly observed her. They were always overwhelming to meet directly.
Then Hedrin leaned forward, closing the distance between them in an instant. So close she could feel his breath.
Blair held her breath without realizing it.
But Hedrin simply reached past her and closed the window behind her.
As if reading her awkward thoughts, he looked directly into her eyes.
“What were you thinking about?”
“…Nothing.”
“Doesn’t seem like nothing. You once even mistook me for a pervert.”
“That’s because you speak in a misleading way…”
“Oh? So you were thinking something like that?”
At his teasing tone, Blair glared at him, then turned her head sharply toward the window. Engaging further would only drag her into his pace.
A low chuckle came from behind her.
Since that night, their relationship had changed. They now shared at least one meal a day, and occasionally he teased her when she showed an opening.
Honestly, Blair didn’t dislike the change.
But whenever I remember my past life, I don’t know how to feel about him.
He was someone who had hurt her beyond repair—but in this timeline, he had done nothing wrong yet.
All the pain of her past life belonged only to her.
The gap between resentment and reality grew inside her. And the more it grew, the more she began to resent the version of him who remembered nothing.
Even though she knew—logically—that this version of him was innocent.
While she was lost in thought, the carriage stopped.
“We have arrived—House Delmarc!”
As they entered the imperial palace, nobles already present approached them.
The war hero and the only imperial princess.
Their pairing inevitably drew attention.
While they exchanged formal greetings, the host of the banquet finally appeared.
“His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager have arrived!”
Katrina entered with her son Ivan escorting her. As the Emperor, he was currently the only one who could escort her since the Empress’s seat was vacant.
It was her way of displaying what she had and what she had achieved throughout her life.
“As is proper for a banquet, one should enjoy it. I hope you will all celebrate my mother’s birthday properly.”
With Ivan’s speech, the banquet officially began.
Noble families approached one by one to present gifts to Katrina.
These gifts were not only expressions of loyalty to the imperial family—they were also displays of their own house’s prestige.
Thus, nobles competed fiercely to offer more extravagant gifts. It was a spectacle where they spent the money, and Katrina reaped the benefit.
Blair had worried Hedrin might openly show displeasure, given his hatred toward Katrina, but fortunately, that did not happen.
After the gift presentations, as the two of them mingled with other nobles, a woman approached them.
“Lord Duke, Lady Duchess.”
A middle-aged woman adorned in extravagant dress and jewels stood before them.
It was Margrid Countess, Katrina’s attendant.
“Her Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager requests your presence.”
Blair paused.
She had always found Katrina difficult to face—but today felt even worse. Every time they met around the time of her marriage, things had always become tense.
“Hedrin.”
Blair gently grasped his arm. Hedrin leaned slightly toward her so she could speak quietly into his ear.
“Don’t feel obligated to accept unreasonable demands from my mother or brother. As long as you don’t violate your duties as a husband, that’s enough.”
She was referring to Ivan and Katrina’s earlier attempts after the wedding banquet, when they subtly pushed Hedrin toward war.
“I only want you to lose nothing from this marriage.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t engage in losing transactions.”
Blair relaxed at his calm reply. As he said, he was not someone who would be easily swayed.
When they approached, Katrina was speaking with her close aide, Count Valtain—her strongest supporter.
Blair bowed politely.
“You called for us, Mother.”
“It’s been difficult to see your face lately, Blair. You should have come to me first. I was quite disappointed after we parted so abruptly at the New Year banquet.”
Despite knowing exactly how they had parted, Katrina feigned mild disappointment. Blair was used to it.
No matter what she felt, Katrina never lost her elegance in public.
“…I thought I might be disturbing you with so many guests around.”
“No matter how busy I am, I should see my daughter. We are family, aren’t we? And now the Duke is part of that family too.”
The words both included Hedrin as family and subtly criticized Blair for not visiting.
Count Valtain chimed in.
“I don’t have a daughter myself, but I hear it is good etiquette for newlyweds not to visit their parental home too often.”
“Indeed. If they are doing well together, that is ideal. Still, a mother worries when her child leaves her arms.”
Blair ignored their conversation, trying to recall the past timeline.
No matter how she thought about it, nothing significant had happened between her and Katrina on this day in her previous life.
Or… has the timeline already changed too much?
Just then, a group of young noblewomen approached.
Their target was Blair.
Katrina immediately noticed and gently took Blair’s hand.
“Go ahead, Blair.”
After exchanging a glance with Count Valtain, Blair approached the noblewomen. Hedrin naturally followed behind her.
Then Katrina’s voice came from behind.
“Even if your wife is lovely, a husband should step aside when women speak—that is courtesy.”
Hedrin paused.
Though spoken lightly, the meaning was clear: she had business with him.
He looked at Blair surrounded by noble ladies, then stayed beside Katrina.
Her attendants soon gathered around her, praising both her and Hedrin.
“To break away from the past and choose to become family—your resolve is admirable.”
“Indeed. It could not have been easy for Her Majesty, nor for the Duke and Duchess.”
Hearing them, Hedrin’s lips curved slightly.
Now he understood.
Why Katrina had chosen to keep him close.
