Chapter 116

“What else?”

Edmund replied lightly.

“I imagined you breathless while riding something other than a horse.”

“…Ed…!”

Blair stared at the increasingly obscene man in shock. He was going to become a father in ten months, so shouldn’t he behave a little more properly? His true nature, revealed more each day, was enough to leave her dizzy.

“Stop saying obscene things in front of such a peaceful and beautiful view.”

“Then should I whisper quietly? Up close.”

His firm arm brushed Blair’s shoulder as he stepped closer.

“Your face seems to be asking for a detailed explanation.”

“You’re mistaken.”

“Though it’s better to try it yourself than hear an explanation.”

“I won’t. Let’s go back to the villa.”

Blair, her face flushed, hurried ahead toward the villa. Edmund smirked and followed behind her at an easy pace.

***

The three-story villa, surrounded by the oak forest, was already filled with the colors of evening.

Warm lights appeared one by one in each window, and when the sun fully set, the entrance lights turned on brightly, as if welcoming them as they reached the door.

Blair stepped inside and looked around the cozy interior. The villa, with its large fireplace, softly colored wooden furniture, and armchairs, seemed designed for family rest, and a sense of comfort filled every corner. It felt like she could finally let her guard down.

“Where’s the bedroom?”

“Our bedroom is this way.”

Edmund led her up the stairs to the second floor. The spacious bedroom at the end of the hallway offered a full view of the forest. Standing by the window, Blair looked at the dense trees, the shooting range, and the servant leading the horses back to the stable.

“It’s truly a wonderful place.”

“I’m glad you feel that way.”

“How long can we stay here?”

The man stepped closer behind her and slowly removed her coat. Then he pressed his lips naturally against her exposed neck.

“Until you grow tired of it.”

“That will never happen.”

“Then perhaps we should make this our new home.”

Edmund laughed lightly at his own joke, the sound falling softly over her shoulder. Blair inhaled quietly, her eyes still fixed outside.

“You can stay as long as you like, so don’t worry about anything else. Just be comfortable.”

A month, or two months. It felt like his gentle whisper added that meaning. If she truly wanted it, Edmund was someone who would make it happen.

But was it right to lose herself in this sweetness, wrapped in such warmth, closing her eyes and ears? She still couldn’t shake her anxiety. This dreamlike peace would eventually pass, and one day she would have to face what she was avoiding.

“Your Grace.”

At that moment, footsteps echoed down the hallway, and someone knocked on the bedroom door.

“A message from Borsa. You should receive it now.”

…From the capital?

Blair turned her head and glanced at Edmund behind her. His face seemed to stiffen for a moment, but as soon as their eyes met, he lifted the corners of his lips slightly.

“It seems to be something work-related. I’ll be right back.”

“…Of course. Go ahead.”

“Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes, so rest until then.”

“I’ll wash up first. And you don’t need to send a maid up.”

“Alright. I’ll be back soon, so let’s go down together.”

Edmund kissed her forehead, then turned and walked away. Blair watched his retreating figure cross the bedroom for a moment, and when he closed the door behind him, she slowly headed to the bathroom.

***

After going down to the first floor, Edmund stood before the receiver and glanced toward the second floor where Blair was, then finally picked up the phone. As expected, it was a call from his attendant working in Borsa.

“What is it?”

— I’m calling to report on the progress of the investigation into Lord Rufus’s death.

“Report.”

— The sheriff arrested the women who were with the deceased at the scene and obtained their statements. Although there are suspicious points regarding their identities, it seems unlikely that they were robbers, and it remains likely that they were civilians caught in an accidental incident.

Edmund lowered his eyes and listened in silence. Since he’d ordered them not to contact him unless it was urgent, the voice continued concisely, delivering only the essentials.

— Fortunately, the funeral schedule has not yet been finalized. There are still matters to settle with the Rorschach side, and the legal team and treasurer are coordinating the issues. The Dowager Duchess is in an extremely unstable state, and discussions with the church have not been proceeding properly.

“I see.”

— The funeral may be delayed longer than you expected, but I’ll continue to investigate further.

“Continue reporting the progress.”

— Yes, Your Grace.

Click.

As soon as he set down the receiver, an overwhelming fatigue washed over him. It was fortunate news, since Blair needed stability, but in the end, it had only bought time to hide the truth. Edmund pressed his fingers against his brow and let out a heavy sigh.

Rufus’s death and funeral. As the true head of the ducal house, he had no excuse to avoid it. No matter what, he would have to stand there and face Isabelle, who had lost her son.

But what about Blair? Even if the sky fell, Edmund didn’t want her attending the funeral. Rufus’s miserable end, Isabel’s madness, the stench of death, and the whispers of mourners layered over it. There was no reason for her to endure any of it.

To drag her small body, which had only just begun to regain stability after so much anxiety, back into reality. Into his world, into this filthy world.

But as the duchess, she too could not completely avoid the ceremony.

His fingers, pressing against his brow, suddenly stopped.

With Rufus’s sudden death, the revenge Edmund had harbored for so long lost its direction. Emptiness remained where his goal had once stood, but Edmund was not a man to linger in that void. As he naturally began to plan his next move, a thought suddenly came to him.

What was it that he truly wanted now?

At some point, Edmund had begun to question whether destroying the ducal house was truly the right thing to do. Hatred and anger had brought him this far, but he was no longer alone. There was a woman by his side whom he wished to spend his life with, and she carried his child.

Then what meaning would there be in leaving behind only ruins?

Wouldn’t it be wiser to cut away the rotten parts and build a new place on top of them, one no one could ever invade?

The more he thought about it, the firmer his resolve became. The realization that he needed a home for her and their child began to take shape for the first time.

Edmund turned and went upstairs to the bedroom where Blair was. Since it was the marital bedroom they shared, there was no need to knock. Still, he didn’t forget to knock on the bathroom door so he wouldn’t startle the woman inside the bath.

***

“…Ed?”

Blair, half dozing in the bath, quickly braced herself on the edge of the tub. She’d wondered who it was when she heard the knock, but the familiar voice that followed made her sigh in relief.

“May I come in for a moment?”

“Ah… yes, but what is it….”

Before she could finish, Edmund entered the bathroom and slowly closed the door. Blair looked up at him with wide eyes as he rolled up his shirt sleeves.

“What is it?”

“You said you didn’t need a maid to assist with your bath.”

“I did… I did say that.”

“So I came to help you instead.”

She needed a husband to lather her hair even less. Unable to say that, Blair lifted her arms to cover her chest, but Edmund approached without hesitation and sat on the edge of the tub. Then he scooped bathwater with a mother-of-pearl bowl and carefully poured it over her shoulder.

“I can do it myself.”