Chapter 55

Blair received a brief examination from the doctor who had been waiting at the villa. Fortunately, the conclusion was that there were no external injuries, but Edmund still couldn’t put his mind at ease.

He pressed his friend, the owner of the villa, to send maids to assist Blair with bathing. Thanks to that, she was able to shed the mud-soaked dress and sink into the bathtub.

After washing with the maids’ help and changing into clean clothes, Blair returned to the bedroom. Edmund was sitting on a chair, waiting for her. Once the two of them were alone, he spoke.

“If staying here makes you uneasy, we can leave immediately.”

“I’m really fine.”

After a brief pause, Blair continued her explanation, “We were planning to return tomorrow morning anyway, so I think it’s reasonable to stay the night here and leave as planned in the morning.”

Edmund didn’t answer right away, but he seemed to agree that her reasoning was sound.

“What will happen to Isaac Dorman?”

“He’ll be handed over to the police.”

“He won’t receive proper punishment… will he?”

“Unfortunately, threatening a noblewoman with a gun isn’t considered a serious crime, so there’s a strong chance he’ll be released on bail.”

Of course. She hadn’t expected anything else. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Blair quietly lowered her gaze.

It was already late afternoon, with the glow of the setting sun spilling in. From beyond the open window, the pounding music of the ball drifted in, as if it were happening in another world. With guests gathered from across the kingdom, the banquet couldn’t simply be stopped, but it felt surreal that a ball was going on when she’d just had a gun aimed between her brows.

“Blair, how about eating something?”

“Mm… I don’t really have an appetite.”

“You need to eat to regain your strength. I’ll have it brought to the room. Wait a moment.”

Edmund stepped out of the bedroom, called someone over, and gave a few instructions before returning. Surprisingly, before long, a varied meal was set up inside the bedroom.

Perhaps the chef was exceptionally skilled, because every dish looked excellent. Blair had no appetite at all, but she forced herself to take a few bites of each and continue eating. Feeling conscious of Edmund sitting across from her, she spoke while holding a piece of buttered bread.

“You don’t need to stay by my side. You can go down to the ballroom without worrying about me….”

“It’s the middle of a ball. Would it really be fine if I were flirting with other women?”

He gently cut her off and asked in return. Blair froze in place, still poised to take a bite of bread. Edmund reached out and brushed away the crumbs clinging to the corner of her mouth.

“Why say something you don’t mean?”

“….”

“And everyone already knows something unfortunate happened to you. If I were mingling with noblewomen there, what would happen to my dignity?”

“…That’s true.”

“A husband should stay by his wife’s side.”

The certainty in his voice was striking. Blair fell silent again and resumed her meal. She didn’t meet the gaze of the man resting his chin on his long fingers, watching her.

After a while, feeling comfortably full, Blair had the tray cleared away. Edmund stood up and walked to the window, taking a cigarette between his lips. A spark flared, and pale smoke slowly spread through the air.

Blair watched Edmund as he smoked, seated at the table. As he drew in the smoke, the knot of his throat bobbed distinctly, and the hazy breath slowly rose into the air.

Then it suddenly dawned on her that unless she left this bedroom, there was nothing for her to do. She had no desire to get dressed again and go down to the ballroom now, so she would inevitably be trapped in the bedroom with him until morning.

“Go to bed early. You must be tired.”

Sitting at the table, the man quickly read what was on Blair’s mind and spoke. It was a little early to sleep, but there was nothing else to do, so Blair nodded, pushed back her chair, and stood up. She took out a nightgown that reached her calves from her bag and went behind the screen to change. When she pulled back the covers and went to the bed, she felt his gaze follow her. Blair curled up, pressing her ear against the soft bedding. She was lying with her back to the spot where Edmund would sleep. Before she realized it, she drifted off.

When she woke again after a light sleep, everything around her was pitch dark. How much time had passed? It was certainly the middle of the night. Blinking in the blackness, Blair turned her head.

The space beside the bed was empty. It was perfectly undisturbed. With a sinking feeling, she reached out and felt around the bedding, but Edmund wasn’t there. She was completely alone.

A strange surge of fear rose up, and she pushed herself upright. The ball must have ended already, because there was no noise even beyond the window. Only the sound of insects filled the air.

Following the sound absentmindedly, her gaze landed on the shadow of a tree cast against the window. All at once, the image of Isaac Dorman hiding in the darkness and aiming his gun flashed through her mind. Sitting at the edge of the bed, Blair shuddered and whispered under her breath.

“Edmund.”

There was no answer. She raised her voice slightly.

“Are you there?”

Where did he go in the middle of the night? Fear swelled in an instant, and she almost shouted his name.

“Edmund!”

“…Blair?”

That familiar, low voice came from a few steps away. She hurriedly scanned the darkness and found his solid figure. A breath she hadn’t realized she was holding burst out. Blair quickly slipped her feet into her slippers and got out of bed.

“Why are you over there again?”

Edmund was lying in the armchair. He looked even more bewildered than she did.

“What’s with the rush….”

His voice cut off abruptly. Seeing her panting, he closed his mouth. An uncalled-for sense of hurt welled up, and Blair’s words tumbled out faster.

“I called you three times. And we agreed to sleep together in the bed. You said yourself that it was the reasonable choice.”

“Alright, calm down, Blair.”

Edmund stepped back lightly and gently cupped Blair’s face. Even so, she couldn’t settle her emotions right away.

“Why were you sleeping all crumpled up here again?”

“You allowed it last night, but not tonight. I couldn’t lie down next to a woman who hadn’t given her consent.”

“It’s fine, so come over here.”

“I’ll go to the bed.”

Even as he said that, Edmund rose abruptly and took hold of her arm, pulling her along. Blair followed him quietly toward the bed. After laying her down first, Edmund pulled the covers up over her, then lay down beside her. Unlike the night before, when they had lain with their backs to each other, Edmund now faced forward, and Blair lay straight as well, her gaze landing on him with obvious unease.

“Will you sing me a lullaby or something?”

Edmund tilted his head and looked down at her, letting out a short, incredulous laugh.

“Did you have a nightmare or something. Why are you being so needy tonight?”

“I’m not being needy.”

“Your eyes are saying it. You’re scared, so don’t leave me alone.”

“…Then… could you stay beside me?”

The man who had been replying playfully fell silent. Unsure what answer would come, Blair swallowed hard. Then Edmund let out a quiet sigh and gently stroked the back of her neck with a soft touch. Slowly, he reached out and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

After stiffening for a moment, Blair rested her cheek against his broad chest and let out a long breath. At last, the anxiety faded and the tension drained from her body, only for a different kind of trembling to rise and her heart to begin pounding. Was this heartbeat reaching him too?

“I didn’t get to thank you.”

“It’s fine. I can tell without you saying it.”

“Still, realizing it on your own and hearing it directly are different. Thank you.”

Each time Edmund spoke, the low vibration carried clearly against her ear. She liked it and wished he would keep talking, but instead, silence followed. Blair blinked slowly, then lifted her head. The sharply defined features of the man came into view. Noticing her steady gaze, Edmund spoke quietly.

“It’s late. How about getting some sleep now?”

“I don’t want time to pass like this.”

“There’s nothing to regret. You need rest, so sleep comes first.”

Even so, the confession that time alone together was rare, and that she didn’t want to let this moment slip by, hovered on the tip of her tongue.

“There will be plenty of time for us together once we return to Eldenvale.”

As if he had read that unspoken regret exactly, a gentler voice drifted down from above.

“Let’s sleep now, Blair.”