Chapter 74

Even after folding the morning paper, her fingertips kept trembling for a long while. Her racing heart was hard to calm.

It should’ve been good for Blair that Isabelle’s plans had fallen through and that Isaac Dorman was paying the price for what he had done. Yet the relief of being protected was tangled with an oddly chilling feeling. She couldn’t readily tell what lay at the root of that tremor.

Why was that? Was it because she’d come to a painful realization that Edmund had used Nicoletta’s downfall like a tool?

Blair became keenly aware of where she stood. Being at Edmund’s side was certainly safe, but it also meant she could be regarded as one of the cards in his hand.

Hadn’t there once been a humiliating article written about her as well? An article that left her father, Count Twyford, with no room to weigh his options, forcing him to choose Edmund.

Hadn’t putting her on the chopping block to draw the gaze of high society also been intentional, just like now, for the sake of his plans?

“…Haa.”

What am I even thinking? Letting out a long sigh, she buried her face in her hands. Blair looked down at the coffee that had gone cold and slowly steadied her breathing.

Even so, she couldn’t deny the wish that she might be part of that man. Even if only as a single card, she wanted to stay at his side. At least with him, she wouldn’t lose her way. On a meticulously laid board, Edmund always carved out a path, and Blair was helplessly drawn to a man like that.

And her heart had long since lost its way back.

***

The capital’s night streets flashing past beyond the car window were dazzling.

The lights spilling from streetlamps and shops open late tangled together, casting golden stains across the stone pavement, while crowds dressed in finery hurried busily over them. Everywhere her eyes landed, the city’s evening air of indulgence clung thickly, and Blair fixed her gaze beyond the window.

In truth, she also lacked the confidence to face the man sitting beside her. Even though they lay in the same bed every night, meeting Edmund’s eyes felt strangely difficult. It was probably since she’d become aware of her feelings for him.

After all, with a man like him, he was surely reading her heart already, and if their eyes met, it would mean laying bare her wavering emotions. So she looked away. It was childish pride.

“Countess Gillingham will be pleased to see you.”

At the voice beside her, Blair blinked and returned to reality. Edmund, keeping his gaze fixed ahead, added calmly, “You seem to have built quite a rapport.”

“She’s very thoughtful. Being invited to dinner makes me nervous for no reason.”

Blair added lightly, having prepared a separate gift not only for Count Gillingham, the host of tonight’s dinner, but for his wife as well.

“I hope she likes my gift.”

“If you worry that much, your husband might misunderstand.”

“…Huh?”

“That you’ve formed an attachment with another woman.”

Blair, taken aback, snapped her head toward Edmund. For someone saying something so absurd, his face looked quite serious.

“You looked rather fond of the countess.”

“An attachment… that can’t be.”

“Then it seems I failed to recognize your consideration for your husband. That’s a relief.”

Even the small token Blair had prepared for the countess was instantly repackaged in Edmund’s words as affection meant for him. While Blair swallowed her breath in disbelief, they arrived at their destination. A long line of automobiles stretched out before the townhouse’s main gate. Their black sedan slowed at the back of it and came to a stop.

“Shall we get out now, Blair?”

Edmund stepped out first and extended his hand. Blair placed her hand on top of his without a word. The man who grasped her firmly began to walk forward with steady steps.

From a distance, they looked like a picture-perfect couple, but up close, there was something unnatural about them. The way he interlaced their fingers and held her hand with such force was hardly a gentleman’s escort. Walking so close that their sides and chests nearly brushed also strayed from the usual image of a noble couple.

When Edmund knocked on the door knocker, the host of the dinner, Count Gillingham, opened the door himself to greet them.

“Oh, welcome! Lord Libert, and Lady Libert.”

“Thank you for inviting us.”

“It’s nice to see you again, Count Gillingham.”

“We brought a gift. I hope it suits your taste.”

When Edmund handed over a bottle of wine with an elegant label, Count Gillingham looked delighted beyond measure.

“It’s a fine wine. How could it not suit my taste? I’ll accept it gratefully. Please, come inside. Josephine has been eagerly waiting to see Lady Libert.”

“I’ve been looking forward to seeing the countess again as well.”

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

After exchanging greetings, they entered the count’s townhouse. The interior, decorated entirely to reflect the taste of the countess from the Kingdom of Brücken, felt exotic yet refined. The paintings filling the walls immediately drew the eye, and the vividly colored ornaments placed throughout breathed life into the entire space.

“Lady Libert! You’re here. I’ve been waiting.”

Despite the many guests present, Countess Josephine Gillingham couldn’t hide her delight the moment she spotted Blair. After greeting her, Blair didn’t forget to hand over the gift box containing the finely wrapped handkerchief.

The dinner was an intimate gathering of about ten close acquaintances of the count and countess. Most were familiar faces she had met at the previous party, but one person stood out as unfamiliar.

He was a handsome man with long hair tied back into a single knot, giving him the air of an artist. As glasses clinked and laughter flowed around the table, he glanced at Blair several times. When the appetizer was being served, the countess introduced him.

“Everyone, please say hello. This is my younger brother from Brücken, Marcel.”

“Hello. I’m Marcel.”

“…Oh dear. Please excuse him. My brother isn’t very fluent in the common tongue.”

Laughter rippled through the room at the large man’s greeting in an awkward accent. Blair smiled along despite herself, unaware of the way Edmund beside her was looking down at her as if to pierce straight through.

“This is truly excellent wine, Lord Libert.”

At some point, Count Gillingham, pleasantly flushed with drink, raised Edmund’s gift again and offered his thanks once more.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had such fine wine.”

“I’m glad it suits your taste. Choosing wine as a gift was my wife’s idea.”

Blair, who had been spearing a piece of shellfish with her fork, paused slightly. In truth, it hadn’t been her idea, so he was effectively passing the credit to her.

“I chose it knowing the count enjoys wine.”

“How thoughtful! You must be very happy to have such a good wife.”

“I hope my wife feels the same way.”

Edmund looked at Blair with smiling eyes. Feeling the unspoken pressure, she lifted the corners of her mouth and met his gaze.

“I feel the same. I don’t know how I could be so lucky to meet you.”

“What a shame. If we were alone, I would’ve hoped for a kiss.”

At his unabashed remark, Blair nearly dropped her fork. Her face flushed hot, but she forced the smile clinging to her lips to stay in place.

Fortunately, perhaps because she looked shy, the guests chuckled and chimed in that newlyweds really were different. Blair met Edmund’s gaze for a brief moment, his eyes curved with amusement as he looked down at her, then lowered her eyes back to the food on her plate.

Just then, Marcel tilted his head and asked his sister, “…Is that woman married?”

“Marcel!”

Countess Gillingham hurriedly stopped him. As silence fell over the table, awkward laughter soon followed to smooth it over.

“My brother is a very typical Brücken man. He tends to blurt out whatever comes to mind without filtering it. Please forgive the rudeness.”

“It’s fine. Please don’t worry about it, Josephine.”

Waving a hand, Blair glanced up at Edmund. The easy smile that had been on his face moments ago was now overlaid with a cold shadow.