Chapter 75

“Are people from Brücken naturally that blunt?”

Edmund raised one eyebrow as if looking at a child who had just made a mistake.

“He could have asked his sister in his native tongue, yet he deliberately used the common language so everyone could hear.”

“Ahaha… I’ll make sure to keep my brother in line, Lord Libert.”

The countess smiled kindly as she busily moved her arm under the table, as if pinching Marcel. Blair, unsure what to do and letting her gaze wander, quietly resumed her meal.

His eyes were sharp enough that one would only notice if paying close attention, and Blair’s heart fluttered, wondering if there might be jealousy mixed in. But it was a ridiculous thought. As always, Edmund’s reaction was surely calculation meant to preserve appearances.

After all, there was no husband who would be pleased to see another man show interest in his wife. So even if Edmund displayed displeasure in a public setting, it wasn’t strange.

The main course and dessert that followed were Brücken’s famed delicacies, and the guests finished the meal with satisfied expressions. Leaving the dining room, they moved to the drawing room and began chatting, each holding a glass. The cozy space with its burning fireplace felt freer without the formality of the dining table, and Blair, seated on a comfortable sofa, relaxed as well.

“Blair.”

Before long, Edmund, who had risen from his seat along with a few other gentlemen, looked back at her. Blair lifted her head, having stopped just as she was about to take a sip from her glass.

“Yes, Edmund.”

“I’ll step out to the smoking room for a moment.”

“Go ahead. I’ll be waiting here.”

As she nodded, Edmund took a step closer. Even as his face leaned in, Blair didn’t know what was about to happen. Soon, something soft touched her cheek, lingered for a brief moment, then pulled away. That single fragment of time stretched out strangely long, and she froze in place, glass still in hand, blinking.

The onlookers also flinched at the unabashed display of affection. The man who placed the kiss, however, turned away with a calm expression. While everyone else resumed their conversation, Blair alone struggled to catch her breath. Even if it was merely an act meant to mark her as his wife, her heart thudded wildly on its own.

It was just a kiss on the cheek. Why did her chest shake like this? They’d done far more than that together.

“Hello?”

At the unfamiliar voice that suddenly reached her, Blair snapped back to herself. Countess Gillingham’s younger brother, Marcel, had taken the seat beside her at some point and was smiling gently.

A man who approached her without a care even after Edmund’s territorial kiss was no ordinary sort either.

“Ah… um… hello.”

“I’m Marcel.”

“…I’m Blair. Nice to meet you.”

Marcel grinned and held out his hand. After a moment’s hesitation, Blair placed her gloved hand on his, and the Brücken man who clearly had no intention of backing down tilted his head and kissed the back of her hand. At such a trivial greeting, her gaze instinctively darted toward the direction of the door.

“Brücken… you know? Beautiful. The sea, the streets.”

“Yes, I’ve heard. They say it’s a wonderful place, fitting for a country of artists. I’d like to visit someday.”

“You’re welcome. And….”

Marcel continued in halting, awkward common speech.

“You are beautiful too.”

“…Ah.”

“Like… hmm, a painting….”

“A painting? Like a painting?”

“Yes. You are beautiful like a painting.”

Blair swore she didn’t feel even the slightest flutter. If anything, the praise sounded so much like that of a child who had just learned a language that a smile slipped out on its own.

“Thank you. Um… Marcel, are you married?”

“No. I don’t even have a lover,” he answered at once, as if he’d been waiting for the question.

Blair continued with an awkward smile, “As you know, I have a husband. I appreciate the compliments, but it might be troublesome if my husband misunderstands.”

“…I don’t understand. Common language hard.”

“So, my husband might misunderstand.”

“Brücken open. Lovers okay. You, you can have me.”

“What?”

“Me and you, possible.”

“What?”

Blair’s eyes went wide. Seeing her reaction, Marcel burst out laughing, apparently amused. His attitude made it impossible to tell whether he was joking or serious, and all she could do was let out a hollow laugh.

“This is Genoa, so no, Marcel.”

“Too bad.”

“You’re a wonderful person, so you’ll meet someone good.”

“Come visit. Brücken.”

“I will. I’ve always been curious about it, so at least once….”

As Blair continued speaking, she suddenly felt a sharp gaze brushing her profile and turned her head. At the same time, she froze.

Edmund had returned from the smoking room at some point and was leaning casually against a sofa not far away, watching them. He slowly tilted the wineglass in his hand, his eyes sunk low and cold.

For a moment, it felt as if she’d done something wrong. Blair didn’t think her conduct had been improper, but she was afraid the polite conversation might look distorted from his perspective.

“…Marcel, I enjoyed talking with you. Please excuse me for a moment.”

“See you again.”

Quickly wrapping up the conversation, Blair stood and approached Edmund, leaving the assertive Brücken man behind.

“Edmund.”

Just as Edmund finished his drink, he set the glass on a nearby table and looked straight at Blair. His lips, slightly twisted and still wet, drew her gaze, as if reflecting his mood.

“When did you get here?”

“Well. From the moment I thought you were smiling a bit too much?”

The man answered with his tone lifted at the end and let out a short scoff. Blair looked at Edmund cautiously, and he continued in a low voice.

“Why don’t you go on chatting? You looked like you were enjoying yourself.”

“…You were here. And he’s the countess’s brother, so I was just being polite.”

“You’re not denying it.”

A heavy silence settled between them. Around them, the other guests laughed and chatted, while only the two of them held onto a cool tension. Flustered, Blair tightened her grip on her glass.

Was this part of the act too? Edmund always moved by calculation, so if she wanted to match his rhythm, she had to apologize. It was also the only way to get out of this situation smoothly.

But the look in his eyes, impossible to read, was hard to endure. The defiance that sometimes surfaced within Blair suddenly slipped out.

“It was fun, actually.”

Edmund, who was lifting the wine bottle to refill his glass, stopped and looked at Blair slowly. Regret washed over her too late. A faint sneer crossed his face as he set the bottle down. A strange glint passed through his eyes as he blinked slowly at her.

“I see.”

“….”

“What was so enjoyable about a man you can’t even communicate with?”

“Do you really need words? Feelings, looks. There are plenty of ways to connect.”

“Oh. So you mean you connected well on a physical level.”

“I suppose that doesn’t even need a language barrier.”

Edmund lifted the corner of his mouth in a smile.

“It’s fortunate I returned from the smoking room quickly. Otherwise, I might have witnessed my wife’s affair.”

“…What did you say?”

“Seeing how he invited you to Brücken, it seems he was already prepared.”

“I told you, I only took it as courtesy.”

“Then let’s think about priorities. No matter how enjoyable it is, don’t forget that you are my wife right now.”

Only then did Blair fall silent. So that was why this man was angry. It wasn’t jealousy over her and Marcel. He was warning her not to damage his dignity in a place where others could see.

The brief hope she’d allowed herself cooled at once. She’d misunderstood again. Edmund always put his own standing before any rosy feelings, yet knowing that clearly, she still felt foolish for being shaken by him.

“…I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful from now on.”

In the end, Blair apologized. Avoiding Edmund’s eyes, she lowered her gaze and bit her lower lip. He was right. Careless smiles could invite misunderstanding. Laughing with another man while having a husband who valued his reputation could certainly make her look like a thoughtless wife.

Edmund watched her for a moment, then turned away. He went straight to Count Gillingham and said that something urgent had come up and he would need to leave early with his wife.

Not knowing the reason, Blair followed Edmund out of the count’s townhouse. Outside, a sudden downpour was falling from the darkened night sky.

***

Even as the car moved, the two of them didn’t exchange a single word. The taut air between them was thick with tension. Fortunately or unfortunately, the heavy rain pounding against the windows shielded them from the awkward silence.

“My lord, the rain is coming down hard. What shall we do? Shall we continue on?”

The driver, having slowed considerably, looked troubled at the rain blurring his view and asked Edmund through the mirror. Blair, staring at the fierce rain beyond the window, glanced sideways to read his expression.

“We need to send a telegram to Eldenvale.”

Edmund gave the order without hesitation.

“Turn the car around. We’ll stay in Chails tonight.”