Chapter 80

Morning sunlight streamed in through the gap in the window and spread across the pure white bed.

Blair, who had been tossing beneath the warm covers, slowly lifted her eyelids. She blinked a few times and gazed around the spacious bedroom through her hazy vision.

Once she came to her senses, the room she took in felt strangely unfamiliar. A faint chill even lingered in the air. Perhaps it was because the space beside the bed, where Edmund should have been lying, was empty.

When she listened closely, she could hear the sound of running water from the bathroom connected to the bedroom. It seemed he’d gotten up first and was taking a shower.

Blair traced the sheet where he’d been lying with her fingertips. There was no warmth left on the soft fabric. Her chest felt tight for no reason, and a sigh slipped out before she realized it.

They say a man and a woman grow closer after spending the night together, but with Edmund, it felt as though she’d almost reached him only to find him distant again. Why was that? Was it because, unlike her, he hadn’t said a single word last night? Not a word of love, or even anything close to it….

Knock, knock.

The sudden knock startled Blair, her shoulders jerking. She pushed the blanket aside and sat up, and the knocking came again in quick succession, almost urgent. It was coming from outside the bedroom door.

She had been told that unless summoned first, the staff at Chails would never come looking for Edmund. Unless it was something truly urgent.

‘I should answer it myself.’

Blair glanced around in a hurry and went to the wardrobe, peering inside. There wasn’t a single piece of clothing suitable for a woman. With no other choice, she slipped on one of Edmund’s indoor robes. It was far too large and kept sliding down, so she straightened it as best she could and pulled the belt tight around her waist. Then she carefully turned the doorknob.

Standing outside was the butler who worked at the Chails townhouse. He was a young man Blair recognized, the same one who had shown her around the house before. There was no way he wouldn’t have guessed what had happened the night before. Her face warmed slightly, but she had no choice but to ask.

“What is it?”

“Is the master here?”

“…Ah. Edmund is showering right now. Did something urgent happen?”

“An urgent telegram arrived from Eldenvale. He needs to see it immediately, so please pass it along.”

“I understand.”

When Blair nodded after receiving the telegram, the butler bowed properly and withdrew. Closing the door and returning to the bedroom, she set the telegram slip down on the table. It was just then that the bathroom door opened behind her.

“…Ah.”

Blair flinched, suddenly remembering the two consecutive instances of being caught naked. Slowly turning her head, she saw Edmund emerging from the bathroom, clad in a crisp white robe. Droplets of water dripped steadily from his wet hair.

“You’re awake.”

The man, having thoroughly washed away the heat from his body, greeted her. His voice carried a completely different tone from last night.

He gave a slight nod toward the bathroom behind her and asked, “Are you going in? You must be uncomfortable since you didn’t get to wash before sleeping.”

“…I will. But before that, there’s something you should check.”

Blair held out the telegram slip.

“The butler just brought it. It seemed urgent.”

Without answering, Edmund walked over and took it. Before opening the telegram, his gaze slid slowly over Blair’s body.

“You received the telegram like that?”

“Huh?”

“Did you meet Colin dressed like that?”

…Colin? Only a few seconds later did Blair realize that was the young butler’s name. At the same time, she became keenly aware that the robe she’d grabbed in a hurry, Edmund’s robe, was far too large for her.

Below her pale neck, the red marks Edmund had left were clearly visible, and beneath the thin silk fabric, her plump nipples stood out. She’d tied the belt tight just to keep it in place, but what use was that?

Blair pulled the robe closed again, her face flushing.

“I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful next time.”

“There’s no need to apologize. And there’s no need for you to meet the servants one by one. If there’s a telegram, tell them to slip it under the door.”

“…I will.”

“Relax your expression. I’m not scolding you,” Edmund added in a noticeably gentler tone.

Still hesitating, Blair stepped closer and carefully wrapped her arms around him. When she rested her cheek against his solid chest, he reached out and pulled her into his arms. Then he pressed a kiss to her forehead. It was the kind of gentle contact lovers naturally shared.

Blair smiled softly, her eyes half-closed. The hollow feeling that had lingered in her chest since waking seemed to fill at last.

But it was fleeting.

“…Blair.”

The voice above her head turned cold in an instant.

“Can you wash up after we return to Eldenvale?”

“…What?”

“We need to return to the ducal residence immediately.”

Blair lifted her head. Edmund’s eyes, fixed on the telegram slip, were sunk low and cold. The warmth from just moments ago had vanished without a trace.

“It’s news that my father is in critical condition.”

12. Succession

It was hard to believe that the peaceful morning from barely an hour ago had ever existed.

They hurried out of the townhouse and got into the car. Fortunately, the rain had stopped, allowing the driver to head toward Eldenvale at full speed.

Yet the closer they drew to Eldenvale, the darker, ink-like clouds gathered overhead. Not a single drop of rain fell, but the air hung heavy and damp, and deep shadows spread everywhere. Blair stared out at the passing scenery, her heart tight with unease.

The Duke of Libert, Edmund’s father, might pass away at any moment today. When that time came, the sealed will would be revealed to the world. That single sheet of paper would decide the future of the House of Libert, and Edmund’s fate.

Blair truly wished for him to inherit the ducal title. She fervently hoped that power would not pass to Isabelle or Rufus, that Edmund would never again be forced to endure hardship.

Still, fear crept along the edges of her heart. She couldn’t be certain what would happen to the tools that had served their purpose once a man as goal-driven as Edmund achieved his aim. And she couldn’t be sure what would happen to herself.

Of course, he wouldn’t be able to separate from her right away. The core clause of the contract they’d signed was to maintain a marital relationship for one year after marriage. Even if he obtained the title, divorcing Blair immediately would arouse suspicion, so for a set period, they would have to maintain the appearance of a married couple. That clause existed for that very reason, as a measure to stabilize his position after inheriting the title.

But what weighed on Blair’s heart was not political calculation, but the feelings that lay beneath it, and the intimate bond she shared with him.

Would Edmund keep her by his side even after gaining power? Or would he think it was all over?

She didn’t believe the affection he whispered to her was false, but a woman who had never been promised love inevitably felt uneasy….

Blair swallowed hard, stealing a glance at Edmund’s profile reflected in the window. The man, sunk deep in thought, didn’t seem to notice her gaze and didn’t look back at her. Amid the heavy silence, the grand mansion slowly revealed its massive outline in the distance.

***

When they arrived in front of the main building, Edmund got out of the car with Blair. The old butler and several servants who had come out to greet them stood in a line with somber expressions and bowed deeply all at once.

“How is my father?”

“He is still conscious. He has been asking to see you constantly.”

“That’s a relief. Let’s go at once.”

Edmund gave a brief nod and immediately started walking. Unlike him, Blair hesitated for a moment. She wasn’t sure whether she was allowed to follow, whether she had the right to witness the duke’s final moments.

“Blair.”

At the sound of her name, she lifted her head. Edmund, who had been walking a step ahead, was reaching his hand out toward her. Only then did Blair move to his side without asking why. Warmth flowed from their joined hands.

The massive doors of the main building, which required two strong men to pull open, slowly swung wide. After the hinges, rusted by time, let out a long creak, they crossed the threshold and stepped inside the mansion.

It was the moment where the end of one era and the beginning of another met.