Chapter 94

The Brücken man, oblivious to the turmoil churning inside Blair, kept lifting the corners of his eyes in a cheerful smile. Blair met Marcel’s gaze with a strained smile of her own, then subtly looked away. If only the refreshments she ordered would arrive, she could at least divert her attention. But in the quiet café on a weekday morning, even the black tea was slow to appear.

“Very beautiful.”

As if he’d been waiting for the moment, Marcel tossed out the compliment. Blair flinched, and Josephine, who had looked so gentle until now, snapped sharply.

“Marcel, you!”

“…I meant the scenery.”

“Don’t play tricks like you did when you were a child. If you’re rude to Lady Libert even once more, I’ll throw you out of here.”

“If I was rude, I apologize.”

Despite the fairly severe scolding, Marcel did not shrink back and played dumb.

“But the scenery of Genoa being beautiful is… a fact, isn’t it?”

He smiled innocently again and looked straight at Blair.

“I’m studying the common tongue.”

“That’s nice to hear. I’ll cheer you on, Marcel.”

“It’s difficult, but I’m studying hard. The common tongue is useful even in Brücken, and also… there’s someone I want to talk to.”

“Marcel!”

Marcel, now brushing off his sister’s shouting with ease, let out an “ah” and rubbed the back of his neck. Then he whispered something to Josephine in very rapid Brücken. Josephine listened with a fierce expression, then suddenly burst into laughter.

“Tell her for me, sister.”

“…Oh, for heaven’s sake.”

The countess shrugged and continued, “Marcel has been learning the common tongue while staying in Genoa. At his age, he’s even taking lessons from a private tutor. He deliberately chose a woman, apparently. He says learning a language from a man makes your speech crude, but learning from a woman makes it refined and gentle. He says he wants the latter, no matter what.”

Blair let out a small laugh without realizing it. Having never learned a foreign language herself, she didn’t know whether that was true or not, but the simple logic somehow amused her. The belief that learning from a woman softened one’s speech sounded endearing.

Just then, the ordered black tea and sandwiches, fluffy chestnut castella, and egg pudding were neatly arranged on an elegant three-tier stand and brought out. Fragrant steam rose, sweetening the air around the table. For once, her appetite stirred pleasantly.

“How have you been lately?”

Josephine asked warmly. Meanwhile, Marcel, holding the teapot, busily poured fragrant black tea into the ladies’ cups.

“I’ve been well. Sitting down like this and having tea together makes everything feel much more relaxed.”

“I agree. I thought you’d be very busy, Blair. Now that you’re a duchess, has anything changed from before?”

“Well… it still doesn’t quite feel real yet.”

“That makes sense. I suppose your husband is busy as well. I heard he met my husband several times regarding the charity party and the new exhibition before, but ever since he became duke, it’s been nearly impossible to coordinate schedules.”

“…I see.”

“In any case, thanks to that, everything is progressing smoothly. We should all be able to meet again at the charity party this time.”

Even after his father’s funeral, Edmund had continued the mourning period as an excuse to avoid social engagements and focus solely on business. When he did attend an event again, it would be a grand announcement of his return to society as a duke.

‘So we’ll have to play the part of a harmonious couple again.’

When she was alone with Edmund, they could bare their claws at each other if they wanted. But in front of others, they had to thoroughly hide their true feelings and calculate even the slightest look in their eyes.

For his dignity. For the honor that now stood even higher since he’d become a duke.

And since it was an event Marcel had helped with, that naive Brücken man would be attending as well. She had no idea how Edmund’s mood might twist again. He wouldn’t openly explode with displeasure, so wearing a mask was unavoidable all the same.

How tense would the air at that gathering? The pressure was already weighing on her chest. It felt like they were people who knew each other’s hearts, yet stubbornly pretended not to, continuing a performance to the very end.

Just as she reached the thought that she wanted to stop, Blair suddenly met Marcel’s eyes. Their gazes tangled in midair, colliding without warning. She didn’t know how long he’d been watching her, but he was carefully studying her face.

Blair smiled naturally, but Marcel didn’t return it. His gaze held a meaning entirely different from the pure affection or curiosity he usually showed, making it an oddly uncomfortable moment.

Avoiding his eyes, Blair turned her head toward the window.

The view from the well-situated café was beautiful. The river, holding warm sunlight, sparkled dazzlingly, and rows of trees dyed red with autumn stretched long along the riverside.

The world flowing along with the seasons looked endlessly peaceful. And she felt as though she alone could not touch that calm current at all.

“I really enjoyed today.”

“Me too. Thank you for coming out, Josephine, even though I asked so suddenly.”

“Don’t mention it. If Blair calls, I’ll gladly come anytime.”

As the Countess of Gillingham opened her arms, Blair returned the embrace with a warm smile. As soon as she stepped back from her, she looked up at Marcel standing beside her. For no reason at all, she felt strange. Because of his clumsy speech, she’d thought of him as nothing more than a boy, yet when their eyes met, it felt as if something scorched and ugly inside her was being seen through.

“Marcel, it was nice meeting you.”

“The honor is mine. Next time, I’ll speak the common tongue better.”

“I was surprised. You’ve improved noticeably since last time. Maybe we’ll be able to have a long conversation someday.”

“Of course.”

Marcel took one of Blair’s hands, bent at the waist, and pressed a kiss to the back of her gloved hand. Blair bit her lip and accepted the greeting in silence.

“…I should get going now.”

“Take care.”

“See you again next time, Blair!”

After saying goodbye to them, Blair left the riverside café first. She climbed into the car where the Duke’s driver was waiting and looked out the window. After a short while, she realized that the car was not moving.

She looked toward the driver’s seat with a puzzled expression, and the driver reported in a businesslike voice, “His Grace is also in Borsa at the moment.”

“…My husband?”

“It would be best to stop by the Regent Bank and return together.”

Before she could even respond, the car moved smoothly and began to travel forward without hesitation. Still dazed, Blair blinked and sank deep into the back of the seat, letting out a sigh. There was no need to ask whose orders the driver was following.

Regent Bank was located in the financial center of Borsa, a place Edmund frequently visited for work. She herself had been there before as well.

Around the time she began to feel a strong attraction to Edmund, he summoned her there and brought up the subject of a sham marriage. He said he intended to become a duke, so he wanted her to be his wife for one year, and in return, he would grant her the freedom she desired.

The moment the contract came to mind, a corner of her chest tightened sharply. In her current state, this was not a place that could stir up any good memories.

The luxury sedan, which had been moving at increased speed, soon arrived at its destination. When Blair remained in the car and silently looked at the driver, Edmund’s seasoned attendant didn’t hesitate and told her what she needed to do.

“His Grace is inside the bank.”

“…Do I need to go in?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

At the impeccably polite form of address, Blair let out a soundless scoff, then got out of the car and walked toward Regent Bank. As she entered the unusually quiet lobby, since business hours were nearing their end, an employee approached and led the way inside, saying they would guide her further in.

Nothing had changed at all from several months ago. Trying not to assign unnecessary meaning to it, she followed the employee through the passage reserved for distinguished guests. Then she stepped into the conference room.

Just like back then, Edmund was seated at the head of the massive mahogany table. If there was anything different, it was that there were no documents on the table aside from an ashtray, his posture in the chair was slanted in a thoroughly improper way, and with his gaze half lidded and fixed on empty space, he did nothing but smoke.

As if he’d been waiting for Blair alone. According to the countess, this was a man who was supposedly unbearably busy.

Even when their eyes met, Edmund didn’t smile. Only then did she notice several cigarette butts rolling around inside the crystal ashtray.

“Edmund.”

Blair called his name while remaining on her feet.

“I was told you were still at the Borsa, so the driver brought me here.”

“It was my order.”

“….”

“Since you’re already here after going out on your own, I thought it would be better for us to return to Eldenvale together.”

Blair said nothing. Edmund crushed out the cigarette in the ashtray after exhaling the last of the smoke, then glanced up at her.

“Did you enjoy yourself?”