Chapter 23
Secret Meeting
“Milady, may I come in?”
It was Mason’s voice.
“Come in.”
Blair handed Melly the baby bottle for Pippi and walked to the table. On the table were documents that had been organized in advance.
Blair handed the documents to Mason, who had approached.
“This is a budget plan I drafted based on the past five years’ budgets. Please take a look.”
Mason was inwardly surprised. Blair had asked him to bring past budget records, but he hadn’t expected her to draft a budget herself.
He had assumed she would glance at the numbers briefly and give up, as the figures danced around in the spreadsheets and were headache-inducing.
Mason admired her persistence alone and began reviewing the budget she had prepared.
Blair, unable to hide her anxiety, fiddled with her fingers as she awaited Mason’s assessment.
It was exactly like when she was a child and her teacher checked her homework.
Mason’s usually calm and serious expression furrowed slightly as he scrutinized the documents.
As his review dragged on, an anxious Blair spoke first.
“This is just a practice draft, so please feel free to tell me if I missed anything.”
“No, it’s excellent. I can hardly believe this is your first attempt doing it on your own.”
Blair’s eyes widened at his unexpected response. Mason’s voice carried genuine admiration that could not be hidden.
Mason was not the type of servant to overstep boundaries with his master, but he also didn’t flatter unnecessarily.
In other words, this praise was sincere.
“We can proceed with this budget for this year based on what you’ve prepared.”
Blair’s heart raced at the compliment.
It was the first time she had been praised since Esmeralda’s death. Throughout her life, all praise had gone to her older brother, Ivan.
Catrina did not want Blair to surpass Ivan. Whenever Blair happened to receive something better from their father, Catrina would envy and resent her, as if Blair had stolen Ivan’s share.
The best, the rarest, always belonged to Ivan. If Blair had something Ivan didn’t, Catrina would take it from her to give to her son.
Thirsting for even a fragment of that maternal love, Blair hid her talents, always keeping herself a step behind Ivan. She must never outshine her brother or become a burden.
She had lived like that for twenty years.
Eventually, she even began to doubt her own worth. Falling short of Ivan had begun to feel natural.
So hearing praise now… her throat tightened in a rush of joy.
Ah, I can…
I can do something well. I can be recognized.
The long-forgotten truth finally hit her.
“Of course, there are a few areas that could be improved…”
Mason pointed out the parts that needed correction with precision, yet with polite courtesy.
Blair, like a diligent student listening to her teacher, carefully absorbed his guidance.
By the time the budget feedback session concluded, Lina knocked and entered.
“Milady, just now—”
Lina, who had intended to get straight to the point, stopped mid-sentence when she realized Mason was there. Mason discreetly excused himself.
Once Mason left, only Lina, Blair, and Melly—watching over Pippi—remained in the room.
Lina glanced at Melly, who was distracted by Pippi, then whispered so only Blair could hear:
“The guild contacted us, Milady.”
“Recently, the magical stone mines discovered in the northwest have been smoothly operational. The expected reserves are…”
Herdin looked through the carriage window at the passing scenery with an indifferent gaze. The voice of Lus reporting on business operations passed through his ears just as inconsequentially.
Everything was going smoothly—business, and even the effort to recover Blair’s memories.
A few days ago, Agnes had come for a progress report. It had been exactly one month since they began the consultation.
Agnes said that instead of dredging up painful memories from the start, she was beginning with happy ones.
Though many clients initially distrust counselors, Blair had quickly opened up, making the process smooth.
“Your happy memories often include the late Empress. Perhaps that’s why you avoided trying to remember the painful possibilities—that someone you trusted so deeply might have actually tried to kill you.”
“Even if someone so precious might have been wrongfully accused?”
“Yes. You were severely injured, and upon regaining consciousness you couldn’t recall what happened. Those around you said that person tried to kill you…”
“…”
“The circumstances naturally led you to that conclusion. That the person tried to kill you and you lost your memory in shock.”
“…”
“Moreover, your mother also said so, which only strengthened your belief. You wouldn’t want to call your living mother a liar, nor dig into the possibility that the deceased Empress really tried to kill you.”
“Selfish thinking.”
“Your Highness, you were only eleven at the time.”
Agnes defended Blair, noting that an eleven-year-old could hardly think beyond herself.
“And Your Highness also appears frequently in those happy memories.”
“…Me?”
“It means you trusted, relied on, and loved him. Occasionally, it might be good for Your Highness to discuss those times with her directly.”
Herdin laughed softly at Agnes’ words.
Love… a ridiculous notion.
Blair probably only mentioned him often because he had accompanied Esmeralda’s heir in various matters.
Herdin didn’t know Blair’s current feelings, but it certainly wasn’t anything like what Agnes suggested.
Since the day she was first seen at the guild, Blair hadn’t gone out for personal reasons.
‘She’s probably just waiting for the guild’s contact.’
She avoided his eyes, communicated with the guild, and spoke nonsense about seeing the future.
Yet seeing her innocent face, he wondered if her suspicious behavior was actually his misunderstanding. Perhaps, as she claimed, the fiend hadn’t appeared at all.
Or maybe he just wanted to believe that.
That must be why he felt so unpleasant.
‘What a foolishly naïve thought.’
Herdin lamented his own attitude. He had kept busy since the New Year Festival, avoiding Blair as much as possible.
He would not let himself be deceived by that innocent face again. One experience was enough.
The carriage had passed the city center and was moving behind the theater.
Herdin’s gaze casually fell on one spot in the scenery. Someone was stepping out of the carriage. Herdin’s brow furrowed—he recognized the figure immediately.
A small frame, platinum-blonde hair peeking from a dark green robe, and small white hands glimpsed briefly.
Blair had exited the hired carriage. Herdin narrowed his eyes.
No escort knights were visible around her. Of course, by Herdin’s order, she would be secretly protected nearby.
Blair entered the theater through the back entrance with her usual maid.
“…Your Highness, you’re not listening to me at all, are you?”
Lus, who was reporting the business situation, noticed and looked at Herdin. Herdin nodded toward the theater without denying it.
“Do you know what play is currently being performed there?”
Lus sighed at Herdin’s inattentiveness but answered obediently, knowing how sensitive he had been lately.
“As far as I know, it’s a play depicting heroic tales set in ancient times when mythical beasts existed.”
“….”
“Though the play is a façade. On the surface, it’s a theater, but in reality, it’s a well-known secret meeting place for the nobles.”
In noble society, loveless arranged marriages were common, and it was usual for both men and women to have mistresses or consorts.
But common didn’t mean acceptable. Even if widely known, nobles rarely flaunted having a consort openly.
“…Secret meeting?”
“Yes. Didn’t you know?”
Secret meeting. Secret meeting.
Suddenly, Herdin recalled a name that had once slipped from his wife’s lips.
‘Asiel…’
Herdin’s gaze darkened as he watched Blair enter the theater’s back door.
The theater manager seemed to have expected Blair and waited at the back entrance. Once inside, he handed a ticket to Lina.
“Miss, please follow the attendant over there.”
“Me?”
Lina’s eyes widened at the unexpected suggestion. Blair smiled knowingly, recognizing the attempt to separate her from Lina.
“Yes, enjoy the show comfortably, Lina. I have someone to meet.”
“Is that… really okay?”
“Yes. It’s easier that way for me too.”
Lina took the ticket with an excited expression and followed the attendant.
The theater manager guided Blair to the top-floor lounge, a private room used only by VIPs.
As she entered the room, Mikhail, drinking wine in front of the glass wall overlooking the stage, turned to look at her.