INDC 91💥

~Chapter 91~ 

 The Reason for Hesitation

Blair unconsciously clutched Herden’s firm arm, which was folded across his chest. Her hand trembled slightly.

What kind of face was she supposed to make when facing a mother who had been involved in the accident that nearly killed her daughter—and who had even tried to kidnap her and erase her memories?

Before Blair could even find an answer to that question, she came face to face with Katrina.

“Congratulations on your engagement, both of you.”

Herden calmly offered his congratulations to Ivan and Roen.

Unless they were going to expose the truth behind the incident from ten years ago right here and now, they had no choice but to act as if nothing had happened.

But standing before Katrina, who smiled warmly as if the kidnapping had never occurred, Blair found herself unable to speak.

She forced herself to open her mouth and echoed what Herden had said.

“Congratulations on your engagement. I mean it.”

“Thank you, dear.”

“Thank you for your kind words, madam.”

While Ivan and Roen smiled as they accepted the congratulations, Katrina—who had been watching from beside them—strode toward Blair.

“Welcome, Blair.”

Unlike Blair, who couldn’t control her emotions, Katrina beamed brightly and embraced her daughter.

But Blair was well aware that everyone in the banquet hall was now watching the two of them.

The strong scent of perfume and the unfamiliar warmth of her mother made her stomach churn violently.

She bit her lip hard to suppress it.

“If it weren’t for occasions like this, it’s so hard to even see your face. If you treat me this coldly, how could such filthy rumors not spread about us?”

“Your mother is right. Even if you’re married, you’re still part of this family.”

Ivan sided with Katrina.

Even though he knew the rumors were true—and that Katrina had been involved in the fire incident ten years ago in some way.

“Since you’ll soon have a new family as well, it would be good to visit often and spend time with your mother and Roen.”

“If the Duchess invites me, I’d be happy to come anytime. Even though you’re married, you’re far more familiar with the imperial palace than I am, so I’m sure there’s much I could learn from you. If there’s anything I lack, please don’t hesitate to tell me. I’ll listen humbly.”

Roen also smiled and added to Ivan’s words.

As someone who would soon become a member of the imperial family, how much did she know about this incident?

Was she speaking sincerely without knowing anything, or was she mocking Blair while knowing everything?

As Blair tried to gauge that, her mind went blank and she drew in a sharp breath.

To them, she was no longer family. And it was the same for her.

They were now enemies—ones she could not afford to show weakness to.

Realizing that fact once again made her feel like she might vomit, and she just wanted to escape this place as quickly as possible.

“Congratulations on your engagement, Your Majesties.”

At that moment, nobles who had been waiting for an opportunity to join the imperial conversation stepped in one by one with their congratulations.

“Now that both His Majesty the Emperor and the Duchess have found perfect partners, Her Majesty the Grand Empress Dowager must feel at ease.”

“With the imperial family flourishing, isn’t this a joy for the entire empire? It won’t be long before we hear the laughter of precious children in the palace.”

As the nobles gathered to offer their congratulations, Blair and Herden were naturally pushed out of the spotlight.

But once her nausea began, it refused to subside.

Unable to endure it any longer, Blair slowly let go of Herden’s arm. He had been politely responding to the nobles, but his gaze immediately turned to her.

“Herden, I’m going to step out for some air.”

“Shall I come with you?”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll be back soon.”

Blair stopped him from following and turned to leave the banquet hall.

As Herden narrowed his eyes at her hurried retreating figure, Ivan’s voice came from behind him.

“Have you given some thought to what I said before?”

When Herden turned around, Ivan handed him one of the two glasses he was holding. By now, the nobles had gathered around Katrina and Roen.

“The evidence you mentioned—something I can accept. Have you found it?”

Taking the glass, Herden replied,

“I don’t think anything Your Majesty is concerned about will happen.”

There were still no clear signs that Blair was pregnant.

For now, it was better to pretend to be swayed by Ivan—to make him lower his guard.

But Ivan proved to be more meticulous than Herden had expected.

“When you find the evidence, bring it to me. I’ll see it myself and make the judgment.”

Herden’s lips twisted at those words.

On the surface, Ivan said he would judge after seeing the evidence—but knowing his true intentions from their previous conversation, the meaning was obvious.

It meant he intended to destroy the evidence with his own hands before the situation could turn against him.

“Understood.”

Of course, Herden had no intention of complying.

“Haah…”

After shaking off Lina and making her way to the garden, Blair hid in a secluded spot and retched.

Even with the cool night breeze surrounding her, the lingering scent of that strong perfume felt like a hallucination, churning her stomach.

Only after dry-heaving for a long while, with nothing left in her stomach, did she finally calm down.

Collapsing onto a nearby bench, Blair pounded her upper chest with her fist. After enduring it for so long, all her strength drained away, leaving her body trembling.

She took out a small pouch from her pocket. Inside were lemon candies—the only thing she had been able to eat during severe morning sickness in her past life.

She unwrapped one and placed it in her mouth. The refreshing lemon flavor and sugar spread through her, restoring some of her energy.

‘I hope this is just temporary…’

In her past life, her morning sickness had worsened about half a month after the Founding Festival, and that was when she realized she was pregnant.

If things followed the same course as before, there was still time—but if today marked the beginning of her symptoms, it was dangerous.

‘Come to think of it, I was supposed to meet Mikhail at the banquet today.’

She didn’t know when or how he would appear, so she wondered if she should hurry back to the hall—

“Do you require assistance, madam?”

Hearing a familiar voice, she turned.

A servant was approaching her.

Or rather…

“…Mikhail?”

It was Mikhail, disguised as a noble household servant.

“It’s been a while, madam.”

Though his hair color and face had changed, his gentle voice and soft smile were unmistakably his.

As he stepped closer and examined her face, his brows furrowed slightly as if he noticed something.

“You don’t look well. Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, I’m fine. More importantly… what did you want to discuss?”

Blair glanced around as she spoke. Though it was a quiet corner, it was still a garden anyone could pass through.

She didn’t know how Mikhail had entered the palace, but it was certainly not through official means. It would be best to finish the conversation before someone came.

“To begin with the matter you’re most curious about—your preparations to leave the capital are complete. The scandal can also be spread at any time you wish.”

“Thank you. That puts my mind at ease.”

“Has security at the ducal residence been tightened because of that rumored kidnapping incident?”

Mikhail was aware of the rumor as well. As a guild master, it would be strange if he weren’t.

“That seems likely.”

“When would you like to leave the residence?”

Blair hesitated at the question.

Soon, her morning sickness would begin in earnest.

Or perhaps it already had.

If her pregnancy were discovered like this, both she and the child would be in danger.

And yet, what made her hesitate to leave immediately was the promise she had made with him.

‘You are the sole survivor and witness of that incident. Your testimony in court will serve as powerful evidence to clear Her Majesty the Empress of her wrongful death.’

And also the vow she had made right after her regression, at Esmeralda’s grave—to reveal the truth.

Reading the hesitation on her face, Mikhail added,

“I have a way to divert the Duke’s attention for a while.”

Blair’s eyes widened at the thought of escaping Herden’s strict surveillance.

Mikhail was about to explain, but then closed his mouth as if he had just remembered something.

“…I can’t tell you right now, but I will be able to help whenever you decide.”

The Duchess loved the Duke.

Otherwise, the black magic engraved on her collarbone would never have worked in the first place.

Before meeting Blair, he had intended to tell her the truth about that magic circle—but seeing her hesitate changed his mind.

If she learned that the force behind the black magic could endanger Herden, she might refuse to leave his side—even knowing she herself could be in danger.

“I don’t have much time to use this method. So…”

Even though he knew he shouldn’t presume her choice—

Even though he knew—

He still chose to prioritize her safety above all else.

“So please… make your decision as soon as possible.”