Translator: Nox

Chapter 42

Episode 42. Banquet Preparations

2023.10.12.

The next morning, Blair descended to the dining room and had breakfast with Herdin as usual. The only sounds in the dining room were the clinking of their cutlery.

In the now-familiar silence, Blair recalled her conversation with Agnes from a few days ago.

After the session ended, when Blair asked when they could proceed with hypnosis, Agnes had looked troubled and said,

‘You need His Excellency’s permission first for that. He instructed as much when we began the counseling.’

Blair had assumed Herdin wanted to oversee the hypnosis process as before.

In any case, Agnes seemed unwilling to proceed without Herdin’s approval, so Blair had backed off without protest.

But after meeting Katrina yesterday, she felt urgency. Not just because of her contract with Herdin.

She was curious. About the truth Katrina feared so much.

“Herdin.”

Instead of replying, Herdin lifted his gaze to her.

Blair got straight to the point.

“They say I need your consent for hypnosis. Will you allow it?”

Herdin, who had listened silently, paused.

Blair continued.

“They say my condition has improved a lot through counseling, so if we try hypnosis again—”

“No.”

Herdin answered firmly before she could finish.

Blair’s puzzled gaze met his, silently questioning the reason.

“I heard you plan to hold a banquet soon. It would be troublesome if you collapsed again like last time.”

Only then did Blair remember the banquet schedule she had completely forgotten, distracted by her meeting with Katrina yesterday.

Mason must have reported it to Herdin in the meantime.

“There’s no need to rush and disrupt other schedules for it.”

“Then will you allow it after the banquet?”

“We’ll see.”

Herdin replied indifferently, lifting his water glass to moisten his throat.

At his ambiguous response, Blair’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. At the same time, her small lips pursed in displeasure.

It seemed an unconscious habit.

Herdin, peering at her over his glass, had his lips quirk up faintly, hidden by it.

He set the glass down and added a beat later.

“We’ll decide then.”

Blair looked displeased with his answer but seemed to give up persuading him further and resumed her meal.

As breakfast ended and she rose, Herdin spoke.

“Ah, Russ will assist with banquet preparations today.”

At the unexpected news, Blair’s eyes widened.

* * *

Russ headed to the parlor where Blair awaited, his expression dark. He looked just like a child heading to do an unwelcome chore.

Russ sighed deeply, recalling his conversation with Herdin moments ago.

‘Mason’s fallen ill. Seems he’s not as sturdy as before.’

‘He is getting on in years. Is it serious?’

‘The medicine seems to be working, so no need to worry there.’

‘That’s a relief.’

‘Anyway, about Mason aside—you’ll have to help Blair today.’

‘Yes. ……Wait, what?!’

‘She said she’s starting banquet preparations today.’

Russ blinked, slow to comprehend, then gasped in shock a beat later.

He found Blair uncomfortable.

In her presence, he wore a polite social smile and observed decorum without rudeness, but that was merely treating her as befitted her station.

From observing her over Herdin’s shoulder these past months, Blair didn’t seem like the usual imperial sort. Still, as a member of the imperial family, she remained someone to keep at arm’s length.

Russ disliked that discrepancy. The more he realized she differed from other imperial members, the less he wanted to get close.

‘B-but I don’t even live in this residence?’

‘Not now. But you’ve lived here a long time.’

Originally a street urchin pickpocket from the alleys, Russ had been brought to the ducal residence and raised by Herdin’s mother, Eloise.

He had lived here under her grace ever since. Until Herdin returned from war, made him his aide, and granted him a title for independence.

In fact, Russ knew the residence’s inner workings better than anyone—perhaps even Herdin—save maybe Mason.

‘Well, yes, but…….’

‘Not like you’ll be hunting magical beasts with me.’

Herdin was set to head to the capital outskirts today for a magical beast subjugation.

With spring approaching and the weather warming, reports had come of hibernating magical beasts awakening.

And so Herdin left Russ with the unwelcome task and departed.

“Haa……”

Arriving at the parlor, Russ sighed heavily. Just as he reached for the door handle.

“Sir Russ.”

“Eek!”

Startled by the voice right beside him, Russ yelped. Blair was equally surprised by his loud reaction.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Russ worried she might have overheard his sigh, exposing his reluctance, but her face showed only surprise. Fortunately, she hadn’t.

“N-no, it’s fine. I was distracted and didn’t notice you.”

About to enter absentmindedly, Russ realized there was no need and stopped.

“Shall we start with touring the banquet hall?”

The two began touring the residence together. Starting with the banquet hall, then resting lounges and balconies for guests.

Contrary to Russ’s fears of awkwardness, once banquet topics arose, conversation flowed naturally.

Russ noted in his notepad the repairs and decorations she mentioned, observing Blair closely.

Blair handled preparations far more competently and meticulously than Russ expected.

‘I heard she rarely hosted banquets as princess, but it’s like she’s done this many times.’

Impressed inwardly by her efficiency, Russ followed her.

Next was the gallery, where one could glimpse del Mark’s history.

It housed portraits of past del Mark dukes, from predecessors to personal paintings of Herdin.

During banquets, this gallery opened too. For attendees, it might just be a day of enjoyment, but for hosts, it was a chance to showcase their house.

Few paid much attention, but it was important to the hosting family.

Entering the gallery, the first sight was a massive tapestry embroidered with Divine Beast’s Wings.

‘del Mark’s crest.’

Blair knew its origin.

Long ago, when magical beasts and demons ravaged the world.

This world had Divine Beasts.

Unlike other magical beasts from other realms, they sided with humans, safeguarding the world’s peace and order against chaos-bringers.

The world gradually stabilized, and the Divine Beasts departed, their duties done.

Yet the last one remained, loving a human woman. After losing her in the final war, he fell into grief.

Before leaving, he wished to pass part of his power to her comrade, the first emperor. Knowing she loved humans, despite her death.

But the power had two flaws.

First, unfit for human bodies, mishandling risked rampage.

Second, in dire situations, it allowed surpassing limits, at the cost of a loved one’s lifespan.

Such unnatural power disrupting world balance bore those restrictions.

The emperor refused inheritance.

As nation’s core, a leader swayed by power risked national crisis.

Instead, he passed it to his most trusted friend and knight, the first del Mark Duke.

Thus, del Mark’s symbol became not the Divine Beast itself, but its wings—guarding the world after the protectors left.

The Divine Beast’s power passed to del Mark’s direct lineage.

Then, one duke who lost his love to the power’s cost removed the second restriction.

Wishing no descendant suffer as he did.

People decried it selfish, but none knew how to restore the lost constraint.

Afterward, del Mark heirs couldn’t exceed limits, yet retained Divine Beast power, remaining mighty. del Mark endured.

This was what Blair knew.

‘That’s why I worried so much…….’

Others envied and revered his unrivaled power, but Blair had worried for him.

The weight of power given to protect others was too heavy—might it consume him?

Like his father, crushed by it, meeting a tragic end. Might he leave her side so sadly?

But knowing it was a wound he shunned recalling, she never voiced her worry.

“This is the first family head.”

Russ guided Blair through, briefly explaining each portrait in turn. Knowing one’s house history was basic for a duchess.

Of course, regressed Blair already knew it all.

Once Russ finished explaining one, Blair moved to the next.

Her steps faltered simultaneously.

‘This painting…….’