Chapter 45
Episode 45. The Duchess's Lover
2023.10.15.
He schooled his coldly hardened expression and approached the two.
“I wondered where you were going when you said you had an appointment with a close friend. Who would have thought we'd run into each other like this.”
Herdin looked at Mikhail as he grasped Blair's hand.
In truth, they had never discussed today's appointment, but Blair spotted the gallery director and meekly placed her hand in his.
In any case, outwardly, he was her husband.
But in reality, he was nothing to her.
Just a fake husband by contract, nothing more.
There was no reason for her to inform him beforehand about whom she met or what she did, nor any need to explain. As a party to that contract, he knew that fact better than anyone.
Yes, he had known it all along…….
“Since we've run into each other like this, why not exchange greetings if you have time.”
Why was he so angry, then.
* * *
The three moved to a nearby café.
“Three coffees.”
Herdin ordered from the approaching server. Blair hurriedly corrected the order.
“Make one of them black tea instead.”
The server confirmed the changed order and stepped away. Blair added by way of explanation to Herdin.
“Coffee keeps me awake.”
It was the first time he had learned that fact. Herdin felt a pang of self-mockery at it.
Everything was a mess.
Only now, nearly three months into their marriage, did he learn that, and his own feelings too.
Leaning deeply back in his chair, Herdin swallowed his emotions with a movement of his throat and eyed the man before him. The rather handsome face irked him.
Mikhail wore a friendly smile, but Herdin could see it wasn't one born of true sincerity.
“First, shall we introduce ourselves.”
There was no way he didn't know the name of the war hero and del Mark Duke, so it was a directive for Mikhail to state his name.
“I'm Mikhail Kines. It's an honor to meet you, Your Excellency.”
Herdin's eyes chilled upon hearing Mikhail's name.
‘Not Asiel, then.’
When he had Russ investigate men named Asiel, none had any connection to Blair.
It wasn't a common name to begin with, and among nobles, few used the name of del Mark's first duke, Asiel del Mark.
Some commoners might use it occasionally, but crucially, there was no link to Blair.
So he had considered the possibility of it being an alias, mere speculation without evidence.
He had briefly wondered if this man might be ‘Asiel,’ but Blair's demeanor suggested otherwise—this wasn't her beloved lover.
“Kines…… I've never heard of that family.”
“You probably haven't. It's not a noble house.”
It was the sort of remark that could wound pride, yet the man smiled without a hint of offense, as if his status were no flaw.
The man himself was nonchalant, but Blair interjected as if clarifying.
“He's the one who will help us fulfill our contract later.”
Blair intended only to reveal that Mikhail was the scandal partner, not that he was the guild master.
First, because Mikhail hadn't disclosed it himself, likely for a reason.
Second, because she didn't want Herdin to know.
After the divorce, she wanted no one—except Mikhail, tasked with the matter—to know her whereabouts. Not even Ivan, Katrina, or Herdin.
As that tiresome word emerged from Blair's lips once more, Herdin's mouth twisted.
“……Contract?”
Just then, the server brought the coffee and black tea. Blair, who had paused, resumed after the server left.
“……Divorce. Once the contract ends, we'll divorce due to my fault, right?”
“Ah, divorce.”
Only then did Herdin realize why Blair had hesitated before broaching the topic. She remembered what he had said a few days ago.
“I don't see what this man has to do with that contract.”
“He agreed to be one of the men in my scandal.”
“……Scandal?”
“The scandal that the duchess was intimate with several men.”
Herdin let out a hollow laugh upon hearing Blair's plan. For an idea from his innocent wife's mind, it was rather audacious.
He hadn't even considered how to end this contract in the first place. He simply hadn't been curious.
Why hadn't he wondered sooner? A marriage arranged by the emperor could never end ordinarily.
‘So, she'll shoulder all the infamy alone and get divorced.’
Did she have no attachment to anything she would lose?
What fervent love. Whoever this Asiel was.
Herdin lifted his coffee cup and looked at Mikhail.
As Blair said, she showed no particular feelings toward him. But Mikhail's gaze on Blair differed from one toward a mere client.
He seemed more adept at hiding his emotions than the other fools hovering to strike up a word with her.
Which made him all the more dangerous.
Herdin, sensing it instinctively as one with the same nature, twisted his lips.
“Ah, so you're an expert in that field, skilled at entertaining noble ladies.”
It was a remark treating Mikhail as a host who serviced noblewomen.
Despite the blatant mockery, Mikhail's expression didn't waver. Having worked as a bartender for years, it was hardly a blow.
But Blair seemed otherwise, her fine brows furrowing deeply.
“Herdin, don't speak like that.”
“Isn't he your lover on the surface? I was praising his skill at his job.”
Noting the displeasure etched on her face, Herdin ignored it and continued.
“In any case, that plan seems like a poor idea. Did you brush off what I said a few days ago?”
At Herdin's sharp words, Blair suddenly recalled what he had said days prior.
He didn't want third parties knowing about the contractual marriage. And he had a point.
The more scandal partners, the more people who would know the secret.
As he said, this was a grand fraud deceiving the emperor. It was that dangerous and required utmost caution.
Yet she saw no other alternative to divorce him.
Seizing the moment Blair was lost in thought, Herdin addressed Mikhail.
“You must have been promised quite a sum. Won't you regret it?”
“…….”
“He's the princess's lover, after all. What do you think His Majesty the Emperor will do when the scandal breaks?”
“…….”
“I don't want to drag innocents into our affairs.”
To casual ears, it sounded like concern for Mikhail, but in truth, it was intimidation.
Yet the one who reacted wasn't Mikhail, but Blair.
Her plan was merely to tarnish her reputation using Mikhail and the guild members, not to have him play lover to the end.
That would be too dangerous.
But if revealed as her lover, they would surely face public scorn. Just as Herdin had mocked him moments ago.
‘It's not as if being scorned is justified just because I paid them for it.’
Guilt suddenly washed over her. Had she dragged innocents into this, as Herdin said?
Seeing Blair waver, Mikhail smiled nonchalantly and replied.
“Once this is over, I plan to leave the empire anyway. Thank you for your concern, but please don't worry about me.”
See that.
A sneer curled Herdin's lips upon hearing Mikhail.
He could plainly see the intent to assuage Blair's guilt after Herdin had stirred it.
Moreover, those words scheming beyond their divorce grated sharply on Herdin's nerves.
“Well, if you're willing to stake your life to help, that's another matter.”
Herdin deliberately invoked ‘life,’ assuming things might go awry. Even if it didn't faze Mikhail, it would suffice to shake Blair.
Just then, the faint chime of the hour rang from the plaza. Checking his pocket watch, Herdin set down his cup.
“I suppose I should be going.”
He rose and said to Blair.
“Aren't you busy with banquet preparations too, Madam? Allow me to escort you back to the residence.”
Blair still looked displeased, but she would have no choice but to follow.
Outwardly, he was still her husband, after all.
Yet that fact brought him no sense of superiority.
“Then take care, Your Excellency.”
Mikhail rose after and bowed to Herdin. It was polite without obsequiousness.
Herdin turned away first, leaving Mikhail behind. He heard Blair say something to him.
Having settled the bill and exited first, Herdin lit a cigar and placed it in his mouth.
When it had burned halfway, Blair emerged from the café. Seeing her, Herdin said.
“Get in first.”
But Blair didn't board the carriage. Instead, she approached him closely.
Her pale face prominently featured stubbornly pursed pink lips—the expression she made when displeased.
“Herdin.”
Finally calling his name, she succumbed to the smoke and began coughing repeatedly. Yet she showed no intention of backing off, continuing amid coughs.
“That man isn't the kind of person you think he is.”
Blair's eyes were quite resolute as she repeatedly defended the fake lover. Even as she coughed until her cheeks flushed, she didn't yield.
He disliked that stubbornness in his wife.
Herdin finally dropped the half-smoked cigar to the ground and extinguished it.
