Chapter 51
Episode 51. Let's Get Revenge
2023.10.21.
Blair calmed her restless heart while gazing out the window, then turned her head at the sound of a knock.
Rina entered holding a letter.
“Madam, an invitation to the Hunting Tournament has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”
The Hunting Tournament was an event heralding spring.
Taking the letter, Blair thought she needed to persuade Herdin once more.
* * *
Rachel left the temple with a much lighter expression after parting from the noblewomen and ladies.
It was far from enough to erase the humiliation she'd suffered from Blair, but it at least eased her mind somewhat. Of course, that relief wouldn't last long.
Rachel walked toward the Seldon family carriage waiting nearby. Spotting her, the coachman descended from his seat to open the door.
Just as he reached for the door, an unwelcome voice sounded from behind.
“Rachel.”
Turning toward the voice, she found Wesley standing there.
Rachel scowled upon seeing him.
She had known Wesley since childhood, but ever since he got involved in gambling two years ago, he had been borrowing money from all his acquaintances, making everyone avoid him.
Not only that, his drunken antics were notoriously bad, causing incidents everywhere. Associating with him brought no benefits whatsoever.
Rachel swallowed a sigh and gestured for the coachman to board first. Only after he disappeared did she speak.
“It's been ages since I've seen you sober, Wesley. How's the marquis? He seems to have aged a lot lately because of you.”
“The old man's fine, whatever. And your parents?”
“They're well. With a daughter who behaves properly and is smart, unlike some, what would they have to worry about?”
Wesley snickered at Rachel's words as if he'd heard an amusing story. Even that laugh grated on her nerves.
“Anyway, what brings you here? You didn't come to see me, did you?”
“Of course I did. To meet a marquis's lady of such high standing, I have to come to the temple, right?”
“If you're here to borrow money for gambling again, get lost. Even if it's something else, get lost. And never come find me again.”
Having snapped coldly at him, Rachel turned and opened the carriage door. A whistle followed, along with his voice from behind.
“At the banquet in the del Mark Duke's residence, our Princess Imperial Highness…… no, the Duchess, got quite the comeuppance.”
Rachel froze upon hearing that. The fury in her eyes trembled as she turned back to him.
More than the fear of being caught saying those words to Blair, the fact that someone had witnessed her being humiliated by Blair drove her mad.
She had spent her whole life looking down on Blair.
Seeing Blair sway at her every word and action filled Rachel with a profound sense of superiority.
Manipulating Blair made her feel nobler than the exalted princess.
That was both her pride and self-esteem. To think someone had witnessed that self-esteem being utterly crushed.
“They say birds listen to daytime words and rats to nighttime ones, but you eavesdropped like a filthy rat?”
At Rachel's reaction, Wesley whistled and chuckled.
“So let's talk before this rat goes squeaking elsewhere?”
Without waiting for Rachel's permission, Wesley climbed into the open carriage. Frowning, Rachel reluctantly followed.
The carriage soon departed.
Rachel glared at Wesley sitting across from her and demanded,
“So what's your point? You're not using that as an excuse to make me pay your gambling debts, are you?”
“I will borrow money, but it's not about paying debts. I have some shame, you know. You think I'd ask you to cover them?”
“Then what do you want?”
“Let's get revenge.”
“……What revenge?”
“You want revenge on the Duchess too.”
Revenge on Blair.
At those words from Wesley's mouth, Rachel's eyes changed subtly.
“Our dear Rachel Selden has taken care of Princess Imperial Highness all this time, and she doesn't even recognize the favor. Defying you over some man?”
“…….”
“We need to put her in her place so she never acts so insolent again, right?”
Wesley's eyes gleamed with madness as he spoke.
Rachel frowned at him.
She could roughly guess why Wesley harbored such feelings.
Probably resentment from being struck by Herdin at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. But Herdin was too formidable to vent on directly, so he had turned his anger toward Blair.
Still, Rachel had no intention of joining him.
“Have you forgotten? She's my cousin. No matter how much I hate her, I won't do something like that. If you want to, do it alone. Don't drag me into it.”
“You're just scared and putting on a hypocritical act.”
Wesley's quick change in attitude upon her uncooperative response pierced her weak spot with mockery.
Not missing the opening, he continued.
“No need to be so scared. We're not trying to do anything to the precious Princess Imperial Highness. Just play a little prank. We suffered that humiliation—surely a prank is fair game?”
“…….”
“Noble Miss Seldon doesn't need to dirty her hands. Just lend me some money. I'll handle the rest.”
“…….”
“So, does it pique your interest now?”
Rachel stared at Wesley silently before finally speaking.
“Tell me your plan.”
* * *
In the room heated by the fireplace, the shadows of two people intertwined.
Herdin wrapped one arm around her waist while cupping Blair's cheek with the other, slipping his thumb into her mouth.
As his thumb suddenly teased inside her mouth, Blair unwittingly bit down on his finger.
Herdin chuckled at that. The feeble bite was endearing.
At the same time, he wanted to see her face.
“Blair, look at me.”
But Blair couldn't collect her wits.
Herdin turned her face toward him. Her tear-streaked, messy face came into view. Even that was beautiful.
Finding her state amusing yet unable to overcome his desire, Herdin pressed his lips to her parted ones.
“Ngh……”
The devouring kiss continued. Then, abruptly, he pulled his lips away and withdrew his body.
“Her……”
Before Blair could question his sudden halt just short of the peak, Herdin laid her facing him and embraced her again.
Blair seemed to feel more without seeing his face, but Herdin preferred watching hers.
A woman's face flushed with heat and on the verge of tears brought dizzying pleasure.
Herdin steadied Blair's shoulders as she kept being pushed up the bed, unable to withstand his force.
Her face was visible at breathing distance. Even without their lips touching, their breaths mingled.
Herdin gazed into Blair's distorted eyes as she struggled to take him in.
Her teary violet eyes reflected only him completely. Looking into them made him feel as if he alone existed in her world.
Her half-unconscious murmurs of his name, her small body desperately clinging as she couldn't handle it all.
If he was the sole existence in that world, it was only right to capture and possess every moment of hers in his eyes.
Yet even pressed together as closely as possible, it felt insufficient. What was this feeling?
Was this woman bewitching him?
Or had he gone mad?
If this unquenchable thirst was desire, he could somewhat understand the fools who lost their minds over women.
Herdin gazed at Blair as if engraving her image into his eyes, then pulled her tighter. As if soothing her trembling body, he kissed and caressed her.
Moments later, Blair slowly opened her eyes amid ragged breaths. Her brilliant violet gaze took him in.
Accepting his kiss, Blair cautiously parted her lips.
“……Herdin. Can't we finish quickly today?”
“Quickly?”
“I have to wake up early tomorrow.”
“Ah.”
His drawling exclamation seemed to recall tomorrow's Hunting Tournament only now.
He had briefly considered ending early today, but that was before entering her bedroom.
Seeing her gaze at him so desperately awakened the sadism dormant within him.
Perhaps he had grown fond of watching his wife's faces.
Tearful ones, flushed and flustered ones, shy ones…….
The doll-like woman who rarely smiled or cried before him showed such varied expressions in bed—it fascinated him.
“As the madam wishes, then……”
Herdin withdrew his body—or so she thought. The moment Blair let her guard down, he pulled her back in.
“Ah!”
“I'll do my best. Quickly.”
“Th-that's not what I……”
Blair shot him a reproachful glare, but Herdin merely kissed those eyes.
