Chapter 53
Episode 53. The Missing Blair
2023.10.23.
‘Even if it’s sincere, nothing will change.’
That emotion would fade soon enough. Just like the spring breeze brushing her cheek now. So…….
‘I can’t waver.’
She had already leaned on that warmth, those touches alone enough in her past life—expecting, thrilling, and getting hurt.
Blair turned away from Herdin’s retreating figure. Just then, Rina hurried over.
“Madam, tea time is that way!”
“Yes, let’s go.”
Rachel, watching Blair head to the tea time spot from not far away, rose and followed the two.
* * *
The peaceful tea time atmosphere shattered when a Seldon family maid burst in.
“Joshua is missing?”
The Seldon Viscountess’s face paled upon hearing from the maid that the child had vanished.
Joshua was the son of the Seldon Viscount and Rachel’s nephew, a four-year-old boy this year.
At banquets or events, children usually had a separate area. Adults believed it unbecoming for kids to disrupt the social atmosphere.
It also gave children a space to play away from adults’ scrutiny and make their own friends—a beneficial custom for both.
Even separated, nursemaids and maids watched over them, so losing a child was unheard of.
Yet now, a child was missing.
Blair’s heart sank at the news. She knew a bit of a mother’s anguish at losing her child.
“What…… what do you mean, Keshi? Where were you and the nursemaid all this time?”
Rachel also jumped up in shock and approached the maid.
In the process, Blair’s teacup tipped over. The spilled tea poured onto Blair’s dress. Fortunately, it had cooled enough not to burn.
Seeing it, Rachel startled to a halt.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Duchess. I was so shocked I…… Are you alright?”
Though uncomfortable facing Rachel after the prior incident, Blair’s worry for the missing child overrode any displeasure. And spilling the tea wasn’t intentional in this situation.
Blair smiled as if fine.
“I’m okay, so hurry and go find the child.”
The noblewomen gathered around the ashen-faced viscountess.
Most were mothers themselves, feeling sympathy for her plight.
“Viscountess, I’ll have my knights search too.”
“Ours as well. With more people helping, we’ll find him soon. Don’t worry too much.”
“Yes, Sister. Our Joshua is a smart boy, so it’ll be fine.”
Including Rachel, all reassured the viscountess.
Blair also gazed at her with worried eyes when Rina, checking Blair’s dress, spoke.
“Madam, you should change in the carriage. It looks bad with the stains, and above all, the dress is soaked. Besides, tea time seems over anyway.”
Blair quietly excused herself only to a nearby lady and left the tea spot. But the viscountess’s pale, anxious face lingered, unsettling her.
After brief hesitation, Blair said to Rina,
“Rina, could you fetch Sir Bain?”
The Delmark knight guarding from afar hurried over.
“You called, Madam?”
“The Seldon Viscount’s son is missing. Could you help search?”
“The Seldon Viscount’s son……”
“He’s like a nephew to me by blood. The viscountess seems very shocked, and other noble houses have offered to help too.”
The knight recalled Herdin’s order not to leave her side.
“But I was strictly commanded to guard you……”
“I’ll just change in the carriage and stay with the ladies, so it’ll be fine.”
The knight was troubled.
From the looks of it, as Blair said, knights from various houses were gathering to search for the child.
If Delmark knights alone abstained, it would embarrass Herdin and Blair. This concerned Delmark’s honor too. Especially if something happened to the child.
After hesitating, seeing Rina beside her and noblewomen returning to their carriages, the knight decided.
“I obey your command, Madam.”
The knight led his waiting fellow knights to join the other houses’ search party.
Meanwhile, Rina fetched a spare dress.
“Madam, into the carriage. I’ll help you change.”
But Rina looked unwell. Noticing, Blair asked,
“Rina? Are you sick?”
“Pardon? Oh…… I think I ate something bad for lunch. My stomach hurts a bit.”
Blair took Rina’s hand. It was normally warm, but her face was pale.
“Does it hurt a lot? Do you have any medicine?”
“No medicine…… but it’ll pass soon.”
Rina forced a smile and helped Blair change. But once done, she was even sweating coldly.
Blair wiped her sweat with worried eyes.
“Rina, you really don’t look well. I’ll fetch the imperial physician……”
“Ah, no! It’s not that…….”
“Hm?”
Rina, clutching her aching stomach with a weak voice, suddenly stood as if unable to bear it.
“Ma-Madame. Could I step away just a moment? Really just a moment?”
“Ah…… yes, don’t worry about me. Take your time.”
Blair nodded as if realizing then. Rina vanished the instant permission came.
And soon returned to the carriage, looking relieved.
“Whew…… Thought I’d die. Am I the only one?”
Earlier, while the masters dined, the maids had eaten together.
“If it was the shared food, the others should be sick too……”
But other houses seemed fine, no commotion.
Tilting her head, Rina reached the carriage—and her eyes widened in shock.
“……Madam?”
Blair was nowhere to be seen.
* * *
The forest grew noisy.
As knights began driving game, the quiet underbrush rustled.
Then, the instant a buck appeared.
An arrow pierced its neck precisely.
A startled doe followed, felled by another arrow.
Herdin emotionlessly drew his next arrow.
Killing no longer stirred anything in him. Neither thrill nor disgust.
As Herdin turned his horse to move, Wesley emerged through the brush.
“Whew, you don’t miss a shot. Will you claim every animal in this forest, Your Excellency?”
Herdin eyed the glib Wesley coldly.
Was it mere irritation that he’d been trailing him since earlier?
Good he wasn’t chasing Blair, but his constant hovering grated nonetheless.
“If you miss one on purpose now and then, folks like me could taste victory too.”
“I take no joy in yielding what’s mine to others.”
Herdin replied indifferently and turned.
Then, a rabbit appeared in their view. Spotting it, Wesley gleefully nocked an arrow.
The moment he drew the string.
An arrow flew faster, embedding in a tree trunk near the rabbit.
Startled, the rabbit fled; Wesley’s arrow hit the ground late.
Looking toward the shot, Herdin was lowering his bow.
“Tch, greed made me miss.”
But his face showed no regret.
Wesley realized it wasn’t a mistake. The man who’d hit every mark wouldn’t err like this.
A deliberate miss to deny him even one.
Wesley’s expression hardened briefly, but he composed himself and laughed.
“Even monkeys fall from trees sometimes. Even Your Excellency has off days.”
Herdin eyed such Wesley oddly.
Something was off.
The fool who’d spread rumors blaming himself after the banquet thrashing now hovered instead of fleeing.
‘Almost like he’s watching me.’
The idle thought halted there.
Herdin commanded a nearby knight.
“Knights. We’re heading back.”
Wesley startled and approached.
“Already? One more and victory’s yours.”
Ignoring him, Herdin wheeled his horse.
As the forest entrance neared, an inexplicable dread grew.
Upon arrival, he nearly mounted when he met a knight—Bain, assigned to Blair.
“Y-Your Excellency.”
Visibly flustered, Delmark’s carriage loomed behind him, pale-faced Rina beside it.
But the one who should be there—Blair—was missing.
His heart sank instinctively.
