Ch#64
2023.11.03.
"......Your Holiness?"
Gerard was alone, without his usual entourage of acolytes or priests. He approached the two with a pleased expression.
"I stopped by when I had a moment, and running into you like this is fortunate."
"Have you come to pay respects to the two of them as well, Your Holiness?"
"Yes. The late Duchess was a longtime friend of mine."
"Thank you for always thinking of us. Mother would be delighted by your visit too."
Gerard gazed toward the Ancestral Hall with eyes filled with deep longing, then smiled and brought up a topic.
"Seeing that Your Grace has taken a spouse must have put the two souls at ease up in heaven."
"I hope they feel that way."
Blair felt a pang of guilt, unable to mention it was a contract marriage, but Herdin responded calmly with a formal reply.
"Then we'll head out first."
"Yes, take care."
Herdin and Blair exchanged light bows and walked away.
Gerard watched their retreating figures before entering the Ancestral Hall.
Closing the door quietly, he looked at the portraits of Cassian and Eloise and spoke.
"Seeing that your son has grown up safe and sound brings me joy."
"......"
"He truly takes after you, doesn't he? When I saw him return from the war, I was startled for a moment, thinking Your Grace had come back alive."
"......"
"Not that that could ever happen."
His whispered words that followed scattered unheard on the wind.
Unlike the affectionate tone toward a close friend, his green eyes gazing at the two in the portraits were chillingly sunken.
* * *
The two left the Temple and boarded the carriage heading back to the estate.
In the languid silence, Blair gazed at the scenery outside the window, while Herdin quietly took in the sight of his wife.
Her eyes, fixed on the window, sparkled in the sunlight.
A faint music drifted from the direction of her gaze outside, accompanied by a sweet fragrance wafting in.
Herdin, unable to tear his eyes from Blair's fixation on the view, finally turned his head to follow her line of sight.
At the end of the cherry blossom-lined street on both sides of the road stood the square's Clock Tower. Stalls had multiplied in front of it, as if a festival were underway.
As he gazed indifferently at the scene, a slight headache brought a sudden memory to mind.
In the memory, Blair, her half-naked body covered by a blanket, was gazing at the cherry blossoms in full bloom outside the estate.
Gazing quietly at the view, she turned to him and asked,
'Herdin. If you have time, could you go see the Clock Tower in the square with me?'
She tried to hide her anticipation, but her face betrayed it.
As Herdin moved to reply offhandedly, the emerging memory scattered like mist and vanished.
In its place sat Blair, silently watching the outside scenery.
Herdin furrowed his brow at the existence of a memory that wasn't in his head but had suddenly surfaced.
'It's been quiet for a while.'
What could this memory be, of an event he had never experienced, yet felt so much like his own?
'I looked into the phenomenon Your Grace mentioned, but there were no cases exactly like yours.'
'Then were there similar ones?'
'They said there's Black Magic that absorbs mana to read memories.'
'Absorbs mana to read memories?'
'Yes. Something about mana holding parts of memories since it's like our organs? It was complicated.... But Your Grace didn't use Black Magic, right?'
It certainly differed from what Luth had reported.
In his case, though an unexperienced memory, it was clearly his own, and he hadn't used Black Magic—nor did he even know any, for that matter.
Black Magic was now forbidden and extinct.
Then, he suddenly recalled a book in his private study and paused.
'......No, I do know one.'
Of course, knowing it didn't mean he had used it, so it was unrelated to him.
Herdin irritably closed his eyes, shaking off the thoughts.
But seeing his wife before him, the image from the memory just moments ago overlapped with her.
Gazing at that figure, Herdin spoke.
"Blair."
Blair, who had been unable to tear her eyes from the window, finally turned to look at him.
Herdin gestured toward the window with his eyes.
"Shall we take a quick look around?"
It was an impulsive suggestion born from a memory of unknown origin.
* * *
The area in front of the Clock Tower bustled with crowds.
Stall vendors selling food and goods, people admiring the flowers, shoppers, gamers, and more.
To Blair, who had rarely left the Imperial Palace except for official events, it was all a novel sight.
Herdin watched Blair's eyes sparkle like a child's discovering the world anew, and let out an incredulous chuckle.
The doll-like woman with her usual calm, detached expression was nowhere to be seen.
'Should have brought her out sooner.'
He walked leisurely, matching her pace, then grabbed the hand of his wife who was drifting away, distracted.
Feeling the warmth, Blair finally turned to him with startled eyes.
"If you keep looking away like that, you'll get lost. Hold my hand."
Blair obediently offered her hand. Herdin linked their fingers tightly so she wouldn't slip away.
Blair took in the festival scenery, while Herdin took in her watching it.
After walking some distance, Blair stopped in front of a stall.
The stall sold handmade-looking accessories, guarded alone by a girl who appeared about seven or eight, unlike the others.
"Welcome, customer."
Blair smiled softly at the stall's bright little owner and asked,
"Did you make these?"
"No, Mommy did."
"Where did Mommy go?"
"She stepped out for work. I have to watch the stall until she gets back."
"Can you handle the payments too?"
"Yes, Mommy taught me."
"You're so smart and diligent."
Herdin, watching Blair chat amiably with the unfamiliar child, gestured to the stall with his eyes and spoke.
"See anything you like? I'll buy one as a souvenir—pick something."
"Oh, no. I just talked to her because I was worried about her being alone."
"Buying something would make the little owner even happier."
Realizing her mistake too late, Blair looked at the child, who had overheard and shook her head.
"It's okay. You can just look."
But seeing the admirable child made her want to buy something anyway.
Blair carefully examined the stall and chose a cherry blossom-shaped ring made of woven thread. Perfect for commemorating the day.
"I'll take this one."
"Five silvers."
Herdin handed the child a gold coin.
"Keep the change. Don't give it to your mom."
The child looked up at him with a bewildered expression.
Blair shot him a glare for the odd remark to the child, but Herdin pretended not to notice and turned away first.
After bidding the child farewell, Blair hurried to his side.
"Thank you for the ring, Herdin. I'll treasure it."
Herdin glanced at the thread ring on Blair's finger.
The cherry blossom design didn't appeal to him, but it suited her slender white finger well enough. Worth the price.
Blair's next stop was a stall selling cherry blossom-shaped cream puffs.
Herdin bought some too, for his wife unable to pass the sweet scent.
After one bite of the small pastry, Blair's eyes widened. She must have liked it.
"Want to try one? It's very sweet, but......"
Blair took out a puff and offered it to Herdin.
Herdin grabbed her hand holding the pastry and brought it to his mouth. In the process, her fingertips brushed in and out of his lips.
Startled by the unfamiliar sensation on her fingers, Blair flinched. But Herdin just smirked.
"Not bad."
In that moment, against the backdrop of full-bloom cherry blossoms, his blue eyes resembled a spring lake shaded by petals.
A bell tolled nearby—from the top of the Clock Tower before them.
Before they knew it, they had reached right in front of it.
Blair craned her neck to gaze at the Clock Tower's summit. She had heard the view from up there was beautiful.
"Herdin, have you been up there?"
"Want to go?"
Quick on the uptake, he discerned her intent and asked back. Blair nodded.
Herdin looked at Blair's sparkling expectant eyes, then down at her shoes.
"Might be tough in those."
"I can do it. I won't be a burden."
Seeing her full of determination, Herdin readily nodded.
Blair took the lead up the Clock Tower stairs. Herdin followed leisurely a few steps behind.
