Ch#67
2023.11.06.
As Blair stepped down from the carriage, a muscular man waiting in front of the Forest Villa bowed politely with proper etiquette.
"We've been waiting for you, Madam."
Startled by the unexpected addition to their group, Blair returned the greeting awkwardly and glanced at Mihail, who smiled and explained.
"It seems like it's time to add another person to the scandal. Wouldn't three people together be more provocative than two?"
Blair realized what he meant and was appalled, but he was right. The bigger the scandal, the better.
After a brief exchange of greetings, the three entered the Forest Villa together.
The villa was quiet and clean, with no one around. Though devoid of people, it was equipped with simple necessities for living, making it suitable for a short stay.
Blair gazed blankly at the dense forest visible through the large window in the living room.
The peaceful scene was filled only with the sound of wind brushing the branches and occasional bird calls. Listening to it relaxed her mind as well.
This was the opposite of the ducal residence, where even stepping out of a room brought the bustle of people, always sweeping her into a busy atmosphere that made her feel compelled to do something.
'Once Asiel is born, it would be nice to live in a house like this in the woods.'
While Blair wandered near the large window, admiring the view outside, the burly man who had briefly disappeared returned with teacups.
"You must be thirsty. Please have some."
"Thank you."
After the two finished their tea, Mihail suggested,
"Do you remember me saying I'd show you a good place before?"
Blair recalled their conversation at the art auction house and nodded.
"If it's alright with you, would you care to take a short walk? I'll show you something nice."
"Something nice?"
"We'll go along a forest path, so if you'd rather not, please feel free to say so."
Blair followed Mihail without hesitation. She worried the path might be rough, but fortunately, it was a pleasant walking trail.
In the quiet forest with few people, the only sounds were birdsong and rustling wind.
Simply walking while inhaling the scent of grass and listening to those sounds soothed her mind.
Mihail matched her small strides and casually brought up a topic.
"It may not be my place to say, having brought you here first, but it's best not to trust unfamiliar men so easily. Especially when they suggest going to remote places like this."
"It's not because I trust you personally. It's because I trust the commission fee I promised you and my own status."
Mihail burst into laughter at Blair's cool yet guileless response, which contrasted with his initial impression of her. He found that side of her amusing.
"It seems my concern was unnecessary."
Blair looked at him.
As Herdin had said, she didn't know much about him, and given his line of work in the rough guild business, he might not be as good a person as she thought.
Yet she could tell he wasn't someone who would betray her trust. The very fact that he offered such advice proved it.
Blair cautiously brought up the words that had lingered in her mouth since they reunited.
"About what my husband said at the art gallery last time—I'd like to apologize on his behalf."
Mihail looked puzzled at her sudden apology, then understood a beat later.
"He shouldn't have spoken that way. He said it without knowing, so don't take it to heart."
"It's fine. Well, what His Grace said wasn't entirely wrong anyway."
Mihail brushed it off lightly then, and now as well. At the same time, his footsteps stopped.
"Ah, we've arrived."
Blair followed his gaze straight ahead.
In the middle of the forest, a faint glow was visible, but it was still too far to make out clearly.
As they approached slowly, the scene gradually came into view.
There was a small pond in the heart of the forest, surrounded by clusters of transparent, sparkling flowers that seemed to gather light.
The pond in the woods was a common sight, but what made this one special was the uniquely shaped flowers.
The flowers, unlike any she'd seen before, swayed like rippling water in the breeze. The sight was like countless stars fallen to earth, dancing.
"My goodness, it's so wondrous... and beautiful."
Mihail smirked at Blair, who couldn't tear her eyes away, and explained.
"They're called Glacica. They're inherently sensitive and wither and die if transplanted anywhere but their original roots. Nobles who tried moving them to private greenhouses failed every time."
"Thank you. For showing me such a beautiful sight."
"I'm glad you like it."
Blair sat on a nearby rock, quietly taking in the view.
The world outside was wider and more mysterious than the vague dreams she'd had confined in the Imperial Palace. Her heart raced at the realization.
Yet why, in this moment, did Herdin's face habitually rise in her mind?
"Shall we head back?"
As Blair was lost in thought, Mihail noticed the wind blowing through the forest carried a chill of nightfall and spoke up.
Blair rose to follow him. But there was a problem.
"Ah...."
Her heel was blistered, stinging with every step. Since the shoes weren't made for walking, the rubbing had caused a wound.
Not wanting to be a burden, Blair tried not to show it, but Mihail quickly noticed her limp and frowned.
"I'm sorry. I didn't consider your shoes might be uncomfortable."
"No, it's my fault. I can fold down the heel to wear it, so don't worry."
"Exposing a wound in a forest like this could lead to infection. May I take a look?"
Blair sat on a nearby tree stump.
Mihail removed her shoe and examined her foot. The abrasion wasn't deep, but there was enough blood to stain the shoe.
'It must have hurt quite a bit to get this bad.'
He was newly impressed by her endurance.
The best thing would be not to walk further in this state, but given Blair's personality, she wouldn't let him carry her.
'Then there's only that method.'
After pondering while inspecting her foot, Mihail looked up at her with resolve.
"Since you've trusted me enough to entrust me with this task, I'll share one of my secrets in return."
"A secret?"
Instead of answering, Mihail gently touched her wound. A faint light emanated from his hand.
'This is...?'
Blair's eyes widened in surprise.
The power he had just used was clearly Divine Power.
But oddly, the wound didn't heal immediately and remained. Mihail furrowed his brow.
'Healing magic... isn't working?'
As he looked up to check her condition, he met Blair's wide eyes, startled by his Divine Power.
And below her surprised face, at the base of her collarbone, he found the cause: a faintly glowing black magic circle.
'...Black Magic?'
He'd heard that Black Magic resists Divine Power, so those afflicted or practitioners don't respond well to it.
'But Black Magic is now forbidden, with almost no one using it.'
Why did this woman have a Black Magic circle?
Mihail examined her expression in disbelief, but there was no sign of her hiding anything.
She seemed unaware of the Black Magic circle implanted in her.
The circle vanished before he could examine it properly.
Mihail used a stronger healing spell, and this time it took effect, thankfully.
Watching this, Blair cautiously asked,
"Why didn't you become a priest?"
Divine Power is a gift bestowed only on a select few chosen by the gods.
It's more likely to be inherited if a parent has it, but the odds are still low, making it all the more precious.
Those born with it might not amass vast wealth, but they could live honorably and comfortably as priests.
She wondered why he chose such a harsh, grueling life instead.
To her question, Mihail smiled and gave a vague answer.
"What one person desperately covets can be a trace another longs to erase."
He didn't outright refuse, but his ambiguity told Blair he didn't wish to continue the topic.
Finishing the treatment, Mihail carefully slipped her shoe back on, handling her foot as delicately as if it were fine glasswork.
"Then shall we head back now?"
Blair stood and took the lead.
Matching her strides, Mihail's sharp gaze briefly swept over the base of her collarbone.
But the Black Magic circle was no longer visible.
* * *
Languid afternoon scenery passed by the faintly shaking carriage window.
Gazing at the late afternoon sunlight beginning to take on a platinum hue, Herdin naturally thought of Blair.
His wife resembled sunlight in many ways.
First, her visible hair did; her soft body temperature did; and above all, her ethereal aura that seemed like it might slip away even grasped in his hand.
Perhaps that's why.
Even when he held her image in his eyes or embraced her in his arms, an inexplicable anxiety always lurked at his feet.
Especially after seeing the Geography Book by her bedside that morning, he couldn't shake the growing, strange unease.
