ONDC 13

Chapter 13

The Name of a Stranger

Herdin stared at the hand for a moment, then swallowed a sigh and rose from his seat.

“…Get some rest.”

Contract. Contract. Contract.

Every time she opened her mouth, that was all she talked about. It seemed his “fake wife” had decided to stake everything on that one-year contract.

He didn’t know why a fact that had already been decided before their marriage was suddenly getting on his nerves now.

Running a hand through his hair irritably, Herdin stepped out of the room. Ruth was waiting outside.

“Fire that hypnotist.”

At his master’s quiet command, Ruth’s eyes widened in shock.

“Pardon? Didn’t you say to keep him on staff?”

“Find a new one. He seems like a quack.”

Herdin walked past him, heading back toward his office, then added,

“And that maid from the imperial palace—tell her to come to my office.”

At the mention of “that maid,” Ruth’s expression stiffened.

She was the woman who always looked at everyone in the duke’s estate with eyes full of hostility. He had never even spoken to her, but her gaze alone made him not want to.

“W-why her?”

At Ruth’s question, Herdin shot him a cold glance.

One does not question the master’s orders.

“…Understood.”

Ruth bowed more formally than usual and left.

Rina, who had suddenly been summoned to Herdin’s office, fidgeted with her fingers while staring only at his desk.

Even though other maids would lose themselves just looking at his handsome face, she couldn’t even bring herself to look up.

That was because she had absolutely no idea why he had called for her.

The only thought that came to mind was a ridiculous one—Did he somehow hear me cursing him in my head?

But there was nothing to be afraid of.

The one in the wrong was the duke who abandoned his bride on their wedding night—not her, who had faithfully served Blair.

As Rina straightened her shrinking posture, Herdin removed the cigar from his mouth and spoke.

“I hear you’ve served my wife for quite a long time.”

Contrary to her earlier resolve not to be intimidated, Rina flinched.

“Y-yes! That’s correct!”

“The fireplace in her room—does she avoid lighting it because she’s afraid of fire?”

On their first night, Blair’s room had no fire lit in the fireplace, even though it was cold enough to snow. At the time, he thought she simply disliked warm air.

But after seeing her suffer from the memories drawn out through hypnosis earlier today, he suddenly realized.

“Ah, yes. So we only warm the room when she’s not there, and turn it off when she is. She’s fine as long as she doesn’t get too close, but… she still seems uncomfortable.”

“Because of that incident ten years ago?”

“Probably. She’s never talked about it directly, but…”

“And the constant coughing?”

“Yes. I heard her respiratory system weakened as an aftereffect of the accident.”

So that was it.

Hearing confirmation, Herdin twisted his lips.

“You may go.”

Rina left, and the office door closed behind her.

As Herdin unconsciously tried to bring the cigar back to his lips, Blair’s coughing suddenly came to mind.

And the way she had looked at him earlier—with tear-filled, vacant eyes.

With an irritated sigh, he set the cigar down again and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes.

Even through his eyelids, the flickering sunlight reminded him of her fine platinum hair, and it annoyed him.

The next day, Blair collapsed with a fever.

“Sometimes, when people experience a severe shock, their immune system weakens and they fall ill as a result. That seems to be the case with Madam.”

The physician gave his diagnosis and left.

Herdin, who had come after hearing the news, looked down at the sleeping Blair with slight disbelief.

How could someone be this fragile?

By nature, a woman’s body is weaker than a man’s.

But even taking that into account, his wife seemed far below the average level of health.

“Please call if you need anything.”

Sensing that Herdin wouldn’t leave right away, Rina quietly stepped out of the room.

He silently watched Blair as she slept.

In that peaceful scene, the frail woman, breathing unevenly through slightly parted red lips, looked as though she were suffering.

After standing there for a while, Herdin approached the bedside and placed the back of his hand against her flushed cheek.

The breath escaping her small lips still carried heat, but it was clearly better than before.

The fever reducer seemed to be working.

Just as he let out a soft sigh and pulled his hand away—

“…El.”

A faint voice slipped into the silence.

Herdin looked at her lips, from which the sound had come. Blair frowned slightly, as if in pain, and her lips trembled weakly.

“Asiel…”

The pitiful voice, mixed with a sob, spread through the quiet room.

His hand paused midair.

At the unfamiliar name that fell from her lips, he suddenly recalled how Blair had always been obsessed with the “contract.”

Only then did her actions begin to make sense.

Asiel.

It must be the name of a lover she loved so much that she wanted to see him even in her dreams… so much that she would endure recalling those terrible memories just to fulfill the contract.

So her claim that she didn’t believe in love—was that just a lie to hide her true purpose?

To keep that precious lover hidden from the world… from him?

Herdin let out a quiet laugh and stood up.

The hypothesis he had once dismissed lightly had now taken shape. But whoever that fool was who had dared to fall into a forbidden love with a princess—it had nothing to do with him.

And yet, the name that had slipped from her lips irritated him.

Perhaps because he found it ridiculous that she had deceived him while hiding her true intentions.

Or perhaps because that name happened to be the name of a Delmark ancestor.

Herdin left the room immediately.

Ruth, who had come looking for him, flinched upon seeing his master.

Herdin always wore a cold expression, but now he looked colder than ever.

Before Ruth could speak, Herdin asked,

“What is it?”

“Baroness Shionel has sent a catalog.”

Baroness Shionel was widely regarded as the finest fashion designer in Ardel. Though born a commoner, she had been recognized by Empress Dowager Katrina and granted a title.

She had been scheduled to come to the estate today to prepare formal attire for the upcoming New Year’s festival, but Blair’s illness had disrupted the appointment.

Instead, the servant sent to inform her had brought back a catalog.

Herdin took it from Ruth.

“She asked that you select the fabric first so she can secure the harder-to-obtain materials in advance.”

Inside the catalog were small fabric samples, neatly attached, with detailed notes on their pros, cons, and prices.

Herdin closed the catalog and handed it back.

“Tell her to prepare something suitable for cold weather. Anything will do.”

For the Duke of Delmark, whose wealth rivaled that of the imperial family, price was never a consideration.

A few days later, as Blair’s condition improved, Herdin brought in a new hypnotist.

She appeared to be in her mid-thirties, with a gentle demeanor, and was said to belong to a vassal family of the Delmark duchy.

Introducing herself as “Agnes Loreline,” she explained her plan to Blair.

“People who lose their memories due to severe shock can sometimes bury them even deeper if we try to force them out.”

With a soft smile, Agnes continued,

“So rather than rushing to retrieve your memories, I’d like to start by helping you gradually become familiar with them.”

“How?” Blair asked.

“First, I’d like to have tea with you once a week. During that time, please tell me stories from your childhood—anything at all.”

Blair looked at Agnes with her usual calm expression, but beneath the table, her fingers played with the hem of her dress.

This method wouldn’t allow her to reach her memories quickly.

There was only one reason she was so desperate to recover them.

No matter what, she had to regain her memories before she conceived Asiel.

If she failed to end this contract marriage even after becoming pregnant, Herdin would find out.

Moreover, every time she tried to recover her memories, her body weakened—so she wouldn’t be able to attempt it after becoming pregnant.

There were only about six months left before she would conceive Asiel.

It was already a tight schedule just to wrap things up here and prepare to leave.

Lost in thought, Blair couldn’t respond right away and merely traced the rim of her teacup.

As if reading her mind, Agnes spoke gently,

“Don’t be too impatient. I will definitely help you recover your memories. Just relax and trust me.”

There was an undeniable power in her soft gaze.

Could she really talk about personal matters in front of a stranger?

She wasn’t keen on it, but strangely, she didn’t feel like refusing Agnes’s proposal.

“…Alright.”

At last, Blair nodded.

Agnes smiled warmly.

“I’m looking forward to hearing your stories. Through them, I’ll get to learn another life.”

Just as they were about to schedule their next tea time, they sensed someone’s presence behind them.