Deceived 42

Chapter 42

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***

She wasn't expecting anything extraordinary. She just needed someone she could confide in here in this unfamiliar place, and that person had to be none other than Edmund. They were bound by contract, but still, they were husband and wife, weren't they? Edmund was the one who said he would bear his wife's discomfort, even if only in name.

"I don't quite understand."

But his reply left her feeling hollow once more.

“Is a single trivial remark truly that important? I don’t see why Miss Blair needs to know about my private affairs either.”

His gaze fixed on Blair was almost serious. Edmund genuinely seemed puzzled. Meeting his eyes, Blair bit her lip.

"Edmund, can you trust me?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"The future is so uncertain. There are so many variables in our lives, I can't help but feel anxious. So even though we're a nominal couple, I think we need to build at least a minimum level of trust."

Even after her explanation, Edmund seemed unable to grasp it. With a weary expression, he replied.

"We've already signed a contract. Agreements made by contract are never ambiguous. It clearly states the obligations that must be upheld, and there are consequences for breaking them. That should be sufficient. Why are you anxious?"

"To me, trust seems more important than lines written in ink."

"Isn't trust itself uncertain?"

Edmund's voice sank low.

"Trust can change depending on the situation. It's very common for today's trust to turn into tomorrow's betrayal."

"......"

"But a contract is different. Each clause is a standard, and that standard doesn't waver. I chose the contract precisely to eliminate unnecessary variables."

He spoke in a calm tone, as if reading the printed words on a contract. Blair kept her mouth shut, shifting her gaze between Edmund's eyes. After taking his time to meet her gaze, the man added firmly, as if to say no more should be said on the matter.

"We were bound by mutual interests before we were husband and wife. Trusting each other was never a necessary condition. Keeping the promised terms is precisely how this relationship is maintained stably."

His logic was flawless, leaving no room for rebuttal. How could she possibly win against a man armed with the perfect answer? There was no way a newly adult woman could stand against someone who had risen from the bottom of the Borsa social scene to its very top. Blair gave a small nod and lowered her eyes.

"You're right."

"......"

"I'll do that, then. Sorry for asking such a pointless question."

She felt utterly diminished. She had always considered herself fairly level-headed, yet standing before him, she always seemed to become an immature person whose emotions took precedence.

"If I may offer one piece of advice, Blair, when you feel uneasy, it's best to save face?”

“…Maintain my composure?”

“Relying on others’ words for reassurance isn’t a particularly good strategy. Showing signs of anxiety or fear makes you vulnerable, so it means to hide your emotions as much as possible and maintain your dignity.”

Blair could no longer hide her bewilderment as she looked at him. Edmund didn’t stop there.

"It's the surest way to mask your unease, and as a woman raised with noble education, it should be a familiar approach to you."

"Isn't that a bit hypocritical coming from the man who urged me to abandon the life of a bound woman and choose freedom through this contract?"

"Of course, your freedom is guaranteed after the contract. But not now. During the contract period, you must fulfill the role of my wife. Maintaining that role is a matter of decorum, and it will serve as your shield."

"How interesting. I assumed you chose me as your contractual partner precisely because I wasn't a typical noblewoman. Yet now you advocate such virtues? Don't you find that somewhat contradictory?"

A heavy silence settled over the table. Not even a servant was present in the unusually quiet breakfast room; not a breath could be heard.

"I'm already tired this morning."

Edmund broke the silence, rubbing his brow with long fingers.

"Did emphasizing the need to appear intimate lead you to choose the option of a marital quarrel?"

"I didn't intend to quarrel."

"Then focus on appearing like a harmonious couple. That will preserve your dignity while naturally covering up your anxiety."

Blair avoided his gaze, and the superficial conversation ended there. Edmund's advice felt like an undeniable reality. So she tried desperately to convince herself, pulling herself together, but it was difficult to dispel the anxiety curled up inside her chest.

***

Time passed quickly, and before she knew it, the day before the wedding had arrived.

Edmund had left the mansion early that morning for an appointment, and Blair ate breakfast alone in her bedroom. She was considering asking one of the more familiar maids to give her a tour of the mansion for the rest of the day when she received an unexpected invitation.

"The Duchess is asking for me?"

"Yes, Miss. She wishes to have tea with you and has asked that you be brought to the reception room on the first floor."

Having tea with an elder of the family was nothing special. However, given that the person in question was Isabelle, it was something she could never take lightly. With Edmund away and the wedding just a day away, what was she trying to test?

"Understood. I'll go immediately."

Blair smoothed her appearance enough to avoid reproach and promptly left the bedroom. Following the Duchess's maid, she descended the wide staircase, passed through the portrait-lined corridor, and reached the door. It was the very drawing room where Isabelle had summoned her the day she first arrived at the ducal residence.

"Madame, Miss Twyford is here."

"Show her in."

Blair stepped through the quietly opening doors. The warm glow of the fireplace and the scent of flowers enveloped her. Spotting Isabelle seated at the tea table, Blair held her skirt hem and curtsied respectfully.

"Thank you for inviting me, Madame."

"Come, sit down."

Isabelle smiled faintly and gestured toward the chair opposite her. Blair moved lightly, sat down, and straightened her back. A gaze, faintly tinged with amusement, swept over Blair.

"It hasn't even been a week since you entered Eldenvale, yet everything—even the wedding—has unfolded so swiftly. It suddenly occurred to me that I never properly greeted you as Duchess. So I thought we might have a little tea together, just us ladies."

Each subsequent word carried a subtle weight. Blair swallowed a bitter smile and followed Isabelle's lead, lifting the corners of her mouth. Having argued with Edmund the day before about the very topic of appearances, controlling her expression wasn't particularly difficult. In truth, Blair didn't struggle to hide her feelings. It was only in front of that man that she made an exception.

"I am nothing but grateful. I won't forget your kindness, Madame."

"A rare and upright young lady."

Isabelle raised her teacup, her eyes crinkling in a smile.

"But remember, the reed that bends before the wind survives, while the tree that stands rigid snaps. I say this because I worry for you."

Then, lowering her eyes slightly, she savored the fragrance before taking a sip of tea. Only the curve of her smiling lips deepened slightly on Isabelle’s unruffled face.

“So, what do you think?”

“…What are you referring to?”

“Your fiancé, Edmund. He’s never been one to reveal his inner thoughts, even since childhood. Even those closest to him find it hard to know what he’s thinking. For such a man to bring home the woman he’ll spend his life with—don’t you think I’d be curious?”