Deceived, yet still drawn to you · 13. January 2026

Deceived 65

Chapter 65

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Sponsored by LC. Thank you ❤️ (4/10)

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10. Heartbeat

That night, Blair did not end up sharing a bed with Edmund. A telegram arrived from the man who had left for Borsa again to handle afternoon business, informing her he would return home at dawn due to a backlog of work.

Thanks to this, Blair spent the night alone in that spacious bed, still imbued with Edmund's scent. It was unclear whether this was fortunate or unfortunate. The postponement of the heart-pounding night together brought relief, yet simultaneously, an inexplicable emptiness seeped in.

Human hearts were truly strange. Blair embraced this emotion she couldn't even name and let out a silent sigh. Now, a day later, she was on her way to inspect Eldenvale town with Edmund.

"What are you thinking about?"

The voice beside her settled in her ear. Blair, lost in thought as she watched the cityscape flow by outside the window, startled and turned her head. Edmund, seated beside her, was staring at her intently.

"...Nothing much."

"You look pretty serious for nothing."

"It's just... suddenly, all this feels unfamiliar. How is today's inspection scheduled to proceed?"

"We'll focus on the commercial district. We'll also stop by the department store to check the sales flow of the shops there. Simply put, think of it as an opportunity to make it clear that I'm keeping a close eye on the market."

"So you brought me along for this important occasion."

"Having your wife accompany you on official engagements boosts credibility."

Edmund smiled faintly. Blair returned the smile before turning her gaze back to the view outside the window. She didn't show it, but somehow, she couldn't shake a sense of disappointment.

***

The fog had cleared for a rare, clear day. Cars and hired carriages jostled over the sun-glistening cobblestones, creating a great clamor, while vendors selling roasted almonds and fruit juice intermittently hawked their wares. Near the square, shops with every imaginable signboard stretched endlessly along the main street.

‘Eldenvale really is a big city.’

At first, the damp air made it feel bleak. Overwhelmed by the city's vitality, Blair clutched Edmund's hand and couldn't stop looking around even as they stepped out of the carriage.

Soon, as they entered through the department store's main doors, staff lined up to greet them. Unlike the nervous Blair, Edmund seemed thoroughly accustomed to such occasions.

"Lord Liberte, thank you for visiting. It is an immense honor for us."

The general manager stepped forward and bowed deeply. Edmund shook his hand without hesitation and exchanged greetings.

"Thank you for your hard work. The weather is cooperating today, isn't it?"

"Indeed it is. Thanks to that, we'll be able to show you the rooftop garden without a hitch today."

"That's fortunate. Allow me to introduce you. This is my wife, Blair Liberte. She'll be joining us for today's schedule."

The general manager's eyes widened, seemingly surprised by her presence. Blair offered a polite greeting.

"Pleased to meet you."

"Having such a beautiful lady accompany us makes this an even more meaningful day. Please, this way."

Guided by the general manager, the two stepped onto the marble floor, polished to a shine. The first display they were shown featured women's hats, gloves, and fur scarves. A sales clerk in charge of customer service approached with a gracious smile.

"This hat is a new arrival we recently brought in. It's been quite popular among the noble ladies in the capital."

"I see."

Blair pretended to examine the bright red hat with five peacock feathers pinned into it with great interest. It was a design she would never wear, even if the sky fell.

"Which women's accessories are showing the most significant sales growth compared to last year?"

She turned her attention from the display to the low voices behind her. Edmund was discussing sales trends with the general manager.

"Yes, the silk scarves imported from Rorschach are performing strongly. This spring, the noblewomen of Borsa began wearing them en masse, and demand has spread all the way to Eldenvale."

"We must keep an eye on the capital's market trends. We need to determine if this is merely a passing fad or an item that will drive sales long-term."

"You've observed it perfectly, Your Excellency. We share that assessment. Please follow me to this display."

Their next stop was the counter displaying men's accessories. Silk ties in various colors, tie pins, high-end cufflinks, and leather wallets were neatly arranged.

Somehow, Blair found herself examining the merchandise with even more interest than before. Then, a soft hand rested on her shoulder.

"Blair, I need to step away for a moment. Please continue looking around with the attendant."

"Where are you going?"

"I'll go check the transaction ledger. That should wrap up today's schedule."

"Of course. Go ahead."

"It won't take long."

The man kindly informed her of his errand, left the female assistant beside Blair, and turned to walk away with the general manager, disappearing somewhere. Blair stared in the direction Edmund had vanished before turning her gaze back to the display. Lately, he seemed unusually affectionate. Was it because he was conscious of his surroundings, or was it just his mood?

Regardless, she felt like offering at least a small gesture of gratitude to the man who was clearly trying to maintain a good relationship with her.

"Is there anything in particular you like?"

"I'd like to get a gift for my husband."

When the salesperson asked politely, Blair pointed to a tie in a neat, subdued color. It was a clean, monochromatic tie that had caught her eye earlier, a design that would suit a man with a cool demeanor.

"Please wrap this one."

"Certainly, ma'am."

Blair requested it be sent to the Duke of Liberte’s residence and settled the bill. It was on Edmund's account, so he would pay later, but she had to remember to reimburse him. It was a gift for him; surely he couldn't pay for it himself.

Blair strolled leisurely through the department store, browsing. She examined imported fabrics, cosmetics, perfumes that seemed to capture the scent of fresh flowers, and imported sweets with interest, then suddenly stopped.

The display that caught her eye held chemises revealing the skin beneath. How could they so brazenly display and sell such scandalous undergarments in a place with so many people passing by? Blair muttered, turning her head, her eyes widening in shock. The display mannequin beside it wore a string undergarment that left both breasts and private areas starkly exposed—a garment whose purpose was utterly baffling.

"Welcome, ma'am. Is there anything in particular you're looking for?"

"...No, nothing."

"Ah! The item you're looking at is especially popular with newlywed customers. It's incredibly light and soft—when it touches your skin, it feels as if you're wearing nothing at all."

A female clerk, thoroughly trained in courtesy, approached and attended to Blair. Just as Blair was about to reply that wearing such flimsy underwear would naturally feel like wearing nothing at all, she gave an awkward smile. She could feel the heat rising to her face.

“…I’ll just be browsing.”

“Are you unmarried?”

“No.”

"Then why are you so shy? Lingerie like this is very popular these days."

Then she began carefully undoing the lingerie on the mannequin. She clearly intended to show it to Blair properly.

"Feel how soft this silk is, ma'am."

"……."

"Very soft, isn't it?"

"Yes…."

"If bold lingerie feels overwhelming, a chemise style is still the best choice for a first try."

The saleswoman picked up a chemise that, in terms of boldness, seemed no different to Blair's eyes. It too was lingerie so thin it might as well not be worn, like a moth's wing.

"...It's pretty. I'll just look around elsewhere and come back."

"Oh, please don't do that…”

"Blair?"

Her heart sank at the familiar voice behind her. Pretending she wasn't a customer at the lingerie counter, Blair quickly stepped aside, but it was already too late. The provocative chemise and the sales clerk holding it up with both hands, spreading it out as if to show off... It was an undeniable reality.

Blair saw the distinct smile spreading across Edmund's face and hurriedly turned to leave. But she hadn't taken more than a few steps before he caught up, as expected.

"You're welcome to keep browsing. Sorry if I interrupted."

"It's fine. I was just passing by."

"For someone just passing by, you were looking quite intently. Did you like how sheer it was?"

Instead of answering, Blair concentrated desperately on walking, but he was easily taller than most men and wasn't about to fall behind. Edmund continued speaking as he walked, his upper body leaning casually against her shoulder.

"Quite the bold taste, I see. I knew it from the moment you pretended to undo my tie but actually started choking me."

"...That kind of clothing isn't my taste."

"Why? It looked pretty. Why don't you buy one?"

"Is that your taste?"

"More than that, I want to see Blair dressed more provocatively."

"Your schedule is over, right? Let's go home now..."

"Not yet."

Edmund answered with a laugh, reaching out to block Blair. They had just stepped outside the department store. Blair, her cheeks still flushed, asked again.