Chapter 36
At those words, Nadia froze, her lips parting slightly.
The silence dragged on so long that Vivian began to worry whether her lady was even breathing.
“…My lady?”
“I must leave this place.”
Nadia suddenly leapt up from the bed as if she meant to flee.
But when she saw Vivian chasing after her with a dress in hand, she halted in her tracks.
“No, that won’t do. I can’t leave now.”
“Pardon?”
Nadia clenched her left hand tightly with her right as she quickly gathered her thoughts.
“There are too many eyes in the capital. I’m certain someone saw me enter Baldwin’s townhouse yesterday. If I leave now, the wrong rumors will spread.”
At the debutante ball, Heinrich and Nadia had been each other’s first dance partners. People would believe they had spent the night together.
“It would be better if rumors spread that I’ve become His Grace’s aide. To do that, it must seem as though I slipped out late last night. We’ll have to manipulate the situation… Vivian, you could sneak out of the townhouse, couldn’t you?”
Vivian nodded quickly, thinking that listening intently to her lady was the best way to make up for her earlier mistake.
But Nadia never got the chance to lay out her plan.
Knock, knock.
Nadia turned her head toward the door.
When she didn’t reply, the person outside knocked again, the rhythm precise.
Knock, knock.
Nadia’s expression grew tense, as though she already knew who stood beyond the door.
But her composure didn’t last long.
Gesturing for Vivian to drape a shawl over her shoulders, Nadia called toward the outside.
“Who is it?”
“Heinrich Baldwin. I’ll come in for a moment.”
He waited briefly, as though expecting refusal, then opened the door.
Even though he had no plans to go out today, his attire was immaculate.
The sharply pressed suit and smoothly combed hair were as elegant as ever.
The red eyes that had once filled Vivian with fear were calm now, his gentlemanly demeanor untarnished.
But Nadia immediately noticed something different from usual.
The faint smudge of ink on his fingertips.
Heinrich was an exceptionally tidy and meticulous man.
For him not to notice ink on his hands was strange. It meant either his work had overwhelmed him, or his mind was in turmoil.
Nadia studied his complexion with concern, but since they weren’t close enough for personal conversation, she didn’t dare voice the question.
Heinrich stepped toward her. He didn’t walk quickly, but his long strides closed the distance in an instant.
“Are you feeling well?”
“Yes, Your Grace. I’m grateful for your kindness.”
Nadia bowed politely. Heinrich gazed at her intently, then turned his eyes away before she could raise her head.
“The physician was of little help, so I called for a mage. He said your core seems to have opened only recently.”
“That’s true. I only just discovered that I even had a core.”
“The mage said one must refrain from using magic soon after the core opens. Why did you overexert yourself?”
For some reason, Nadia felt like she was being scolded.
Her face showed hesitation, but she answered honestly.
“I didn’t know.”
“What do you mean?”
“That one shouldn’t use magic right after the core awakens.”
“…Did your magic tutor not teach you this?”
“I’ve never had proper lessons. I’ve only read a few theory books. Mages rarely explain magic to common folk… I truly didn’t know.”
What was common knowledge to mages wasn’t necessarily common to ordinary people. Even Heinrich hadn’t known until a mage had told him.
And this was Baroness Hess’s daughter. From a poor barony that survived barely on mining—she likely had no experience hiring private tutors.
Ignorance often brought danger, but when circumstances allowed no other way, it wasn’t exactly a crime.
Still, Heinrich felt his temper rising.
He had been like this ever since seeing Nadia’s pale face in the Alon townhouse garden.
He had pondered the reason all night.
Was it because she resembles my late wife?
There were some similarities between Nadia and Revenia.
But their features were entirely different, weren’t they?
Revenia’s eyes had been a lake-blue, while Nadia’s shone like the sun—clear proof they were not the same.
Then…
Heinrich now had to accept one of two possibilities.
Either the dead had come back to life—or he was drawn to someone who wasn’t his wife.
Both felt impossible.
Yet whenever Nadia faced him without fear, even daring to retort, his heart stirred. Her small frame speaking her mind seemed foolish at times, yet courageous as well.
Love—that was perhaps too grand a name for it.
But he couldn’t deny that she looked like a sparkling star to him.
Feigning composure, Heinrich sat in a chair by the wall.
It was an invitation to converse, and Nadia didn’t refuse.
When she sat across from him, he spoke at once.
“My man investigated the room where the Crimson Count stayed. Using the same method you did.”
“…Thank you.”
“There’s no need for thanks. I must uncover if the Crimson Count has a patron. My man reported that the room contained a secret passage. Whether the Count truly met a hidden benefactor, or is involved in some other illicit dealings, we don’t yet know.”
“If it can be confirmed either way, that will become his weakness. Where does the passage lead?”
“There’s a magic seal—we haven’t yet determined it. But Marchioness Alon hosts salons often, so we’ll find out. Once I know, I’ll send word through my secretary.”
“…”
Nadia blinked rapidly.
She struggled to grasp the situation.
It was natural for her to act for Heinrich’s sake. But she had never imagined Heinrich would act for hers.
He glanced at her expression, then exhaled softly, as if uncomfortable.
“Didn’t we agree our goals are the same?”
“Yes.”
Nadia had always said she wanted to repay the Duchess’s kindness. For that, she had pursued the Crimson Count and intercepted his goods.
She, too, suspects him.
That made her useful. She had fewer connections to Revenia, and wouldn’t draw much attention.
“Your recklessness aligns with my purpose. That is all. Surveillance will continue, but so will protection. Do you object?”
His voice was cold, but his index finger tapped his knee with irregular rhythm.
“…I don’t. I should be honored if Your Grace will protect me.”
Only after she agreed did Heinrich finally still his hand.
He hadn’t lied to Nadia.
But neither had he told her everything.
He admired her courage and determination, and felt assured he could move alongside her.
But more than that, he wished to keep her close, to watch her.
No matter how much she claimed to emulate Revenia, it was only on the surface.
If he kept her nearby, he could rid himself of this illusion—this dangerous thought that Nadia might be Revenia.
Heinrich summoned the mage again to check her condition.
The mage said her core had stabilized, so her body would soon recover as well.
Once the mage left, Heinrich said matter-of-factly,
“I’ll provide a carriage. Use it when you return.”
“That’s too much. I can manage on my own.”
Nadia refused flatly. But Heinrich did not yield.
“And how will you manage? By climbing over the wall?”
“…”
“While you’re recovering, don’t waste effort on needless formalities.”
“But if I leave the townhouse at this hour, people will misunderstand.”
“Let them. Misunderstanding can work in our favor.”
He didn’t elaborate, but Nadia understood immediately.
Since they would be moving together often, they would attract attention.
If House Hess became House Baldwin’s vassal, it would seem like a political maneuver and invite scrutiny. But if she and Heinrich appeared as lovers, the relationship would be seen as personal, temporary, and unstable.
The public eye would still be on them, but the restrictions would be far lighter.
Even the Crimson Count would think the same. He might rage, but he would never believe Nadia could marry Heinrich, and thus would not risk taking drastic action.
It wasn’t a bad strategy.
The only obstacle was Nadia’s own heart.
She had never dreamed that trying to ease his guilt would lead to this.
As she hesitated, Heinrich nodded, as though he had expected it.
“In the end, let’s say it was you who declared the breakup.”