Chapter 37

Blair often fell into reveries about his younger sister. These thoughts disrupted his focus, and this time was no exception. “Everyone changes,” he mused, but Odelliana’s transformation was jarring. She seemed unrecognizable.

“Have you adjusted to your work?” he asked Malena.

“Yes, I’m doing fine,” she replied.

“Has Odelliana been treating you poorly or harassing you?”

Blair had always listened to complaints from the annex staff about Odelliana’s cold demeanor. She favored Matthias, neglecting the other servants.

Even Blair found the staff’s claims credible. He was concerned about Malena’s ability to adapt to such a demanding environment.

“There hasn’t been anything like that at all. She’s still a bit guarded, not completely trusting me yet, but she hasn’t been unkind.”

Blair sighed, a flicker of worry crossing his face. “I hope you understand if she seems a bit distant. She’s a child with a lot of pain… it takes time for her to let people in.”

Malena nodded, her eyes filled with empathy. “I understand. I see where she’s coming from.”

Contrary to his fears, Malena seemed to be settling in well. A wave of relief washed over Blair as he took a deep breath. He hesitated, his mind racing with a question he feared might stir trouble. But finally, he mustered the courage to ask.

“What do you think?” he began cautiously.

Malena’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“The difference between the Odelliana you’ve heard about and the Odelliana you’ve seen in person.”

Blair wanted a candid assessment from Malena, who had been observing Odelliana closely for nearly three weeks. She was the only one who could offer an unbiased perspective, free from the influence of anyone in the mansion.

“The other servants have shared a lot of stories about the lady,” Malena said. “I’ve heard she’s mad, violent, cruel, and has a messy private life. Frankly, I was a bit scared.”

Blair tried to mask his tension, his knuckles white from the tightness of his grip. Malena watched his pale fist, her voice calm.

“But the Odelliana I’ve met here is nothing like the rumors,” she continued. “She has a very sound mind.”

“Really?” Blair asked, his grip loosening slightly.

“Of course, I haven’t been here long, and people can be different in private,” Malena replied. “But she’s not as bad as they say. She’s gentle, not violent. And while she might seem cruel, she’s always generous with medicine for injured servants, tending to their wounds herself. The rumors about her and Matthias are probably just gossip. She treats him like a younger brother. I’ve watched her closely for three weeks, and there’s nothing scandalous between them.”

Relief washed over Blair, and he couldn’t help but smile.

“Odelliana isn’t mad,” he said. “She’s just weak and sick, which makes her a bit more sensitive and fearful. She’s kind. She’s not bad!”

It felt like a long-awaited validation of his unwavering faith in Odelliana, which no one else recognized. But his relief was short-lived. Blair’s expression darkened. “Odelliana’s been encouraging me to seek independence.”

Malena raised an eyebrow, her confusion evident. 

“To be precise, she’s trying to push me towards independence to secure her own future with that boy… no, with Matthias,” Blair explained.

Malena’s eyes widened. “Secure her future? The young lady?”

“If I become independent as Odelliana suggested, I would take her with me. Would you be willing to join us then?”

Malena’s face softened, but a hint of hesitation lingered. “Well, that’s unexpected. If you seek independence, does that mean you’ll be settling elsewhere?”

“Seems like it,” Blair replied.

“In that case, I’ll need to consider the logistics of leaving this place,” Malena said thoughtfully.

“Fortunately, Odelliana doesn’t seem to have any reservations about you,” Blair reassured her. “So I’d like to take you along as well. Although nothing is decided yet, it’s something to think about as the situation could unfold that way.”

“Understood,” Malena replied. “I’ll keep it in mind.”

As Malena concluded her business and stood up, the voice of a servant echoed through the hallway, announcing the arrival of guests at the door.

“Please escort them to the reception room,” Blair instructed, getting to his feet. He gently patted Malena’s shoulder twice. “You’re doing a great job,” he said.

Malena smiled modestly. “Not at all.”

“Please take good care of Odelliana,” Blair urged.

“Yes, young master,” Malena replied.

After sending Malena off, Blair headed straight to the reception room. The door creaked open, revealing Adolf, the sole heir of the Duke of Schaller’s family.

“Adolf,” Blair greeted, a warm smile spreading across his face.

“Oh, Blair!” Adolf replied, returning Blair’s greeting with a warm handshake. The two men had been friends for years, their bond deepening over time. Their friendship was more than just companionship; it was a family-like connection.

“I was surprised to receive your telegram,” Adolf admitted, his voice laced with a hint of surprise. “I didn’t expect you to invite me to your home!”

Despite their close friendship, it was unusual for either of them to extend such an invitation. Both felt uncomfortable about inviting the other into their personal spaces, and their fathers’ political rivalry added another layer of complexity. The Duke of Schaller, who supported the first prince, and the Duke of Grüsewald, who supported the second prince, were not sworn enemies, but their political differences had strained their relationship.

While the dukes didn’t outright forbid their children from interacting, they were not particularly pleased about it. As a result, the two friends often preferred to meet in private locations rather than at home whenever possible.

Blair’s invitation was out of the ordinary, prompting Adolf to rush over, his intuition telling him something was amiss. “What’s going on?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.

“Just… I’ve been so preoccupied with family matters that I thought I might have neglected you,” Blair replied, his tone evasive.

“What’s this about neglect? By the way, family matters? Has something happened at home?” 

At Adolf’s question, Blair hesitated for a moment before answering weakly. “Odelliana is staying here,” he revealed.

“Odelliana? Oh, the younger sister with the leg trouble…? I thought she was hiding out in the Hirschberg Forest?” Adolf replied, his voice filled with surprise.

“She was severely abused by the servants there,” Blair explained, his tone somber. “I drove all of them away… so now that there’s no one to take care of Odelliana, my father has called her to the capital.”

“Then isn’t that a reason to be happy? It’s a moment of family reunion after being apart for so long.” 

“It’s a bit more complicated than that.” 

Blair let out a deep sigh and leaned back in his chair. Adolf took out a cigar leaf from his pocket, rolled it up, and handed it to Blair, even lighting it himself. As Blair gazed at the hazy smoke, his expression was unusual enough to make the seriousness on Adolf’s face replace any trace of a smile.

“My sister told me to meet you to seek advice on independence,” Blair finally said.

“Independence? Blair, are you planning to become independent? Well, it is about time. But why?” Adolf asked, his curiosity piqued.

“The moment Odelliana mentioned your name, I got chills,” Blair admitted. “I felt like she knew about the affairs in Eisenwald.”

Eisenwald was a small city belonging to the Duke of Schaller’s territory, located near the border with the Duke of Grüsewald’s land. Recently, this city had caused Adolf considerable worry due to a major crime incident, resulting in the execution of the lord’s family, leaving the position vacant.

“Are you saying your sister knew I had proposed the lordship of Eisenwald to you?” Adolf asked, his tone filled with surprise.

“It’s not that she knew; it’s more of a feeling,” Blair replied. “It’s as if she was subtly encouraging me towards independence in Eisenwald… The timing and situation just seem too coincidental.”

“Must be a coincidence,” Adolf insisted. “The proposal for the lordship was a closely guarded secret known only to us.”

“Is that so?” Blair questioned, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“Yeah, just a coincidence,” Adolf replied, dismissing Blair’s concerns. “Anyway, if you’re considering leaving your family and becoming independent, I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to accept my offer now.”

Adolf grinned, as if there were no need for serious contemplation. He threw an arm around Blair’s shoulder. “Think it over. Being a lord is no easy task, but with your abilities, I think you could handle it well.”

Blair remained silent, contemplating.

“You know that those who aren’t heirs must live off the grace granted by the head of the family,” Adolf continued. “But who knows if your brother will provide you with enough to live comfortably after he inherits the title? From what I see, Hermann isn’t a merciful man.”

Only the eldest son can become an heir, Blair reminded himself. The inheritance rights are guaranteed solely to the firstborn heir. Once Hermann takes over the family headship, he would have to rely on Hermann’s compassion for survival. If Hermann did grant him any support, he would be fortunate; if he cast him out empty-handed, he would have no grounds to complain.

Aside from his own predicament, Blair also considered Odelliana, whose path to marriage was effectively blocked due to her leg disability. She needed someone to take responsibility for her. However, would Hermann truly take in his sister, who had nowhere else to go? If their parents had abandoned her simply because of her flaws, the chances of him showing any compassion toward Odelliana were slim.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, the fog that had clouded Blair’s head began to clear. If I become a lord… I could take Odelliana into my household and continue to take responsibility for her life. 

“My offer is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you,” Adolf coaxed, his voice filled with enthusiasm. “As the lord of a fief, you would live a much more abundant life than now. You could hunt, sail on the lake, fish, and live leisurely. If that life becomes boring, you could come up to Revelhorn and engage in social activities. The life of a middle lord isn’t as harsh as it seems. It’s quite romantic, actually. And above all, the lordship is inherited through generations unless significant problems arise. You understand, right?”

Adolf continued to tempt Blair, painting a picture of a luxurious and fulfilling life. “Think it over,” he urged. “If you decide, I will do my utmost to help you prepare for your independence.”