Chapter 4
“Wow—”
The moment Blair stepped out of the carriage, her mouth dropped open. All her worries seemed to vanish in an instant.
‘How big is this place?’
Beyond the elegant iron gate lay a vast, neatly kept garden. A grand three-story mansion with a serene pale blue brick roof sat gracefully at its center.
‘Neat yet dignified — just like that man.’
Blair had heard that mansion sizes in the capital were strictly limited according to noble rank. For this house to be so large… just how high was his status? She grew even more curious about the man’s true identity.
‘Surely he’s not a duke or a marquis, right? Probably just an earl. If he’s a duke or marquis, this is going to get way too complicated…’
Wide-eyed, Blair slowly approached the mansion, glancing around in awe.
“Welcome, miss. I am Emma, the head maid.”
A middle-aged woman stepped forward. Behind her, several maids stood in perfect lines, as if measured with a ruler.
“You must be Miss Blair Marie, correct? Please come with me — I’ll show you to your room.”
The head maid, who introduced herself as Emma, guided Blair toward the house. Her hair was streaked with gray but pinned back neatly, and the fine lines around her eyes deepened kindly whenever she smiled.
‘She reminds me of Becky, who used to sneak me snacks back in Orvie. How nice.’
Blair returned Emma’s warm smile and followed her inside. At that moment—
“Allow me to take your bag, miss.”
One of the maids trailing behind gave a polite bow and held out her hand for Blair’s bag.
“Oh, yes. Thank yo—”
Snap—
Before Blair could even finish, the bag was snatched from her rather brusquely. There was something slightly cold about it, but Blair just kept walking.
＊＊＊
“I heard you don’t really know much about the master, is that true?”
“Sorry? Oh — yes.”
As Blair walked with Emma through the halls, she kept getting distracted by the elegant decorations and paintings that lined the corridors. Emma spoke to her in a gentle voice.
“I was told you only know him by the name ‘Kaisen.’”
Ka… Kaisen? Blair, quick on the uptake, immediately understood what this was. So the story is that I fell in love at first sight without even knowing who he really is.
“…That’s right.”
“Oh dear, the master… Imagine not telling his fiancée anything about himself. Please understand — he’s always been reserved and quiet.”
“That’s fine. I care more about a person’s character and actions than their words anyway. He’s a good man — that’s all that matters.”
Blair lied so smoothly she didn’t even blink.
“My goodness, you’re a rare lady these days.”
Emma laughed heartily.
“In fact, His Majesty has recently been pressing the master to marry the princess. It’s such an honor to join the imperial family, but he’s been so stressed about it. I never guessed it was because his heart already belonged to someone else. We thought he had no interest in marriage at all.”
“Well, yes… something like that…”
“So that’s why he took his time — to bring back someone as wonderful as you.”
Blair could only give a sheepish smile in response. Emma’s bright expression somehow made her feel a pang of guilt.
“The master’s true name is Cassel Hermann.”
At that, Blair stopped dead in her tracks.
“…Who?”
‘Cassel Hermann? Don’t tell me — that Cassel Hermann? The Marquis Hermann?’
“His name is Cassel Hermann,” Emma repeated.
Blair’s eyes widened, trembling slightly.
“So… the man who, um, abducted me — I mean, that man — is Marquis Cassel Hermann?”
At the word Marquis, Emma’s eyes narrowed just a bit.
“You’ve heard of him, I see? As you know, he’s the Marquis of the Bavarian Empire and also the Commander of the Imperial Knights.”
‘And the man they call the Blue-Eyed Reaper of War…’
It was the nickname given to him during the last war.
Known for his unmatched swordsmanship, he had reaped enemy soldiers like wheat with a single swing of his blade, wielding an aura so powerful he could destroy a hundred men alone.
For his exploits, he was rewarded with a fortune and influence equal to that of a duke, and he was known to be the emperor’s most trusted aide.
Any citizen of the Bavarian Empire might not know his face — but everyone had heard his name.
‘If I’d pushed my luck that day, I really could’ve ended up dead in a ditch…’
She’d run her mouth in front of the Blue-Eyed Reaper. Blair swallowed dryly. She could feel cold sweat trickle down her back.
Cassel Hermann was surrounded by chilling rumors.
People whispered that if you annoyed him, he’d have your head chopped off on the spot.
That once, someone in his mansion made a mistake and lost an arm.
That just looking into his eyes would make faint-hearted noblewomen pass out from sheer fear.
‘He didn’t seem that terrifying, though…’
In fact, he’d even seemed a bit kind.
‘No — better safe than sorry. I need to find out what he likes and hates so I don’t step on any landmines… How do I even ask that naturally?’
While Blair was frantically scheming, Emma’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
“So this is the marquis’s capital mansion. Because he’s the Commander of the Imperial Knights, he stays here in the capital more often than at his estate.”
“Oh, yes… the marquis…”
“His Majesty favors him greatly and summons him often. Besides the trading business he runs, he has many other investments. But aside from one younger brother, he has no family — he manages it all himself. So…”
Emma paused dramatically.
“…you’ll need to learn proper etiquette and how to receive guests as the lady of the house, you see?”
Blair quickly caught on.
“Of course — I understand. But don’t worry, I’ll be given a tutor, right? And you’ll help me too, won’t you?”
Emma’s lips curved into a satisfied smile.
“Of course, miss. I’ll help you every step of the way.”
＊＊＊
“Haah, now I can finally breathe.”
After a hearty meal, Blair threw herself onto the bed in her room. Her eyes drifted from the ceiling down, taking in every inch of the space.
“This one room is bigger than my entire house back home. Money really is amazing.”
She wore a wide, satisfied grin.
A luxurious, spotless bathroom. Food so delicious it melted in her mouth. A bed so soft it felt like it was hugging her whole body. There was absolutely nothing to complain about.
And the maids — so efficient she didn’t have to lift a single finger.
‘So this is Cassel Hermann’s everyday life.’
Inevitably, her thoughts turned back to him. This was why he could throw around two thousand peeks like pocket change and hand over a jewel-studded cufflink without a second thought.
‘To think that man was Cassel Hermann.’
The smile on her lips faded a little. Of all people, that Cassel Hermann.
‘Aside from one younger brother, he manages it all himself…’
Emma’s words echoed in her mind.
Commander of the Imperial Knights. The emperor’s closest confidant. On top of that, he personally ran his family’s businesses and handled private investments too.
“He must be busy out of his mind. No wonder he hasn’t shown his face yet…”
Meanwhile, someone had practically run away in the dead of night just to get here. Blair, sprawled across the bed, grumbled with her eyes closed.
Just then—
Knock, knock—
“Blair, may I come in for a moment?”
Along with the knock came his unmistakable voice. Blair practically shot upright, like she’d been spring-loaded.
‘Speak of the devil — I nearly had a heart attack…’
“Yes! Come in!”
A moment later, Cassel Hermann walked in, his white shirt casually unbuttoned.
“Hello…”
