Chapter 52
Episode 52. After This Spring Passes
2023.10.22.
In the end, Blair could only escape him after passing out from exhaustion. Of course, even that would be fleeting.
Herdin watched Blair sleeping peacefully in his arms for a moment before slowly rising and donning a robe.
The fireplace that had blazed, warming the room, now held only dying embers and nearly spent coals.
He tossed in a few more logs, took out a cigar, and stepped onto the balcony.
The moonlit garden stretched before him. The night breeze brushing his cheek felt as soft as his wife's delicate skin, carrying a fresh scent reminiscent of grass.
It was spring.
As he lit the cigar, feeling the breeze, Blair's words from a few days ago came to mind.
‘Before starting hypnosis, I want to gradually practice overcoming my fear of fire.’
For some unknown reason, Blair didn't fear fire when he was with her.
Of course, she would hyperventilate from terror if she glanced at the fireplace, so he had to stay glued to her side while it burned—which was mildly annoying—but he was willing to endure that much.
The fact that only he could save her from the fire gave him a certain thrill, after all.
Thus, if she grew accustomed to the fire's warmth and sought him out first, embracing him, he could bear that minor inconvenience.
Like caring for a stray cat tamed by human food.
‘No need to rush, then.’
Memories erased by the subconscious for self-protection.
Was there any need to forcibly drag them out?
With Kalligo currently monitoring Katrina's movements, if he uncovered any clues there, there would be even less need to awaken Blair's memories.
If that didn't pan out, he could have her recover them later.
Herdin exhaled smoke and gazed through the glass at Blair sleeping soundly in the bedroom.
What then, after this spring passed?
Once winter's chill faded and she no longer needed his warmth…….
Herdin's eyes deepened as he swept back his bangs. Just then, he saw the sleeping Blair stirring.
Herdin extinguished the half-smoked cigar and entered the bedroom. To his wife, awaiting his warmth.
* * *
The weather was fine.
Blue skies, scattered clouds, trees sprouting new buds. Perfect for a picnic.
‘It should have rained.’
Herdin disliked the clear weather that had inevitably dragged him to the Hunting Tournament.
Gazing dryly out the window, he turned to his wife beside him.
Her small face was mostly hidden by her bonnet, but from the tilt of her head, she seemed to be admiring the scenery outside.
Her rapt attention on the view was adorably childlike, as if on an excursion.
As Herdin quietly admired her from behind, his gaze settled on the nape of her neck. Stray hairs peeked from her updo, tickling her pale skin.
The spot where he had pressed his lips last night.
Memories of the night overlaid her white nape, sending blood rushing to his lower abdomen.
Herdin mocked himself at his own reaction.
Now, apparently, he was a madman reacting to mere sight of that woman's nape.
Ironic that he recognized this about himself yet felt no urge to suppress the desire.
Herdin reached out, wrapping an arm around Blair's waist and pulling her to him. Before she could resist, he kissed the nape that yielded without a fight.
Startled, Blair turned.
“If you leave another mark on my neck―”
Her words were swallowed by his approaching lips.
After kissing her thoroughly, he pulled back as if seeking permission, gazing at her.
Action first, permission later.
Absurd at the reversed order, Blair met his eyes sullenly instead of yielding.
But Herdin, unconcerned with her permission, kissed her again at will. In the end, Blair closed her eyes as if helpless.
His hand untied the ribbons securing her bonnet beneath her chin. The carriage jolted once, sending the precariously perched bonnet tumbling to the floor.
The gentle kiss grew rougher. Herdin drank in every breath, releasing her only when Blair's face flushed from lack of air.
Blair gazed at him in a daze. Her rouge smeared messily on his lips.
The debauched sight embarrassed her more than him.
What would people think seeing that?
Outwardly, they were a properly married couple, so being caught held no issue—but she lacked the shamelessness to bear it.
Blair hastily wiped the rouge from his lips with her thumb. Herdin nipped lightly at the finger.
“Ah.”
Blair's hand froze. A subtle tension flowed between them.
Like a bowstring drawn taut.
His eyes, briefly docile, changed in an instant.
Undoing her efforts to clean his lips, his mouth overlapped hers again. Skillfully parting her lower lip, he explored her mouth.
At the same time, the large hand supporting her waist began sliding upward.
At that touch, a memory from her past life flashed.
‘Come to think of it, even in my previous life, on this day in the carriage…….’
Blair urgently grabbed his hand and pushed him away.
“No more…… Herdin, this is the carriage.”
“So?”
His genuine bafflement at the issue left her glaring incredulously.
“What if the others…… hear?”
“Then don't make a sound.”
As if that were the solution!
He overwhelmed her; his touches too intense. She couldn't stay silent even if she tried.
“Then don't do it.”
Herdin, showing no intention of stopping, pulled her back as she distanced herself.
“You're the one who started teasing my lips first.”
“You kissed me first.”
“Fine, that was my fault.”
He pulled her onto his lap.
“But stopping now would trouble me.”
The taut heat pressing against her thigh from below froze her.
Contrary to his admission of fault, his body showed no remorse.
“Unless you want to spread rumors that Duke del Mark turns into a rutting beast for his wife.”
Blair's face flushed deeper. Herdin whispered as he rucked up her layered skirts.
“You made me like this, so take responsibility.”
Soon, an overwhelming heat she could scarcely bear consumed her.
In the end, she bit her lip and wrapped her arms around his neck.
* * *
The Hunting Tournament was held in the Imperial Forest on the capital's outskirts.
The gathered nobles ate first, then the men headed for the main hunt while the women split off for tea time.
“Well, stomachs full, shall we stretch our legs?”
At Ivan's words, the nobles dispersed to prepare. The ready men received cheers and cheek kisses from wives or lovers.
Herdin strode to Blair, who watched quietly.
But she stubbornly averted her gaze. She'd been like that since the carriage. Herdin's lips curved up.
She seemed thoroughly sulky, yet even that was endearing to him.
Herdin teased her cheek lightly with his index finger.
“No kiss?”
“…….”
“You said you'd fulfill your wifely duties.”
Only then did her gaze return.
He disliked needing to invoke that damned contract for her reluctant compliance, but he could tolerate her faint annoyance.
Her sulky upturned face was pretty, and her finally yielding lips soft.
Herdin adjusted her bonnet slightly and kissed her round forehead in return, then retied the loosened ribbons.
Blair's slowly blinking eyes watched him. Seeing his reflection fill those eyes nearly recalled last night.
But his rising desire halted. Due to someone watching. In that direction stood Wesley.
Herdin's blue eyes chilled upon meeting his. No need to relax just because the Empress Dowager wasn't here.
Then, a Delmark knight approached.
“Your Excellency, preparations are complete.”
Hesitating as she stared at him, Blair finally spoke.
“Be careful, Herdin.”
“I'll be back.”
Turning from Blair, Herdin's expression returned to cold impassivity.
He ordered the knight beside him.
“Bain. Don't leave my wife's side. If she tires, let her return first.”
“Understood, Your Excellency.”
Blair watched Herdin's retreating figure with sadly twisted eyes.
He hadn't changed from the past.
Of course he hadn't—people didn't change. Past, present, always, his desires came first.
Thus, his desire for her could hardly be love.
