Ch#88
2023.11.27.
Even though she had inwardly been anticipating the morning sickness symptoms, Blair couldn't simply rejoice. Realizing that fact made her heart sink.
'Not yet......'
The one silver lining was that it hadn't progressed to actual nausea yet.
"Oh, right. Madam, His Grace had me bring the medicine to check on your health......"
As Melli entered the bedroom alongside her, she suddenly remembered something and opened her mouth, only to stop abruptly and look at Blair with puzzled eyes.
"Madam? What's wrong?"
Lina, who had been preparing the meal in the room, heard Melli's voice and hurried over.
"Are you feeling unwell, Madam?"
"No, I'm fine. Just a brief dizzy spell."
Blair hurriedly waved it off, but Lina and Melli's eyes filled with even greater concern.
"Shall I fetch the physician?"
"It's not that serious. Probably from soaking too long in the hot water."
Blair tightly grasped Lina's hand, who looked ready to dash out and summon the doctor.
Fortunately, Lina didn't go. Instead, she clasped Blair's hand with worried eyes.
"You've seemed much weaker lately. How about eating a hearty meal and then taking a walk with me afterward?"
At Lina's overprotectiveness, Blair chuckled softly and nodded.
"Yes, let's do that."
"Then call if you need anything."
Once Lina and Melli left, Blair was finally alone in the room.
Blair approached the table where Lina had prepared the meal. The closer she got, the stronger the buttery scent from the bread became, and her appetite vanished.
Blair set the bread and soup—the sources of the smell—far away, then returned to sit at the table. She cautiously placed her hand on her lower abdomen.
"......Baby."
Her voice calling to the child inside trembled subtly. So did her hand stroking her belly.
'Could this child really be Asiel?'
She had tried her utmost to recreate the same circumstances and timing as when Asiel was conceived in her previous life, but she couldn't be certain.
But if she could only know for sure after giving birth anyway, she had no choice but to believe this child was Asiel.
Thinking that Asiel had come back to her after such a long journey brought tears surging up.
After regressing, many hardships had befallen her.
From the start of this contract marriage, the events uncovering the truth of the incident ten years ago, to the finger-pointing directed at her due to the current rumors.
But whenever she felt like giving up, what sustained her was the unwavering resolve to reunite with Asiel no matter what.
The fruit of enduring so tenaciously was that this child had finally taken root safely in her womb, which filled her with joy.
"This time, I absolutely won't leave you alone."
I'll stay by your side protecting you until you no longer need your mother's help.
Realizing she was no longer alone strengthened her weakened heart a bit more. To protect the child in her womb, she needed to be strong.
Blair thus gently stroked her belly for a long while.
* * *
After finishing her meal and returning from a walk in the rear garden with Lina, Baroness Sionele was waiting for her.
"Have you been well, Madam?"
She had summoned her to create a dress for the Founding Festival in a fortnight.
"Thanks to you. And how have you been, Baroness?"
"Of course. With you seeking me out whenever you think of it, how could I not be?"
Baroness Sionele laughed in her characteristic high octave, covering her mouth with her fan.
"On your way back from a walk?"
"Yes, the weather's been nice lately."
"Perfect! A healthy model makes the clothes stand out even more."
She skillfully steered the conversation while laying out the fabrics she had brought before Blair.
As the empire's top fashion designer, she surely knew of the rampant rumors, yet she tactfully avoided mentioning them.
Her worldly savvy, which seemed lighthearted but was anything but simplistic, was truly professional.
Thanks to that, Blair could comfortably select fabrics and discuss designs.
A short while later, after concluding their talk, Blair rose first.
"Looking forward to your work as always."
"Leave it to me. I'll finish the fitting in a few days and visit again."
As Baroness Sionele stood as well, her assistants began efficiently packing up the fabrics.
As Blair turned to leave the drawing room, one of Baroness Sionele's assistants approached her.
She handed Blair a catalog.
"Madam. This is a catalog of our latest releases. Please take a look when you have time."
"Ah, thank you."
As Blair reached out for the catalog, the assistant slipped something beneath it into her hand.
'......A note?'
While Blair blinked in surprise, the assistant hurriedly stepped back.
The assistant had concealed the act even from Lina and Melli nearby with the catalog, so she couldn't open it here.
'Could this note be from......'
One person came to mind who might have sent it.
"I'll rest a bit, so go take care of your duties."
Returning to her room, Blair dismissed Lina and Melli, then took out the note the assistant had given her.
Unfolding it revealed familiar handwriting.
[I have urgent matters to discuss in person, but with the ducal residence's security so tight, I couldn't contact you. Even the maid who usually relays messages is under surveillance, making it hard to approach.]
Herdin hadn't merely forbidden her outings and bolstered the estate's guards—he had thoroughly blocked all external contact.
Only then did she understand why there had been no word from Mihail for so long.
[Before arranging a meeting, I have something I'd like to ask first.
Is the plan and resolve you first mentioned to me still valid?]
The 'plan and resolve' Mihail referred to was likely what she had told him upon first visiting the guild.
Causing a scandal to abandon her current name and status and leave the ducal house.
[If that plan remains unchanged, I will duly assist you.
On the day Baroness Sionele visits for the fitting, please reply via the assistant who delivered this note. I'll be waiting.]
After reading the note, Blair removed the flowers from a nearby vase, placed the note inside the fireplace, poured water over it to make it mushy, then stirred it with the poker until it was unrecognizable.
'I wanted to attend the trial for Her Imperial Majesty if possible, but......'
With morning sickness beginning, she had to consider the worst-case scenario.
As she replaced the flowers in the now-empty vase, Blair's eyes had settled calmly, as if she had organized all her thoughts.
* * *
Before dinner, Herdin returned home, bathed, and headed to Blair's room.
Finishing his outside duties and returning to hold Blair, then dining together in the bedroom, had become routine.
But contrary to his plans, Blair was fast asleep.
It was regrettable that things hadn't gone as planned, but he could understand her needing a brief rest since night was still young.
Knowing he was the one who had exhausted her day and night lately, he felt no small measure of guilt.
Herdin quietly sat on the edge of the bed, gazing at the sleeping Blair.
Everything was going smoothly.
All the evidence to uncover the truth of the Empress Palace fire ten years ago had been gathered.
'Now all that's left is......'
Herdin's gaze drifted to Blair's flat stomach beneath the covers.
If he created a bond no one could sever between them, one that kept her by his side.
Then the lingering anxiety at his feet would finally vanish.
Herdin covered her belly with his large hand and caressed it, but ultimately couldn't resist his surging desire and leaned over her.
The desire he had indulged in endlessly for so long wouldn't even wait for that brief moment of peace.
The instant his selfish lips sought to claim her defenseless ones.
Her tightly shut eyelids trembled faintly, and Blair slowly opened her eyes.
"......Ah."
Startled to see his face right before her upon waking, Blair's eyes widened.
But the culprit caught in the act showed no surprise—instead, he brazenly captured her lips.
His lips sucked and released repeatedly, tangling deeper and more persistently. Soon, his hand naturally rose to her belly.
At that moment, Blair, who had been tentatively responding to his kiss, passively pulled away.
Herdin keenly noticed and parted his lips, looking at her. Blair mumbled in response.
"......I don't feel well."
As she spoke, her hand hidden beneath the covers cradled her lower abdomen protectively.
The risk of miscarriage was high in early pregnancy.
Now that she knew she was pregnant, she had to avoid overlapping their bodies with him as much as possible.
Herdin's eyes narrowed as he looked at her.
"Have you been examined? Did you take your medicine?"
"It's not that bad. Just...... a bit tired. I want to rest."
Blair brushed it off while gauging his reaction. Fortunately, Herdin didn't press further and backed off.
The moment she relaxed and closed her eyes again in relief, Herdin's words made her heart drop.
"But you haven't had your monthly cycle this month yet."
