The meaningless emotional consumption was now tiresome.

When Blair was about to doze off, a knock was heard. It was Meli, bringing the meal.

“Come in.”

Upon Herdan’s permission, Meli entered, pulling a trolley, arranged the meal on the table in the living room, and left.

Herdan held Blair and approached the table.

“Ugh…”

However, as was the case with recent meal times, Blair began to vomit before eating anything properly.

Herdan sat beside her and swept her back until her vomiting subsided.

It seemed impossible, but Blair’s body seemed to tremble a bit more. At this moment, the baby in her belly seemed mischievous.

As soon as the vomiting stopped, Blair sat down, looking drained. Herdan embraced her.
Blair grabbed his collar and said, “I can’t eat anymore today. I want to sleep.”

Herdan took her to the bed and lay her down. Then, he brought a tray with lemon tea and crackers.

“Please have a little.”

Blair’s recent inability to eat even water made lemon tea and crackers the only things she could consume without resistance.

However, she refused to accept it, saying, “I’d prefer to have meals separately from now on.”

“Why?”

“Having meals with you is uncomfortable. It feels like being watched closely.”

Herdan’s brows narrowed at her words.

“Please make it more comfortable for meals, at least.”

Her voice lacked strength, but her eyes looking at him were firm. It was a clear boundary she set. It felt unfamiliar, unlike the respectful attitude she always had toward him in the past.

“Blair.”

Herdan swallowed a sigh, placed the tray on the bedside table, and parted from her when she opened her mouth.

“Your Highness, I apologize for interrupting the meal, but a letter has arrived regarding the trial schedule at the palace.”

Mason’s voice came with a knock.

“Go.”

Pushed by her words, Herdan left the room.

Blair forced herself to eat a cracker and sipped lemon tea before lying down on the bed, looking exhausted.

She hoped to fall asleep before his return.

When Blair opened her eyes again, it was late at night.

Fortunately, she had fallen asleep before Herdan returned, but she couldn’t escape from him. As always when waking up, she was in his embrace.

His large hand naturally enveloped her belly.

He became fixated on the child. It was in stark contrast to his behavior in the previous life when he left the estate upon learning of her pregnancy.

At that time, she felt terribly lonely.

The reality of becoming a mother frightened her, and she wanted to escape. His embrace was yearned for every time she felt that way.

Then, after accepting the reality of becoming a mother, she had rather wished for the baby to be born soon.

Because she was lonely.

Because she needed a family where she could give and receive genuine love.

In this life, unlike the previous one, he did not leave for the estate and showed an interest in the child to an extent that was frightening.

However, the attention he craved so much in the previous life was now repulsive.

Not because he loved the child as a father, but because he considered this child as part of his own plans.

She didn’t understand why he didn’t use the child as part of his strategy in the previous life, but now that she knew his intentions, she wouldn’t leave this child to be used as he pleased.

Considering Blair’s severe inability to eat, Herdan postponed the trial until she stabilized.

Until then, about a month.

In a month, they could leave this mansion.

Blair placed her hand on her belly, embraced by Herdan, and whispered to the baby inside.

“Grow safely until then.”

So they could leave with the mother unharmed.

A month passed quickly, and the day before the trial approached.
As late summer approached, the loud sounds of cicadas filled the mansion’s garden day and night. Blair, guided by the noisy cries of cicadas, walked through the lively garden to the backyard’s outdoor animal enclosure. As the weather got hotter, she had moved the heat-sensitive Bbibi to the shaded outdoor enclosure. Blair absentmindedly rested her hand on her belly, which had noticeably rounded as she entered the fourth month of pregnancy. The severe morning sickness that had tormented her for a while had significantly diminished, and she had gained an appetite, starting to put on weight. Her overall physical condition after pregnancy was better than ever. The chief physician, who conducted her morning examination, also gave a positive response, saying, “You can attend the trial.”

“Bbibi.”

Upon Blair’s arrival at the outdoor enclosure, calling out to the owner, Bbibi energetically jumped out with a cheerful response.

“Bbii!”

Always lively, Bbibi made a noisy entrance today as well.

Melly filled the harness for Bbibi while looking up at the sky and remarked, “The weather is really nice these days. It’s still a bit hot, though.”

Blair, following her gaze, also looked up at the sky. Beneath the clear, azure sky, a cool breeze blew from the shade of the trees.

A faint smile appeared on Blair’s face as she gazed at the scenery.

“Yeah, the weather is really nice.”

It was a perfect day to depart.