The Duke Only Needs My Child (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 21
Blair stared blankly at Miera as she entered the room, following the priest.
‘Could it be… have the two of them known each other since this time?’
She’d heard that Herdin hadn’t been injured in the past, but perhaps the wound simply hadn’t been severe enough to show outwardly—he might have received cursory treatment and covered it up.
As that thought struck her, it felt as if all the blood in her body turned icy cold.
“Then, Lady Miera, I’d appreciate it if you could treat him quickly. The service is set to begin shortly.”
The priest who had brought Miera made his request.
Herdin’s gaze naturally turned toward Miera. His eyes, when they met hers, were utterly indifferent—completely opposite to Miera’s own, which stared at him as if entranced.
Those eyes were unmistakably those of a woman in love.
When Miera stood there dazed for a moment, still captivated by Herdin, the priest called out to her, puzzled.
“Lady Priest Miera?”
“…Ah! I—I’m sorry!”
Miera jolted in surprise and hurried toward Herdin, flustered. Yet she hesitated, unable to bring herself to touch his upper body or even look directly at him.
Finally, as if gathering her resolve, she spoke.
“T-then, if you’ll excuse me for a moment, Your Grace.”
Miera, unable to hide her flushed cheeks, placed her hand on his firm abdomen. She couldn’t bear to look at his stomach or meet his eyes, appearing utterly lost.
Watching this scene, Blair suddenly recalled a memory from before her regression.
The image of Herdin embracing Miera, and his cold eyes that never once avoided hers.
Blair’s body trembled uncontrollably as that memory surfaced. Her heart pounded so violently she thought she might vomit.
‘…No.’
Blair pressed her clenched fist firmly against her upper chest, as if that could somehow suppress the rising emotions. Then she scoffed at herself.
It was laughable—how even after being hurt so deeply by him before, she was now wounded again for the very same reason.
The fact that she was hurt and shaken by his relationship with Miera meant she still loved him.
Blair bit her lip and turned her eyes away from the two of them.
She hated him.
She hated herself for still being unable to let go of him.
Soon, a bright light emerged from Miera’s fingertips as they touched Herdin, seeping into his abdomen.
After repeating this process a few more times, Miera checked Herdin’s complexion and asked,
“It seems to be all done now. How do you feel?”
“I think I’m fine.”
“I’m glad I could help.”
Miera smiled brightly at Herdin, seemingly having forgotten her earlier embarrassment.
The watching priest spoke to Herdin.
“The service will begin soon, so you’d best prepare quickly.”
“I will.”
The priest bowed first and left the lounge. Miera, who had lingered hesitantly instead of leaving right away, gave Herdin a respectful bow.
“May the goddess always grant you her blessing, Your Grace.”
Having finished her greeting, Miera departed.
As Herdin reached for his discarded shirt, he suddenly noticed Blair had been unusually quiet and turned to look at her.
Her already pale face seemed even paler than usual, looking as if she might collapse at any moment.
Herdin approached her.
“Did you get hurt in the hunting grounds earlier?”
Instinctively reaching out to catch her as she seemed about to fall, Blair pushed his hand away.
“…I’m fine.”
Before he could say anything further, Blair quickly changed the subject.
“Earlier, you asked what I saw in the future.”
She needed to stop talking about the future or prophecies—she had no intention of revealing everything to him.
But the moment she saw herself wavering before him, she knew she had to draw a line.
So this was—
“That priestess just now… she’s the woman you’ll fall in love with.”
It was a statement directed at him, but also a reminder to herself—to finally push him out of her heart completely.
“…What?”
“She’ll surely make a suitable partner for you, but it’s still too soon to take her as your mistress. As I said before, when we divorce, you mustn’t have any blemish on your reputation.”
An incredulous, bitter laugh escaped Herdin’s lips.
“But if we could stop the rumors—”
Before Blair could finish her sentence, Herdin abruptly closed the distance and captured her lips with his own.
He pulled away before the stunned Blair could push him off, though he didn’t release his arm around her waist.
From a distance so close their breaths mingled, he looked down at her with cold eyes and said,
“Even if that were true… why would I need a mistress?”
“…”
“I have you.”
His large hand, still resting on her waist, gently stroked her spine. Though his touch was tender, the emotions flickering in his icy blue eyes sent shivers down her skin.
“You’re my wife until this contract ends. Any such act—anything more than this—I’ll only ever do with you.”
As his low voice, laced with chill, settled against her ear, his lips moved toward hers again as if to claim them once more. At that moment—
“Your Grace. The service is about to begin.”
A knock sounded, followed by Ruth’s voice.
With a quiet sigh, Herdin released Blair and, grabbing his outer coat, stepped out of the lounge first.
Blair stared blankly at his retreating back for a moment, her eyes clouded with confusion, then finally understood his feelings.
Anyone would find it absurd to hear they’d fall in love with someone they’d just met—impossible to believe, something they’d want to deny.
But just as the Herdin from her past life had, this Herdin too would eventually fall in love with Miera.
She alone remembered a future that no longer existed; she alone carried the memories and wounds from that timeline. Thus, she alone could change the future.
But Blair had no desire to alter his future.
‘Even if his future changes and he comes to love someone else… it still won’t be me.’
So in this life, she would disappear from his life—for both their sakes.
As Blair gathered her emotions and prepared to follow Herdin out, she suddenly felt something catch her foot and stopped.
It was Herdin’s cravat.
[This is the timeline separator]After leaving the lounge, Herdin headed toward the main cathedral. Ruth had already returned ahead of him, having been given a task, and Blair followed behind.
Sensing Blair’s presence trailing him, Herdin recalled her words from moments ago.
‘That priestess just now… she’s the woman you’ll fall in love with.’
It wasn’t just the absurdity of the “future” Blair claimed to have seen that angered him—it was her expression.
Her calm, detached face and voice, as if it meant nothing to her that he’d fall for another woman—as if it were someone else’s story entirely.
And her reason for saying he shouldn’t take a mistress yet? Merely to ensure their divorce went smoothly.
But that was exactly the nature of their original contract.
So why did it infuriate him so much?
“Her—din.”
Blair’s voice called out to him from behind. She sounded breathless, having hurried to keep up with his long strides.
Herdin swallowed a weary sigh and swept his bangs aside carelessly. His pace gradually slowed.
Finally catching up to him, Blair panted slightly as she held out his cravat.
“You dropped this.”
Herdin stared blankly at his cravat in her hand, then leaned his upper body toward her.
“Tie it for me.”
Surprised by his unexpected request, Blair blinked. Then she noticed the outer coat in his right hand and understood.
Wives were taught how to tie their husband’s cravat during pre-wedding lessons—it was part of a wife’s duty to assist her husband with his attire before he went out.
Blair had known this even before her pre-wedding lessons in this life—because in her previous life, she’d tied his cravat countless times.
He’d often asked her to tie it for him, using it as an excuse to pull her close and embrace her even in the busy mornings.
…But in the end, all of it had been a lie.
Now she knew his request held no meaning—but after what had just happened, she found it hard to approach him willingly. Yet asking him to tie it himself felt awkward too.
After a brief hesitation, Blair stepped closer, as if to wrap her arms around his neck.
As the distance between them closed, the pale nape of her neck, revealed beneath her neatly pinned hair, drew near. Simultaneously, her uniquely sweet scent washed over him.
Suddenly, memories of their wedding night surged through his mind—the feel of his lips on that soft nape, the warmth of her trembling in his arms, and…
Her lovely face gazing up at him.
‘…I’ve really lost my mind.’
What on earth had possessed him to ask her to tie his cravat? He regretted it instantly.
He forcibly swallowed down the desire clawing at his throat, yet his eyes remained fixed on her.
Unaware of his thoughts, Blair focused intently on tying the cravat.
Her slightly furrowed brows and tightly pressed lips softened each time her fingers accidentally brushed his neck.
“It’s done.”
Blair smoothed the cravat gently as a final touch and stepped back a pace. At that instant, Herdin caught her hand.
Their eyes met—Blair’s filled with confusion, Herdin’s looking down at her.
Only then did Herdin realize he’d unconsciously grasped her hand; his brows twitched slightly in annoyance. But it lasted only a moment. Soon, his blue eyes held her image once more.
As if ready to devour her whole.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
MANGA DISCUSSION
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Chapter Comments (893)
The description of the pope’s aura is very palpable, it makes you shiver when you imagine how authoritative he is, the author is really good at making his character feel alive
Last chapter I was worried thinking what happened to the ferret, I’m glad his safe and growing!
So anyone with mana or the other thing has the ability to see the magic circle?? Hmmm
Inline Comments (5425)
Regardless of others’ opinions, to Blair, he was the savior who rescued her afte
This is so suspicious, why is the pope in the empress palace?
Two children—one from a noble house and one from the imperial family—both linked
Indeed… Quite interesting rather than just thinking it as a coincidence I say…
“May you both build a truly blessed household.”
If this MEANS what I think it means!¡! May they be happy forever
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Iris Ensata
I can see the misunderstanding from a mile away but I hope her powers or whatever were strong enough to justify what happened
Atenas Ureta
I have this teory that he really loved her in the past timeline, but that witch Miera did something to his mind.
Mariel Soto
Now I think that meira is a real witch and intensionally incountered
debban23
maybe,something happened in the past thats whyherdin acted like that
Dolphin
The witch has appeared.
I hope the truth is uncovered this time