“It’s a symptom of abdominal tightening.”

The doctor who examined Blair’s condition said.

“It’s a natural symptom that often appears in pregnant women.”

He added an explanation to calm the seemingly quite surprised expectant parents.

“However, if the symptoms are frequent or do not improve after a certain time, it can be dangerous. When symptoms appear, it’s best to relax your body and mind as much as possible and rest, but if it doesn’t get better over time, you should get an examination right away.”

Blair was relieved at that. She had experienced similar symptoms in her past life, but she had been worried because the symptoms were subtly different this time.

Fortunately, the child in her womb had been reassuring her by diligently wriggling as usual since a little while ago.

But Herdin’s face was still hardened even after hearing the doctor’s diagnosis.

“So such symptoms could appear unexpectedly in the future as well?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Without any reason?”

“It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact cause, but these symptoms often appear when one overexerts oneself or is under mental stress.”

Herdin frowned at the doctor’s words.

Yesterday he had held her and fulfilled his desires, and today he had put her in a carriage and taken her around here and there since the afternoon, and decisively…

He knew well who the cause of stress was until she collapsed complaining of pain.

“Eliminating stress factors and resting is the best way to prevent symptoms.”

The doctor repeatedly urged Blair to rest before leaving the room.

Only then did Herdin loosen his stuffy cravat. He was still in his outing attire, having brought Blair in his arms and immediately received an examination.

Seeing that, Blair said,

“Go wash up. I’ll rest a bit.”

Herdin gazed intently at Blair and her belly where her hand was resting.

Her face, which had been pale with worry throughout the carriage ride back, was now calmed. Though he couldn’t see movement with his own eyes, it seemed the child in the womb was reassuring its mother.

Herdin, who had been silently watching that scene, got up. Soon, with the sound of the door closing, a peaceful silence fell.

Blair gently whispered while caressing her belly.

“I’m sorry, baby. For making you suffer too.”

As if feeling the touch of concern, the child thumped where her hand was touching. As if to say it was alright.

She felt like crying at the baby’s movements that seemed to be trying to reassure her. She felt guilty belatedly.

The baby would be big enough to hear mom and dad’s voices now, how scared must it have been listening to them fighting all the time.

Thinking of the fear the child must have felt, she felt endlessly sorry.

She wanted to do better.

She wanted to give only prettier things, only better things. In her past life, she must have been very clumsy as a first-time mother, so this time she wanted to be a more skillful mother.

But she ended up making the same mistake again.

Blair, who was shedding tears again out of guilt towards the child, tried hard to hold back her bursting sobs as she felt the baby’s constant movements.

The baby would be feeling all of the mother’s sadness too. She didn’t want the child to know these emotions of hers. She wanted it to feel only pretty and good things.

‘The most important thing is my baby.’

The purpose of this life was only for this child.

It was a life that began solely to meet this child again, and if she lost this child, this life would have no meaning.

The resentment towards Herdin, the fear that it might repeat exactly like the past life, were nothing in front of the child’s well-being.

‘Let’s just think about safely giving birth until this child is born.’

Everything else can be thought about after Asiel is born.

Blair whispered while gently stroking her belly.

“I’ll make sure to make you happy, baby.”

So please come safely to mom’s side.

* * *

A gentle sea breeze ruffled his fine black hair.

Herdin cast an indifferent gaze in the direction the wind had come from. The aquamarine blue sea was dazzlingly sparkling with sunlight.

Just as a face that would likely enjoy this scenery came to mind, the voice of Raymond, the lord of Nerha, broke his reverie.

“Nearly 50 ships of this massive scale enter the port every week.”

“With so many outsiders coming and going, maintaining public order must be no easy task.”

“Of course, it’s not an easy job. That’s why we increased the troops a bit more the year before last. It costs a lot to maintain, but the surest and easiest way to maintain public order is to increase the stationed troops.”

Just then, knights patrolling the coast recognized Raymond and saluted.

Raymond also saluted them with a generous smile as he passed by.

He proudly talked about how much the value of imports and exports distributed to the inland through Nerha every week was, how difficult it was to control it, and how great Nerha was for doing that job.

Luth quietly followed behind them, taking notes on helpful information.

Raymond’s boasting stopped when he spotted dark clouds approaching from far out at sea.

“Oh my, it looks like it might rain. I still have more places to show you…”

“Let’s postpone that till tomorrow. We have plenty of time anyway.”

Raymond clicked his tongue regretfully, but decided to end the port inspection here as Herdin said.

As the two men boarded their respective carriages, the carriages set off.

Herdin looked at the passing village scenery through the window.

Several days had passed since Blair was examined by the doctor. During that time, he didn’t visit her during the day and dealt with backlogged work.

Whenever he caught glimpses of Blair, she seemed to be doing well.

Dozing off while sitting on the swing in front of the annex basking in the sunlight, or bursting into laughter while taking a walk in the garden with a young, unruly animal.

The smile that was hard to see no matter what he did was so easy in places where he wasn’t.

‘…Is that what I wanted?’

What you want.

Could what you so desperately want be a life without me?

The sound of raindrops hitting the carriage began.

Herdin was about to close the window to block the rain pouring through the open gap when he suddenly paused, noticing a sweet scent stimulating his nose.

It was a familiar scent he had smelled before.

* * *

In the late afternoon, Blair, who had fallen asleep after lunch, woke up to the sound of rain hitting the window.

As she stared blankly at the raindrops on the tree outside the window, shaking off her drowsiness, Blair suddenly remembered something and got up. It was to check if Herdin had returned home.

However, before she could approach the balcony, Blair’s steps stopped in front of the table.

Small boxes were piled up on the table in the room. They weren’t there before she fell asleep.

Looking at them with puzzled eyes, Blair opened one of the boxes she picked up. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw what was inside.

“…Lemon candy?”

It was the lemon-flavored candy she often ate during the early stages of pregnancy when morning sickness was severe.

When she opened the next box, the sweet smell of cream puffs announced its contents. It was bread filled with cream puffs. Her mouth watered instinctively at the thought of that sweetness.

Intending to check the contents of all the boxes first, she set that aside and opened the next box. Inside were marshmallows.

There was only one person who could have brought this while she was asleep.

Blair, who was blankly staring at her husband’s surprise gift, put one in her mouth. The unique soft texture and sweetness spread pleasantly in her mouth.

Perhaps sensing its mother’s mood, the baby in her belly also wriggled excitedly. Dimples formed on Blair’s cheeks as she stroked her belly while chewing the marshmallow.

Along with that sweetness, memories of last spring came to mind.

The sweetness of the roasted marshmallow she tasted for the first time, the warmth of the candlelight that was scary but warm, his face smiling at her by its side, and…

‘Is it that delicious?’

Even the feelings she had painfully realized at that moment.

With the suddenly recalled memory, forgotten emotions welled up.

It was a love as sweet as marshmallows. Once upon a time.

Whatever his true feelings were, it seemed she could get by well enough with the sweetness of this one piece of marshmallow.

Blair put another piece of marshmallow in her mouth as if recalling that memory, those emotions.

As she stood there savoring Herdin’s gift, a knock sounded in the room filled only with the sound of rain.

“My lady? Are you awake?”

It was the maid’s voice.

Blair chewed and swallowed the cream puff bread in her mouth before speaking.

“Yes, come in.”

With the permission given, the maid immediately entered the room. In her approaching hand was a letter.

“The lord of Nerha has sent an invitation to a banquet.”

* * *

A carriage was parked in the pouring rain.

“Hurry up and lift the carriage! My dress is getting all wet! Can’t three strong men lift this?”

Beatrice, waiting under the umbrella held by her maid, was taking out her anger on the innocent knights and coachman.

They had gone out for an autumn foliage viewing excursion, but suddenly the wheel got stuck in the mud softened by the pouring rain.

Being outdoors, and perhaps due to the rain, there were no passing carriages nearby to ask for help.

The pleasant autumn picnic had become a mess, like the carriage wheel stuck in the mud.

“Ah, this is so annoying. Really…”

As Beatrice was grumbling, a shabby carriage appeared in the distance and approached them.

‘Could it be my destined partner?’

Unfortunately for Beatrice’s expectations, the person who got out of the carriage was a woman. With beautiful silver hair and golden eyes that looked almost angelic.

“Hello. Do you perhaps need my help?”

Miela, who had approached, held out her hand with a smile.