Herdin returned to the bedroom late at night.

During the day, he kept his distance from Blair, but at night he came back to the room to sleep. His wife, who had become a light sleeper since becoming pregnant, was usually asleep by the time he returned.

Today too, he entered the bedroom expecting Blair to be asleep, but stopped short when he met her violet eyes.

Blair was still awake. She seemed to have been waiting for him.

Herdin approached and sat down next to Blair, who was leaning against the bed. Blair immediately held out a letter. It bore the seal of Nerha.

“We received an invitation to a banquet from the Lord of Nerha.”

Seeing this, Herdin let out a wry laugh. He felt foolish for thinking, even briefly, that there might be some other reason.

Herdin took the invitation that Blair handed to him.

It was a formal invitation, simply stating that a banquet would be held at the mansion in three days, and they hoped for their attendance to grace the occasion.

Raymond’s intentions were obvious.

While inviting Herdin and Blair was partly due to not being able to ignore the guests staying at his house, it was more likely an attempt to make connections.

While Delmark was a rival in the port business on a small scale, on a larger scale, they were also important clients managing the empire’s vast territory.

As much as he wanted to decline the invitation, it wouldn’t look good to refuse the host’s invitation while staying in the guesthouse of his mansion.

After checking the date on the invitation, Herdin put it down on the bedside table and said,

“I’ll let them know that only I will attend the banquet. You should rest.”

Blair’s questioning gaze turned to him, silently asking why she wasn’t going.

“Given what happened recently, I think it’s best not to overexert yourself. The Lord of Nerha will understand.”

That’s what he told her, but in truth, it was largely due to his concern about the rumors surrounding Blair.

When he brought her to the guesthouse, the rumors about the Duchess running away with another man’s child had subsided for now.

But there would be many who would make up their own stories behind her back even after seeing her return. It was clear that it wouldn’t help Blair’s mental and emotional stability.

Fortunately, Blair nodded in agreement to his words.

“That sounds good. I’ll do as you say.”

The conversation about the banquet ended there.

Herdin thought it was already well past the time she would have normally been asleep, and since the only reason she had waited for him was because of the banquet invitation, he assumed she would go to bed right away.

But Blair stared at him intently and hesitated for a moment. She seemed to have something more to say.

As Herdin looked at her quizzically, Blair opened her mouth.

“…Thank you for the gift. I’ll enjoy it.”

She had always been wary or resigned when she saw him, but today she was strangely gentle. To think the reason was just dessert.

He couldn’t help but let out a wry laugh, feeling somewhat futile that he had spent money and even argued with her over just a few desserts.

Though he couldn’t understand her standards, it was enough that she liked it.

Herdin simply nodded at her thanks and changed the subject.

“You don’t seem tired today.”

“I took a long nap during the day, so I feel alright.”

Hearing Blair’s words that she wasn’t planning to sleep right away, Herdin stared at her belly for a moment before asking.

“Does this little one say it’s okay too?”

When Blair blinked in confusion, not understanding his intention, Herdin added.

“You said it seems unfamiliar with its father. Then we should make it familiar.”

Blair finally realized that Herdin wanted to feel the baby’s movements.

Thinking of how indifferent this man had been to the child in her past life made her feel resentful, but that was just her own feelings.

For the child, it would surely be better if its father showed interest, even if only now.

‘And since I received a gift today… I’ll help a little.’

As if on cue, she could feel the baby moving around inside her.

Since the movements weren’t strong enough to be clearly visible, Blair carefully took his hand and placed it where she could feel the baby moving.

However, despite her efforts, the baby had already calmed down. Even when Blair poked her belly, there was no response.

After moving his hand a few more times while holding it, Blair spoke.

“Hmm… I guess you’re still unfamiliar to it. Why don’t you try greeting it first?”

Herdin, who had been more focused on Blair’s hand touching his than on the baby, asked after a beat.

“…Greet it?”

“To the baby. Its ears have developed now, so it can hear its parents’ voices.”

Herdin hesitated for a moment before greeting the child.

“Hello, little one.”

She had thought he would be awkward, but he greeted the baby surprisingly naturally.

Blair stared blankly at him. It was a scene she had desperately longed for since her past life. Somehow, it made her heart swell.

But the baby still showed no response.

Herdin, who had been quietly waiting for the baby’s reaction, finally removed his hand without getting an answer. At that moment, Blair grabbed his hand and put it back on her belly.

She spoke to the baby in a whisper-like voice.

“Baby, daddy wants to say hello to you. I think he feels sad because you keep hiding.”

She was very adept at communicating with the baby in her womb.

Herdin quietly watched her.

Her soft voice echoing in the quiet room was pleasant to hear. It was filled with affection. Just from her voice alone, one could tell how much she loved the child.

She looked happier than ever as she talked to the baby.

Only then did he feel he understood a little about what she liked.

Candy, cream puffs, marshmallows, and communicating with the baby.

She loved things just like that.

Sweet, soft, and warm things.

Herdin quietly took in the sight of Blair smiling as he felt the warmth of her hand overlapping his, and listened to her gentle, whispering voice.

Though the baby inside never responded, it was enough just to see her like this tonight.

* * *

On the day of the banquet, the mansion of the Lord of Nerha was bustling with preparations.

Among them, the busiest person was Beatrice.

She had to oversee the mansion prepared for the banquet in place of her mother who had passed away last year, and get ready as befitting the main character of today’s banquet.

Miela was with her as she was busily attended to by maids.

“Um, Miss. Is it really alright for me to attend the banquet too?”

“Of course. You’re my benefactor, aren’t you?”

A few days ago, on a day when sudden heavy rain poured down.

Beatrice, who was able to hurry back to the mansion by getting a ride in Miela’s carriage, suggested that Miela stay at her mansion while in Nerha.

‘You said you came here on vacation anyway, right? There’s no need to just pray at the temple even during your vacation.’

She had been thinking it would be nice to have a close friend around her age.

Although Miela was a commoner, she was a priestess, so having her close by would be helpful in many ways.

‘If I say she’s a priestess, Father will gladly let her stay at the mansion.’

At Beatrice’s enthusiastic suggestion, Miela reluctantly agreed to stay at the Nerha mansion.

Afterwards, Beatrice quickly opened her heart to Miela, who accepted her personality well, and treated her like a friend.

And today, she had arranged for Miela to attend the banquet with her. It would be a groundbreaking experience for Miela, who had lived as a commoner all her life.

“Miela, you have fair skin, so I think a dress in this color would suit you well.”

“But that dress has such an elegant design, I think it would suit you much better than me, Miss.”

“You think so?”

Miela watched Beatrice’s expression, who smiled smugly at her compliment, and casually brought up a topic.

“Oh, by the way, Miss. Will Duke Delmark be attending the banquet today?”

She had already obtained information that Herdin was staying in the guesthouse here on the day she arrived at the mansion. And also the fact that he had found Blair here.

She had overheard at the Delmark mansion, where she had gone to treat Herdin’s wounds, that Blair might be here, but she didn’t know she would really be here.

She had come to Nerha after getting permission for a vacation from her superiors just in case, and that ominous feeling had come true.

Her heart fluttered at the thought of meeting him, but at the same time, it ached to think that Herdin had come all the way here to find Blair.

‘What could he possibly lack that he would go for such a woman…’

There are plenty of women who love him. And among them, there must be young ladies from prestigious families with beautiful looks, even if not quite as much as Blair.

‘Even if the conditions are a bit lacking, it would be better than the daughter of an enemy.’

For instance, Beatrice right in front of her.

When Miela mentioned Herdin, Beatrice’s face lit up.

“Yes. It seems the Duchess won’t be able to come, but the Duke will attend alone.”

But her expression soon darkened again.

“But what’s the use? He’s already married anyway. If only we had met just a year earlier.”

“I know. It’s embarrassing to say this, but honestly, I think you would suit the Duke much better than the Duchess, who has so many scandals.”

“Right? You think so too?”

Seeing Beatrice express her regret, Miela smiled inwardly and whispered.

“Then how about filling in as the Duke’s partner at today’s banquet?”

Beatrice’s feelings for Herdin would soon turn into jealousy and hatred towards Blair.

Miela smiled faintly as she fanned those emotions.