The child born in the snowy winter grew vigorously like a sprout that had been holding its breath all winter when spring came.

Still small, but pleasantly plump with flesh and a little heavier.

Herdin stayed by Blair and the child’s side as much as possible even after Asiel was born.

Since he hadn’t seen Asiel when he was born in his previous life, every moment of the child was fascinating and precious.

But there were days when he had to be away due to the flood of work. Like today.

“Is this the last one?”

Herdin asked as he handed over the document after signing and stamping the final paper.

“Yes, the paperwork is done, but…”

Luth, who received the document, trailed off and pulled out a letter from his breast pocket. It was a letter with the imperial seal.

Herdin’s brow furrowed at the sight of it.

“A letter has arrived from Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. It arrived earlier today, but I kept it separate in case it would worry you.”

Herdin stared at the envelope with a cold expression. The recipient was, of course, Blair.

In fact, this wasn’t the first time Katrina had sent a letter to Blair.

About a month after Blair gave birth, a letter arrived from Katrina.

Herdin was worried that Katrina might hurt or burden Blair, but contrary to his concerns, she remained indifferent upon receiving the letter.

‘She says she wants to see Asiel.’

‘…Asiel?’

‘Yes. It’s strange. She didn’t do this in the last life.’

Blair seemed nonchalant as she said this, but Herdin was displeased with Katrina’s behavior.

Unlike in the previous life, was it because her crimes had been revealed this time? Had she repented while imprisoned in the palace with her limbs cut off and her power lost?

Whatever the reason, it was ridiculous to see her trying to act like a mother now. Of course, if there had been no contact at all, that would have been annoying in its own way.

Blair likely felt the same way.

But he thought his soft-hearted wife might reluctantly reply to her mother. After all, she had lived her whole life as a good daughter.

However, Blair never replied.

Worried that Katrina’s letter might negatively affect Blair, who had not yet fully recovered, Herdin instructed that any letters from the palace should be delivered to him first.

And after another month or so, another letter came from Katrina.

What should he do?

Tapping his index finger on the desk, Herdin pondered Blair’s feelings and suddenly came up with a hypothesis.

Perhaps Blair was turning her back on her mother because she and Katrina were enemies, him being Esmeralda’s nephew.

While one corner of her tender heart might still hold guilt for not forgiving her mother.

If that was the case, the answer was simple.

Having decided what to do with Katrina’s letter, Herdin stood up with the letter in hand.

“I’ll take care of it, you can go now.”

“Yes, rest well.”

After sending Luth away, Herdin headed straight for the bedroom.

The faint sound of a grandfather clock could be heard from afar. It was already close to midnight, a time when Blair should have been asleep.

But what greeted him was an empty bed.

Seeing the empty bed, his heart sank. It was an instinctive reaction born from the experience of losing her several times.

After staring blankly at the bed for a moment, Herdin quickly regained his composure and moved his feet. At this hour, there was only one other place she could be besides the bedroom.

As he entered the adjoining room connected to the bedroom, the distinctive smell of milk that filled the room tickled his heart. At the same time, he heard a gentle singing voice. It was the song Blair sang when putting the child to sleep.

Hearing that sound, the corners of Herdin’s mouth relaxed into a smile.

As he entered the room further, he saw Blair sitting next to Asiel’s cradle. It was a scene he could always see when she was awake.

“Blair.”

At his quiet call, Blair finally turned to look at him, her face brightening.

“You’re back, Herdin?”

“It’s late, why aren’t you asleep?”

“Asiel was crying.”

Asiel was particularly attached to his mother’s touch.

Even when playing well, he would fuss for no apparent reason. At such times, it was no use for the wet nurse to try to soothe him, but strangely, he would stop crying immediately when Blair held him.

Although it must be tiring to always be sought after by the baby, Blair showed no sign of annoyance. Instead, the more he cried for her, the more love and attention she gave him.

Sometimes, to the point where that love was almost enviable.

“I wonder what’s bothering him? If only we could hear everything Asiel wants to say…”

“He must have missed his mother.”

“…Is that so?”

It was an answer that reflected his own feelings, but his wife smiled, seemingly pleased with the response, unaware of her own heart.

Seeing that smile, Herdin let out a chuckle as if admitting defeat.

Blair, who couldn’t take her eyes off the sleeping child even though her husband had returned, spoke in a low voice.

“The wet nurse says Asiel seems to be growing faster than other children.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Today he made eye contact with me. He seems to have good concentration, he looked at me for quite a long time.”

Newborn babies, due to their underdeveloped eyesight, couldn’t see well except for close objects. It was still a time when they couldn’t even make proper eye contact with their parents.

Starting with that, Blair began to chatter about the events of the day. She was eager to tell her husband about every adorable moment of Asiel.

His wife was not originally a talkative woman.

Seeing her chattering away so excitedly like this made him feel helplessly sorry.

Surely, you must have wanted to talk to me like this in your previous life too. You who enjoy talking like this so much.

Herdin quietly watched his wife speaking in a gentle voice, occasionally chiming in to show he was listening attentively.

He enjoyed hearing his wife’s voice, which had become more talkative after giving birth. Because she looked happier than ever when speaking like that.

If you are happy, I will be happy too.

“And look at this too. His smiling lips look just like yours.”

Blair whispered, pointing to the baby making faces.

She found her own features in all the pretty parts of the child. It felt like it was telling her that it loved her, making everything in this moment feel like a miracle.

Herdin looked back and forth between his wife and the child who resembled all her lovely features, then opened his mouth.

“Well, to me, it seems he looks more like you.”

He stroked Blair’s eye area and added.

“These sparkling eyes.”

His lowered finger playfully tapped her small nose.

“This twitching nose.”

And the final destination was her lips.

“These pretty lips.”

As he raised his gaze, his eyes met Blair’s, who was blinking in a defenseless state.

She noticed the heat in his gaze and slightly blushed, averting her eyes.

“Don’t have strange thoughts in front of the baby.”

Even his wife’s rebuke was welcome, and Herdin chuckled and added glibly.

“I was just thinking about you.”

Then he cupped her cheek and kissed her. Blair, who seemed momentarily flustered, soon gave in and accepted him.

The kiss, which started lightly, gradually became heated and lingering, as it always did. Just as his hand, caressing Blair’s waist, naturally cupped her rounded bottom, it happened.

“Waaah…”

Asiel woke up and started whimpering. The timing was truly exquisite.

Blair’s hand, which had been caressing Herdin’s arm, quickly fell away. At the same time, her lips wet with saliva and their closely pressed bodies separated.

The wife who had been a temptress just moments ago returned to being a mother with one cry from the child.

Herdin reluctantly let her go, suppressing the heat that had built up in his body.

Blair quickly picked up Asiel. The baby sucked on her clothing near her chest, whimpering.

“Our baby, you woke up hungry, didn’t you?”

Blair, realizing that Asiel had woken up hungry, started to breastfeed him. She looked very skillful at it.

Herdin quietly watched the cute little intruder who had monopolized his wife with just one cry, then gently poked the child’s chubby cheek with his index finger.

Asiel, seemingly irritated by this, flailed his hands and grabbed Herdin’s finger. The grip was quite strong, eliciting a chuckle.

“Looking again, I think you’re right that he resembles me.”

“Right?”

“The way he loves his mother’s breasts.”

At his lewd remark, Blair’s eyes narrowed. Herdin laughed, clearly enjoying her reaction.

Eventually, when Asiel finished feeding and detached from the breast, Herdin naturally took the child into his arms. It was to help with digestion.

But there was a rustling sound from his chest as he held the child. Just then, remembering what he had momentarily forgotten, Herdin took out the letter from his inside pocket and handed it to Blair.

“A letter from the imperial palace.”

Blair, realizing it was a letter from Katrina, looked up at him with puzzled eyes. It was a silent question asking why he had it.

“I was worried about you, so I checked it first. I’m sorry.”

Blair opened the letter with a slightly lighter heart. The fact that Herdin showed this to her after reading it first meant that there was nothing too concerning in its contents.

The letter contained what she had expected, no different from the last time.

Expressing disappointment in the daughter who didn’t reply, and the desire to see her grandson.