“Her… mmph!”

Before Blair could say anything, his lips approached and swallowed hers.

Herdin roughly penetrated between her teeth, entangling their breaths. The desire he had suppressed while watching the sleeping Blair burst forth like a flood, overwhelming her.

“Mmm…”

Hot breaths and sticky saliva intertwined as the kiss continued, almost as if devouring her.

Blair couldn’t gather her thoughts due to his kiss, rougher than usual, and the hazy effects of alcohol. She could only breathe in the air he shared, like a baby bird.

Blair, who had forgotten her initial purpose and was being swept away by him, only came to her senses when his hand caressed her thigh and entered her slip.

Startled, Blair flinched and pulled her lips away. As he silently looked down at her lips, wet with saliva, and tried to kiss her again, this time Blair turned her head to avoid it.

Blair hurriedly opened her mouth before he could press his lips against hers again.

“Herdin, let’s talk for a moment.”

Watching her, one of Herdin’s eyebrows raised. The man facing her already had the eyes of a hungry beast.

“Go ahead. I’m listening.”

However, contrary to his words, his hand fearlessly moved inward. Just before that hand reached inside, Blair urgently grabbed his hand and shouted.

“I… didn’t take the medicine today.”

Only then did Herdin’s hand hesitate. Blair made an even more daring statement to restrain him.

“Is it okay if I get pregnant?”

His hand, which had been gripping and spreading her thighs, tensed and then immediately relaxed. His Adam’s apple moved passionately as he let out a languid sigh.

To have his wife right there, perfectly prepared to be devoured, at a distance close enough to feel her breath, yet unable to do so.

The desire that wasn’t satisfied even after claiming her every night quickly swelled to the point of bursting, tormenting him. However, there was no way to overcome his wife’s brazen threat.

Of course, the effects of the medicine she had been taking daily would likely still remain, making the chances of pregnancy slim, but the issue was her willingness regarding their relationship.

She doesn’t want it. At least not right now.

In the end, Herdin lowered Blair’s slip and compromised his desire by sitting her on his lap.

“Speak, my princess.”

Blair pondered how to make him listen to the conversation that had been rejected every time, but unfortunately, she wasn’t skilled in negotiation. Even less so in threats.

In the end, what she chose was to confront him once again, honestly and sincerely.

“…I want to have a second child.”

Just as Herdin, who had already anticipated what she was going to say, was about to refuse, Blair quickly added.

“Asiel wants it too.”

At this, Herdin’s brow furrowed slightly.

He already knew that Asiel wanted a sibling. But he thought the boy had understood after being given a thorough explanation.

“Did that rascal go to you and beg as well?”

Blair shook her head.

“No. He didn’t show any sign of it in front of me. He just made an adorable plan on his own.”

“…A plan?”

“He was excited by the expectation that if he left, Mom and Dad might make a sibling.”

Herdin let out a hollow laugh.

Now he understood why Asiel had said he wanted to go to the Arbon Count’s house. And also why he had asked him a few days ago when he wanted to kiss Mom.

It was an adorable plan that only a child could think of.

Noticing that his stern atmosphere had softened, Blair didn’t miss the opportunity and continued speaking.

“Herdin, I know you’re hesitant about pregnancy because you’re worried about me. I can’t lie and say that period wasn’t difficult.”

“…”

“But I was very happy during that time. Although the time for proper prenatal care was short… I liked that you were constantly worrying about me, caring for me, and protecting me.”

She still thought about it sometimes.

That time when she was carrying Asiel in her womb. The happiness of those moments when she was held in his arms every day, talking to the baby, and feeling the movements together.

Every single moment that made up those times was love.

Becoming a family, creating a family, was such a miraculous blessing.

“And I felt proud that I could create a family for you. Because that’s something only I, whom you love, can do.”

Now she could be certain.

That this man loves her. And that she is the only person in this world who can receive that love.

This man cannot love anyone else.

The moments of his gaze, his gestures, the warmth that reached her in this life… they all told her so.

That he loves you.

Blair wanted to make such a man even happier than he is now. She wanted to love him more and make him feel more loved.

“If we can become happier, I would be glad if such a miracle happened once more.”

Even the difficult process.

“So, will you allow me that miracle one more time…?”

Herdin stared at her two eyes filled with desperation for a moment, as if entranced.

She had already made him sufficiently happy. She had taught him love and created a family for him.

And yet she says she wants to make him even happier.

How can you be so lovable?

He wanted to pretend to give in to her earnest request, but there was still a second reason that she didn’t know about.

Herdin gently pressed his forehead against Blair’s and opened his mouth.

“That’s not the only reason, Blair.”

“Then what is it?”

“I know how much you love Asiel. I also know how hard you worked to raise that child. I’m always sorry and grateful to you for carrying and giving birth to that child.”

Blair quietly looked at him as he continued in a rather serious tone. Herdin continued, looking into her eyes.

“But, Blair. Children grow up very quickly. There will be many days like today when you cry.”

He knew that Asiel’s existence was particularly precious to Blair, but that child couldn’t be her entire life.

She probably knew that fact better than anyone. That’s why she looked for another reason and came to want a second child.

“Even then, the children will still love us, and we will love them, but they can no longer be your life.”

“…”

“When that time comes, I’ll be happy because I can have you all to myself, but will you be okay with that? Living only as someone’s wife and the children’s mother for your whole life?”

Blair stared at him blankly at his question.

A life that wasn’t being a mother.

It was a life she had never thought about since Asiel was born.

Herdin brushed his wife’s soft hair behind her ear and added.

“I want you to be happy as yourself, not as a mother or a wife.”

As Blair blinked her round eyes looking at him, a memory from sometime ago came to her mind.

‘Give me one more chance, Blair.’

The image of him coming on that snowy night in winter when she had left, no longer having the courage to be hurt by him.

He didn’t miss that chance. And she had never regretted giving him that chance until now.

He made her feel loved every single moment.

Blair felt a tingling sensation from the tips of her fingers as she rested her head on her husband’s firm shoulder.

“You’ve grown up.”

“It’s about time, isn’t it? How many years have I been troubling you?”

Blair laughed pleasantly at Herdin’s brazen retort.

“So think about it once more. Whether that truly makes you happy.”

Saying that, Herdin laid Blair down on the bed. Surprised by the sudden change in view, Blair saw his large shadow looming over her.

“Now, will you give me permission, my wife.”

Blair quietly looked up at her husband waiting for her permission. Nights with him were still a little scary, but even more exciting. Blair liked that excitement and fear.

Fortunately, she nodded before his reason could snap. As soon as permission was granted, the beast wearing her husband’s face pounced.

Blair embraced the neck of the beast she loved.

* * *

The next morning, as soon as Blair opened her eyes, she had to endure her husband who had finished getting ready to go out and was waiting.

Truly, his stamina was beyond that of a beast; ‘monster’ was a more fitting description.

After receiving him once more in a half-asleep state and then falling into a deep sleep, when she woke up, Herdin had already left for an external schedule.

Come to think of it, she seemed to have heard him muttering about wanting to postpone his schedule while she was half-asleep.

Blair, who finally opened her eyes when the sun was high in the sky, came to the bathroom to start her late day.

“Please call if you need anything, Madam.”

After sending the maids out, Blair entered the bathtub.

‘It’s warm.’

As she immersed her body in the hot water, her body, which had been overexerted throughout the night, relaxed comfortably. The rhythmic sound of falling water drops cleared her mind. Suddenly, last night’s conversation came to mind.

‘I want you to be happy as yourself, not as a mother or a wife.’

‘…’

‘So think about it once more. Whether that truly makes you happy.’

How I become happy.

The reason for my life.

‘I didn’t know Herdin was thinking that far ahead.’

Blair, who had been pondering deeply about the life of ‘Blair’ rather than a mother, had organized her thoughts by the time she finished bathing and came out of the tub refreshed.

It seemed like things would get a bit busy from today.