In the end, Blair was only able to escape from him after falling into a deep sleep. Of course, this too would be just for a fleeting moment.

Herdin watched Blair sleeping in his arms for a while, then slowly got up and put on his robe.

The fireplace that had been blazing and warming the room now held only dimming embers and nearly burned-out charcoal.

He threw in a few more logs and took out a cigar as he stepped onto the balcony.

Before him stretched the moonlit garden. The night breeze caressing his cheek was as soft as his wife’s delicate skin. It even had a similar fresh, grass-like scent.

It was spring.

As he lit his cigar feeling that breeze, he suddenly recalled what Blair had said a few days ago.

‘Before starting hypnosis, I want to practice overcoming my fear of fire little by little.’

For some unknown reason, Blair wasn’t afraid of fire when she was with him.

Of course, it was a bit bothersome that he had to stay by her side while the fire was lit, since looking at the fireplace would lead to her being consumed by fear and hyperventilating. But he was willing to do that much.

It gave him a sense of elation that only he could save her from the fire.

So if she, having grown accustomed to the warmth of the fire, sought him out first and clung to him, he thought he could endure that level of annoyance.

Like taking care of a stray cat that had grown used to being fed by humans.

‘There’s no need to rush.’

It was a memory her subconscious had erased to protect itself.

Was there any need to forcibly drag out that memory?

Currently, Caligo was keeping an eye on Katrina’s movements, so if they found any clues there, there would be even less need to awaken her memories.

If that didn’t work out, they could try to recover her memories then.

Herdin exhaled smoke as he gazed at Blair sleeping soundly through the glass into the bedroom.

What would happen when this spring passed?

When the winter chill faded and she no longer needed his warmth…

Herdin’s eyes deepened as he brushed up his bangs. Just then, he saw Blair stirring in her sleep.

Herdin put out his half-smoked cigar and entered the bedroom. To the side of his wife, waiting for his warmth.

* * *

The weather was nice.

Blue sky, scattered clouds, trees budding with new life. Perfect weather for a picnic.

‘If only it would rain.’

Herdin was displeased with the fine weather that had forced him to join the hunting party.

He turned his dry gaze from the window to look at his wife beside him.

Though her expression was hidden by the bonnet covering most of her small face, the direction of her head suggested she was looking at the scenery outside.

The way she couldn’t take her eyes off the view outside was adorable, like a child going on a picnic.

As Herdin admired Blair’s profile, his gaze fell on the nape of her neck. Wisps of hair that had escaped her updo tickled her snow-white nape.

It was where he had pressed his lips when he held her last night.

As memories of the previous night overlapped with that white nape, blood rushed to his lower abdomen.

Herdin scoffed at himself.

It seems he’d gone mad enough to react just from seeing that woman’s nape.

The irony was that even while aware of this state, he had no desire to suppress that longing.

Herdin reached out to wrap his arm around Blair’s waist and pulled her to him. Then, before she could resist, he kissed the nape of her neck.

Blair turned around, startled.

“You shouldn’t leave marks on my neck ag—”

The end of her sentence was swallowed by his approaching lips.

After kissing her thoroughly, he pulled away and looked at Blair as if seeking permission.

Act first, ask permission later.

Bewildered by this reversed order, Blair glared at him with narrowed eyes instead of acquiescing.

But Herdin kissed her again as he pleased, as if her permission didn’t matter. In the end, Blair closed her eyes, pretending to give in.

His hand untied the ribbon of her bonnet under her chin. As the carriage jolted once, the precariously perched bonnet fell and rolled on the floor.

The gentle kiss gradually became rougher. Herdin drank in her every breath, not missing a single one. Only when Blair’s face flushed from lack of air did he finally let her go.

Blair looked at him with dazed eyes. Her rouge was smeared messily on his lips.

That utterly debauched face embarrassed Blair more than its owner.

What would people think if they saw him like this?

On the surface, they were a properly married couple, so even if someone caught them it wouldn’t be a problem, but the issue was that she wasn’t brazen enough to endure that.

Blair hurriedly wiped her smeared rouge from his lips with her thumb. Herdin lightly bit that finger.

“Ah.”

Blair’s hand paused. A subtle current flowed between the two facing each other.

Like a tightly drawn bowstring.

The change in his gaze, which had seemed momentarily docile, happened in an instant.

His lips overlapped hers again, rendering her efforts to clean them futile. He skillfully parted her lower lip and explored her mouth.

At the same time, his large hand that had been supporting Blair’s waist began to move upward.

At that touch, memories of her past life suddenly surfaced.

‘Come to think of it, in my previous life, on this day in the carriage too…’

Blair hurriedly grabbed his hand. And pushed him away.

“No more… Herdin. We’re in a carriage.”

“So what?”

Blair glared at Herdin, exasperated by his retort that seemed genuinely unaware of the problem.

“What if… other people hear?”

“You just have to not make noise.”

What nonsense was he spouting now!

He was too overwhelming for her, and the stimulation he gave was far too intense. Even if she tried not to make a sound, it didn’t work as intended.

“We could just not do it.”

Herdin, seemingly unwilling to let go of Blair, pulled her back to his side as she tried to distance herself and replied.

“Who was it that teased first, probing with their lips?”

“You kissed me first.”

“Then let’s say that was my fault.”

He hugged Blair and sat her on his lap.

“It would be a bit difficult for me to stop now.”

Blair froze as she felt his heat, taut and tense, under her thighs.

Unlike his words that seemed to admit his mistake, his body showed no signs of repentance.

“Unless you want to spread rumors to others that your husband is a beast in heat for his wife.”

Blair’s face gradually turned red. Herdin whispered as he rummaged through the layers of her voluminous skirt.

“You made me like this, so take responsibility.”

Eventually, a heat too overwhelming to bear slowly rose and consumed Blair.

In the end, she could only bite her lip and wrap her arms around his neck.

* * *

The hunting party was held in a forest owned by the imperial family, located on the outskirts of the capital.

The nobles who gathered first had a meal, then split up—the men for the actual hunt, and the women for tea time.

“Well, now that we’ve filled our stomachs, shall we go warm up?”

At Ivan’s words, the nobles dispersed to prepare for the hunt. The men who had finished preparing received encouragement and cheek kisses from their wives or lovers.

Herdin strode over to Blair, who was watching the scene intently.

But she turned her gaze away with her characteristic stubborn expression. She had been like that since they were in the carriage. Seeing her like this, the corners of Herdin’s mouth turned up.

She seemed thoroughly upset, but even that looked cute to him.

Herdin lightly tickled Blair’s cheek with his index finger and asked,

“Won’t you give me a kiss?”

“…”

“You said you’d fulfill your duties as a wife.”

Only then did her averted gaze return to him.

Although it was annoying that she only reluctantly listened to him when he brought up that damned contract, he could tolerate that faint irritation.

The woman’s sulking face looking up at him was beautiful, and the lips that finally touched his were soft.

Herdin slightly lifted Blair’s bonnet and kissed her round forehead. Then he retied the loosened ribbon of her bonnet.

Blair’s slowly blinking eyes gazed at him. Seeing his reflection in those eyes made him think of last night again.

But the desire that seemed about to rise again stopped. Thanks to someone’s gaze watching them. In that direction was Wesley.

Herdin’s blue eyes sank coldly as they met his. It was no time to relax just because the Empress Dowager hadn’t come.

Just then, a Delmark knight approached.

“My lord, the preparations are complete.”

Blair, unable to take her eyes off him, hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Be careful, Herdin.”

“I’ll be back.”

Herdin’s expression, which had loosened, returned to a cold, expressionless mask as he turned away from Blair.

He ordered the knight following him:

“Bain. Don’t leave the lady’s side. If she says she’s tired, you may return early.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Blair watched Herdin’s retreating back with sorrowful eyes.

He hadn’t changed from the past.

It was natural since the person hadn’t changed. He was someone who always prioritized his own desires, both in the past and now.

So his actions of desiring her probably weren’t anything like love.