Despite inwardly anticipating the symptoms of morning sickness, she couldn’t be entirely happy. As soon as she realized this fact, her heart sank.

‘Not yet, it’s too soon…’

The only fortunate thing was that she wasn’t yet feeling nauseous enough to vomit.

“Oh, right. My lady, His Excellency has prepared medicine to strengthen your body…”

Melly, who had entered the bedroom together with Blair, started to speak as if remembering something, but then stopped abruptly, looking at Blair with puzzled eyes.

“My lady? What’s wrong?”

Lina, who was preparing the meal in the room, also approached quickly upon hearing Melly’s voice.

“Are you unwell, my lady?”

“No, I’m fine. I just felt a bit dizzy for a moment.”

Blair hastily waved her hands in dismissal, but Lina and Melly’s eyes grew even more worried.

“Shall I call for the physician?”

“It’s not that serious. I think I just stayed in the hot water for too long.”

Blair firmly grasped Lina’s hand, who looked ready to run out and call for the physician at any moment.

Fortunately, Lina did not go to call the physician. Instead, she held Blair’s hand with concerned eyes.

“You seem to have become much weaker recently. Why don’t you eat plenty and then take a walk with me after your meal?”

Blair chuckled at Lina’s overprotectiveness and nodded.

“Alright, let’s do that.”

“Then please call if you need anything.”

After Lina and Melly left, Blair was finally alone in the room.

Blair approached the table where Lina had prepared the meal. As she got closer, the buttery scent of the bread grew stronger, and her appetite disappeared.

Blair sat down at the table, keeping the bread and soup, the source of the smell, at a distance. Then she gently placed her hand on her lower abdomen.

“…Little one.”

Her voice trembled slightly as she called to the child in her womb. Her hand caressing her belly trembled as well.

‘Is this child really Asiel?’

She had tried her best to conceive at the same time and under the same circumstances as Asiel from her past life, but she couldn’t be certain.

But if she could only know after giving birth, she had no choice but to believe this child was Asiel.

Thinking that Asiel had returned to her after a long journey through time, tears welled up in her eyes.

Since returning to the past, there had been many hardships.

From the start of this contract marriage, to the process of uncovering the truth of the incident from ten years ago, to the current rumors and the finger-pointing directed at her.

But in moments when she wanted to give up, what kept her going was her determination to meet Asiel again, no matter what.

She was overjoyed that the fruit of her persistent struggle had finally taken root safely in her womb.

“This time, I will never leave you alone.”

I’ll stay by your side until you no longer need your mother’s help.

Thinking that she was no longer alone, her weakened heart grew a little stronger. She had to be strong to protect the child in her womb.

Blair gently caressed her belly for a long time.

* * *

When Blair returned from her walk in the garden with Lina after finishing her meal, Baroness Sionel was waiting for her.

“Have you been well, my lady?”

She had been called to create a dress for Blair to wear at the founding festival in two weeks.

“Thanks to you. Have you been well too?”

“Of course. How could I not be when you call for me whenever you remember me?”

Baroness Sionel laughed in her characteristic high-pitched voice, covering her mouth with a fan.

“By the way, were you just returning from a walk?”

“Yes, the weather has been nice lately.”

“That’s wonderful! A healthy model makes the clothes look even better.”

She skillfully led the conversation while spreading out the fabrics she had brought in front of Blair.

Despite being the most popular fashion designer in the capital, she didn’t dare mention the widespread rumors that she must have known about.

Her tact, which seemed light on the surface but was far from simple, was truly professional.

Thanks to this, Blair was able to comfortably choose the fabric for her dress and discuss the design.

A moment later, Blair rose from her seat first, having finished their discussion.

“I’m counting on you again this time.”

“Of course. Please leave it to me. I’ll visit again in a few days after completing the fitting.”

As Baroness Sionel also stood up, her assistants began efficiently packing up the fabrics they had brought.

As Blair was about to leave the reception room, one of Baroness Sionel’s assistants approached her.

She handed Blair a catalog.

“My lady. This is a catalog of our new arrivals. Please take a look when you have time.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Blair reached out to take the catalog. At that moment, the assistant slipped something under the catalog.

‘…A note?’

While Blair blinked in confusion, the assistant hurriedly moved away.

The assistant had discreetly passed the note, using the catalog to hide it even from Lina and Melly standing nearby. This meant Blair couldn’t open it here.

‘Could this note be…’

There was one person she suspected might have sent this.

“I’m going to rest for a while, so go attend to your duties.”

After returning to her room, Blair dismissed Lina and Melly, then took out the note she had received from Baroness Sionel’s assistant earlier.

As she unfolded the note, she saw a message written in a familiar handwriting.

[I have urgent matters to discuss with you, but due to the strict security at the Duke’s residence, I haven’t been able to contact you. Even approaching the maid who usually delivers messages has become difficult due to surveillance.]

It seemed that Herdin had not only prohibited her from going out and strengthened the security of the Duke’s residence, but had also thoroughly cut off any external contact.

Now she understood why there had been no contact from Mikhail for a while.

[Before arranging a meeting, I would like to ask you something first.

Is the plan and intention you initially mentioned still valid?]

The ‘plan and intention’ Mikhail was referring to was probably what she had said when she first visited the guild.

To cause a scandal, abandon her current name and status, and leave the Duke’s family.

[If that plan hasn’t changed, I will certainly help you.

Please send a reply through the assistant who handed you this note when Baroness Sionel visits with the fitted dress. I’ll be waiting.]

After reading the note, Blair took a flower out of a nearby vase, put the note in the fireplace, and poured water over it to make it soggy.

Then she used a poker to mangle the paper until it was unrecognizable.

‘I wanted to attend the trial if possible for the sake of Her Majesty the Empress, but…’

Now that morning sickness had started, she had to consider the worst-case scenario.

As Blair put the flower back into the empty vase, her eyes were calm, as if she had sorted out all her thoughts.

* * *

Before dinner time, Herdin, who had returned home, finished bathing and visited Blair’s room.

It had become routine for him to embrace Blair upon returning home from his outside duties, and then have dinner together in the bedroom when evening came.

However, contrary to his plans, Blair was sound asleep.

Although it was disappointing that his plans had been disrupted, he couldn’t fault her for taking a short rest, given that the night was long.

He couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt, knowing that he was the one who had been exhausting her day and night recently.

Herdin quietly sat down at the bedside and silently gazed at the sleeping Blair.

Everything was going smoothly.

All the evidence needed to reveal the truth behind the fire incident at the Empress’s palace ten years ago had been collected.

‘Now all that’s left is…’

Herdin’s gaze shifted to Blair’s flat stomach covered by the blanket.

If I could create a connection that no one could sever between us, if you would stay by my side.

If only that could happen, it seemed all the lingering anxiety at his feet would disappear.

Herdin covered Blair’s stomach with his large hand and caressed it, eventually unable to resist the surging desire, he leaned towards her.

The desire that had been indulging in her for so long couldn’t even wait for that moment of peace.

Just as his selfish lips were about to devour her defenseless ones.

Her tightly closed eyelids trembled slightly, and Blair slowly opened her eyes.

“…Ah.”

Surprised to see his face right in front of her as soon as she opened her eyes, Blair’s eyes widened.

But the culprit caught just before the act, far from being surprised, brazenly proceeded to devour her lips.

His lips, alternating between sucking and releasing, intertwined more deeply and persistently. Soon, his hand naturally moved up to her stomach.

At that moment, Blair, who had been awkwardly responding to his kiss, shyly tried to avoid him.

Herdin, who keenly noticed this, separated his lips and looked at her, and Blair mumbled in response.

“…I don’t feel well.”

As she said this, Blair’s hand hidden under the blanket was protectively cradling her lower abdomen.

The risk of miscarriage is high in early pregnancy.

Now that she knew about the pregnancy, she had to avoid physical intimacy with him as much as possible.

Herdin’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Blair.

“Have you seen a doctor? Have you taken any medicine?”

“It’s not that serious. I’m just… a bit tired. I want to rest.”

Blair evaded the question while watching his reaction. Fortunately, Herdin didn’t press further and withdrew.

Blair, relieved, was about to close her eyes again when Herdin’s words made her heart drop.

“By the way, you haven’t had your monthly bleeding this month, have you?”