Over the past half month, the days had grown longer and warmer.

As the sun set and the night began to bring a cool breeze, the court physician visited Blair’s room. It was the regular weekly check-up.

After receiving permission to enter, he saw Blair sitting propped up in bed with Herdin beside her.

The physician flinched when he met Herdin’s cold blue eyes.

Though he should have grown accustomed to his presence during these weekly check-ups, he still felt tense whenever facing him. It was an almost instinctive feeling.

“Welcome, Lord Ermanno.”

Only upon hearing Blair’s greeting did the physician snap to attention and politely approach the ducal couple.

After completing the examination, the physician relayed the news with a more relaxed expression.

“The sound of the heartbeat is clearer than last week. It seems to be growing healthily. How is your morning sickness?”

“It seems to have gotten worse.”

“This is usually the toughest period. But even if you have no appetite and feel unwell, please try to eat a little. There’s no need to worry about the baby as it will grow well on the nutrients from your body, but as the weather is getting hotter, it’s easy for your strength to weaken, My Lady.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

Herdin, who had been silently listening to the physician’s words, spoke up.

“When exactly does the stable period begin?”

“Usually, we consider the fourth month to be the start of the stable period. Morning sickness tends to improve a lot around that time too. That’s when people often go on short trips for prenatal education.”

“And when does the belly start showing?”

“It varies from person to person, but in the case of a first pregnancy…”

Herdin asked a few more questions related to pregnancy. At a glance, he appeared to be a caring husband and an exemplary father-to-be.

The physician smiled, gradually relaxing his tension as he observed this unexpected side of his cold-looking lord.

“With your relationship being so harmonious, I’m sure the baby in the womb is eager to meet its parents soon.”

However, even the faint smile on Blair’s face disappeared as she listened to his words.

Eventually, the physician finished his examination and left, leaving the two alone in the room. Herdin pulled a bell cord to call Melly.

“Prepare dinner in the bedroom.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

After sending Melly away, Herdin returned to the bedroom to find Blair already lying down with her back to him. Seeing this, Herdin’s eyes grew cold.

For half a month now, Blair had been turning away from him.

She would answer if spoken to, but that was all. She neither initiated conversation nor made eye contact.

Still, Herdin waited without pressing her.

He had anticipated this from the moment he forced her to stay by his side, and from her perspective, having to remain unwillingly at his side was enough reason to be angry.

Nevertheless, he could endure it. As long as she remained by his side like this, he could bear anything.

Besides, her stubbornness wouldn’t last long. Once her belly grew and her body weakened, a gap would form in her heart, and she would lean on him again.

As Herdin approached her with these thoughts, it happened.

Along with a familiar headache, a certain memory forcefully invaded his mind.

The time in the memory was late at night.

Blair was sleeping uncomfortably on her side. Cradling her visibly round belly, prominent even above the blanket.

In the memory, he simply stared at the sleeping Blair before turning away. Simultaneously, the emotions from the memory surged, constricting his heart. He yearned for that unreachable situation.

Herdin frowned and took a step. With that, the suddenly recalled memory scattered like fragments and disappeared.

‘…It had been quiet for a while, but now…’

Though the memory had vanished, the emotion that seemed both his and not his remained like an afterimage, stirring his chest.

It was an unpleasant feeling, but he couldn’t suppress it.

Swept up in that emotion, Herdin approached the bed. Blair still had her back turned to him.

He climbed onto the bed, embraced Blair, and pressed his lips firmly against her snow-white shoulder.

Her small body that fit perfectly in his arms, the sweet scent from her skin, the soft hair that tickled his face – all gave him a sense of comfort. But it wasn’t enough to satisfy him.

More. I want to be just a little closer to you.

Herdin’s hand naturally trailed up her leg. Feeling this, Blair grabbed his hand.

“Not today.”

“…”

“I want to rest.”

“I won’t do anything.”

At her firm refusal, Herdin suppressed his desire and obediently withdrew his hand. However, the yearning emotion simply wouldn’t subside.

I’m burning with desire to be closer to you, yet you…

How can you be so indifferent to me?

The reason probably lay with that man she had loved with all her life.

It was a miserable and intense unrequited love.

Herdin gently caressed her belly, which still showed little sign of pregnancy. Recalling the afterimage-like memory he had seen earlier.

Blair closed her eyes without pushing away his touch.

‘He’ll do as he pleases anyway, even if I object.’

She was now tired of pointless emotional expenditure.

Just as Blair was about to drift off to sleep, there was a knock at the door. It was Melly bringing their meal.

“Come in.”

At Herdin’s permission, Melly entered pulling a trolley, set the meal on the table in the reception room, and left.

Herdin lifted Blair in his arms and brought her to the table.

“Ugh…”

However, as had been the case during recent mealtimes, Blair started feeling nauseous before she could properly eat anything.

Herdin approached Blair, who was crouched in front of a bucket placed in one corner of the room, and rubbed her back until her retching subsided.

Though it shouldn’t be possible, Blair’s body seemed to have grown even thinner in that short moment. For this instant, he resented the child in her womb.

When the morning sickness finally subsided, Blair slumped down as if drained of energy. Herdin lifted her in his arms.

Blair clutched his collar and said:

“I can’t eat anymore today. I want to sleep.”

Herdin carried her to the bed and laid her down. Then he brought a tray with lemon tea and crackers.

“Please eat a little bit.”

Recently, Blair’s morning sickness had become so severe that she would vomit even water, and lemon tea and crackers were all she could consume without aversion.

However, she didn’t accept them and instead spoke:

“I’d like to have meals separately from now on.”

“Why?”

“It’s uncomfortable eating with you. It feels like I’m being monitored.”

Herdin’s brow furrowed at her words.

“Let me at least eat in peace.”

Though her voice lacked strength, her eyes looking at him were sharp. It was a stance of drawing a clear line with him. Unlike before when she was always docile towards him, if not affectionate, this unfamiliar behavior was strange.

“Blair.”

As Herdin set down the tray on the bedside table and opened his mouth, it happened.

“Your Grace. I apologize for interrupting your meal, but a letter has arrived from the Imperial Palace regarding the trial schedule.”

Mason’s voice was heard along with a knock.

“Go ahead.”

Herdin left the room, as if pushed out by her words.

Blair forced herself to eat one cracker, rinsed her mouth with lemon tea, and lay down on the bed exhaustedly.

Hoping to fall asleep before he returned.

* * *

When Blair opened her eyes again, it was late at night.

Fortunately, she seemed to have fallen asleep before Herdin returned, but she couldn’t escape from him. As always, when she woke up, she found herself in his embrace.

His large hand was naturally cradling her belly.

He was obsessed with the child. It was in stark contrast to his behavior in her previous life when he had left for the territory immediately after learning of her pregnancy.

Back then, she had been so lonely.

She had been scared of becoming a mother and wanted to run away. During those times, she had longed for his embrace.

Then, after accepting the reality of becoming a mother, she had rather wished for the child to be born soon.

Because she was lonely.

Because she needed a family to give and receive unconditional love.

In this life, unlike the last, he hadn’t left for the territory, and he showed an almost frightening interest in the child in her womb.

But now, the attention she had so desperately wanted in her previous life was unbearably repulsive.

Because she knew he didn’t love the child as a father, but rather viewed it as one of his playing cards.

She didn’t understand why he hadn’t used the child as his card in her previous life, but now that she knew his purpose, she wouldn’t let him use this child as he wished.

Considering Blair’s condition with severe morning sickness, Herdin had scheduled the trial for after she entered the stable period.

One more month until then.

In a month, she could leave this mansion.

Blair placed her hand over her belly where Herdin’s hand rested, and whispered to the baby inside:

‘Grow well until then.’

So that we can safely leave with mommy.

* * *

A month passed quickly, and the day before the trial finally arrived.

As late summer approached, the sound of cicadas filled the mansion’s garden day and night.

Blair walked through the noisy garden filled with cicada cries, heading towards the outdoor enclosure in the backyard. Due to the rising temperatures, Pipi, who was sensitive to heat, had been moved to the shaded outdoor enclosure.

Blair habitually caressed her belly. Entering the fourth month, it had become noticeably rounded when touched.

The morning sickness that had tormented her terribly for a while had now mostly subsided, her appetite had returned, and she had started gaining weight. Her physical condition was better than it had been at any point since becoming pregnant.

The court physician who had examined her this morning had also affirmed, “You should be able to attend the trial.”

“Pipi.”

As Blair called out upon reaching the outdoor enclosure, Pipi, recognizing its owner’s voice, came bounding out.

“Pii!”

Always energetic, Pipi made its usual boisterous entrance today as well.

Melly, who was putting a harness on Pipi, looked up at the sky and said:

“The weather has been really nice lately. Though it’s still a bit hot.”

Blair also looked up at the sky following her. Under the clear, bright sky, a cool breeze blew from the shade of the trees.

A faint smile spread across Blair’s face as she gazed at the scene.

“You’re right. The weather really is nice.”

It was a good day to leave.