Chapter 108: Peaceful Days
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 108: Peaceful Days
"Teacher, can't we have Imperial Language class tomorrow, too?" a little girl chattered as Blair styled her hair. She was one of several children who always lingered by Blair's side after class.
Blair could feel the girl's fondness in the question, but she gently coaxed her anyway.
"Tomorrow is the day we learn the Southern Continent language. You have to study with Tutor Petro."
"But I want to learn more of the Imperial Language. The Southern Continent language is hard and boring," the girl pouted.
"Yeah! And we like you more, Teacher," another child chimed in, waiting for her turn.
Blair laughed at their charming honesty.
"Thank you for liking me so much. I like you all, too."
Just then, she finished the hair of the child in the chair.
"There, all done, Alissa. Want to see?"
Blair handed her a small mirror. Seeing her neatly braided pigtails in the reflection, the girl beamed.
"It's so pretty! You're the best, Teacher!"
"Now it's my turn!"
The other waiting child took her place, turning her back to Blair, who began to comb through her hair with practiced care.
She had only started doing this because the children had asked.
For someone who had spent her entire life having her own hair done by others, styling it herself was a novel experience. To her surprise, she found it incredibly fun.
I think I understand why Lina and Meli always looked so proud whenever they styled my hair.
Above all, she found it adorable that the children trusted her so completely with their hair.
Her skills had improved by leaps and bounds, and doing the children's hair after class had now become a daily routine.
Soon, both of her little customers were satisfied.
"Since you made my hair so pretty, Teacher, I'll read your fortune with my cards during our next Imperial Language class!" one of them declared.
The children seemed so pleased with their new hairstyles that they insisted on doing something for her in return.
Blair's eyes widened at the unexpected offer.
"You can read cards?"
"Yes! I've been studying hard lately. You'll be my very first customer, Teacher," she announced proudly.
"Alright. I'll look forward to it, Madam Fortune-teller."
Promising to see each other next class, the children waved goodbye and left the school. With them gone, her work for the day was officially over.
Blair packed her few belongings, carefully checked her brown wig, and departed.
It had been about a month since she had settled here in Nerha.
Her original plan had been to settle in Argenta, the capital of the Clania Kingdom. But Herdin's pursuit had been far more relentless than she had anticipated, making it impossible to hide in the crowded capital.
As she moved from place to place to evade him, Blair eventually found herself drawn to Nerha—a port city that brought her one step closer to her childhood dream of traveling to another continent.
Fortunately, by the time she arrived, she had managed to shake off the Knights of Delmark and settle in safely.
She was no longer Blair Delmark, the Imperial Princess and Duchess, but Arwen Hales, a commoner.
At first, she spent all her time at home, terrified of being recognized. Mikhail, however, noticed her listlessness and suggested a small pastime.
'Many outsiders pass through Nerha, so there's a high demand for foreign language tutors. Since you're fluent in the Clanian Language, why not try teaching the Imperial Language?'
Imperial royalty were required to learn foreign languages from a young age to meet with foreign dignitaries, making it the perfect job for Blair.
In truth, she didn't need to work. She had secured more than enough funds before leaving and was already planning to establish a merchant guild once the baby was born.
Teaching children was merely something she had started to clear her head.
But the job, which she had begun with few expectations, suited her perfectly.
Beyond her natural aptitude for it, the act of working and earning money with her own two hands was a deeply fulfilling experience for someone who had lived a life utterly removed from labor.
It was a life where people needed her skills, paid a fair price for them, and where she could use that money to buy food for herself and her baby.
In this new life, Blair felt a sense of purpose and pride she had never known before.
I think I'll have seafood paella for dinner tonight.
Blair stopped by the market to buy ingredients.
As she was inspecting a basket of shellfish in front of a stall, a market vendor recognized her and greeted her warmly.
"Oh, hello, Teacher. What are you buying today?"
"Hello, Madame. I'm looking for some seafood for a paella."
"Seafood is a fine choice. You should try these shrimp and mussels. They're plump and delicious."
The merchant recommended several items and, as always, scooped far more than the standard amount into her bag. It was a kindness she often received thanks to the baby in her womb.
The villagers pitied Blair, believing her to be a widow who had lost her husband in a tragic accident and was now carrying his posthumous child.
She felt a pang of guilt for turning the very-much-alive Herdin into a dead man, but she let the misunderstanding slide. It was much safer this way.
"Thank you," Blair said with a grateful smile before turning to leave. The straw bag full of seafood was heavy, but her steps were light.
With a proud heart, Blair walked through the village carrying her contribution to tonight's meal. After a short walk, a two-story house with a blue roof that finally felt like home came into view.
Anna welcomed her the moment she stepped inside.
"Oh my, did you buy all this yourself? You should have let me go."
Anna, who had been introduced to her by Mikhail, was in charge of the housework and cooking.
In this cozy house, Blair lived with Anna—no, with Pippi and the baby in her womb, it was the four of them.
"It's fine. I just stopped by on my way home."
"Still, it must have been heavy."
Anna quickly took the bag of seafood and ushered Blair into the living room.
"Ah, you remember that Lord Mikhail is visiting this evening, correct?"
Mikhail lived in the same village and would visit from time to time to share meals and discuss their plans.
"Yes."
"What should I prepare for dinner?"
"I was craving your seafood paella, Anna. That's why I bought all this."
"Oh, wonderful. I was craving it myself, so this is perfect."
Anna headed to the kitchen to begin dinner preparations while Blair walked into the drawing room. The vast blue sea stretched out beyond the large window.
She settled into a rocking chair with a clear view of the water, quietly gazing at the sparkling ripples on the surface.
Just then, she found herself recalling a pair of deep, cool eyes that matched the color of the sea.
"...Ah."
She felt a tiny flutter in her womb, like a small fish swimming. The baby was moving.
The baby had started moving not long ago, and now it seemed to squirm in the quiet moments, making its presence known.
Even though it wasn't the first time, her heart swelled with emotion each time it happened. It felt like a tiny greeting, just for her.
With a gentle smile, Blair placed a hand on her stomach and responded.
"Hello, baby."
Over the past two months, her belly had begun to round out. It was hard to tell under a loose dress, but in thinner clothing, her pregnancy was unmistakable.
These were peaceful days.
She had cast aside everything that had suffocated her: her status as an Imperial Princess and Duchess, her family, and even the painful emotion of love.
The baby in her womb was growing well, and there was nothing left to hurt her.
Sometimes, she worried that the child would one day feel the absence of a father, but the anxiety never lasted long.
In his past life, Asiel had grown up just fine without a father's love. This life would be no different.
She would simply have to love the baby enough for the both of them.
Beneath her hand, she felt the baby squirm again.
She truly was no longer alone.
Caressed by the late afternoon sunlight, Blair succumbed to her drowsiness and drifted into a sweet sleep.
Knock, knock.
Just as her rhythmic breathing filled the quiet room, a gentle knock broke the silence.
When there was no response, the person waiting outside stepped into the drawing room. It was Mikhail.
"My Lady—"
Mikhail, who had been about to speak, fell silent when he saw she was fast asleep. Instead, he fetched a nearby blanket.
Though the sunlight was warm, autumn had arrived, and the air carried a distinct chill. For a pregnant woman, even a simple cold could be dangerous.
He carefully draped the blanket over her. As he pulled away, her soft breath brushed against the back of his hand, making him freeze.
He looked down at her sleeping face. A faint smile graced her lips, as if she were having a pleasant dream, and his heart softened at the sight.
Suddenly, he recalled a question Blair had asked him shortly after their escape.
'Why are you helping me to this extent?'
'...'
'You have already shown me kindness far beyond what I paid for. I have nothing more to give you.'
At first, it had been a sense of responsibility—to his client, as a guild master.
Then, it became a desire for revenge and justice. He wanted to stop Gerard—the man who had dragged his life through the mud and denied his very existence—and save the innocent woman caught in his web.
And now...
Mikhail gently pressed the back of his hand against Blair's sleeping cheek. He pursed his lips at the touch of her soft skin.
If she asked me that same question now, could I tell her the truth?
In a moment of cowardice, Mikhail used a faint trace of divine power to gauge her feelings. As he did, a black magic circle materialized near her collarbone.
At the sight, Mikhail let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh.
She loved him. Still.