Chapter 120: What He Wants
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 120: What He Wants
By the time Blair woke from a sleep so deep she felt as though she had fainted—the sheer exhaustion of making love twice having taken its toll—dusk was already falling.
She instinctively tried to roll her heavy body over, but froze, belatedly realizing a large hand was draped over her stomach.
In that instant, the warmth of a solid chest pressed flush against her back, and his low, raspy voice drifted into her ear.
"Does it usually not move much?"
She didn't need to ask who he was referring to in his quiet murmur; the hand gently caressing her stomach made it obvious.
"I've been feeling it quite often lately, but some days are quiet. Like today. Maybe because its father..."
Blair, realizing she had just slipped up and referred to him as "father," quickly snapped her mouth shut.
It was the first time she had ever acknowledged him as the child's father to his face.
Throughout her past life, he had been utterly indifferent to their child. Harboring deep resentment for that, she had deliberately avoided acknowledging him as the father in this life.
Glossing over her slip of the tongue, Blair quickly added,
"...or maybe it's hiding because you're unfamiliar to it."
"Then we'll have to make sure it gets used to me from now on."
Blair didn't respond.
She hated herself for instinctively dreaming of a future with him just because of a single comment about wanting to get closer to the baby.
How many times have I already been hurt by you? What on earth am I still expecting?
Having no way of knowing her inner turmoil, Herdin kissed her ear.
"Blair."
"Yes?"
"Shall we go see the plaza tomorrow?"
"..."
"Since it's the Harvest Festival."
"...If that is what you want, we can do that."
The moment the words left her mouth, the hand caressing her stomach slid upward, gripping her soft curves. Soon after, his solid thigh nudged its way between hers.
Startled by the sudden, intense heat radiating from his body, Blair flinched and looked back at him.
"Her—"
But before she could utter another word, his lips captured hers.
He slowly suckled her lower and upper lips in turn, then pulled back just enough to whisper, pressing his body even closer against hers.
"I won't go inside this time. Just once more."
Blair, who had been about to push him away, froze when she met his gaze.
His blue eyes, reflecting her image, were as mesmerizingly beautiful as a demon's.
Staring into his eyes as if possessed, she belatedly recalled someone mentioning a dinner banquet scheduled at the mansion tonight. But any lingering thoughts were instantly devoured as his lips claimed hers once more.
*
The next day, shortly after lunch.
A carriage bearing the crest of the House of Delmark pulled up in front of a grand building.
It was the largest boutique in Nerha, as well as the main branch of the most famous dressmaker in the Kingdom of Clania.
Since arriving in Nerha, Blair had lived entirely as a commoner, meaning she didn't own a single dress befitting a noblewoman's status.
Had they been in the Empire, she would have commissioned custom-made gowns, but since her stay in Nerha was to be brief, she had come to purchase ready-to-wear pieces.
As Herdin and Blair stepped out of the carriage, the boutique staff—who had been notified in advance and were waiting outside—bowed in unison.
Standing at the center of the group was the boutique's owner.
"Welcome, Your Grace! I have always hoped to meet you, and it is an absolute honor to do so today. Thank you for gracing us with your presence."
Eager to curry favor with Herdin in hopes of opening a branch in the neighboring Libren Territory, the owner had taken the unprecedented step of coming out to greet him personally.
Welcomed warmly, the couple was escorted into the VIP room.
As soon as Blair went into the fitting room to try on some dresses, the owner brought over a catalog and presented it to Herdin.
"Our boutique also carries fine jewelry, allowing you to browse accessories that complement the garments all in one place."
"..."
"Since it might be tiring for the Duchess to move around too much, if Your Grace would care to select a few pieces that might suit her, I will have them brought out immediately."
Leaning back against the sofa with his long legs crossed, Herdin opened the catalog.
Just as he finished pointing out a few pieces that would look good on Blair, she emerged from the fitting room.
"The saying 'clothes make the lady' must have been coined just for you, milady. How can it suit you so perfectly?"
"I've never seen anyone look so beautiful in maternity clothes. You look just like a statue of the Holy Mother."
The staff who had helped Blair change gushed with excitement.
Had they showered anyone else with such praise, it would have sounded like mere sales flattery. But looking at Blair, Herdin found himself silently agreeing.
"It suits you."
At his slight nod of approval, the staff escorted Blair back into the fitting room.
After she had tried on and shown him several more dresses, Herdin finally spoke up.
"Stop."
The boutique owner anxiously scanned Herdin's face, worried they had somehow displeased him.
"This is becoming too taxing for my wife. Let's stop the fittings here and make our selection."
Fortunately, it didn't seem like he was angry.
Swallowing a sigh of relief, the owner quickly chimed in.
"Indeed, trying on clothes can be incredibly exhausting. The Duchess is blessed with such a thoughtful husband. Now, which of the garments caught your eye?"
"How many maternity dresses do you have in this shop that will fit her?"
The owner glanced back at the general manager standing behind him, who quickly answered on his behalf.
"I cannot say for certain, but we should have about thirty."
"All of them."
"Pardon?"
"I will buy all thirty."
Everyone in the boutique gasped at Herdin's extravagant purchase. But no one was more shocked than Blair.
"Herdin, I don't need that many. Just a few will do."
"It will take quite some time to travel back to the Empire. Surely you will need at least thirty."
"But..."
"Send them all to the annex of the Lord of Nerha."
Ignoring Blair's protests, Herdin gave his orders to the manager.
The boutique owner marveled at his immense wealth, though he couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret.
If only I had known, I would have had my tailors make dozens more maternity dresses.
Since maternity wear was only worn for a short season, the finest and most expensive fabrics were usually reserved for standard gowns. Consequently, the boutique rarely kept a large stock of maternity dresses.
It wasn't just about the immediate profit. When he considered the massive trend Blair, the Duchess of Delmark, would spark once she returned to the Empire wearing their designs, the missed opportunity was truly painful.
Still, looking on the bright side, selling thirty dresses in one go was a massive windfall.
While the owner grinned from ear to ear, already imagining his boutique's soaring reputation, Blair could only swallow a sigh.
Just then, the staff members who had gone to fetch the jewelry returned.
They laid out the pieces before Herdin and Blair, explaining each one in detail before helping her try them on.
"Your skin is so fair, milady, every single gem looks stunning on you. Which one is your favorite?"
"I like this one best."
After trying on every piece they brought out, Blair chose the simplest, most modest set—a necklace and earrings featuring a single, tiny gemstone.
Herdin quietly watched Blair as she spoke politely to the staff.
The proud Imperial Princess, who had once accepted nothing but the finest things in the world, seemed to have fully adapted to the life of a commoner. Her speech, her tastes—everything had changed.
But Herdin had no intention of letting her stay that way.
It was time for her to shed the identity of the commoner Arwen Hales and return to being Blair Delmark, the Duchess of Delmark.
"We will take everything we've seen today."
"Your generosity is truly as legendary as they say, Your Grace!"
Once again, their reactions were polar opposites.
The boutique owner rubbed his hands together, grinning from ear to ear, while Blair's expression grew even darker as she stared at Herdin.
"This single set is more than enough for me. We don't have any major events to attend before we return to the Empire anyway, so I don't need all of this."
"You are my wife, and the Lady of the House of Delmark."
Herdin stated the undeniable truth, leaving no room for her persistent refusal.
"These are necessary to maintain your dignity as the Duchess, so simply accept them. If it truly bothers you, consider them emergency funds in case we run short of travel money on our way back."
Blair stopped arguing and fell silent.
Meanwhile, the boutique owner, still desperate to flatter Herdin, chuckled obsequiously. "Emergency travel funds! My, Your Grace, you certainly have a wonderful sense of humor."
Their shopping trip concluded, the couple boarded their carriage, sent off with the same bowing and scraping from the owner and staff that had welcomed them.
Soon, the carriage set off toward their next destination.
Herdin studied the silent Blair. As always, she was staring out the window, her expression even gloomier than when they had first arrived at the boutique.
Watching her, Herdin tapped his fingers against the window frame and asked,
"How are you feeling?"
Only then did Blair turn to look at him.
"...I'm fine."
Realizing a moment too late that he was asking because of her gloomy expression, she added softly,
"Thank you, Herdin."
Though she expressed her gratitude, her face remained entirely devoid of joy as she turned back to the window. Herdin watched her in silence.
A woman who had once smiled over a single piece of roasted marshmallow wouldn't even crack a smile when presented with treasures so precious they couldn't possibly be compared to a mere confection.
The price of her smile was an enigma he couldn't fathom.
Yet, he felt certain that their next destination would finally buy him that priceless smile.
*
"Blair."
Blair, who had drifted off to sleep, woke to the sound of her husband's voice.
Still half-asleep, she let him escort her out of the carriage, only to freeze the moment she saw what lay before her.
"This place is..."