Chapter 122: Sweet Love
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 122: Sweet Love
"You're experiencing uterine contractions," the doctor said after examining Blair. "It's a natural symptom, common among expectant mothers."
He quickly added an explanation, hoping to calm the visibly startled couple.
"However, if the contractions become frequent or don't subside after a while, it could be dangerous. When it happens, you must relax both your body and mind and get plenty of rest. If the symptoms don't improve with time, you must seek medical help immediately."
Blair felt a wave of relief at his words. She had experienced similar symptoms in her past life, but this time they felt subtly different, which had worried her.
Fortunately, the baby in her womb seemed to reassure her, squirming as actively as ever.
But Herdin's face remained tense, even after hearing the doctor's diagnosis.
"Does that mean this could happen again unexpectedly?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"For no reason at all?"
"It's difficult to pinpoint an exact cause, but these symptoms usually occur due to overexertion or mental stress."
Herdin frowned.
Only yesterday, he had pulled her into his arms and satisfied his own desires. Today, he had dragged her around in a carriage since early afternoon. And, most decisively…
He knew all too well who had caused the stress that made her collapse.
"The best prevention is to eliminate stress and get plenty of rest."
After repeatedly urging Blair to rest, the doctor left the room.
Only then did Herdin loosen his suffocating cravat. He was still in his outdoor clothes, having rushed her inside and immediately called for the doctor.
Seeing this, Blair said, "Go wash up. I'm going to rest for a bit."
Herdin stared quietly at Blair, his gaze fixed on the hand resting on her stomach.
Her face, which had been pale with worry throughout the carriage ride back, was now calm. Though he couldn't see any movement himself, it seemed the baby was reassuring its mother.
After watching her in silence, Herdin stood and left. Soon, the sound of the door closing was followed by a peaceful quiet.
Blair gently stroked her stomach and whispered, "I'm sorry, baby, for making things so hard on you."
As if sensing her worried touch, the baby tapped against the spot where her hand rested, as if to say he was alright.
The baby's comforting movements brought sudden tears to her eyes. A belated wave of guilt washed over her.
The baby was surely old enough to hear his mother and father's voices by now. How startled he must have been, listening to their constant fighting.
Thinking of the fear the child must have felt, she was overcome with remorse.
She wanted to do better for him.
She wanted to give him only the most beautiful and wonderful things. She had been a clumsy, first-time mother in her past life; this time, she wanted to be more capable.
Yet, she was making the same mistake all over again.
As tears of guilt streamed down her face, Blair felt the child's ceaseless movements and forced herself to stop crying.
The baby would feel his mother's sadness. She didn't want him to experience her turmoil—only what was beautiful and good.
The most important thing is my baby.
Her child was the sole purpose of this life.
This life had begun only for a chance to meet him again. If she lost him, it would have no meaning at all.
Her resentment toward Herdin, her fear that the past would repeat itself—all of it was nothing compared to her child's safety.
Until this child is born, I will focus only on a safe delivery.
It wouldn't be too late to think about everything else after Asiel was born.
Blair gently stroked her stomach and whispered, "I will make sure you, at least, are happy, baby."
So please, come to me safely.
* * *
A gentle sea breeze ruffled his fine black hair.
Herdin cast an indifferent gaze toward the wind. The sunlight sparkled dazzlingly on the aquamarine sea.
Just as the face of someone who would love this scenery crossed his mind, the voice of Raymond, the Lord of Nerha, broke his train of thought.
"Nearly fifty massive ships like this enter the port every week."
"With so many outsiders coming and going, maintaining public order must be no small feat."
"Of course, it's not easy. That's why we reinforced our forces the year before last. The upkeep is high, but increasing the number of stationed troops is the most reliable way to maintain public order."
Just then, knights patrolling the coast recognized Raymond and saluted. Raymond returned the salute with a warm smile before passing them.
He spoke proudly of the value of goods moving through Nerha each week, the difficulty of managing it all, and how remarkable the city was for succeeding.
Ruth followed quietly behind them, taking notes on any useful information.
Raymond's boasting stopped when he noticed dark clouds approaching from far out at sea.
"Oh dear, it looks like rain. And I still have more places to show you…"
"Let's postpone it until tomorrow. We have plenty of time."
Raymond clicked his tongue in disappointment but agreed to end the harbor inspection there, as Herdin suggested.
Once they boarded their respective carriages, the convoy set off.
Herdin looked out the window at the passing town.
Several days had passed since Blair’s examination. During that time, he had not visited her during the day, focusing instead on his backlogged work.
Whenever he caught a fleeting glimpse of her, she seemed to be doing well.
She would doze in the sunlight while sitting on the swing in front of the annex or burst into laughter while walking through the garden with the wild, rambunctious young beast.
The smile he struggled so hard to see appeared so easily when he wasn't there.
…Is that what she wanted?
A life without him. Was that what she desired so desperately?
Before long, the patter of rain began to drum against the carriage. As Herdin reached to close the window against the spraying mist, a sweet scent tickled his nose, and he paused.
It was a familiar smell he had encountered once before.
* * *
Late that afternoon, the sound of rain tapping against the window woke Blair from her nap.
She stared blankly at the raindrops clinging to the trees outside, shaking off her drowsiness, when she suddenly sat up. She had to check if Herdin was back.
But before she could even reach the balcony, she stopped in front of the table.
A pile of small boxes was stacked in her room. They hadn't been there before she fell asleep.
Puzzled, Blair opened one of the boxes. Her eyes widened in surprise at its contents.
"…Lemon candy?"
It was the same lemon-flavored candy she had enjoyed during the early stages of her pregnancy when her morning sickness was severe.
When she opened the next box, the sweet scent of custard cream revealed a cream puff. Her mouth watered as she instinctively recalled its taste.
Deciding to check them all first, she set it aside and opened the next. Inside was a marshmallow.
There was only one person who could have brought these while she was asleep.
Staring blankly at her husband's surprise gift, Blair picked up a marshmallow and popped it into her mouth. Its familiar softness and sweet flavor spread pleasantly across her tongue.
As if sensing his mother's mood, the baby in her womb squirmed with excitement. Dimples formed on Blair's cheeks as she stroked her stomach, still chewing.
The sweetness brought memories of last spring flooding back: the taste of a roasted marshmallow for the first time, the warmth of a candle flame that was both frightening and cozy, his smiling face beside her, and…
Is it that delicious?
The memory included her own feelings, a painful ache in her chest as she realized the truth of them at that moment.
Along with the sudden memory, emotions she had long forgotten welled up inside her.
It had been a love as sweet as a marshmallow. Once.
Whatever his true feelings were, she felt she could get by on the sweetness of this single marshmallow alone.
Blair popped another one into her mouth, savoring the memory and the emotion.
As she stood there alone, quietly enjoying Herdin's gift, a knock echoed through the room, which had been filled only with the sound of the rain.
"Madam? Are you awake?"
It was the maid's voice.
Blair chewed and swallowed the marshmallow in her mouth, then spoke.
"Yes, come in."
As soon as permission was granted, the maid entered the room, a letter in her hand.
"The Lord of Nerha has sent an invitation to a banquet."
* * *
A carriage sat stranded in the pouring rain.
"Hurry up and lift it! My dress is getting completely soaked! Can't three grown men even move a single carriage?"
Beatrice, waiting under an umbrella held by her maid, vented her anger on the knights and the coachman.
She had gone out to enjoy the autumn foliage, only for a wheel to get stuck in the mud softened by the sudden downpour. They were out in the countryside, and with the rain, no other carriages were passing by, making it difficult to find help.
Her pleasant autumn outing was ruined, just like the wheel stuck in the mud.
"Ah, this is so annoying. Seriously…"
As Beatrice grumbled, a shabby carriage appeared in the distance and approached them.
Could it be my fated partner?
To Beatrice's disappointment, the person who stepped out of the carriage was a woman. A woman with beautiful silver hair and golden eyes, looking almost like an angel.
"Hello. Do you happen to need some help?"
Miella, who had approached without them noticing, offered her hand with a smile.