Chapter 52: Once This Spring Passes
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 52: Once This Spring Passes
In the end, Blair’s only escape came when exhaustion finally claimed her, and she fell asleep in his arms. Of course, she knew even this respite would be fleeting.
Herdin watched her sleep for a moment before slowly rising to throw on a robe.
The fire that had been burning brightly to warm the room had dwindled to dying embers and charred logs. He tossed a few more pieces of wood into the hearth, then pulled out a cigar and stepped onto the balcony.
Before him lay the moonlit garden. The night breeze brushing against his cheek was as soft as his wife’s skin, and even the fresh, grassy scent it carried reminded him of her.
It was spring.
As he lit his cigar, Blair’s words from a few days ago drifted back to him.
“Before we begin the hypnosis, I want to practice overcoming my fear of fire, little by little.”
For some reason he couldn’t fathom, Blair didn’t fear fire when she was with him.
Granted, looking directly at the fireplace still sent her into a panic, triggering hyperventilation. This meant he was tethered to her side whenever a fire was lit. It was a minor nuisance, but a chore he gladly accepted.
The knowledge that he alone could rescue her from her terror gave him a strange sense of elation. If being lulled by the warmth of the fire meant she would seek him out and throw herself into his arms, he could easily tolerate such a small inconvenience.
It was like tending to a stray cat that had finally grown used to being fed.
There’s no need to rush.
Her subconscious had buried those memories to protect her. Was there really any need to drag them back to the surface? Caligo was already keeping a close watch on Katrina’s movements. If a clue emerged from that, there would be even less reason to awaken Blair’s memories.
And if that lead went nowhere, they could always try then.
Herdin exhaled a cloud of smoke, his gaze drifting through the glass to the bedroom where Blair slept peacefully.
But what will happen once this spring passes?
When the winter chill fades and she no longer needs my warmth…
His gaze deepened as he pushed his hair back from his forehead. Just then, he saw Blair stir in her sleep.
Herdin stubbed out his half-smoked cigar and went back inside. He returned to the side of his wife, who was waiting for his warmth.
* * *
The weather was beautiful.
A clear blue sky, a scattering of fluffy clouds, and trees just beginning to bud. It was perfect weather for a picnic.
It should have rained.
Herdin thoroughly despised the brilliant sunshine that had dragged him out to this hunting competition.
Staring out the carriage window with an indifferent expression, he turned his gaze to the wife sitting beside him. Her bonnet, which nearly swallowed her small face, hid her expression, but the tilt of her head suggested she was admiring the scenery.
The way her eyes were glued to the window made her look like a child on an excursion. It was endearing.
As Herdin quietly watched her, his gaze drifted down to the nape of her neck. A few wisps of hair had escaped her updo, tickling her porcelain skin.
That was the exact spot where he had buried his lips last night.
The memory of their embrace superimposed itself over the sight of her pale neck, sending a sudden rush of heat coiling in his gut.
Herdin let out a self-deprecating chuckle.
He was truly going mad. To think he was now the kind of man who got aroused just by looking at the back of his wife’s neck. The irony was that, despite being fully aware of his own depravity, he had no desire whatsoever to rein it in.
Reaching out, Herdin wrapped an arm around Blair’s waist and pulled her flush against him. Before she could even think to resist, he pressed his lips to the nape of her neck.
Startled, Blair flinched and turned her head.
“Don’t you dare leave another mark on my neck—”
Her words were swallowed by his descending lips.
After kissing her thoroughly, he finally pulled back, looking at her as if only now seeking permission. He acted first and asked later.
Dumbfounded by his audacity, Blair glared at him with narrowed, petulant eyes. But Herdin, acting as though her permission was entirely irrelevant, captured her lips once more. Ultimately, Blair closed her eyes, feigning defeat.
His fingers worked to untie the ribbon of the bonnet fastened beneath her chin. With a sudden lurch of the carriage, the hat slipped from her head and rolled onto the floor.
The gentle kiss quickly grew heated and demanding. Herdin drank in her every breath, refusing to let even a gasp escape. Only when Blair’s face flushed red from a lack of air did he finally release her.
She stared at him with dazed, unfocused eyes. Her rouge was smeared messily across his lips.
The sight of his disheveled face made Blair feel far more embarrassed than the culprit himself. What would people think if they saw him like this? On paper, they were a married couple, and there was nothing wrong with being caught. The problem was that she simply wasn’t shameless enough to handle the mortification.
Blair hurriedly reached up to wipe the rouge from his lips with her thumb. Herdin nipped gently at her finger.
“Ah.”
Her hand froze. A charged, heavy tension settled between them as their eyes locked, taut as a drawn bowstring.
The brief gentleness in his gaze vanished.
Making her efforts to clean his lips entirely pointless, he captured her mouth again. His tongue skillfully parted her lips and swept inside.
At the same time, the large hand supporting her waist began to slide upward.
That touch triggered a memory from her past life.
Come to think of it, in my past life, on this very day, inside this carriage…
Blair hurriedly grabbed his hand and pushed him back.
“No more… Stop, Herdin. We’re in a carriage.”
“And?”
Blair glared at him, flabbergasted by his response, as if he truly didn’t see the issue.
“What if… what if someone hears us?”
“Then don’t make a sound.”
How can he say that so casually?!
He was too overwhelming, the sensations he evoked too intense. Even if she tried to remain quiet, her body wouldn’t obey.
“We could just not do this.”
Having no intention of letting her go, Herdin pulled her right back against him as she tried to squirm away.
“Who was the one who started tracing my lips and teasing me?”
“You were the one who kissed me first!”
“Fine,” he conceded. “Let’s say that was my fault.”
He lifted Blair and settled her squarely on his lap.
“But stopping now would be rather difficult for me.”
Blair froze as she felt the rigid, pulsing heat pressing against her. Contrary to his casual admission, his body showed absolutely no signs of remorse.
“Unless you want to advertise to the world that your husband is a beast in heat for his wife…”
Blair’s face burned crimson. Herdin whispered, his hand slipping beneath the voluminous layers of her skirts.
“Since you made me this way, my lady, you must take responsibility.”
Soon, an overwhelming wave of heat rose and consumed her.
In the end, she could only bite her lip and cling to his neck.
* * *
The hunting competition was held in the imperial forest on the outskirts of the capital.
After the gathered nobles finished their meal, the men prepared for the hunt while the women settled in for tea.
“Well, now that we’ve eaten our fill, shall we go warm up?”
At Ivan’s call, the noblemen scattered to make their preparations. Those who were ready received words of encouragement and kisses on the cheek from their wives or lovers.
Herdin strode over to Blair, who was quietly watching the scene.
With her characteristically stubborn expression, however, she subtly averted her gaze. She had been acting this way ever since they left the carriage. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
She was clearly sulking, but to him, even her petulance was adorable.
Herdin lightly stroked her cheek with his index finger, teasing her.
“Aren’t you going to kiss me?”
“…”
“And here I thought you promised to fulfill your marital duties.”
Only then did she finally look at him.
It irked him that he had to bring up their damned contract just to get her to cooperate, but he could tolerate a little irritation. After all, the sulky face of the woman looking up at him was beautiful, and the lips that finally pressed against his were incredibly soft.
Herdin gently pushed back her bonnet and returned the gesture with a kiss on her forehead. Then, he carefully retied the loosened ribbons.
Blair blinked slowly, her eyes fixed on him. Looking into those eyes that reflected only him, he felt the memories of last night threatening to resurface.
His rising desire was abruptly cut short by a gaze boring into them from across the clearing. He looked over to find Wesley watching them.
As their eyes met, Herdin’s blue gaze turned ice-cold. He couldn’t afford to let his guard down just because the Grand Empress Dowager hadn’t shown up.
Just then, a Delmark knight approached.
“Your Grace, we are ready.”
Blair, who had been staring at him, hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Be careful, Herdin.”
“I will be back soon.”
The moment Herdin turned his back on her, his relaxed expression vanished, replaced by a cold, impassive mask.
He gave a quiet order to the knight walking beside him.
“Bain. Stay by the Duchess’s side. If she says she is tired, you may escort her back first.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Blair watched Herdin’s retreating figure, her eyes clouded with a deep, quiet sorrow.
He hadn’t changed at all from her past life.
It was only natural; he was the exact same person. In the past, just as now, his own desires always came first.
And so, his desire for her could never be mistaken for love.