Chapter 79: Unease
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 79: Unease
Herdin’s gaze turned cold. Ever since the kidnapping, he had become hypersensitive to her every move.
"Where are you going?"
"Ah, I was just on my way for a short walk in the rear garden."
"Piii!"
As if to prove her point, Pippi, cradled in Blair's arms, let out a cry. Meli followed a step behind them.
Herdin scanned her face, wondering if she had overheard his conversation with the elders. As always, it was impossible to read anything from her calm expression.
Just then, the voices of the elders drifted from the open drawing room door as they approached.
"Surely His Grace hasn't fallen for the Imperial Princess, has he? To be frank, she is exceptionally beautiful, just like her mother."
"Indeed. Her mother bewitched His Majesty the Emperor in the same manner—"
The elders, believing Herdin had already departed, stepped out of the drawing room. They froze the moment they saw him and Blair, their conversation dying instantly.
"W-We beg your pardon, Your Grace."
They took one look at Herdin’s expression, bowed, and turned to leave—a complete dismissal of Blair.
Herdin’s gaze turned icy as he watched them go.
"It seems you gentlemen have grown old indeed. Your eyesight must be failing if you cannot see the person standing right beside me."
"Herdin."
Startled by his sharp words, Blair grabbed his arm, but Herdin didn’t stop.
"Or perhaps your neck bones have rotted so much you can no longer bend them."
Realizing his words were a rebuke for disrespecting the Duchess, the elders cried out in indignation.
"Your Grace, are you insulting us? We, who have served this house since your grandfather’s time?"
"Your age does not make me your grandson."
The elders fell silent at Herdin’s biting remark. He was right. Even if he was young enough to be their grandson, he was still their lord.
"Show the Duchess the proper respect. Unless you intend to insult me as well."
"……."
"Ah, and of course, you will apologize for the nonsense that just spilled from your mouths."
His voice, laced with a chilling pressure, weighed heavily on the quiet hallway.
Overwhelmed by his fierce aura, the elders flinched and exchanged glances before reluctantly bowing their heads to Blair.
"……We have committed a discourtesy against the Duchess. We beg for your generous forgiveness."
"I am fine."
Herdin was displeased by their insincere apology, but seeing Blair’s placid reaction, he let it go.
Bowing once more to the couple, the elders hurried away as if fleeing.
The frozen silence was broken by a clueless little beast.
"Piii!"
Pippi cried out, looking at Blair as if urging her to hurry up with their walk. Herdin stared blankly at the sable, then spoke to Meli.
"I will accompany the Duchess on her walk. You may return to your duties."
"Ah… Yes, Your Grace."
Dismissing Ruth with a nod as well, Herdin turned back to Blair, who was blinking in confusion.
"Shall we?"
Blair stepped out into the rear garden with Herdin.
Pippi, who had been squirming ever since catching the scent of the outdoors, dashed into the bushes the moment Blair set her down. The sable’s fine fur was quickly stained with dirt.
Watching the tiny creature explore the garden, Herdin spoke.
"That creature has grown quite a bit. I thought it would die."
"Thank you. It’s all thanks to you saving it."
A self-deprecating laugh escaped Herdin. Thanks to him? The man who had killed its mother and intended to kill this tiny creature as well? The thought was absurd.
"No. That creature is alive purely because of your stubbornness."
"Then since you were the one who tolerated that stubbornness, let's say it's thanks to both of us."
Herdin let out a soft chuckle, defeated by her insistence on sharing the credit. He also found he quite liked the phrase "both of us."
Looking up at him, his fierce demeanor from earlier now softened, Blair spoke cautiously.
"Herdin, you don't have to do that for me in the future."
Realizing she was referring to the incident with the elders, Herdin’s expression hardened instantly.
"So you’re telling me to stand by and listen as those old men insult you to my face?"
"I'm only saying this because I'm worried about you."
Blair spoke calmly, but Herdin hated her attitude. He knew the only reason she could remain so unfazed by insults was because she believed she would be leaving this place soon. She was telling him to side with his loyal vassals over his temporary, one-year wife.
Even though he knew she was logically correct, an uncontrollable emotion seethed within him.
"You knew this would happen once the truth came out."
"……."
"I expected it as well; it just happened a bit sooner than I anticipated. So, it's fine."
Her words, devoid of resentment, made him loathe himself for putting her in a situation where she was condemned by everyone.
"Piii!"
Just then, Pippi, who had been rolling in a dirt patch, disappeared into the bushes again. Blair chased after the mischievous little beast.
The sight of her retreating figure struck him with a strange unease, as if she might vanish forever into the warm spring light.
Staring at her hazy silhouette in the sunlight, Herdin strode forward without thinking and grabbed her hand.
"Blair."
She looked at him with questioning eyes, meekly letting him hold her hand. But the anxiety that had taken root in his heart did not subside.
After their afternoon walk, the two returned to the mansion.
The moment they reached Pippi's room, Herdin snatched the harness from Blair’s hand and tossed it aside. Trapping her against the closed door, he immediately pressed his lips to hers.
Startled, Blair flinched, but as she always did, she soon closed her eyes and accepted him.
"Mmh…."
Like a man dying of thirst, Herdin urgently parted her lips, his tongue tangling with hers. As their tongues intertwined, his body heat flared, making him even thirstier. Devouring every shallow breath she exhaled wasn't enough.
Blair was in his arms, their breaths mingling, yet the anxiety that she might disappear wouldn't fade. The unease that gripped him fueled his desire.
He felt the only way to find peace was to trap her beneath him, to press their bodies together until she couldn't escape, to feel her warmth and know she was his.
His large hand, which had been wrapped around her waist, slid lower. The moment his touch pressed their bodies flush together, Blair pulled her lips away.
"…Herdin."
Blair placed her hands on his firm chest to push him away as he instinctively moved to kiss her again, but Herdin caught her hands and pinned them. He only stopped when Blair turned her head, avoiding his lips.
His blue eyes burned with a fierce longing, staring as if they would devour her.
Blair met his gaze and spoke pleadingly.
"I still don't feel well. I want to rest."
Looking at her, at this clear desire to stop, the corners of Herdin’s mouth twisted. After their argument over Mikhail, he had taken her as he pleased every night, and she had never once refused. She had simply remained stubbornly silent, as if even a single word was too much to grant him.
Though her rejection, coming at a moment of such desperate thirst, was unwelcome, Herdin managed to suppress his desire. A desire so potent it felt ready to burst scraped harshly at his throat as he forced it down.
"Thank you."
He bristled at her thanking him for acknowledging her right to refuse, but just then, a knock sounded at the door.
"Your Grace. Are you in here?"
It was Mason's voice.
"Go on."
Blair stepped away from the door. Herdin stared at her for a moment before opening it and stepping out.
"An envoy from the Imperial Palace just arrived. There is an imperial decree for you to enter the palace tomorrow afternoon."
Mason's voice drifted faintly through the crack in the door, but Blair was lost in her own thoughts and didn't hear the details.
It was now only one day before the full moon of May. As she gazed at the lush green scenery outside the window, hope flickered in her eyes.
Tomorrow is finally the day.
The day Asiel will be conceived.
* * *
The late spring garden was filled with the scent of flowers in full bloom. The floral fragrance was so thick it threatened to numb his senses, making him long for a cigar. Just then, a small pond came into view. Ivan was waiting in the pergola before it.
"Did you summon me, Your Majesty?"
"Sit."
As Herdin sat opposite him, a servant set a tray of tea between them and disappeared.
Ivan observed Herdin over the rim of his teacup. Wearing his usual indifferent expression, Herdin silently picked up his own cup. Any other noble would have tried to curry favor by starting a conversation or flattering him, but Herdin seemed to have no such intention.
I knew he was this kind of man, but still.
Ivan clicked his tongue inwardly, took a sip of his tea, and spoke first.
"It has been nearly half a year since we became family, but I have been so occupied with state affairs that I could not find the time to see you, Duke."
Had that much time passed already?
Herdin moistened his lips, marking the passage of time. The refreshing sound of wind rustling through the nearby forest drifted over, completing the summer scenery. The day he married his wife, she had resembled a snow fairy as flakes fell around them. This scene was the complete opposite of that day.
"On a day like this, a ride through the forest and a hunt would be a wonderful way to foster brotherly affection. The weight of state affairs feels particularly heavy at times like these."
"I cannot fathom the burden of leading an empire. I know you are far busier than I, so please, be brief. I am listening."
Ivan read the underlying meaning in Herdin's words and smirked wryly.
In other words, get to the point. The man had a knack for packaging his insolence as consideration.
What was more offensive was that while his words were polite, he made no effort to hide his arrogant attitude.