Chapter 84: Even Something Crazier
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 84: Even Something Crazier
Drip. Drip.
Only the sound of dripping water echoed through the quiet bathroom.
Stepping into the bath, Blair curled her weary body, listening to the rhythmic sound.
'It's warm…'
She closed her eyes, soaking in the warm water as her body grew languid and relaxed. It felt as though she could fall asleep right then and there.
It was a peace she hadn't felt in a very long time.
She couldn't even count how many days had passed since Herdin had begun to relentlessly claim her, day and night. By now, it felt strange to open her eyes and not feel his warmth, to not have her skin pressed against his.
When she had woken a moment ago, he was gone for the first time in days.
Blair took the opportunity to slip into the bathroom. She wanted to wash her body, which felt sticky from their intimacy. Wanting some time to herself, she had even dismissed Meli and Lina, who had offered to help her bathe.
When Herdin was around, they bathed together, which made the act of washing practically meaningless. No sooner had she cleaned herself than she was made dirty all over again.
Still, the reason she hadn't rejected him was to make absolutely certain she would conceive. In her past life, Asiel had been conceived in a single day, but there was always a chance things might be different this time.
For the same reason, she had accepted his proposal to maintain their contract until Esmeralda’s trial. By then, the first signs of pregnancy would surely have appeared.
Blair covered her lower abdomen with her hand, gently caressing it. It was a habit she had formed on the day she conceived Asiel.
'Come to think of it, I haven't had my monthly period yet.'
Calculating the dates in her head, Blair realized that her normally regular period was late. While a delay of a few days was common enough, knowing that Asiel had been conceived around this time made her far more sensitive to it.
'I hope the morning sickness starts soon, too.'
Of course, she knew that once clear symptoms appeared, she would face the difficult task of hiding her pregnancy, but her desire for certainty was much stronger. Only then would she be able to put her mind at ease. It was a conflicting mix of emotions.
'Should I get up now?'
Just as Blair, having caught her breath, was about to wash herself, the bathroom door swung open without warning.
Startled, she turned to see Herdin stepping through the archway that led to the bath.
“……Herdin?”
Blair stared at him, her eyes wide with surprise at his sudden intrusion.
Standing beneath the archway, he watched her, and his blue eyes felt strangely cold.
A heavy silence hung between them. Even the air seemed to hold its breath.
Feeling self-conscious under his intense gaze, Blair began to sink deeper into the water to hide her body. As she opened her mouth to speak, the humid air suddenly felt difficult to breathe.
Blair took a shallow breath.
“I was planning to wash quickly and come back… Were you looking for me?”
“……”
He offered no reply, merely staring at her in silence.
His slightly disheveled hair and the heavy rise and fall of his chest beneath his loose robe made it obvious he had been searching for her.
Observing his demeanor for a moment, Blair changed the subject.
“It seemed like urgent business. Did everything go well?”
“……”
“Ah, did you find the evidence?”
Blair assumed that was why he had sought her out so urgently—because he had good news, the news she had been waiting for, and he wanted to share it as quickly as possible.
She had no idea how her innocent question, sounding as if she cared only for that news, grated on his nerves.
Herdin’s lips twisted.
“No.”
“Oh… I see.”
Then why had he searched for her so frantically?
The question was answered the moment she met his gaze, which was openly devouring her naked body.
They were the eyes of a predator.
As if he would spring forward and tear her throat out at the slightest movement, at the very sound of her breath.
Blair averted her eyes. “I’ll finish up quickly and head back. You should go on ahead and rest—”
But before she could finish, Herdin closed the distance in a single stride. Before she could even think to move, a large hand gripped the back of her neck, and his lips crashed down on hers.
“Mmph…”
Blair tried to push him away, but her hands were easily caught and pinned.
A fierce, devouring kiss followed, its wet sounds echoing through the quiet bathroom.
Perhaps it was the thick steam filling the room, but her mind began to grow hazy.
Only after a breathless Blair grabbed the lapels of his robe and pushed again did his lips finally part from hers.
But he was not about to stop.
Herdin stepped into the bath, still wearing his robe.
Realizing what that meant, Blair tried to push herself up to escape, but Herdin was faster. He snatched her by the waist as she gripped the edge of the tub and pulled her close, pinning her struggling body between his and the bath’s edge.
His large hand slid from her flat stomach, moving lower, and Blair writhed against him.
“Not here, Herdin. Let’s go back to the bedroom…”
“Then you should have waited quietly in bed.”
As he spoke, he bit down on her soft earlobe. Overwhelmed by the sensation of his hands roaming her body, Blair let out a soft moan.
She couldn't escape. No matter how she twisted, she only managed to tangle the robe of the man pinning her from behind.
He kissed her pale shoulders and back, coaxing her body into submission before he finally shrugged off his disheveled robe and pressed himself against her.
“Ah!”
Holding the trembling Blair close, Herdin whispered in a low voice, “From now on, don’t go anywhere. Wait for me in the bedroom. Naked.”
The moment his cold voice washed over her ear, Blair felt it instinctively.
“Since there’s nothing for you to do anyway.”
Something had gone terribly wrong.
But she couldn’t pursue the thought any further.
Soon, his movements grew fierce, and the hot water in the bath began to slosh violently. Eventually, all Blair could do was sob and moan.
It was only after a long time that the turbulent ripples finally subsided.
Herdin poured his heat into her. At that moment, Blair’s body, pressed tightly against his, shuddered and went limp.
“Ah…”
Only then did the frantic anxiety that had seized him upon finding the bedroom empty finally begin to subside. So did the anger he felt toward this woman, who seemed to think only of leaving him while she waited for news of the evidence.
Only after filling her completely did a strange sense of relief wash over him.
Herdin caressed Blair’s flat stomach as she lay in his arms, laughing mockingly at himself.
Even though he knew he was losing his mind, he couldn't stop.
Because if he could possess even a single breath from this woman, he felt he could do something far crazier than this.
* * *
The next morning, when Blair woke up, Herdin was gone.
Remembering what he had said last night, she waited, but even after a considerable amount of time, he did not return.
After drifting in and out of sleep, Blair finally pushed her weary body upright.
'I don't have to listen to him.'
She was not his mistress. There was no reason for her to wait quietly in bed just because he told her to.
Blair pulled the bell pull. A moment later, after a knock, Lina entered. She carried a tray laden with far more food than Blair usually ate for breakfast.
“Madam!”
Lina’s face lit up with joy upon seeing Blair. And for good reason; since Blair hadn't stepped out of the bedroom for some time, it had been a while since they had seen each other properly.
Lina chattered as she set the meal down on the bedside table.
“I was debating whether to bring you a big meal while His Grace is away or just let you sleep. At this rate, you’ll be nothing but skin and bones. You are eating properly, right?”
Blair burst into laughter at Lina’s excessive worry.
“Don’t worry. I’m eating regularly.”
Even while tormenting her so, Herdin couldn't bear to see her skip a meal. He would stubbornly force food into her mouth even when she insisted she would rather sleep.
The only problem was that she was expending far more energy than she consumed…
Picking up a delicious-looking green grape from the tray, Blair asked, “By the way, where did he go?”
“Ah, you were sleeping so soundly he must not have told you. Knights from the Imperial Palace arrived this morning. He left with them for a Magical Beast Subjugation.”
Blair’s face stiffened as she chewed on the grape.
Maintaining public order around the Imperial Capital was strictly the duty of the Imperial Knights. Yet Ivan had once again deployed Herdin for the task.
Simply because they were ‘family.’
Swallowing the grape, Blair called out to Lina.
“Lina, could you have them prepare a carriage and get the knights on standby?”
“Yes? Where are you going?”
Blair replied with a look of determination.
“I have to go see my brother.”
* * *
Mason greeted Herdin with a somewhat flustered expression.
He had returned much earlier than expected. He seemed to be in a great hurry, having returned alone and left the accompanying knights behind.
“Welcome back, Your Grace.”
“Where is my wife?”
“Madam has gone to the Imperial Palace.”
Herdin, who had strode into the mansion fully expecting to find Blair in their bedroom, froze.
“……To the Imperial Palace?”
“Yes. She said she was going to see His Majesty the Emperor. She took the knights with her as well.”
Mason emphasized the fact that she had taken the knights. He knew Herdin was extremely sensitive about Blair going out after the two kidnapping incidents.
Upon hearing the news, Herdin’s lips twisted.
It was only yesterday that he had told her to wait quietly in the bedroom.
'And yet, she went out again.'
To meet the Emperor, of all people.
Recalling his last conversation with Ivan, Herdin’s eyes turned ice-cold.
Sensing the subtle edge in Herdin’s demeanor, Mason quickly added, “It has been quite some time since she left, so she should be back soon—”
“No need.”
Before Mason could finish, Herdin turned and left the mansion. The mana leaking uncontrollably from his body flared for an instant before he vanished.