Chapter 88: My Baby
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 88: My Baby
Though she had secretly been hoping for morning sickness, Blair couldn't bring herself to be happy. The moment she recognized the signs, her heart sank.
‘Not yet… It’s too early…’
Her only comfort was that she hadn't actually vomited yet.
“Oh, right. Madam, His Grace sent some medicine to nourish your body…”
Meli, who was entering the bedroom behind her, spoke up as if suddenly remembering something. She trailed off, staring in confusion as Blair froze mid-step.
“Madam? Is something wrong?”
Lina, who had been setting up the meal in the room, hurried over at the sound of Meli’s voice.
“Are you feeling unwell, Madam?”
“No, I’m fine. I just felt a little dizzy for a moment.”
Blair waved a hand dismissively, but it only deepened the worry in Lina and Meli’s eyes.
“Should I call the physician?”
“It’s not that serious. I think I was just in the hot water for too long.”
Blair gripped Lina’s hand tightly, seeing the maid was ready to bolt for the physician at any moment.
Fortunately, Lina didn’t run off. Instead, she squeezed Blair’s hand back, her expression still fraught with worry.
“You seem to have grown quite weak lately. You should eat plenty of hearty meals. How about taking a walk with me afterward?”
Lina’s overprotective nature drew a soft chuckle from Blair, who nodded.
“Alright, let’s do that.”
“Then please call us if you need anything.”
Once Lina and Meli left, Blair was finally alone.
She approached the table where Lina had arranged her meal. The closer she got, the stronger the buttery scent of the bread became, and the more her appetite vanished.
Pushing the bread and soup—the sources of the smell—as far away as possible, Blair sat down. She gently placed a hand on her lower abdomen.
“……My baby.”
Her voice trembled as she spoke to the child in her womb, as did the hand she laid upon her stomach.
‘Is this child really Asiel?’
She had tried her best to conceive under the same circumstances and at the same time as when she’d had Asiel in her past life, but she couldn’t be certain.
Still, with no way to know for sure until the baby was born, she had no choice but to believe this child was indeed Asiel.
Tears welled in her eyes at the thought that Asiel had traveled across a vast expanse of time to find her again.
She had faced countless hardships since returning to the past.
From the beginning of this contract marriage to everything she endured while uncovering the truth of the incident from ten years ago, to the fingers pointed at her because of the rumors currently spreading.
Yet, what had kept her from giving up was the sheer determination to see Asiel again, no matter the cost.
She was overjoyed that the fruit of her endurance had finally, safely, taken root inside her.
“In this life, I will never leave you alone.”
I will stay by your side and protect you until you no longer need me.
Her weakened heart found new strength in the knowledge that she was no longer alone. She had to be strong to protect the child in her womb.
Blair quietly stroked her stomach for a long time.
* * *
When Blair returned from her walk in the rear garden with Lina, Baroness Sionel was waiting for her.
“Have you been well, Duchess?”
Blair had summoned her to design the dress she would wear to the Foundation Festival in two weeks.
“Thanks to you. And you, Baroness?”
“Of course! How could I not be, when the Duchess herself remembers me?”
Baroness Sionel laughed in her characteristically high-pitched voice, covering her mouth with a fan.
“By the way, were you just out for a walk?”
“Yes, the weather has been so lovely lately.”
“That is wonderful! A healthy model makes the clothes stand out all the more.”
She skillfully steered the conversation while laying out the fabrics she had brought.
As the empire's most popular fashion designer, she had surely heard the rumors spreading like wildfire through the capital, yet she didn't carelessly bring them up.
Though she appeared lighthearted, her calculated behavior was proof of her professionalism and social tact.
Thanks to her discretion, Blair could comfortably choose her fabric and discuss the design.
After a while, their discussion concluded, and Blair rose to her feet.
“I’ll leave it in your hands, then.”
“Of course. You can count on me. I will visit again in a few days once the fitting is ready.”
As Baroness Sionel stood, her assistants began packing up the fabrics in perfect order.
Just as Blair was about to leave the drawing room, one of the assistants approached her and offered her a catalog.
“Duchess. This is a catalog of our latest arrivals. Please take a look when you have some time.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Blair reached out to take it. At that moment, the assistant slipped something into her palm, hidden beneath the catalog.
‘……A note?’
While Blair blinked in surprise, the assistant quickly stepped back.
The movement was so covert, concealed by the catalog, that even Lina and Meli standing nearby hadn't noticed. Blair knew she couldn't open it here.
‘Could this note be from…?’
There was only one person she suspected.
“I’m going to rest for a bit. You two may go about your duties.”
Returning to her room, Blair dismissed Lina and Meli before pulling out the note.
Unfolding the paper, she saw words written in a familiar hand.
[I have something urgent to discuss in person, but security at the Delmark Ducal Mansion is so tight I have been unable to contact you. Even the maid who usually delivers our messages is being watched, making it difficult to approach.]
It seemed Herdin hadn't just forbidden her from leaving and tightened security; he had cut off all her external contact.
Only now did she understand why she hadn't heard from Mikhail.
[Before we arrange a meeting, I must ask you something.
Are the plan and the intentions you first spoke of still valid?]
The ‘plan and intentions’ Mikhail mentioned could only refer to what she had told him during her first visit to the guild.
Her plan to cause a scandal, abandon her name and status, and leave the Ducal Family.
[If that has not changed, I will gladly assist you.
On the day Baroness Sionel visits with the fitted dress, please send your reply through the assistant who delivered this note. I will be waiting.]
After reading the note, Blair pulled the flowers out of a nearby vase, tossed the note into the empty fireplace, and then poured the water from the vase over it, turning the paper to mush.
Then, she used a poker to shred the pulp until it was completely unrecognizable.
‘For Her Majesty the Empress’s sake, I wanted to attend the trial if possible, but…’
Now that her morning sickness had begun, she had to prepare for the worst.
When she placed the flowers back into the now-empty vase, her eyes were calm and settled. She had made up her mind.
* * *
Before dinner, Herdin returned home. After bathing, he went to Blair’s room.
It had become his routine: return to the mansion after work, hold Blair in his arms, and share dinner with her in her bedroom.
But tonight, contrary to his plans, Blair was already fast asleep.
It was a pity, but the night was long. He could forgive her for needing a brief rest.
He knew exactly who was responsible for wearing her out day and night, and a flicker of guilt pricked at him.
Herdin quietly sat on the edge of the bed and gazed down at the sleeping Blair.
Everything was going smoothly.
He had gathered all the evidence needed to uncover the truth behind the Empress's Palace Fire Incident from ten years ago.
‘Now, all that’s left is…’
Herdin’s gaze drifted down to Blair’s flat stomach beneath the blanket.
If only I could create a bond that no one could ever sever, one that would keep you by my side forever…
If that happened, he felt the anxiety that constantly nipped at his heels would finally vanish.
Herdin covered Blair’s stomach with his large hand, caressing it, before finally succumbing to his burning desire and leaning down over her.
The desire that had driven him to possess her relentlessly couldn't wait even a moment longer.
At the very moment his selfish lips were about to claim her defenseless ones—
Her tightly closed eyelids fluttered, and Blair slowly opened her eyes.
“……Ah.”
Startled to find his face right in front of hers, Blair’s eyes widened.
But the culprit, caught in the act, showed no surprise. Instead, he shamelessly captured her lips.
His lips moved against hers, sucking and releasing, tangling more deeply and persistently. His hand slid naturally to her stomach.
At the touch, Blair, who had been clumsily responding to his kiss, subtly pulled away.
Herdin sensed it instantly, pulling back to look at her. Blair mumbled an excuse.
“……I don’t think I’m feeling very well.”
As she spoke, her hand, hidden beneath the blanket, was protectively cupping her lower abdomen.
The risk of miscarriage was highest during the early stages of pregnancy.
Now that she knew she was pregnant, she had to avoid sleeping with him as much as possible.
Herdin’s eyes narrowed as he looked down at her.
“Have you been examined? Did you take any medicine?”
“It’s not that serious. I’m just… a bit tired. I want to rest.”
Blair glossed over the details, carefully watching his expression. Fortunately, he didn’t press the issue and backed away.
Just as a relieved Blair let down her guard and began to close her eyes, Herdin’s next words made her heart plummet.
“By the way, I don’t think you’ve had your period this month.”