Chapter 122. Sweet Love
2023.12.31.
"It's a uterine contraction symptom."
The doctor who had examined Blair's condition spoke.
"It's a natural symptom that frequently appears in pregnant women."
He added an explanation to calm the visibly startled expectant mother and father.
"However, it can be dangerous if the symptoms occur frequently or don't improve after a certain period. When symptoms appear, rest as comfortably as possible in body and mind, but if they don't improve over time, you should receive an examination immediately."
Blair felt relieved at that. She had experienced similar symptoms in her previous life, but because the symptoms were subtly different from back then, she had been worried.
Fortunately, the child in her womb had also been wriggling diligently as usual since a moment ago, reassuring her.
But Herdin still had a stiff face even after hearing the doctor's diagnosis.
"So you're saying these symptoms can appear without warning in the future as well?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Without any reason?"
"It's difficult to pinpoint the exact cause, but these symptoms often appear when the patient has overexerted themselves or been under mental stress."
At the doctor's words, Herdin furrowed his brow.
Yesterday he had held her to relieve his desire, and today he had taken her around in a carriage from noon onward, and decisively...
He knew well who had been the cause of the stress until she collapsed complaining of pain.
"Eliminating stress factors and getting plenty of rest is the best way to prevent the symptoms."
After repeatedly urging Blair to rest, the doctor left the room.
Only then did Herdin loosen his stifling cravat. He was still dressed in his外出 attire, as he had carried Blair here and immediately had her examined.
Seeing that, Blair spoke.
"Go wash up. I'll rest a bit."
Herdin stared silently at Blair and her belly where her hand rested.
Her face, which had been pale white with worry the entire carriage ride back, was now calm. Though he couldn't see movement with his own eyes, the child in her womb seemed to be reassuring its mother.
After silently watching that sight, Herdin rose to his feet. Soon, with the sound of the door closing, a peaceful silence descended.
Blair stroked her belly and whispered softly.
"...I'm sorry, baby. For making you suffer too."
Then, as if feeling the touch of worry, the child poked right where her hand touched. As if to say they were okay.
The child's movements, seemingly trying to reassure her, made tears well up. Belated guilt washed over her.
By now the baby must have grown enough to hear Mom and Dad's voices—how scared must they have been, hearing nothing but fighting all this time?
Thinking of the fear the child must have felt made her endlessly sorry.
She wanted to do better.
She wanted to give only prettier things, only better things. Since she must have been clumsy in her previous life as a first-time mother, she wanted to be a more skilled mother this time.
But she ended up making the same mistake again.
Eventually showing tears again from guilt toward the child, Blair felt the ceaseless movements of the baby and struggled to hold back the crying that threatened to burst.
The child would be feeling all of Mom's sadness too. She wished the child wouldn't know these emotions of hers. She wanted them to feel only pretty and good things.
'The most important thing is my baby.'
The purpose of this life was solely the child.
This life had begun only to meet this child again, and if she lost this child, this life would have no meaning at all.
The resentment toward Herdin, the fear of things repeating exactly like her previous life—before the child's safety, they were nothing.
'Until this child is born, let me think only about giving birth safely.'
Everything else could be considered after Ashiel was born—it wouldn't be too late.
Blair gently stroked her belly and whispered.
"I'll make sure you're happy, my baby."
So please come safely to Mom's side.
* * *
A soft sea breeze scattered the fine black hair.
Herdin cast an indifferent gaze in the direction the wind blew from. Shimmering light glittered dazzlingly on the aquamarine-blue sea.
Around the time a face that might have liked this scenery came to mind unbidden, Lord Raymond of Nerha's voice broke his reverie.
"Massive ships of this scale, nearly 50 of them come in per week."
"With so many outsiders coming and going, maintaining security must be no easy task either."
"Of course it's not easy. That's why we increased our forces the year before last. It costs a lot to maintain, but the most certain and easiest way to maintain security is to increase the garrisoned forces."
Knights who happened to be patrolling the coastline recognized Raymond and saluted.
Raymond also gave them a generous smile and returned the salute as he passed by.
He proudly talked about how much the value of imported and exported goods distributed inland through Nerha each week amounted to, how difficult it was to control, and how remarkable Nerha was for handling it all.
Rus quietly followed behind them, taking notes of potentially useful information.
Raymond's boasting stopped when he discovered dark clouds approaching from far across the sea.
"Oh my, it looks like it's going to rain after all. There are still more places I wanted to show you..."
"Let's save that for tomorrow. We have plenty of time anyway."
Raymond clicked his tongue regretfully, but decided to end the harbor inspection here, as Herdin suggested.
Once the two men boarded their respective carriages, the carriages departed.
Herdin watched the village scenery passing by beyond the window.
Several days had passed since Blair was examined by the doctor. During that time, he hadn't visited her during the day and instead caught up on his backlog of work.
Whenever he caught a glimpse of Blair in passing, she seemed to be doing well.
Sitting on the swinging bench in front of the annex, dozing in the sunlight, or bursting into laughter while walking through the garden with a wildly bouncing young beast.
The smile that had been so hard to see no matter what he did appeared so easily in places where he wasn't.
'...Is that what you wanted?'
What you want.
Could what you so desperately want be a life without me?
Before he knew it, the sound of raindrops began pattering against the carriage.
Herdin, who was about to close the window to block the rain pouring through the gap, stopped his hand at a sweet smell that suddenly stimulated his olfactory senses.
It was a familiar scent he had smelled sometime before.
* * *
Late in the afternoon, Blair, who had taken a nap after lunch, woke up at the sound of rain hitting the window.
Blankly watching the raindrops forming on the trees beyond the window and shaking off her drowsiness, Blair suddenly thought of something and rose from her seat. It was to check whether Herdin had returned.
But before she could even approach the balcony, Blair's footsteps stopped in front of the table.
On the room's table were piled small boxes. Things that hadn't been there before she fell asleep.
Looking at them with puzzled eyes, Blair opened one box that came to hand. Upon confirming what was inside, Blair's eyes widened in surprise.
"...Lemon candy?"
It was lemon-flavored candy she used to enjoy during early pregnancy when her morning sickness was severe.
When she opened the next box, the sweet scent of custard cream revealed the box's contents. Bread filled with plenty of custard cream. Her mouth watered instinctively at the thought of that sweetness.
Intending to check the contents of all the boxes first, she set it aside and opened the next box. Inside were marshmallows.
There was only one person who could have brought these while she was asleep.
Blankly staring at her husband's surprise gift, Blair picked one up and put it in her mouth. Its characteristic soft, chewy texture and sweetness spread pleasantly through her mouth.
As if sensing their mother's mood, the child in her womb also wriggled excitedly. Dimples formed on Blair's face as she chewed the marshmallow and stroked her belly.
Along with that sweetness came memories of last spring.
The sweetness of roasted marshmallows tasted for the first time, the warmth of candlelight that was scary but warm, his face looking at her and smiling beside her, and...
'Does it taste that good?'
And the emotions she had realized with aching heart at that moment.
The forgotten emotion surged up along with the suddenly recalled memory.
It was a love as sweet as marshmallow. Once upon a time.
Whatever his true feelings might be, if it was the sweetness of this one piece of marshmallow, she felt she could manage somehow.
Blair put another piece of marshmallow in her mouth, as if savoring the memory, the emotion.
While she stood there motionless, savoring Herdin's gift, a knock rang out in the room filled only with the sound of rain.
"Madam? Are you awake?"
It was the maid's voice.
Blair chewed and swallowed the custard bread in her mouth before speaking.
"Yeah, come in."
The moment permission was given, the maid entered the room immediately. In her approaching hand was a letter.
"The Lord of Nerha has sent an invitation to a banquet."
* * *
In the pouring rain, a carriage was stopped.
"Hurry up and get this carriage moving! My dress is getting all wet! Can't three men even lift this?"
Beatrice, waiting under the umbrella the maid had given her, took out her frustration on the innocent knights and coachman.
She had gone out to enjoy the autumn leaves, only to have the wheels sink into mud when the sudden downpour turned the ground to mire.
Since they were outdoors and, perhaps due to the rain, there were no other carriages passing by, it was difficult to even ask for help.
The pleasant autumn picnic had turned into a mess like the carriage wheels stuck in the mud.
"Ugh, so annoying. Seriously..."
Just as Beatrice was grumbling, a shabby carriage appeared in the distance and approached them.
'Could it be my destined partner?'
Unfortunately for Beatrice's expectations, the person who stepped down from the carriage was a woman. One with beautiful silver hair and golden eyes that looked almost like an angel.
"Hello. By any chance, do you need my help?"
Mela, who had approached at some point, smiled and extended her hand.