Chapter 123. Things That Resemble You
2024.01.01.
Herdin only returned to the bedroom late at night.
During the day, he kept his distance from Blair, but at night, he came back to the room to sleep. Since his wife, whose nights had grown restless after becoming pregnant, would be asleep by the time he returned anyway.
Thinking Blair would naturally be asleep today as well, he stepped into the bedroom—only to halt at the sight of violet eyes gazing back at him.
Blair was still awake. She looked as though she had been waiting for him.
Herdin approached and sat down beside Blair, who was leaning against the bed. Then, as if she had been waiting for just that, Blair held out a letter. It bore the seal of Nerha.
"An invitation to a banquet has arrived from the Lord of Nerha."
Seeing it, Herdin let out a hollow laugh. It amused him that he had briefly thought there might be some other reason.
Herdin took the invitation Blair offered him.
It was an invitation containing nothing more than the formal greeting that a banquet would be held at the mansion in three days' time, and they hoped the recipient would attend and grace the occasion with their presence.
Raymond's intentions were obvious.
There was, of course, the fact that he couldn't ignore the guests staying in his home by inviting Herdin and Blair, but more than that, his scheme to forge a connection was likely far greater.
While Delmark was a rival in the port business on a small scale, on a larger scale, they were also a major client managing the Empire's vast territories.
He would have liked to refuse the invitation, but given that they were staying in the annex of his mansion, declining the host's invitation would not be a good look.
After checking the date on the invitation, Herdin set it down on the side table and said.
"I'll let them know that only I will be attending the banquet, so you should rest."
Blair gave him a questioning look. A silent ask of why she wouldn't be going.
"Given what happened recently, I think it's best not to overexert yourself. The Lord of Nerha will understand."
That was what he told her, but in truth, it was largely because he was conscious of the rumors surrounding Blair.
When he went to find her and brought her to the annex, the rumor that the Duchess had run away pregnant with another man's child had largely been put to rest.
However, there would still be many who, upon seeing her return, would spin whatever tales suited their fancy behind her back. It was obvious this would not help Blair's peace of mind.
Fortunately, Blair nodded readily at his words.
"That sounds good. I'll do as you say."
The conversation regarding the banquet concluded thus.
It was already past the time Blair would normally be asleep, and since the only reason she had waited for him was the banquet invitation, Herdin thought she would go straight to bed.
But Blair stared at him and hesitated for a moment. She seemed to have something left to say.
When Herdin looked at her with questioning eyes, Blair, who had been opening and closing her lips, finally spoke.
"…Thank you for the gift. I'll enjoy it."
She, who had always either been on guard whenever she saw him or resignedly yielded her side to him, felt oddly soft today. And the reason was merely some desserts.
He let out a laugh at the absurdity of it all—that he could have settled for a few desserts, yet had spent money and even fought with her over it, felt somewhat futile.
Her standards were incomprehensible, but if she was satisfied, then that was that.
Herdin gave a slight nod of acknowledgment at her thanks and moved on to another topic.
"You don't seem tired today."
"I took a long nap during the day, so I think I'm fine."
At Blair's indication that she had no intention of going to sleep just yet, Herdin gazed quietly at her belly before asking.
"Is this little one doing alright too?"
Unable to grasp his intention, Blair blinked in confusion, so Herdin added.
"You said the baby seems unfamiliar with their father. Then they should get used to me."
Only then did Blair realize that Herdin wanted to feel the baby's movements.
Thinking about how indifferent this man had been to the child in her past life made her resent him, but those were ultimately her own feelings.
For the child, it was surely better for their father to take an interest in them, even if it was late.
'And I received a gift today, too… so should I help a little?'
Coincidentally, she could feel the baby in her womb stirring, as if awake.
The movements were not strong enough to be clearly visible to the naked eye, so Blair carefully took his hand and placed it over the area where she felt the baby's movements.
However, as if to render her efforts futile, the baby had grown still. Even when Blair poked at her belly, there was no response.
With her hand overlapping his, Blair tried moving a few more times before speaking.
"Hmm… It seems the baby still finds you unfamiliar. How about trying to say hello first?"
Herdin, who had been focusing more on Blair's hand touching his than on the baby, belatedly asked back.
"…Say hello?"
"To the baby. Ears have formed now, so they can hear Mommy and Daddy's voices."
Herdin hesitated for a moment before offering a greeting to the baby.
"Hello, little one."
He had thought he would feel awkward, but he delivered the greeting with surprising ease.
Blair stared blankly at his appearance. It was a scene she had desperately longed for since her past life. Something about it made her heart swell with emotion.
But the baby still showed no reaction.
Herdin, who had been quietly waiting for the baby's response, eventually pulled his hand away without receiving an answer. At that moment, Blair grabbed his hand and placed it back on her belly.
She spoke to the baby in a whisper-like voice.
"Baby, Daddy wants to say hello to you. I think he's disappointed because you keep hiding."
She was extremely adept at communicating with the baby in her womb.
Herdin quietly watched her.
Her voice, ringing softly in the quiet room, was pleasant to hear. Her voice was brimming with affection. Just from hearing her voice, one could tell how much she loved the baby.
She looked happier than ever as she spoke to the baby.
Only then did he feel like he somewhat understood the things she liked.
Candy, cream puffs, marshmallows, and her bond with the baby.
She truly loved things like these.
Things that were sweet, soft, and warm.
Herdin quietly took in the warmth of her hand overlapping his, and the sight of Blair smiling as she spoke in a soft, whisper-like voice.
The baby in her womb never ended up responding, but it was a night that was fulfilling with just her presence alone.
* * *
On the day of the banquet, the Nerha Lord's mansion was bustling with preparations.
The busiest of them all was Beatrice.
Having overseen the preparations in place of her late mother, who had passed away last year, and having to dress appropriately as the star of today's banquet, she had much to do.
By her side as she busily prepared with the maids' assistance was Miela.
"Um, My Lady. Is it really alright for me to attend the banquet as well?"
"Of course. You're my savior, aren't you?"
A few days ago, on a day when heavy rain had suddenly poured down.
Beatrice, who had been able to hurry back to the mansion by catching a ride in Miela's carriage, offered to let Miela stay at her mansion during her time in Nerha.
'You said you came here on leave anyway? There's no need to spend your vacation only praying at the temple, right?'
It was around the time she had been thinking it would be nice to have a friend her age nearby.
Although Miela was a commoner by status, she was a priestess, so keeping her close would be helpful in many ways.
'If I mention she's a priestess, Father would readily let her stay at the mansion too.'
At Beatrice's enthusiastic proposal, Miela feigned reluctance and agreed to stay at the Nerha mansion.
Afterward, Beatrice quickly opened her heart to Miela, who accommodated her personality well, and treated her like a friend.
And today, she had already arranged to attend the banquet together with Miela. For Miela, who had lived her entire life as a commoner, it would be an extraordinary experience.
"Miela, your skin is so fair that I think a dress in this color would suit you well."
"But that dress has such an elegant design that I think it would look far better on you, My Lady."
"Really?"
Miela observed Beatrice, who gave a slight smirk at the compliment, before subtly bringing up a topic.
"Oh, by the way, My Lady, is Duke Delmark also attending the banquet today?"
She had already acquired the information on the day she arrived at the mansion that Herdin was staying in the annex here. The fact that he had come here to find Blair as well.
She had overheard at the Delmark mansion, where she had gone to treat Herdin's wounds, the information that Blair might be here, but she hadn't expected her to really be here.
She had come to Nerha after even getting leave approved by her superiors on the off-chance, and to think her ominous premonition had hit the mark.
Her heart fluttered at the thought of meeting him, but at the same time, it wrenched to think that Herdin had come all the way here to find Blair.
'What could he possibly lack to choose a woman like that…'
There were plenty of women who loved him. And among them, there would be ladies from prestigious families with beautiful looks, even if not as much as Blair's.
'Even if their conditions are a bit lacking, they'd still be better than the daughter of an enemy.'
For instance, Beatrice right before her eyes.
When Herdin's name slipped from Miela's lips, Beatrice's face brightened.
"Yeah. It seems the Duchess won't be able to come, so only the Duke will be attending."
But her expression quickly darkened again.
"But so what? It doesn't matter. He's already married anyway. If only I had met him a year earlier."
"That's true. It's a bit embarrassing for me to say, but honestly, you would be a better match for the Duke than a Duchess with so many scandals."
"Right? You think so too?"
Looking at Beatrice expressing her regret, Miela smiled with a look of triumph and whispered.
"Then how about you fill the partner position for the Duke at today's banquet?"
Beatrice's feelings for Herdin would soon turn into jealousy and hatred toward Blair.
Miela smiled gently and set fire to those emotions.