Chapter 157.
The child born in the snowy winter grew vigorously by the time spring came, like a sprout that had been holding its breath all winter.
Still small, but with plump, pleasing flesh and a bit heavier.
After Ashiel was born, Herdin stayed by Blair and the child's side as much as possible.
Since he couldn't see Ashiel's appearance at birth in his previous life, every moment of the child was wondrous and precious.
However, due to the mounting workload, there were days he inevitably had to leave their side. Like today.
"Is this the last one?"
Herdin, who had signed and stamped the last document, asked as he handed over the papers.
"Yes, the documents are done, but..."
Ruth, who received the documents, trailed off and pulled out a letter from her bosom. It was a letter bearing the imperial seal.
Seeing that, Herdin's brow furrowed.
"A letter has arrived from Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. It arrived earlier today, but I set it aside thinking it might concern you."
Herdin stared at the envelope with a cold expression. The recipient was, naturally, Blair.
In fact, this wasn't the first time Katrina had sent a letter to Blair.
About a month after Blair gave birth, a letter arrived from Katrina.
Herdin worried that Katrina might cause Blair hurt or burden, but contrary to his concerns, she was nonchalant upon receiving the letter.
'She says she wants to see Ashiel.'
'...Ashiel?'
'Yes. It's strange. She didn't do this in the previous life.'
Blair spoke as if it were nothing, but Herdin found Katrina's behavior displeasing.
Perhaps, unlike the previous life, in this life her sins had been revealed. Had she reflected while confined in the imperial palace with her limbs severed and her power stripped away?
Whatever the reason, it was ridiculous that she now wanted to act like a mother. Of course, if there had been no contact at all, that would have been annoying in its own way.
Blair likely felt the same way.
But he thought his soft-hearted wife would give in and reply to her mother. Having lived her whole life as a good daughter.
However, Blair never replied.
Worried that Katrina's letters might negatively affect Blair, whose body hadn't fully recovered yet, Herdin instructed that any letters from the imperial palace be delivered to him first.
And after about another month passed, another letter came from Katrina.
What should he do.
Herdin, tapping the desk with his index finger as he tried to gauge Blair's feelings, suddenly recalled one assumption.
Perhaps Blair was ignoring her mother because she knew that he, as Esmeralda's nephew, and Katrina were enemies.
While harboring guilt in one corner of her soft heart for not being able to forgive her mother.
If that was the case, the answer was simple.
Having decided what to do with Katrina's letter, Herdin picked it up and rose from his seat.
"I'll handle it, so you can go now."
"Yes, get some rest."
After sending Ruth away, Herdin headed straight to the bedroom.
The faint sound of a grandfather clock could be heard from afar. It was already close to midnight, a time when Blair would be asleep.
But what greeted him was an empty bed.
Seeing the empty bed, his heart sank. It was an instinctive reaction born from the experience of losing her several times.
After staring blankly at the bed for a moment, Herdin quickly regained his composure and moved his feet. At this hour, the only places she could be were the bedroom, or 'that place.'
As he entered the room connected to the bedroom, the distinctive scent of milk filling the room tickled his heart. At the same time, a gentle singing voice could be heard. It was the song Blair sang when putting the child to sleep.
Herdin's lips loosened into a smile at the sound.
Moving further into the room, he saw Blair sitting beside Ashiel's crib. It was a scene always visible whenever she was awake.
"Blair."
At his quiet call, Blair only then turned to look at him and brightened.
"You're back, Herdin?"
"It's late, why aren't you sleeping?"
"Ashiel was crying."
Ashiel was particularly attached to her mother.
Even when playing well, the child would whine for no apparent reason, as if something was uncomfortable. When that happened, coaxing from the nursemaid was useless, but strangely, the crying would stop as soon as Blair held the child.
Since the child always sought her mother, it was bound to be tiring, but Blair showed no sign of annoyance and instead gave even more love and attention.
Sometimes, to the point where that love made him jealous.
"I wonder what's bothering her? I wish I could understand everything Ashiel wants to say..."
"She probably just missed her mama."
"...Is that so?"
It was an answer that mirrored his own feelings, but his wife, unaware of her own heart, smiled as if she liked that response.
At that smile, Herdin also let out a chuckle as if admitting defeat.
Even with her husband's return, Blair, who couldn't take her eyes off the sleeping child, opened the conversation in a soft voice.
"The nursemaid said Ashiel seems to be growing faster than other children."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Today, she made eye contact with me. She must have good concentration, as she looked at me for quite a long time."
Newborns, due to their underdeveloped vision, couldn't see well except for close objects. It was still a time when they couldn't even properly meet their parents' eyes.
Starting from that, Blair began to chatter about the events of the day. She was eager to share every cute moment of Ashiel with her husband.
His wife was not normally a talkative woman.
Seeing her so excitedly chattering away, he felt helplessly apologetic.
Surely, in your previous life too, you must have wanted to tell me these things like this. You, who loved talking this much.
Herdin quietly observed his wife speaking in a gentle voice, occasionally chiming in and listening attentively to her stories.
The voice of his wife, who had become talkative after giving birth, was pleasant to hear. Because she looked so incredibly happy when speaking like that.
If you're happy, then I'll be happy too.
"And look at this too. Her smiling lips look just like yours."
Blair whispered, pointing at the baby making reflex smiles.
She found herself entirely in the child's pretty features. It felt as if the child was saying she loved her, making everything in this moment feel like a miracle.
Herdin alternated his gaze between his wife and the child who resembled her lovely features, then opened his mouth.
"I'm not sure, but to me, she seems to take after you more."
He added, stroking the corner of Blair's eye.
"These sparkling eyes too."
His lowered finger playfully tapped the tip of her small nose.
"This crinkling nose too."
And the final destination was her lips.
"These pretty lips too."
When he raised his gaze, his eyes met Blair, who was blinking in a defenseless state.
Noticing the heat in his gaze, she slightly flushed and averted her eyes.
"Don't have strange thoughts in front of the baby."
Even such reproach from his wife was welcome, so Herdin smirked and shamelessly added.
"I was only thinking about you."
Then he cupped her cheek and kissed her. Blair, seemingly flustered for a moment, soon accepted him as if giving in.
The kiss, which started lightly, gradually grew heated and lingering as it always did. Just as his hand, which had swept up Blair's waist, naturally cupped her soft mound—
"Waaah..."
Ashiel woke up and started whimpering. It was a perfectly exquisite timing.
At that, Blair's hand, which had been caressing Herdin's arm, quickly pulled away. Simultaneously, their saliva-moistened lips and closely pressed bodies separated.
The wife who had been a seductress just moments ago returned to being a mother at the single sound of the baby's cry.
Herdin reluctantly let her go, suppressing the heat in his aroused body.
Blair quickly picked up Ashiel. Then Ashiel whimpered while sucking on the clothing near her chest.
"Our baby woke up because she was hungry."
Recognizing that Ashiel had woken from hunger, Blair nursed her. She did so with great ease.
Herdin quietly observed the cute intruder who had monopolized his wife with a single cry, then lightly poked the baby's plump cheek with his index finger.
Then, as if bothered by it, Ashiel flailed her hand and grabbed his finger. Her grip was surprisingly strong, making him let out a chuckle.
"Looking at her again, I think she does take after me like you said."
"Right?"
"She likes her mama's chest."
At his lewd remark, Blair's eyes narrowed. Herdin laughed as if enjoying her reaction.
When Ashiel finally unlatched after being full, Herdin naturally picked up the child as if it were the usual routine. It was to help with digestion.
But a rustling sound came from his chest as he held the child. Only then remembering what he had momentarily forgotten, Herdin took out the letter from his inner pocket and handed it to Blair.
"It's a letter from the imperial palace."
Realizing it was a letter from Katrina, Blair looked up at him with questioning eyes. It was a silent question asking why he had this.
"I checked it first because I was worried about you. I'm sorry."
Blair opened the letter with a somewhat lighter heart. Since Herdin, who had read the letter first, was showing it to her meant the content wasn't anything to be greatly concerned about.
The letter contained the same content as before, just as she had expected.
Disappointment toward a daughter who wouldn't reply, and the desire to see her grandson.