Chapter 94. Let's Leave
Mikhail said there was a way to temporarily divert Herdin's attention.
At first, she had intended to go through the proper procedures for a clean divorce, but if he had no intention of doing so, she had no reason to abide by those procedures either.
So she could simply leave his side whenever she wanted, at the time of her choosing.
'Actually, this works out better. It'll be a long journey, so it might be better to leave after entering a stable period.'
A long journey during early pregnancy would surely be too taxing on the baby in her womb as well.
With that thought, her mind calmed down.
Having organized her future plans in her head, Blair pulled the bell rope.
However, Lina and Melly, who would normally have come running quickly, did not appear.
Just as she was feeling puzzled and about to pull the bell rope once more, the door opened with a knock.
"My Lady!"
Melly and Lina entered, each holding a small pouch and a bouquet of flowers. Both of their faces were flushed with excitement.
"Congratulations on becoming a mother!"
"We wanted to give you a gift, but we didn't know what would be good... So we just rushed out and bought some candy that's good for morning sickness."
"And this is a bouquet of flowers."
Melly held out lemon-flavored candy, and Lina presented a bouquet tied with a pretty ribbon. It seemed they had already heard the news.
Blair stared blankly at the gifts and the two of them for a moment before bursting into laughter and accepting them.
"Thank you both so much."
The two of them didn't know that Herdin and she had a contract marriage, nor what had happened between them.
They only knew the fact that a new life had been created between the master couple.
Regardless of what intentions Herdin had for wanting this child, the baby in her womb deserved to be blessed. Just for safely taking root in her womb alone.
She felt genuinely grateful to the two girls who had reminded her of the fact she herself had forgotten.
Especially since in her past life, only Lina had blessed the news of her pregnancy, the fact that Melly had now joined in carried a slightly greater meaning for Blair at this moment.
'Coming back to the past wasn't completely meaningless after all.'
Even though her relationship with Herdin hadn't escaped the past, in other aspects, the choices of this life had brought good connections.
With that thought, the gloomy feeling she'd had since last night improved considerably.
But the two people who had actually lifted Blair's spirits became downcast.
"I thought you were tired lately because of His Excellency, My Lady. His Excellency must have been bothering you."
"I'm sorry we didn't take better care of you when we knew you were having a baby."
Amidst this, Lina's words, which were tinged with resentment toward Herdin, made Blair shake her head with a smile.
"It's fine. It's natural for unmarried young ladies not to know. And thanks to you two making sure I ate my meals properly, I ate well."
Only then did the two of them brighten up.
After staring at Blair's slender belly for a while, Lina asked.
"Then, My Lady, when will the baby be born?"
"If all goes as planned, around the beginning of next year."
Blair answered quickly without even needing to calculate. The day Asiel was born was a day she could never forget even if she tried for the rest of her life.
"If the baby takes after you and His Excellency, they'll definitely be incredibly cute and pretty."
"That's right. Ah, I wish next year would come quickly. Once the baby is born, I'll carry them on my back every day."
"Hmm, does the baby have no say in this?"
"Ah, if it's My Lady's baby, they'll naturally like me. Instinctively!"
Melly and Lina bickered with excitement, looking forward to next year, which was still a long way off.
But looking at the two of them, Blair wore a bittersweet smile and murmured.
"...That's right. The baby will like Lina a lot too."
In her past life, Lina had been very fond of Asiel. Asiel, too, seemed to know that Lina liked her, and had followed her around fondly.
But in this life, since she would leave the ducal mansion before giving birth to Asiel, Lina wouldn't be able to see Asiel. That was deeply regrettable.
Lina, who had been chattering with Melly about the unborn baby, suddenly clapped her hands as if she'd just remembered something and turned to look at Blair.
"Ah, look at me. The meal time has passed! My Lady, is there anything you'd like to eat? Just say the word and we'll quickly go tell the head chef."
"The smell of butter makes me nauseous, so I'd prefer food without butter. Mostly fruit and vegetables, if possible."
"We'll go tell them right away!"
Lina slipped out of the room with light steps. Watching Lina's retreating figure, Melly also stood up.
"Then I'll go bring some wash water."
As Melly was about to leave the room with quick steps, Blair stopped her as if she'd remembered something.
"Melly, I have a favor to ask on your way out."
"Yes, please tell me."
"Could you call for Baroness Sionel?"
To leave the ducal mansion, the first thing she needed to do was contact her helper.
* * *
The news of Ivan's engagement announced at yesterday's Founding Day Festival also had an impact on today's state council.
When the state council regarding the engagement ceremony budget ended, the nobles who had attended the meeting swarmed to Ivan like madmen, all offering their congratulations.
"Once again, I sincerely congratulate you on your engagement, Your Majesty."
"Seeing the two of you yesterday, you looked so perfect together like a painting. I believe you are truly a match made in heaven."
The flow of congratulations was interrupted when Herdin approached after the nobles who had offered their greetings had somewhat retreated.
"I am deeply sorry to disturb you when you must be busy preparing for the engagement, but I would like to request a retrial for the Empress Palace fire incident from ten years ago in the near future."
At the unexpected topic, not only did Ivan's expression stiffen, but the nobles listening nearby also turned pale and fell silent.
"Thanks to Your Majesty's consideration regarding that incident previously, I was able to firm up my resolve."
"......"
"Just as you said at that time, would it be alright for me to request a fair and just judgment this time as well?"
Ivan looked at Herdin with a coldly hardened expression and swallowed a hollow laugh.
Herdin's words, at first glance, sounded like gratitude toward him, but in reality, they were a trap that bound him so he had no choice but to accept.
If he pressured Herdin, it would lend weight to the rumor that the mastermind behind that incident was truly Katrina, and since Herdin had preempted things as if Ivan himself had promised to reveal the truth of the incident previously, he couldn't even say it was unacceptable.
'It was just yesterday that I told him to bring evidence to destroy.'
What wind had changed his attitude in just one night?
Though he couldn't know what had changed Herdin's mind, one thing was certain.
The fact that he deliberately brought this up in front of others meant he was going to face him head-on.
Ivan struggled to compose his momentarily stiffened expression and gave the predetermined answer.
"Of course. If your claim is true, then the late Empress Her Majesty has been bearing a false accusation, and as I am also her child, should I not rightfully clear her name?"
"Then I will visit soon to ask about the trial schedule."
Having heard the answer he wanted, Herdin turned away as if he had no more business.
What was he plotting?
Amidst the murmuring of the nobles watching his retreating figure, Ivan's eyes also narrowed.
* * *
The scenery of the square passed by outside the carriage window.
Perhaps because it was the last day of the festival commemorating the Founding Day, the square was more crowded and noisier than usual.
What caught Herdin's eye in that scene was the sight of a young child holding both their mother's and father's hands.
Having stared blankly at that sight, Herdin broke the silence lingering in the carriage.
"Ruth."
Ruth, who had been dozing off, unable to overcome the afternoon drowsiness, snapped awake at the sound of his voice.
"Uh, yes?"
"Bring all the witnesses of the incident from ten years ago to the mansion."
The witnesses related to the incident had been hidden in another location in case the imperial side noticed first and got to them.
Ruth wiped the drool from his mouth and blinked his eyes.
Just yesterday, he had said he would postpone the trial due to negotiations with the emperor, so it was strange that he had changed his mind in just one day.
"Then has the negotiation with His Majesty the Emperor been resolved well?"
At Ruth's question, Herdin recalled the words of the attending physician who had examined Blair last night.
'It appears Her Ladyship has conceived.'
And also Blair's abdomen that he had observed for a while after bringing her from Pipi's room where she had fallen asleep at dawn and laying her down.
Inside that womb, a child of his blood was growing.
Now there was nothing left for him to lose from that trial. It was a fight he could not lose.
"Yes. We can prepare for the trial without waiting any longer. And..."
Herdin, who still hadn't taken his eyes off the family of three outside the window, added.
"Find out if there are any good elixirs for pregnant women."
"Where would you use that..."
Ruth, who was about to ask the reason for the unexpected request, paused at a possibility that crossed his mind.
Don't tell me.
And Herdin gave the answer he had suspected.
"Blair is with child."
Ruth's eyes widened.
'A few months ago when I told you to be careful with dual cultivation, you said that wouldn't happen!'
Flustered by the unexpected news, Ruth asked cautiously, one beat late.
"...That, this is something to congratulate, right?"
"Of course?"
"You said it was a contract marriage."
"It will truly become a marriage now."
Judging by Herdin's expression as he spoke casually, the news didn't seem entirely unwelcome to him.
But another worry arose in Ruth's mind.