Herdin, who had been watching his cigar burn down along with the firewood before he could even properly smoke it, headed toward the table where the water kettle was. His throat felt dry.
Beyond the glass he was drinking from, he could see Blair sleeping soundly. Just as he was quietly watching her,
Along with a dizzying sensation, a hazy hallucination unfolded before his eyes.
The bed in front of him was stained with bright red blood, and Blair lay collapsed upon it, bleeding profusely from her back.
Herdin's heart sank at the sight. He felt as if all the blood was draining from his body. The strength drained from his hand holding the glass in an instant.
'What...'
At that moment, the hallucination vanished.
In its place lay Blair, asleep, lying in the exact same position as just moments before.
Herdin quickly grabbed the glass he had nearly dropped.
What was that just now?
Even though the hallucination was gone, his startled heart could not easily calm down.
Herdin strode toward the sleeping Blair and placed his index finger between her lips and nose. He could feel her breathing.
As he gently touched Blair's cheek with his finger, he felt warmth. Perhaps sensing this, Blair furrowed her brow slightly.
"Mm..."
Only then did Herdin exhale the breath he had been holding.
'She must be quite out of it.'
Just like at the New Year's festival, and today as well. To think he was hallucinating.
The apparition had vanished, but the emotion he felt at that moment lingered like an afterimage, leaving an unpleasant feeling.
Just as Herdin was about to withdraw his hand from Blair, her eyelids trembled, and she opened her eyes. Her violet eyes, bathed in the sunlight streaming into the room, blinked slowly.
Her pupils, slowly finding focus, stared at him.
"...Herdin?"
Along with the voice, a breath escaped, tickling his finger.
Staring blankly at Blair and tracing her lips with his index finger, he leaned down and kissed them.
As he felt her trembling lips, the pained moans, and their intertwining breaths, the unpleasant afterimage finally vanished.
The woman was alive. In his arms.
***
"His Excellency is still in the bedroom."
Ruth, who had arrived at the Duke of Delmark's residence on time, heard this from Mason before even greeting him.
Knowing the meaning of those words, Ruth furrowed her brow slightly.
It had already been ten days since Herdin began spending the night in Blair's bedroom and staying until morning.
It had been exactly since she had been kicked out of the office around lunchtime.
'I was happy back then that I finally had time to rest.'
Just then, Mason asked Ruth, who was heading toward the drawing room,
"Shall I bring out some tea?"
"That sounds nice. I'll have the same as yesterday."
While Ruth was in the drawing room, opening her personal notebook to review Herdin's schedule and the major matters that needed to be decided today, Mason brought the tea.
He placed it in front of her.
"How about adjusting your work hours for the time being? After all, they are newlyweds."
"It is fine. My commute times are fixed anyway. Well, he'll probably drink it soon."
Ruth spoke as if it were nothing, but inwardly, she felt uneasy about Herdin's interest in Blair.
To think that her liege, who had never shown interest in women before, was suddenly showing interest in one. As a family with a scarce heir, it was something to be glad about, but the problem was the woman.
Of all people, Katrina's daughter.
Just as Ruth was lost in thought with her notebook open, Herdin suddenly appeared behind her, walked leisurely, and sat down opposite her. He was wearing a bathrobe, as if he had just washed up.
'What a surprise.'
Since he usually called her to his office, she hadn't expected him to come directly here.
"Good morning, Your Excellency."
At Ruth's greeting, Herdin merely nodded and crossed his long legs.
A servant brought his tea and cigars, lit one for him, and left.
Inhaling the smoke, Herdin picked up one of the documents Ruth had brought.
"Is this the magic ore mine development matter you mentioned earlier?"
"Yes. You only need to review and approve it today."
Ruth handed him the related documents.
A well-toned body faintly visible through the loose robe, and a face that left one speechless. Even with a cigar in his mouth, he looked striking.
Wherever he went, many women sought his attention.
It had always been that way.
Ruth had assumed Blair would be the same, a one-sided affection, with Herdin remaining indifferent.
But their relationship felt different.
And that unsettled her.
"Your Excellency."
Herdin looked up.
"I'm sure you will handle things well, but just in case, please be careful when you are with the Duchess."
His gaze turned cold.
"Are you warning me?"
"No, not that..."
Ruth cleared her throat and lowered her voice.
"Contraception. The Imperial Family might be waiting for her to bear a Delmark heir."
Her concern was clear.
If Blair bore a child, it could be used against him.
Ruth held no personal grudge, but Blair was still of imperial blood.
Herdin thought of Blair.
And the birth control pills always placed by the bedside.
She was the one avoiding pregnancy.
She wanted this contract to end cleanly.
"That won't happen."
Herdin swept back his damp hair and put out his cigar.
It would end cleanly.
For the sake of the man she loved.
Though he did not know why that thought made him feel so bitter.
Blair finally opened her eyes around noon.
Ten days had already passed since that day in the office.
For the past ten days, she had barely left her bedroom.
The clause in the contract stating "twice a month" had no effect.
Herdin interpreted it however he pleased.
"If it's not intercourse, it doesn't count."
"If both parties want it, there's no limit."
He left her no choice.
At first, she protested.
Eventually, she gave up.
Every night, from late afternoon until late at night, he kept her by his side.
She would fall asleep as if she had fainted, and even when she regained consciousness, she was still in his arms.
Again and again.
It was relentless.
Even his absence felt strange.
"…How can someone have that kind of stamina?"
It had been the same in her past life.
Before everything fell apart, he had been just like this.
'I thought it was just an act...'
But now, it didn't feel fake.
Still, it didn't matter.
This was temporary.
And she had no intention of questioning it.
If this was what he wanted, she could give it to him.
'I'll be able to move more freely this way.'
Blair forced herself to sit up despite the dull pain and pulled the bell cord.
She couldn't stay in bed all day.
There was too much to do.
Preparing for life after the divorce, and finding the one who had killed her.