Chap 4

The name of the woman Herdin brought was Miella, a face Blair had seen once or twice while going to the temple.

Her profession was a priestess, a fitting occupation for her angelic face.

Miella, who had gone north for her duties by the Goddess's will, happened to discover the Delmarc Knights, who had suffered great damage from a recent demon attack, and offered her help.

As a result of that incident, Herdin recognized her abilities and hired her as an assistant in demon hunting, keeping her by his side even when he returned to the capital.

Herdin was a great talent spotter with a discerning eye.

On the surface, their relationship was just that, but the servants freely gossiped about the two.

"His Grace and Lady Miella, do you think there's something between them?"

"His Grace and Lady Miella? I don't know about that."

"Well, as for His Grace, he doesn't show his emotions much. But doesn't it seem like Lady Miella likes him?"

"That's… yes, you're right. She didn't return to the temple even though she came back to the capital."

"Soon, His Grace might fall for Lady Miella. It's said he likes beautiful and talented women."

"Well, whatever happens, it's better than being the enemy's daughter."

The maids' hushed voices reached Blair's ears as they tidied up the room.

However, Blair pretended not to hear and covered her ears. She was afraid that if she reacted, it would confirm the rumors.

The suffocating summer passed, followed by autumn, and the bleak winter returned.

When Herdin returned from the capital as usual, he didn't seek out Blair as he had since she became pregnant.

He was always busy with his external affairs, and even when Blair went to see him by chance, he didn't meet her willingly.

At first, Blair tried to restore their relationship but eventually gave up on going to him.

One fortunate thing was that he occasionally showed interest in Asiel. Of course, Asiel seemed not to recognize him as his father at all.

That day, Blair staked her hopes on that faint interest and headed to Herdin's office.

In about a month, it would be Asiel's birthday. Blair planned to suggest that they go down to Holstein's villa to spend time as a family.

As Blair was about to knock on the door of Herdin's office, she hesitated. The office door was slightly ajar.

"Herd―"

Blair, who was about to call him, swallowed her words at the sight through the crack in the door.

Miella was in Herdin's embrace.

Blair's pupils, looking at the two of them, began to shake uncontrollably.

"Ah…"

Blair instinctively took a step back to escape the unbelievable reality. At that moment, she met Herdin's gaze through the crack in the door.

He seemed momentarily surprised, but he didn't avoid Blair's gaze. He didn't seem to have any intention of avoiding it.

He pulled Miella closer into his embrace. His cool gaze still rested on Blair beyond the door.

As if to show her.

Blair, who had staggered back, turned and returned to her room. She couldn't remember why she had come back to her room in this state of mind.

Looking down at the floor, she noticed that one of her slippers was missing, probably lost on her way back, and her breath was labored, almost to the point of suffocation.

"Ha, haa…"

Tears that she had held back as soon as she entered her room now burst forth.

She couldn't forget Herdin's gaze as he embraced another woman. The same tender touch he had once given her, the languid voice that whispered to her, now whispered to another woman.

Even if that tenderness had been fleeting, occurring shortly after their marriage, she still loved him.

She may have escaped from that place, but she couldn't escape from the harsh reality she faced.

"Ha, ugh…"

Her damaged respiratory system, severely affected by the fire incident more than a decade ago, couldn't withstand the short sprint and the ensuing sobbing.

Blair wept, hitting her chest, which could barely breathe properly.

Her heart hurt more than her bruised chest until she became numb.

The next day, Blair left for Holstein with Asiel as if escaping, leaving a message to the steward, "I want to spend Asiel's birthday at the villa, so please make sure to come even if you're busy on his birthday."

But secretly, she hoped. She hoped he would come and explain that what she had seen that day was nothing, just a misunderstanding.

However, not a single letter arrived from Herdin, even until Asiel's birthday.

As Blair, who couldn't leave the window near the main gate of the villa despite her deadened eyes, a small shadow approached her.

"Umma! Umma!"

Asiel, dressed up for his birthday, approached.

Blair, smiling as if she knew when he looked like that, hugged Asiel.

"Our son, did you put on pretty clothes today? My child, you look lovely."

As Asiel, who was receiving kisses from his mother, giggled happily, he suddenly remembered something and pointed outside with his chubby little hand.

"Appu?"