Chapter 1
The Second First Night
Prologue
Late at night, Blair stood in front of the bedroom door.
Today was her wedding day, and this was the room where she would spend her first night with her husband.
After standing there for a long time, she covered her thin nightgown—which clearly revealed the curves of her body—with a shawl and knocked.
“……”
It seemed her husband hadn’t come to the bedroom yet.
Letting out a small sigh of relief, Blair entered the room and sat on the sofa.
And waited.
Ten minutes passed.
Then thirty minutes, and another thirty.
Even after an hour, her husband still didn’t come—unlike before.
‘Is he not coming?’
Staring at the tightly shut door, Blair suddenly remembered the nature of this marriage.
‘Well… this isn’t a real marriage anyway. It’s just a one-year contract marriage.’
A marriage formed purely for mutual benefit.
There was no need to fulfill marital duties like a real couple on their first night.
‘This is better.’
If she saw that handsome face again, if they shared warmth again, she might fall into the illusion that he loved her.
Just like she did in the past.
‘Spending a night with him once—the day Asiel was conceived—is enough.’
Since today wasn’t that day, it didn’t matter.
Having concluded that her husband wouldn’t come tonight, Blair took out paper and a quill from the drawer.
She calmly began writing the contract that would formalize their marriage.
Just as she finished the final sentence—
Suddenly, she felt warmth behind her, and a large hand appeared, bracing itself on the desk.
Startled, Blair turned around.
At some point, a man had approached her from behind.
Much taller than ordinary men, with a perfectly built body visible beneath his robe.
Soft black hair, and beneath it, cold blue eyes like a summer night sky.
A face so beautiful it could make anyone—man or woman—hold their breath.
Duke Herdin Delmark.
From today onward, officially her husband.
As if reading her thoughts from her startled gaze, he asked,
“Why do you look so surprised? It’s our first night. It’s only natural for a married couple to spend it together.”
“…I didn’t think you’d come.”
“You stayed up waiting, didn’t you?”
His words struck right at the point, and Blair pressed her lips together.
“I was just waiting just in case. It would be rude to be asleep when you came… Duke—no, you.”
At her use of “you,” his eyes darkened slightly.
“That sounds like you were prepared to spend the first night.”
Blair flinched at his touch as he brushed her cheek, and at the low voice near her ear.
But what startled her more were his words.
‘Why…?’
In her previous life, Herdin had accepted this unwanted marriage to uncover the truth from her.
The first night, his kindness—it had all been an act to trap her and extract that truth.
So this time, before the marriage, she had made him an offer:
‘If you accept my proposal, I’ll fully cooperate in uncovering the truth of that day.’
She had told him he wouldn’t need to deceive her—she would give him what he wanted willingly.
So she thought he wouldn’t act anymore.
‘Once he learns the truth, he won’t need me anymore… right?’
Just like before.
But his behavior now was completely different from what she expected.
“There’s no need to go through with the first night—”
“I want to.”
His low whisper was directed at her red lips. His thumb brushed over them.
Her heart began pounding rapidly from the warmth of his touch.
Then, as he lifted his gaze, their eyes met.
“Right now.”
His blue eyes burned with raw, unfiltered desire.
Before Blair could retreat, his lips captured hers.
At that moment, she remembered—
He was a man.
‘Men can share their bodies even without feelings.’
Yes, this wasn’t love.
Nor was it an act to pretend love.
Just a moment of desire.
Thinking that way made things easier.
Blair closed her eyes as if resigned.
In the past, she had trembled in fear at their unfamiliar, intimate acts.
His large frame had felt like a beast ready to devour her—or a prison trapping her.
Yet, she had loved the way he looked only at her.
She had loved the warmth of his embrace.
And she had mistaken it for love, falling for him instantly.
‘But not this time.’
She would not be fooled by that warmth again.
She would only spend the night with him for one reason—
To meet her child.
‘Asiel… my baby.’
If she could meet the child she loved more than her own life again—
She would share his bed as many times as needed, even with the man who may have killed her before her regression.
Chapter 1: The Second First Night
Today was the day Herdin returned to the townhouse after nearly a year.
It was his first time back since Asiel was born.
Blair personally chose the dress and accessories she would wear today.
After getting ready, she entered the adjoining room.
There, a small cradle sat.
Inside, the baby played quietly, moving tiny hands toward a mobile without even fussing.
Blair smiled softly and picked the child up.
“My baby, you woke up and played so well without crying?”
“Uu… eh! Bububu!”
The baby babbled happily, smiling brightly as if knowing today was the day to meet his father.
But as Blair looked out the window holding him, her eyes were tinged with bitterness.
Not long after she became pregnant, Herdin had left for the northern Delmark duchy.
Officially, it was to subdue magical beasts that rampaged every summer.
But Blair knew the truth—he was avoiding a wife from an unwanted marriage.
Even so, she had prayed for his safety every day, stroking her growing belly.
He was strong—a war hero, the only magic swordsman on the continent blessed by a divine beast.
But she couldn’t help worrying.
On sleepless nights, whenever she dreamed of him, she sent letters.
Telling him the baby was growing well. Wishing for his safe return.
But he never replied.
She told herself no news was good news.
He must simply be busy.
…She had to believe that.
Time passed. Summer and autumn faded, and winter approached.
Still, he didn’t return.
Meanwhile, the baby began moving in her womb.
From that time, Blair cried many nights.
It felt like the child was searching for its father.
‘I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…’
She pitied the child who wouldn’t be loved by its father.
And blamed herself for it.
Then, one winter day—six months after he left—Herdin returned to the capital.
But only briefly.
He stated he would not visit the estate and would return immediately.
Blair, heavily pregnant, went to see him anyway.
It had been six months.
But his blue eyes were as cold as a frozen winter lake.
‘Why have you come here? It must be difficult for you in your condition.’
She couldn’t bring herself to say she missed him.
In front of him, she always felt like a criminal.
Forgetting her resentment and sorrow, her heart still raced for him.
“…Herdin. Could you spare just an hour… no, even thirty minutes?”
Her voice trembled slightly.
After a moment, he reluctantly agreed.
They rode together in a carriage.
She had until they reached the estate.
In silence, she fidgeted with her fingers.
Then the baby moved strongly.
As if announcing its presence.
Blair stroked her belly.
“It must be healthy, just like you. The kicks are so strong I can’t sleep at night.”
“I see.”
“…Would you like to feel it?”
“…No, that’s alright.”
His indifference silenced her.
She had wanted comfort.
Perhaps even to act spoiled, just once.
She had been afraid throughout her pregnancy.
But her mother had refused to come.
So she wanted to ask him—
To stay with her, even for a few days during childbirth.
But she couldn’t.
The baby stopped moving.
Tears welled up.
She turned to the window.
Soon, they arrived.
Herdin looked at her belly and said coldly:
“Have a safe delivery.”
The carriage door opened.
She hesitated.
There was so much she wanted to say.
But none she could.
“…Please name the child.”
He paused, then replied:
“If it’s a girl, Diana. If a boy, Asiel.”
She chose Asiel.
Because it was the first thing he gave their child.
But even after Asiel was born, Herdin never returned.
Until now.
“Milady, His Grace is arriving!”
Blair kissed Asiel’s cheek.
“Asiel, your father is here.”
“Abu?”
She went downstairs with the baby.
Soon, a carriage arrived.
Her heart fluttered.
They had a child now.
Maybe they could be a family.
But—
When Herdin stepped out, he reached back into the carriage.
And helped down a beautiful silver-haired woman.
They stood side by side.
The servants whispered.
Blair froze.
Their eyes met hers—
His cold blue.
Her shining gold.
“Hello, my lady.”
The woman smiled like an angel.
Blair stared blankly.
The heavy summer air felt suffocating—
Even more than the summer he had left her behind.