After This Spring Passes
In the end, Blair could only escape from him after she fell asleep almost as if fainting.
Of course, this too would only be for a moment.
Heredin watched Blair, who had fallen asleep in his arms, for a while before slowly rising and putting on a robe.
The fireplace that had been blazing and warming the room now held only dying flames and nearly burnt-out embers.
He tossed a few more logs into it, took out a cigar, and stepped onto the balcony.
Before him stretched the moonlit view of the garden.
The night breeze brushing his cheek was as soft as his wife’s delicate skin.
It even carried a similar scent, something like the fresh smell of grass.
It was spring.
As he felt the wind and lit his cigar, he suddenly remembered something Blair had said a few days earlier.
“I want to slowly practice overcoming my fear of fire before starting hypnosis.”
For some reason, Blair did not fear fire when she was with him.
Of course, if she looked directly at the fireplace, fear overtook her and led to hyperventilation, so he had to stay beside her the entire time the fire was lit, which was somewhat troublesome—but he didn’t mind.
The fact that only he could save her from fire gave him a certain sense of pride.
And if she became accustomed to the warmth of the fire, sought him out first, and embraced him—
Then that level of trouble would be worth it.
It was like caring for a stray cat that had become accustomed to the food humans gave it.
‘There’s no need to rush.’
The memory had been erased by her subconscious to protect itself.
Was there really any need to forcibly dig it up?
Caligo was currently watching Katrina’s movements, so if that investigation uncovered some clue, there would be even less reason to awaken Blair’s memories.
If that failed, then he could help her recover those memories later.
Heredin exhaled smoke and looked through the glass window at the bedroom, where Blair slept peacefully.
Then what would happen after this spring passed?
When winter’s chill disappeared and she no longer needed his warmth…
Heredin brushed his hair back, his gaze deepening.
At that moment, Blair stirred slightly in her sleep.
Heredin extinguished the half-burned cigar and returned to the bedroom.
Back to the side of the wife waiting for his warmth.
* * *
The weather was nice.
Blue skies, clouds drifting lazily, and trees sprouting fresh buds.
It was perfect weather for a picnic.
‘It should have rained.’
Heredin disliked the bright weather that had forced him to attend the hunting competition.
After staring out the window with dry eyes, he turned his gaze to the wife seated beside him.
Her expression was hidden beneath the bonnet that covered most of her small face, but judging from the direction of her head, she seemed to be watching the scenery outside.
The way she couldn’t take her eyes off the view made her look like a child on a picnic.
Watching Blair’s back quietly, Heredin’s gaze drifted to the nape of her neck.
Strands of hair that had slipped out beneath her pinned-up hair tickled her pale neck.
It was the very place where his lips had rested the night before when he held her.
The memory of that night overlapped with the sight of her white neck, and blood rushed to his lower abdomen.
Heredin scoffed at himself.
It seemed he had become such a madman that even the sight of that woman’s neck alone could make him react.
Yet even while recognizing that, he had no desire to suppress it.
Heredin stretched out his arm, wrapped it around Blair’s waist, and pulled her toward him.
Then, before she even had time to resist, he kissed the back of her neck.
Blair flinched in surprise and turned around.
“If you leave another mark on my neck—”
Her words were swallowed by his approaching lips.
After kissing her thoroughly, he finally pulled away and looked at Blair as if asking permission.
Action first, permission later.
The reversed order was so absurd that Blair glared at him instead of complying.
But Heredin clearly didn’t care about her permission and kissed her again as he pleased.
Eventually Blair closed her eyes as if she had no choice.
His hand untied the ribbon beneath her chin that held the bonnet in place.
The carriage jolted once, and the bonnet that had been precariously resting on her head fell to the floor.
The gentle kiss gradually grew rougher.
Heredin drank in every breath she took.
Only when Blair’s face flushed from lack of air did he finally release her.
Blair looked at him with dazed eyes.
Her lipstick had smeared messily across his lips.
The sight of such a disheveled man embarrassed Blair more than it did him.
What would people think if they saw him like that?
Outwardly, they were a properly married couple, and even if someone saw them it wouldn’t technically be a problem—but Blair herself wasn’t shameless enough to endure it.
Blair hurriedly wiped the smeared lipstick from his lips with her thumb.
Heredin lightly bit that finger.
“Ah.”
Blair’s hand froze.
A subtle tension flowed between them as they looked at each other.
Like a tightly drawn bowstring.
For a moment his eyes seemed gentle, but they changed again in an instant.
Before Blair could even appreciate having wiped his lips clean, his lips descended on hers again.
He skillfully parted her lower lip and explored her mouth.
At the same time, the large hand that had been holding her waist began sliding upward.
At that touch, a memory from her previous life suddenly surfaced.
‘Come to think of it, in my past life, on this day in the carriage…’
Blair hurriedly grabbed his hand.
Then she pushed him away.
“No more… Heredin.
We’re in a carriage.”
“So?”
Blair glared at him in disbelief at his question.
“What if other people… hear us?”
“Then don’t make any noise.”
As if that were a reasonable answer!
He was too overwhelming, and the stimulation he gave her was far too intense.
Even if she tried not to make a sound, it never went as she wished.
“Then we shouldn’t do it.”
But Heredin seemed to have no intention of letting her go, pulling her back beside him when she tried to move away.
“Who was the one teasing me by exploring my lips first?”
“You were the one who kissed me first.”
“Fine, then that part is my fault.”
He pulled Blair into his arms and sat her on his lap.
“But if we stop now, I think I’ll be in a bit of trouble.”
Feeling the tense heat beneath her thighs, Blair froze.
Despite his words acknowledging fault, his body showed no intention of repenting.
“Unless you want to spread rumors that your husband is a beast in heat toward his wife.”
Blair’s face gradually flushed red.
Heredin whispered while pushing aside the many layers of her skirt.
“You made me like this, my lady.
So please take responsibility.”
Soon the overwhelming heat slowly rose and consumed Blair.
In the end, she had no choice but to bite her lip and wrap her arms around his neck.
* * *
The hunting competition was held in an imperial forest located on the outskirts of the capital.
After gathering there, the nobles first ate together, then the men prepared for the hunt while the women gathered for tea.
“Well then, now that we’ve eaten, shall we go warm up?”
At Ivan’s words, the nobles dispersed to prepare for the hunt.
Once the men were ready, they received cheers and kisses on the cheek from their wives or lovers.
Heredin strode over to Blair, who was watching the scene quietly.
But she turned her gaze away with that stubborn expression of hers.
She had been like that ever since the carriage ride.
Seeing this, the corner of Heredin’s lips lifted.
She seemed determined to sulk, yet even that looked cute to him.
Heredin lightly brushed Blair’s cheek with his finger and asked,
“Won’t you give me a kiss?”
“….”
“You said you would fulfill your duties as a wife.”
Only then did her averted gaze return.
It irritated him that he had to bring up that damned contract before she would reluctantly listen—but he could tolerate that small annoyance.
Because the sulking face looking up at him was beautiful, and the lips that finally touched his were soft.
Heredin lifted Blair’s bonnet slightly and returned the kiss to her round forehead.
Then he tied the loosened ribbon of her bonnet again.
Blair’s blinking eyes looked up at him.
Seeing himself reflected in those eyes made him think again of the previous night.
But the desire rising within him suddenly stopped.
Because of someone watching them.
In that direction stood Wesley.
When their eyes met, Heredin’s blue gaze sank coldly.
It had been foolish to feel relieved just because the Grand Empress Dowager had not come.
At that moment, a knight of Delmark approached.
“Your Grace, preparations are complete.”
Blair, who had been watching him hesitate to leave, finally spoke.
“Be careful, Heredin.”
“I’ll be back.”
Turning away from Blair, Heredin’s face immediately returned to its cold, expressionless state.
He gave an order to the knight beside him.
“Bain.
Don’t leave the lady’s side.
If she says she’s tired, she may return early.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Blair watched Heredin’s retreating back with sad eyes.
He hadn’t changed from the past.
Of course he hadn’t—he was the same person.
In the past and now, his desires always came first.
Which meant the way he desired her could not possibly be love