The image of Herdin hugging Miella, his cold gaze that he didn't even bother to look away when he saw her.
Remembering it, Blair's body began to shake uncontrollably.
His heart was beating so fast he felt nauseous.
Blair pressed her chest with a closed fist.
As if that way she could repress the emotions that were overwhelming her.
She then mocked herself upon seeing her own gesture.
It seemed ridiculous to her that, despite having been so hurt by him, she should suffer again for the same reason.
Because the fact that his and Miella's relationship hurt and disturbed her meant that she still loved him.
Biting her lip, Blair looked away from the two of them.
I hated him.
And she hated herself for still not being able to forget him.
Soon, a bright light emerged from Miella's fingertips on Herdin's body and seeped into his abdomen.
After repeating the process a couple more times, Miella, observing Herdin's face, asked:
—I think that's it.
How do you feel?
—I seem to be fine.
—I'm glad I could help.
Miella, as if she had forgotten her shyness from a moment ago, smiled radiantly at Herdin.
The clergyman who was watching said to Herdin:
—The service will start soon, you better prepare quickly.
-OK.
The clergyman said goodbye first and left the rest room.
Miella, who was hesitating without coming out immediately, bowed to Herdin.
—I will always pray that the Goddess grants you her protection, Lord Duke.
After saying goodbye, Miella left.
As he put on the clothes he had taken off, Herdin, suddenly noticing Blair's silence for a while, turned to her.
His normally pale face was strangely more drawn than usual.
He looked so fragile as if he would faint at any moment.
—Did you get hurt before in the hunting preserve?
He instinctively reached out to hug her, fearing she was going to collapse, but Blair pushed him away.
-…I'm fine.
Blair changed the subject before he could say anything else.
—Before you asked me what else I had seen of the future.
I should have already left the topic of the future and premonitions.
I had no intention of telling him the whole future.
But the moment she saw her own image, affected by him, she felt the need to draw a line.
So this was…
—That priestess from before.
She is the woman you will fall in love with.
It was a warning to him, but at the same time, it was a reminder to herself, to completely expel him from her heart.
-…That?
—I'm sure she will be a good partner for you, but it is still problematic for you to take her as a lover.
As I told you before, when we get divorced, you must not have any defects.
A dry, incredulous laugh escaped Herdin's lips.
—But if we can control the rumors...
Before Blair could continue, Herdin lunged at her and devoured her lips with his.
He shushed her and pulled away before the shocked Blair could push him away.
But he didn't let go of the arm around his waist.
He looked at her with cold eyes from a distance so close that their breaths touched each other, and said:
—Even if that were true, why would he take a mistress?
—…
—If I have you.
His big hand, which surrounded her waist, caressed the line of her back.
The caress was gentle, but as she faced the emotions rippling in his cold blue eyes at the same time, she felt a chill.
—Until this contract ends, you are my wife.
And all this, and worse things than this, I will only do with you.
A deep, icy voice rested on her ear just as his lips approached again to devour hers.
It was then.
-Excellence.
Service will begin soon.
Ruth's voice was heard along with a knock on the door.
Herdin, with a barely audible sigh, released Blair, gathered up his outer clothing, and left the rest room first.
Blair, her eyes confused for a moment, stared dazedly at his back.
Then, he soon understood her feelings.
Anyone would be baffled if they were told they would fall in love with a stranger at first sight.
I wouldn't believe it and I would want to deny it.
But in the end, just as it happened to him before his regression, the current one will also end up falling in love with Miella.
Only she remembered a future that no longer existed, and only she remembered the memories and wounds of that future.
Therefore, only she could change the future.
Blair had no intention of changing his future.
So in this life, it will disappear from your life.
For the good of both.
Just when Blair, after gathering her emotions, was going to leave after Herdin, she felt something catch on her foot and stopped.
It was Herdin's bowtie.
⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅∙∘☽༓☾∘∙•⋅⋅⋅•⋅⋅⊰⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅⋅•⋅
Herdin, who had left the rest room, headed towards the main building of the Temple.
Ruth had left earlier on an errand from Herdin, and Blair followed behind.
Feeling Blair's presence behind him, Herdin remembered his words from a moment ago.
She is the woman you will fall in love with.>The content of the "future" Blair claimed to have seen was incredible enough, but what infuriated him most was its expression.
Her face was calm, as if she didn't care at all that he fell in love with another woman, as if it were something completely foreign to her.
His voice.
And the only reason she shouldn't take a mistress now was simply so she could divorce him safely.
But that was the contract they had agreed upon from the beginning.
He didn't understand why it made him so angry.
—Herdin.
He heard Blair's voice calling behind him.
His voice was broken, as if he was having trouble following his long strides.
Herdin swallowed a languid sigh and ran his fingers carelessly through his bangs.
His pace gradually shortened.
—You dropped this.
Herdin stared silently at his bowtie in her hand, then leaned toward her.
—Put it on me.
At his unexpected request, Blair blinked.
Then, seeing the outer garment he was holding in his right hand, she understood.
Putting the husband's bowtie on was learned during lessons for brides before the wedding.
Because helping the husband with his outfit before going to work was one of the wife's tasks.
Blair already knew this before taking those lessons for this wedding.
He often asked her to put it on.
And with that excuse, when she came closer, he would hug her even on busy mornings.
…Although in the end it had all been a lie.
Now he knew that his requests had no meaning.
But because of what had just happened, it was difficult for her to approach him willingly.
However, she also didn't feel comfortable telling him to put it on himself.
After hesitating for a moment, Blair approached as if to hug his neck.
As the distance between the two shortened, Blair's white nape, exposed beneath her updo, also came closer.
At the same time, her characteristic sweet body aroma completely enveloped him.
Suddenly, the memory of their wedding night assaulted his mind.
The feeling of his lips buried in that soft neck, the heat of her body that had shivered in his arms, and...
That beautiful face looking up at him.
What the hell had gone through his head to ask him to wear his bowtie?
He repented belatedly.
The hard-repressed desire clawed at his throat as it was swallowed.
And yet, his gaze remained fixed on her.
Blair, completely oblivious to his thoughts, was focused on tying his bowtie.
Her eyebrows were slightly furrowed in concentration and her tight lips relaxed slightly each time her fingers mistakenly brushed the back of his neck.
-That's it.
Blair gently smoothed the bowtie as a finishing touch and took a step back.
At that moment, Herdin grabbed her hand.
Blair's eyes, who were looking at him strangely, met Herdin's, who was watching her from above.
Only then did Herdin realize that he had unconsciously grabbed her hand and frowned slightly.
But it was only a moment.
His blue eyes soon filled with the image of Blair.
As if it was going to devour her at any moment.
At this moment, they felt the presence of several people not far away.
The sound of footsteps was approaching them.
Soon, a group of priests appeared in the corridor.
Among all of them, dressed in the same habit and similar in appearance, a middle-aged man who walked in the center especially stood out.
He was a man with ordinary black hair and strange green eyes, normal looking at first glance, but an unapproachable aura emanated from him.
As soon as he saw Blair and Herdin, he strode over and greeted them first.
—How lucky to have met you two.
Gerard Lumiel.
"Lumiel" was a surname given only to the Pope, and it attested to his life.
A man born in the red light district, considered the dirtiest background, who had risen to the position of Pope, the closest to the gods.
Without forgetting his childhood, he lived protecting the weak, as if putting into practice the phrase "God resides in the lowest place in the world."
Thanks to this, he enjoyed great popularity and was respected and admired by everyone.
Even Katrina trusted and relied on his words.
Some said he had become attached to power, but there were also those who believed it was wiser to win the Emperor as an ally rather than make him an enemy.
Whatever the opinion of others, to Blair, he was her savior, the one who had rescued her and healed her from the serious internal injuries suffered in the fire, for which she had always been grateful.
Blair and Herdin greeted Gerard.
—We greet His Holiness the Pope.
—I heard that an unpleasant incident occurred today in the hunting preserve, and that His Excellency has taken care of it.
I thank you both.
—There is nothing to be grateful for.
Anyone who had been there would have done the same.
—You are magnanimous, as befits a hero.
Despite Herdin's somewhat dry response, Gerard smiled.
He possessed the tranquility that age and position grant.
As Gerard was also heading to the church service, the three of them walked together towards the main Temple building.
Gerard looked at Blair and Herdin with satisfaction and said:
—By the way, they are already real husband and wife after a month.
Seeing that they have grown healthy and have formalized their union fills me with emotion.
—Thanks to His Holiness saving me that day.
Blair mentioned "that day" without realizing it, and belatedly watched Herdin's reaction.
But he kept an expressionless face.
Then it suddenly dawned on him that Gerard's words also applied to Herdin.
The former Duchess of Delmark, Herdin's mother, was famous in her lifetime for her devotion.
He served the weak, made donations and accumulated virtue.
It was said that among the people of the Temple and the town, there were those who secretly venerated her, calling her "Holy."
When she, who shared his ideals, died in a tragic accident, a deeply saddened Gerard personally officiated at the funeral of the Duke and Duchess of Delmark.
It was extremely rare in history for the Pope, without being family, to officiate at the funeral of another person.
That two children, one from the imperial family and the other from the ducal house, united by a special bond with Gerard as a result of both tragedies, had ended up united in marriage.
Gerard's words about emotion did not seem to be a mere formula of politeness.
While they were talking, the three of them arrived in front of the main building.
The entrance to the main building was crowded with nobles who had gathered for the religious service.
They all murmured, commenting on the events at the hunting ground that day.
Gerard stopped and said:
—You enter first.
I have to prepare something outside.
—Then, I will visit the Temple another time.
—Whenever you like.
Gerard responded to Blair's words.
At that moment, under the collar of Blair's clothes, a magic circle was faintly seen.
Gerard's gaze, upon discovering it, became cold and gloomy.
Gerard, watching the backs of the newlyweds as they headed inside the Temple, murmured in a low voice:
—May you both form a home full of happiness.
…To be continued