The Duke Only Needs My Child (New translation ver)

And so time passed, summer and autumn when magical beasts ran rampant went by, and winter was approaching.

Until then, Herdin still hadn't returned to the capital.

Meanwhile, the child in her womb grew vigorously and started to move. From around that time, Blair spent many nights crying.

The child, asserting its presence with increasingly strong movements day by day, seemed to be looking for its father.

'I'm sorry. I'm sorry, baby…'

She pitied the child who wouldn't be loved by its father. It felt like it was all her fault, and her heart ached.

Then one winter day, half a year after he had left, Herdin came down to the capital.

He expressed his intention to return to the main castle right away, without stopping by the mansion, as he only came to the imperial palace for a brief matter.

When Blair heard this news, she abruptly went to see him with her heavily pregnant body that made even going out difficult.

It was a meeting after half a year.

But his blue eyes, looking at the wife he met after half a year, were as cold as a frozen winter lake.

'Why did you come here? Your body must be heavy enough as it is.'

In front of that quiet coldness, the words "I missed you" that had been lingering in her mouth couldn't be uttered.

In front of him, she always ends up becoming a sinner.

It was miserable that her heart still raced for him, forgetting all the resentment and sorrow.

Blair composed her emotions and tried to speak with a calm expression.

'Herdin. Can't you spare just an hour, no, thirty minutes…?'

Her voice, which started calmly, trembled subtly as she finished her words.

Herdin, who had been staring at Blair, nodded reluctantly.

The two got into the carriage together. Blair was given the time until they arrived at the Delmark mansion from the imperial palace.

In the silence where only the sound of the carriage could be heard, Blair fidgeted with her fingers. She seemed to have had a lot to say, but her mind went blank when she faced him.

At that moment, the child in her womb began to move. As if trying to make its presence known to its father, it was a strong movement.

Blair frowned and stroked her belly.

'It seems healthy, taking after its father. The kicking is so strong, it's hard to sleep at night.'

'Is that so.'

'Would you like to feel it…?'

'…No, it's fine.'

At his curt response, as if dealing with someone else's child, Blair quietly closed her mouth.

She had hoped he would understand her pain a little. Maybe she even wanted to act spoiled, unlike her usual self.

As it had been throughout her pregnancy, her fear of childbirth grew as her due date approached.

She had heard that other nobles had their mothers by their side, so she carefully asked her mother too.

It was a request that the usual Blair, knowing her mother's nature, would never have made, but her fear of childbirth was so great that she couldn't help but ask despite knowing this.

But her mother refused as expected.

A reply came back saying, 'It's something every woman goes through once, what's there to be afraid of? What could I do even if I went there anyway?' Along with the midwife she sent from the imperial palace.

So she wanted to ask her husband. Even if it was just for a few days around the time the child was born, to stay by her side.

However, in front of his indifferent response, Blair couldn't say anything. Even the child's diligent movements stopped. She felt like she was about to burst into tears.

That would be terribly ugly.

Blair tried to swallow the emotions rising to her throat and looked out the window.

The carriage had arrived at the mansion.

Herdin stared blankly at Blair's belly with an expressionless face, then gave a greeting as if to a complete stranger.

'I hope you have a safe delivery.'

The butler opened the carriage door.

It was truly time to part with him now, but Blair hesitated.

There was so much she wanted to say, but only things she couldn't say.

Blair, who had been looking at him and moving her lips, finally thought of one thing she could ask him.

'…The name. Please name this child.'

As if he couldn't refuse even that, he seemed to ponder for a moment before suggesting two names.

'How about Diana if it's a girl, and Asiel if it's a boy?'

He added that if Blair had another name she wanted, she could use that name, but Blair named the born child Asiel.

Because it was the first thing the father gave, thinking of his son.

But Herdin didn't come to the townhouse even after Asiel was born. It was only after another half year that he was returning.

"My lady, His Grace will arrive soon!"

The maid Lina entered the room to announce the news.

Blair whispered, kissing the child's chubby cheek.

"Asiel, daddy's coming."

"Da?"

Blair came down to the first floor of the mansion carrying Asiel. All the servants were out waiting for their master who was returning after a long time.

Soon, the sound of hooves was heard in the distance and a carriage appeared.

Blair's heart swelled at the reunion with him, knowing it was a vain hope.

She knew he resented her. She too remembered the countless nights she had spent in tears, holding her swollen belly alone.

But now there was Asiel between them.

No matter how much he hated her, he was the child's father, and she was the child's mother.

Blair wanted to build a complete family with him now, even if late. For this lovely child's sake.

It seemed that if he saw the child who was the spitting image of him, he would gladly agree with her thoughts.

Soon the carriage arrived in front of the mansion, the door opened and Herdin got out.

Blair, forgetting all her resentment, approached him excitedly, eager to show him Asiel.

"Herdi—"

But Herdin reached out his hand, looking not at Blair and Asiel, but inside the carriage.

The person who took his hand and got out of the carriage was a beautiful woman with dazzling silver hair. The woman stood next to Herdin.

The Delmark household servants began to murmur at the sight of the two.

A woman who rode in the same carriage as their lord.

Though they didn't know her identity, it was clear from the way Herdin treated her that she was precious to him.

Blair's steps toward him came to a halt. Her violet eyes looking at them began to tremble.

Herdin's cool blue eyes and the beautiful woman's golden eyes next to him fell on Blair at the same time.

"Hello, madam."

The angelic woman smiled and greeted. Her golden eyes sparkled like jewels.

Blair stared blankly at the woman her husband had brought.

The humid air of late summer, heavy with heat, was suffocating. More so than the summer a year ago when he had left.

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