Chapter 21
The Woman You Will Love
Blair stared blankly at Miela as she entered the room with the priest.
Could it be… they already knew each other at this point?
In the past, she had been told Heredin wasn’t injured here—but perhaps he had simply been treated privately, hiding the injury from public eyes.
As that thought formed, her blood turned cold.
“So, Sister Miela, please proceed with treatment quickly. The prayer service will begin shortly.”
The priest who brought Miela spoke politely.
Heredin’s gaze naturally shifted toward Miela.
It was indifferent.
Completely different from Miela’s—who looked as if she had been struck by something divine, frozen in place while staring at him.
It was unmistakably the gaze of a woman in love.
Miela stood there dazed until the priest called her again.
“Sister Miela?”
“Ah—! I-I’m sorry!”
Startled, she hurried forward.
But even as she approached Heredin, she couldn’t bring herself to touch him properly or even look at him directly.
After hesitating, she finally spoke.
“Then… I’ll begin treatment now, Your Grace.”
Her face was already red as she placed her hands on his abdomen, avoiding both his body and his eyes entirely.
Watching this, memories from Blair’s past life suddenly surfaced.
Heredin holding Miela.
Heredin’s cold eyes that never looked away from her.
Blair’s body began to tremble uncontrollably.
Her heart pounded so hard it made her nauseous.
No…
She pressed her clenched fist against her chest, as if she could suppress the emotion. Then she let out a hollow, self-deprecating laugh.
Even after being hurt by him before, she was being hurt again for the same reason.
The fact that she was shaken meant one thing—
She still loved him.
Blair bit her lip and turned her gaze away.
She hated him.
And she hated herself for still not letting go of him.
At that moment, light gathered from Miela’s hands and flowed into Heredin’s body.
After repeating the healing process a few times, Miela checked his condition.
“It seems done now. How do you feel?”
“I’m fine.”
“I’m glad I could help you.”
Miela smiled brightly at him, as if her earlier embarrassment had never existed.
The priest spoke next.
“You should prepare for the prayer service soon.”
“I will.”
After bowing, the priest left. Miela lingered for a moment, then bowed to Heredin.
“May the Goddess always bless you, Your Grace.”
And then she left as well.
Heredin began putting his shirt back on—but soon noticed Blair, who had been unusually silent.
Her face was paler than usual. Almost like she might collapse at any moment.
He approached her.
“Did you get injured at the hunt earlier?”
He reached out instinctively as if to hold her, but Blair pushed him away.
“…I’m fine.”
Before he could say more, she quickly changed the subject.
“About what you asked earlier. About seeing the future.”
We should stop talking about the future. She had no intention of telling him everything.
But seeing herself falter earlier had made her draw a line.
So she said it.
“The priest you just saw… she’s the woman you will fall in love with.”
“…What?”
“She’ll likely become a good partner for you. But bringing her in as a concubine now would be problematic. Like I said before, there must be no blemish on you when we divorce.”
A dry laugh escaped Heredin’s lips.
“But if rumors can be controlled—”
Before she could finish—
Heredin pulled her in and kissed her.
It was sudden, forceful, cutting off her words completely.
He only released her after a moment, but his arm remained around her waist.
Close enough that their breath mixed, he looked at her with cold eyes.
“Even if that were true… why would I bring in a concubine?”
“….”
“You’re here.”
His hand moved slowly along her back.
It was gentle—but the intensity in his gaze made her shiver.
“Until this contract ends, you are my wife. I’ll only do this with you. Everything… even more than this.”
His voice dropped lower, pressing against her ear.
And then he leaned in again, as if to kiss her once more—
Knock knock.
“Your Grace. The prayer service is about to begin.”
It was Ruse’s voice.
With a quiet sigh, Heredin released her and left the room first.
Blair stood frozen for a moment, staring at his back.
Then she forced herself to rationalize it.
Of course he would react like that.
Anyone would be confused if told they would suddenly fall in love with a stranger.
But in the end—just like in her previous life—he would fall in love with Miela.
She was the only one who remembered a future that no longer existed.
And the only one who carried its pain.
Which meant—
She was also the only one who could change it.
But Blair had no intention of changing his future.
Even if he ends up loving someone else… it won’t be me.
So this time, she would disappear from his life.
For both of them.
As she steadied herself to follow him out, something caught under her foot.
She looked down.
It was Heredin’s cravat.
Heredin walked ahead toward the main temple.
Ruse had already left. Blair followed behind him.
As he walked, his mind returned to her words.
“The woman you will fall in love with.”
The content of her so-called “future vision” was absurd enough—but what truly irritated him was her expression.
As if it had nothing to do with her.
As if it was someone else’s story.
Calm. Detached. Indifferent.
As if her future didn’t matter at all.
Even the reason she refused to let Miela become a concubine wasn’t concern—it was just to ensure a clean divorce.
As if their marriage had always been nothing but a contract.
And yet—
Why was that so infuriating?
“Her-din.”
Her voice came from behind him.
Slightly breathless from keeping up with his pace.
He sighed and slowed slightly.
When she finally caught up, she handed him something.
“You dropped this.”
His cravat.
Heredin looked at it for a moment, then leaned down toward her.
“Put it on for me.”
Blair blinked, then understood and stepped closer.
As she moved, the faint scent of her filled his senses.
And suddenly—
A memory flashed through his mind.
The night of their first time together.
Her warmth.
Her trembling breath.
Her face looking up at him.
…I’m losing it.
Why had he even asked her to do this?
Regret surfaced too late.
But despite everything, his eyes stayed fixed on her.
Blair carefully focused on tying the cravat, unaware of his thoughts.
When she finished, she stepped back.
At that moment, Heredin grabbed her hand.
Their eyes met.
And only then did he realize he had done it unconsciously.
His brows tightened slightly—but only for an instant.
Then his gaze deepened, locking onto her completely.
As if he might swallow her whole.
