IONDC 02

Chapter 2

Do Not Love You

The name of the woman Herdin brought was Miela—a face Blair had seen once or twice while visiting the temple.

Her occupation was a priestess. It suited her angelic appearance perfectly.

Miela had been dispatched to the north on the goddess’s orders. By chance, she came across the Delmark knights, who had suffered heavy losses from a monster attack, and helped them.

Through that incident, Herdin recognized her abilities and kept her by his side as an assistant in subjugating monsters. She even returned to the capital with him.

On the surface, that was all there was to their relationship—

But the servants whispered otherwise.

“Don’t you think there’s something between His Grace and Lady Miela?”

“His Grace? I’m not so sure.”

“Well, he’s always hard to read. But doesn’t it seem obvious that Lady Miela likes him?”

“…That’s true. She hasn’t even returned to the temple after coming back to the capital.”

“His Grace will fall for her eventually. A woman that beautiful and capable? Who wouldn’t?”

“Well… whatever it is, she’s better than the daughter of an enemy.”

The maids’ giggling voices reached Blair’s ears as they cleaned.

But she pretended not to hear.

If she reacted, it would feel like admitting the rumors were true.

Summer passed, then autumn, and a bleak winter arrived.

After returning from the north, Herdin, as always since her pregnancy, never sought Blair out first.

He was busy with outside duties, and even when she went to see him, he rarely met her.

At first, Blair tried to mend their relationship.

Eventually, she stopped trying.

If there was one small consolation, it was that he occasionally showed interest in Asiel.

Though Asiel didn’t even seem to recognize him as his father.

That day, clinging to that faint hope, Blair went to Herdin’s office.

In two weeks, it would be Asiel’s birthday.

She planned to suggest they go to their Holstein villa and spend time together as a family.

Just as she was about to knock, she hesitated.

The door was slightly open.

“Herd—”

She stopped mid-call.

Through the gap, she saw—

Miela in Herdin’s arms.

Blair’s eyes shook uncontrollably.

“Ah…”

Instinctively, she stepped back, trying to escape reality.

At that moment, her eyes met Herdin’s.

He looked slightly surprised—but did not look away.

As if he had no intention of hiding it.

Instead, he pulled Miela closer into his arms.

All while keeping his cold gaze fixed on Blair.

As if showing her deliberately.

Stumbling backward, Blair turned and returned to her room.

She didn’t even remember how she got there.

One of her slippers had fallen off somewhere along the way.

Her breath came in ragged gasps.

“Ha… ha…”

The moment she closed the door, her tears burst out.

She couldn’t forget the way he looked at her while holding Miela.

Imagining him holding another woman with the same hands that once embraced her—

Whispering to another woman in that same low voice—

It suffocated her.

Even if his brief kindness had only existed at the beginning of their marriage—

She still loved him.

Even if she ran away then—

She couldn’t escape reality.

“Ha… ngh… sob…”

Her weakened lungs, damaged from a fire years ago, couldn’t handle the strain of running and crying.

She pounded her chest, struggling to breathe.

But her heart hurt more than her body.

The next day, Blair left a message with the butler:

“I want to spend Asiel’s birthday at the villa. Even if you’re busy, please come that day.”

Then she fled to Holstein with Asiel.

Even so, she secretly hoped—

That he would come and explain that what she saw was nothing.

A misunderstanding.

But until Asiel’s birthday—

Not even a single letter came.

Standing by the window with lifeless eyes, Blair couldn’t leave.

A small shadow toddled toward her.

“Mama! Mama!”

It was Asiel, dressed up for his birthday.

Blair forced a smile and picked him up.

“My son, you look so handsome today.”

Asiel giggled happily.

Then he pointed outside.

“Papa?”

He remembered how she stood by the window every evening, waiting.

At that word, Blair’s expression faltered.

“…Yes. Papa will come soon. It’s your birthday—he’ll definitely come.”

As she tried to convince herself—

Knock, knock.

The butler entered.

Seeing Asiel in her arms, he spoke with a troubled expression.

“Madam… His Grace says his schedule has been delayed. So this birthday… will be just the two of you.”

The last bit of hope in Blair’s eyes disappeared.

“Sweet dreams, my baby.”

Blair kissed Asiel’s head and laid him in the cradle.

He slept peacefully, sucking his finger.

She watched him with a faint smile, then returned to her room.

The moment she was alone, her smile vanished.

The room felt especially empty.

Sometimes, when loneliness overwhelmed her, she brought Asiel to sleep beside her.

But not today.

She felt like she might break down.

And she didn’t want him to see her like that.

“…Ha…”

She collapsed onto the sofa.

It had been a simple but happy birthday.

Surrounded by servants, good food, and gifts.

Perfect—

Except his father wasn’t there.

Asiel laughed happily—

But whenever the door opened, he looked for his father.

Each time, Blair’s heart shattered.

She could endure being neglected.

But not Asiel.

He’s just a child… he deserves love from both parents…

She felt like it was all her fault.

She regretted loving that cold man.

If I could go back… I wouldn’t love him.

Just then—

Creak—

The door opened.

Blair looked up.

“…Herdin?”

But it wasn’t him.

A masked man stood there.

His face was hidden in darkness—

But his black eyes and a scar across his nose gleamed in the moonlight.

Her heart dropped.

As he approached, she almost screamed—

But stopped.

Asiel was sleeping next door.

If he woke—

If the man found him—

No.

Blair turned and ran toward the emergency bell rope.

But—

Stab.

Cold steel pierced her back.

“Ah…”

Hot blood spilled from her mouth.

Still, she staggered forward—

And pulled the bell rope desperately.

Help me… please… save my baby…

Even as she collapsed—

She didn’t let go.

Until the attacker pulled the dagger out.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway.

The man fled over the balcony.

Blair stared blankly at his retreating figure.

The dagger’s handle bore a strange symbol—

Glinting briefly in the moonlight before disappearing.

Only then did she release the rope.

Thank goodness… Asiel wasn’t in this room…

Death crept closer.

I can’t die…

My baby… he’ll look for me…

There’s still so much I want to do…

With Asiel’s face lingering in her mind—

Blair finally closed her eyes.