Chapter 27
A Warm Night
“Mm……”
Half-asleep, Blair reached out and pulled what she thought was a pillow closer—only to jolt awake as she realized something was off.
What she had thought was a pillow was actually Hedrin.
The man who had become her husband in both her past life and this one.
He was lying beside her, asleep. Just like in her previous life, when he had once pretended to love her.
The warmth radiating from him was comforting. So much so that she almost wanted to fall asleep again like this.
And that was exactly why she hated it.
Because she was afraid she might grow accustomed to this warmth again.
Afraid she might mistake it for love.
Blair pushed herself up to get out of bed. At that moment, her eyes caught sight of the fireplace.
A blazing red flame devouring the firewood.
At the sight of it, Blair gasped without thinking.
Fire.
A disaster that had burned away her happiest days.
Fear surged through her, as if those flames might once again consume everything she had. Her breathing grew shallow, and her vision dimmed.
Then a large hand covered her eyes and gently laid her back down.
By the time she regained her senses, Hedrin’s face was right in front of her.
“Are you afraid?”
Normally, she should have been. She was terrified of fire.
And yet, her racing heart gradually calmed. Her breathing returned to normal.
Simply because he was beside her.
It was strange.
Hedrin, confirming her condition, closed his eyes and said in a low voice,
“Go back to sleep.”
After a brief hesitation, Blair tried to move away from him—but the arm around her waist remained firm, refusing to let go.
Still tense, Blair stayed still. Hedrin opened his eyes again.
“About the marital clause in our contract—I’ll use it today.”
Blair flinched at his words.
She had thought there might come a time when he would request their marital duty, but she never expected it to be today. Especially not after they had argued, reconciled, and she had even fainted.
But if it was what he wanted, she did not intend to refuse. If she was going to ask him for a child one day, she would also have to accept his requests.
“Then… I’ll go wash up first. I couldn’t earlier because I was out…”
Hearing her words, Hedrin’s gaze turned cold. Then he let out a dry, incredulous laugh.
“So you think I’m some kind of scum who would take advantage of a patient’s desire?”
“I didn’t mean it like that. It’s part of the contract, so I thought we should keep our promise—”
“Enough.”
That damn contract again.
At the word that had slipped from her lips so naturally, Hedrin’s brows twitched, though he quickly smoothed his expression.
After all, he had been the one to mention it first.
“What I mean is exactly that—we’ll only sleep.”
…Just sleep?
Unable to understand his intention, Blair looked at him in confusion.
Hedrin exhaled softly and explained,
“You can’t sleep if you keep the fireplace on.”
Blair blinked slowly at him.
It was strange. There was nothing in this arrangement that benefited him.
So this… was only for her.
“I won’t do anything. Just sleep.”
As if he meant it, he pulled the blanket back over her properly, withdrew his hand, and lay down beside her again.
He was so close that even the slightest movement would have made them touch—but he truly seemed intent on sleeping like that.
Blair stared at his profile in silence.
The room warmed by the fireplace felt cozy, the blanket was soft, and his presence beside her—even without contact—was strangely reassuring.
Still… I hate you.
But today had been exhausting. She was completely drained. So…
Just for today… maybe it’s okay.
Blinking slowly while looking at him, Blair eventually drifted off to sleep.
It was a rare, warm night.
The next morning, when Blair woke up, Hedrin was already gone.
The fireplace was extinguished, but the room still held lingering warmth—as if he had been tending it until just moments ago.
After ringing the bell, Blair waited briefly before Lina entered carrying a basin of water. The moment she saw Blair, her eyes filled with tears.
“You… why would you do something like that? You’re afraid of fire… If you wanted the fireplace on, you could have called me…”
“I’m sorry. I worried you.”
Blair did not explain why she had lit the fireplace herself.
Blaming Hedrin would only expose her own weakness, and besides, things had already been resolved.
After calming Lina, Blair asked,
“Where’s Bibi?”
Unless something was unusual, Blair usually fed the young ferret herself. It wasn’t duty or responsibility—it was simply that she enjoyed watching the little creature grow, reminiscent of Asiel.
“Oh, Melly went to give it milk earlier.”
At that, Blair asked in surprise,
“You forgave Melly?”
“…Should I not have?”
Lina looked ready to throw Melly out if Blair ordered it.
Blair smiled and shook her head.
“No, don’t. If you’re fine with it, I am too. I want you to get along with others as well.”
“But she wronged you too, my lady.”
Blair took Lina’s hands gently.
“Lina, everyone makes mistakes.”
“….”
“Of course, some mistakes can’t be forgiven no matter what. But there are also things that can be fixed later.”
“….”
“If one mistake defined a person completely, then no one would ever try to become better.”
“….”
“Melly did something wrong, but I don’t think it’s beyond repair. And more importantly, she’s reflecting on it.”
Lina slowly nodded, recalling how Melly had apologized the night before.
Blair smiled.
“So how about giving her a chance to make it right?”
“You’re too kind for your own good, my lady.”
Though Lina sighed as if complaining, there was a faint smile on her face.
“Well… she didn’t seem like a bad person. She was the first to find you when you collapsed yesterday and helped immediately.”
“Really? Then I should thank her.”
Blair felt a quiet sense of satisfaction—her changed actions in this life were creating different outcomes.
After washing up and listening to small updates about the estate, Lina suddenly remembered something.
“Oh! His Grace asked me to tell you—he wants to have the meal you missed together.”
“Him?”
That meant Hedrin had not eaten yet.
After freshening up and changing clothes, Blair went down to the dining room. Mason bowed and opened the door for her.
Hedrin was already seated inside, wearing a shirt and vest as usual.
“Did you sleep well?”
He looked perfectly composed, yet with his relaxed expression and wine glass in hand, he gave off the air of a decadent nobleman.
Even when properly dressed, there was an untamed sharpness about him that could not be concealed.
Blair sat beside him.
“Yes. Thanks to you.”
As she settled, the meal was served. Only the sound of cutlery filled the room.
As always, Hedrin did not speak first. The silence was familiar.
Blair cautiously spoke while eating.
“About yesterday…”
He turned his gaze toward her.
“I understand why you might have been suspicious.”
“I just wanted to say… I would never do anything that harms you. I swear on everything I have.”
At her solemn expression, Hedrin’s lips curved faintly.
“Does that include yourself?”
“Pardon?”
“If there is anything more precious than ‘me’ in this world, then your vow lacks credibility if you leave out what matters most.”
Blair looked confused.
Yesterday he had said he would not doubt her anymore—but now he was already twisting his words.
Still, his expression was more relaxed than before. He didn’t seem angry or suspicious.
So Blair answered sincerely.
“…Of course it includes that. I truly want to maintain a good relationship with you.”
Hedrin let out a short laugh.
A woman who wants to be trusted, yet cannot tell the whole truth.
Ridiculous… but perhaps he would believe her for now. There was no strange scent of another man on her anyway.
At that moment, Mason entered after knocking.
“A letter has arrived for both of you.”
He handed over an invitation sealed with the imperial crest.
It was an invitation to Katrina’s birthday banquet.
