Herdin, having left the lounge, headed towards the main hall of the temple. Luth had gone ahead to take care of a task Herdin had assigned him, and Blair was following behind Herdin.
Feeling Blair's presence following him, Herdin recalled her words from earlier.
'That priestess from earlier, she's the woman you'll come to love.'
The content of that 'future' Blair claimed to have seen was shocking enough, but what infuriated him more was her expression.
Her calm face and voice, as if it didn't matter at all that he would come to love another woman, as if it was completely someone else's story.
And the reason why he shouldn't take a mistress right away was merely to ensure a safe divorce from her.
But that was the contract they had made from the beginning.
He couldn't understand why it made him so angry.
"Her, din."
He heard Blair's voice calling him from behind. Her voice was mixed with labored breathing, probably from trying to keep up with his long strides.
Herdin swallowed a languid sigh and carelessly ran his hand through his bangs. His pace gradually slowed.
Finally catching up to him, Blair held out his cravat to him while catching her breath.
"You dropped this."
Herdin stared at his cravat in her hand for a moment, then leaned his upper body towards her.
"Tie it for me."
Surprised by his unexpected request, Blair blinked. Then, seeing the outer garment in his right hand, she understood.
The proper way for a wife to tie her husband's cravat is taught in bride lessons before marriage. It's one of a wife's duties to help with her husband's attire as he leaves for work outside.
Blair knew this even before taking bride lessons for this marriage. In her previous life, she had tied his cravat countless times.
He often asked Blair to tie his cravat. Using that excuse to get close to her, he would hold her even on busy mornings.
...But in the end, it was all a lie.
Now she knows there's no meaning to his request. But because of what happened earlier, she found it difficult to approach him readily. Yet, she also felt uncomfortable telling him to tie it himself.
After hesitating for a moment, Blair moved closer, as if about to embrace his neck.
As the distance between them shortened, Blair's snow-white nape, exposed beneath her upswept hair, also came closer. At the same time, her unique sweet scent washed over him.
Suddenly, the memory of their first night invaded his mind. The feeling of burying his lips in that soft nape, her warmth trembling in his arms, and...
That beautiful face looking up at him.
'...I've really gone mad.'
He belatedly regretted asking her to tie his cravat, wondering what had possessed him.
The desire he had tried so hard to suppress scratched at his throat as he swallowed it down. Even so, his gaze remained fixed on her.
Blair, oblivious to his thoughts, was focused on tying the cravat.
Her slightly furrowed brows and pursed lips in concentration relaxed slightly each time her fingers accidentally brushed against his neck.
"It's done."
Blair smoothed out the cravat one last time and stepped back from him. At that moment, Herdin grabbed her hand.
Blair's confused eyes met Herdin's as he looked down at her.
Herdin only then realized he had unconsciously grabbed her hand and slightly frowned. But it was just for a moment. Soon, his blue eyes captured Blair's figure.
As if he would devour her at any moment.
Search "child" at redcatty [.] com to read ahead up to chap 170.