Chapter 112
****
It felt as though her heart, which had been racing, suddenly stopped beating. Blair couldn’t bring herself to speak right away and just stared up at Edmund for a long moment. He, too, remained silent, his expression calm. He seemed to be gauging her reaction with some caution.
“The fruit of love.” What did he mean by that?
“I’ve always wanted to bear the fruit of love.”
Blair suddenly recalled the words she had spoken.
“I think a child is the fruit of love.”
That was exactly what he meant by “fruit.” Her gaze dropped involuntarily. A cool hand wrapped around her lower abdomen, which was still completely flat.
But could this truly be called the fruit of love?
Her heartbeat, which had been as faint as if it had stopped, began to race again. Blair couldn’t tell if it was joy or fear. Even though she had just shared unquestionably sweet affection with him, a vague sense of confusion that seemed to rise from somewhere suddenly gripped her.
Even after coming all the way to the hospital for an examination, had she been secretly hoping deep down that it wasn’t true? Now that that vague hope had been shattered, she felt as if she couldn’t breathe.
“Fortunately, they said there’s nothing wrong with your health. It’s just that there are many things to be careful about in the early stages of pregnancy. You mustn’t overexert yourself, you mustn’t worry, and even a little fatigue can affect the baby, so you’d better be careful.”
“……”
“Blair, are you listening?”
“…Yes.”
“It’s okay to make a big deal out of it as much as you want—from now on, just think about your own health. That’s the most important thing.”
His low, firm voice continued, but Blair realized she couldn’t hear his words clearly. Even as she tried to grasp their meaning, each word echoed faintly, as if the sound were drifting in from far away.
Just then, a large hand gently cupped her cheek. Only when she felt the warmth seep into her did Blair finally lift her head.
“It would be best if you didn’t return to the mansion for the time being.”
“…Why?”
“What you need right now is stability, and Eldenvale isn’t really a place where you can rest your mind and body.”
“……”
“So, let’s stay in the capital. How about the townhouse in Chiles? You like it there, don’t you? It happens to be quiet, and it has everything you need to live comfortably, so it’s perfect.”
Edmund continued calmly, as if he had planned everything in advance. It was as though he had been preparing for this very situation for a long time. Blair, who had been listening with her eyes closed, suddenly asked,
“What about you, Edmund?”
“Of course I’ll be by your side.”
He didn’t hesitate for a moment. A gentle warmth spread across his gray eyes.
“Wouldn’t you feel anxious if you were separated from me, Blair?”
“…But you’re still the heir on paper, and as far as I recall, the heir is supposed to remain at Eldenvale.”
“Now that my wife is carrying a child, that rule no longer takes precedence. Protecting the family’s heir is a higher duty.”
It was an irrefutable argument. Edmund’s words were always logically airtight. She should have been able to trust him and feel at ease, but strangely, it felt as if a tiny thorn had lodged itself somewhere in Blair’s heart. She found it difficult to shake off a sense of unease whose origin she could not identify.
“Then… is there anything I need to do now?”
“Nothing.”
His voice was firm and decisive, without a hint of hesitation.
“Don’t listen to any bad news, shut your ears to it… Just focus on the good things and spend your time resting comfortably.”
“Until when?”
“Until I tell you it’s okay.”
Blair lowered her eyes again. She had nothing more to add.
“I know you’re very confused. But I hope you’ll trust me and go along with this.”
Embracing the now-silent woman, Edmund whispered softly in her ear. Leaning against him, Blair still couldn’t bring herself to say a word.
***
After leaving the hospital, the two headed straight for Chiles’ townhouse.
Blair couldn’t believe this was already her third visit to Chiles. The first time was as his business partner, the second as a woman who was beginning to fall for him, and now as his wife, carrying his child. With each visit, her role here changed as surely as the seasons.
As the car, cutting through the cold air, came to a stop, a row of elegant high-rise buildings greeted them. Edmund held Blair close, as if determined to keep out even the slightest draft, and flung open the front door.
As they stepped into the foyer, the warm air melted the frost from Blair’s cheeks. Edmund led her straight to the dining room and glanced back at her.
“You must be hungry. Is there anything in particular you’d like to eat?”
After a moment’s thought, he added,
“Chiles isn’t much different from Eldenvale. Just tell me whatever you want.”
“Hmm… I’m fine. I think I could eat anything right now.”
“Then I’ll have dinner brought out right away. First, let’s warm you up.”
Edmund walked over to the roaring fireplace and tossed in some extra logs. He pulled up the chair closest to the hearth, placed a cushion on it, and gazed intently at Blair.
“It’s warm over here.”
The slightly excessive care made Blair’s face flush and left her feeling a bit dazed. Still, she didn’t mind it, so she quietly followed his instructions.
“…Thank you.”
“I’ll be right back from the kitchen. Just wait a moment.”
Before she could even reply, he moved his long legs and disappeared. Sitting there blankly, Blair waited quietly for him, enveloped in a warm and cozy atmosphere, feeling somewhat detached from reality.
The meal was prepared incredibly quickly. It was truly amazing that he could serve such a sumptuous feast in such a short time. The steam rising from the food filling the table pleasantly whetted Blair’s appetite.
“You haven’t started having morning sickness yet, have you?”
Edmund, who had been closely observing Blair, muttered suddenly. He said this after seeing that she showed no hesitation at all, even with a perfectly seared steak right in front of her.
“I suppose not.”
“They say it usually starts around this time, so that’s a relief. You should eat plenty of meat, especially at a time like this.”
With that, he began cutting her portion of meat with his knife. Seeing him work so earnestly, Blair swallowed hard. Surely he wasn’t planning to feed her himself?
“…You really don’t have to go to such lengths.”
“When you’re pregnant, your bones weaken, so even minor tasks can become a burden.”
“Are you worried I might get injured cutting my own steak? Good heavens, Ed.”
“I just want to avoid even the slightest risk.”
“You really are…”
In the end, Blair couldn’t resist his persistence. The man, ever attentive, cut the steak into bite-sized pieces and placed the plate in front of her. Thankfully, she managed to avoid the disaster of him actually feeding her the meat.
“Blair, is there anything you’d like to try?”
Edmund asked this in the middle of their meal. Blair looked at him as she brought a slice of bread spread with grapefruit jam to her mouth.
“Something I’d like to try?”
“For example, visiting the greenhouse or watching a horse race. I’ve actually got a few light activities in mind. The doctor suggested it wouldn’t be good to stay cooped up in the house all the time.”
“Hmm…”
“It would be good to get some fresh air and move around a bit before it gets too cold. Still, I’d like to ask your opinion—what do you think?”
Blair blinked and fell deep in thought. Activities she’d like to do. It was a category she hadn’t really taken the time to think about. What could there be?
Then, suddenly, a memory from a few months ago flashed through her mind. On the day they were heading to the Marquess of Lancaster’s country house, she’d felt a quiet curiosity welling up as she talked with Edmund. What had remained just a thought back then now naturally rose to her lips.
“…I’ve thought of one.”
Blair set the bread down on the plate.
“It’s something I meant to mention before but held back… but it just came to mind.”
As she spoke, a touch of shyness in her voice, Edmund tilted his head, his expression growing more gracious.
“Go ahead, tell me.”
“Shooting.”
***
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