Avoiding his gaze as she adjusted her clothes, Blair spoke in a pleading voice.
"Herdin, let's go to the bedroom. This is a place anyone could enter."
"Then we might end up doing it in the hallway. Would that be fine with you?"
Herdin pulled her into a tight embrace. Through the thin fabric, she could feel the heat of his body.
"I don't think I could hold out even that long."
Blair froze, startled by the intensity in his eyes.
Before she could argue, he pressed his lips against hers again.
Slipping his hand beneath the clothes she had been trying to fix, he whispered,
"This is what you wanted."
Blair arched back as he bit down lightly.
His hand slid up her leg and beneath her skirt.
"Herdin…!"
She tried to close her legs, but he had already blocked her completely.
She bit her lip, trying to suppress any sound. The office door in front of her made her anxious—but that tension only made everything more overwhelming.
Now lying across the desk, Blair stared blankly out the window.
The winter sky was bright and clear.
For a moment, she stopped resisting.
If this was what he wanted…
A heavy presence pressed over her.
She bit the back of her hand, but Herdin caught her wrists and held them in one hand.
Blair looked up at him, eyes trembling.
Herdin frowned slightly.
Stubborn.
Yet somehow… cute.
He leaned down, brushed his lips against hers, and whispered,
"Don't bite your lip."
Blair finally gave in.
Satisfied, he kissed her flushed cheeks and ears.
"Herdin…"
She clung to him, her voice shaking.
That alone was enough to shake his restraint.
Soon, the room fell silent.
Only their uneven breathing remained.
Blair trembled in his arms.
Herdin kissed her cheek and slowly pulled away.
She lay across the desk, disheveled.
Yet still beautiful.
Johann's words came back to him.
What man wouldn't fall for that face and body?
Maybe this wasn't anything special.
Just instinct.
Because she was beautiful.
A woman anyone would want.
And now, she was his.
Even offering herself to him.
Did the reason matter?
She was here.
His wife—at least in name.
Someone else might love her.
But right now, she was within his reach.
And that was enough.
Herdin lifted her from the desk. She staggered weakly.
He turned her so she leaned against it.
"…Herdin?"
She sensed something wrong, trying to pull away—but he held her firmly.
Her trembling body filled him with a strange satisfaction.
He kissed her bare back.
This was a contract.
Take what you want until it ends.
So—
This was a fair deal.
***
There was a large greenhouse in the Empress's Palace.
It had been built by the previous Emperor for Empress Katrina.
The entire palace itself was a gift.
Katrina loved it—all of it.
Because it proved she had been loved.
She stirred her tea as birds chirped around her.
Elegant, composed—no one would think she came from common origins.
As she looked at her reflection, a voice echoed in her mind.
"Are you afraid of me, Your Majesty?"
"…How insolent."
She set the cup down without drinking.
Countess Margrid stepped forward.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I need someone placed in the Duchy of Delmark. I wonder how that child, Blair, is doing."
Her voice was gentle—like a concerned mother.
***
Herdin woke at the sound of Blair's dry cough.
Sunlight filled the room.
Beside him, Blair was still asleep.
Yesterday…
He had completely lost control.
Even after moving to the bedroom, he hadn't stopped.
Once his restraint broke, it didn't return.
Blair had pleaded, even cried.
But it only drove him further.
"…You lunatic."
He scoffed at himself and got up.
Clothes were scattered across the floor.
He dressed quickly and moved to the fireplace, lighting a fire.
Out of habit, he took out a cigar.
Then paused.
Frowning, he tossed it into the fire without lighting it.