Chapter 3
A Second Life
“Gasp! Hah…!”
As her fading consciousness suddenly snapped back, Blair’s eyes flew open.
Her blurry vision gradually cleared, revealing an unfamiliar ceiling.
‘No… wait. That pattern…’
Staring blankly at the ceiling, Blair soon realized it was the very same ceiling from the imperial palace where she had lived before her marriage.
‘Why am I in the imperial palace?’
Her last memory was being attacked by an unknown assailant at a villa in Holstein, far from the capital.
If she hadn’t died, she should have been recovering there. Yet somehow, she was here—in the imperial palace.
She didn’t know what had happened, but only one thought filled her mind.
‘Asiel!’
My baby—he must have woken up and looked for his mother first thing.
In a panic, Blair jumped out of bed and rushed toward the door.
Just then, the door opened from outside.
“Oh! You’re awake, Your Highness? I was just about to wake you.”
It was Lina, Blair’s personal maid.
Lina had served Blair since childhood in the princess’s palace, and after gaining her trust, had followed her even after her marriage into the Delmark Duchy.
To Blair, she was sometimes like a sister, sometimes like a friend—a most trusted confidante.
“Lina, where is Asiel?”
“Asiel?”
“Yes, Asiel. Where is he?”
“Who is that?”
Lina tilted her head in confusion, then let out a small exclamation as if recalling something.
“Oh! Do you mean that cat that’s been wandering around the backyard lately? Is its name Asiel?”
Blair frowned deeply, already on edge.
“Lina, I’m not in the mood for jokes. Asiel—where is my son?”
“Y-your son?!”
Lina blinked in shock.
“You’re not even married yet, Your Highness. How could you possibly have a son?”
“…What?”
Only then did Blair realize Lina was addressing her as “Your Highness.”
‘No way…’
Her eyes trembled as she asked,
“Lina… how old am I right now?”
Though puzzled, Lina answered without hesitation.
“You turned twenty this year. You came of age two months ago.”
Impossible.
Hearing her age, Blair had no choice but to accept the unbelievable truth.
‘I’ve gone back… three years.’
To a time before Asiel was born—before she married Herdin.
Without even having time to collect her thoughts, Blair was soon attending a prepared luncheon.
It was the weekly family meal with the Emperor—her older brother Ivan—and their mother, Katrina.
Although it had already been seven years since the late emperor, who started the tradition, had passed away, the custom continued as if honoring his will.
But Blair’s mind was elsewhere.
‘I thought I died… but I returned to the past. Am I dreaming after death? Or was what I thought was the future actually the dream?’
As she chewed food without tasting it, she reviewed her memories and reached a conclusion.
‘No… that wasn’t a dream.’
She couldn’t explain it, but it wasn’t just a dream.
‘Asiel’s voice calling me, his warmth in my arms, his face… it’s all so vivid.’
And that made this moment feel all the more empty.
‘My baby…’
Though she had miraculously returned to the past, this reality without Asiel felt like hell.
Her hope, her life—her everything—had vanished as if swallowed by time.
Just then—
“Your Highness.”
Lina, standing behind her, gently touched her shoulder.
“…Ah.”
Blair snapped back to reality.
“The Emperor is calling you, Blair.”
Katrina looked at her with a hint of irritation.
To her, the son who became emperor was a trophy she had gained after dedicating her life.
Ignoring him was no different from denying her entire life.
“You’ve been out of it this whole time. Did something happen this morning?”
“I’m sorry. I had a restless dream last night… What were you saying?”
“It’s nothing important. Just make sure to prepare well for your marriage with the Duke of Delmark.”
Ivan spoke casually, as if it were no big matter—despite never having discussed it with Blair.
Her eyes widened in shock.
“It’s already been arranged. I’ve offered him enough incentive—he won’t refuse.”
The engagement had been decided without even informing Blair.
Seeing her expression, Ivan quickly added,
“I trust you won’t say something childish like you dislike arranged marriages.”
“It’s a good match—no, the best. Women all over the empire would line up just to dance with the Duke of Delmark. His Majesty has put great thought into your marriage.”
“This isn’t just a marriage between a man and a woman. It’s about improving relations between families. As an imperial princess, you must act responsibly—”
Ivan and Katrina spoke first, cutting off any potential objection.
Only then did Blair recall the past.
‘…I’m sorry, but I don’t want this marriage.’
Before her regression, she had refused to marry Herdin in this exact situation.
It had been her first act of defiance.
It wasn’t that she disliked him—she feared him. Ever since the fire at the Empress’s palace ten years ago.
But…
“I’ll do it.”
This time, Blair responded differently—just as she always had before her regression, obedient to Ivan’s command.
“As it is Your Majesty’s will, I will follow.”
But her eyes were no longer the same.
In this life, she had a reason she absolutely had to marry Herdin.
After the luncheon, Lina carefully observed Blair as they returned to the princess’s palace.
‘She seems different today… Did something happen?’
As her closest maid, Lina knew nearly everything about Blair’s daily life.
Until last night, everything had been normal.
It wasn’t like anything could have happened overnight.
If anything, hearing about the marriage to Herdin should have been shocking.
But Blair seemed completely unaffected.
‘Actually… she looks happier than this morning.’
Lina tilted her head.
Though it was before she entered the palace, she knew the imperial family and the Delmark Duchy were not on good terms.
And the event that cemented their hostility—the fire in the Empress’s palace.
Blair’s father, the late emperor, had two women:
The Empress, Esmeralda, and the consort, Katrina.
The Empress had no children for years, which led to Katrina entering the palace as a concubine.
Though Katrina had no power at first, things changed when she gave birth to a son—Ivan.
Soon, factions formed, and political conflict arose between Esmeralda and Katrina.
Despite this, the Empress treated Blair like her own daughter.
At least on the surface—until that incident.
A fire broke out in the Empress’s palace, killing the Empress and severely injuring Blair.
The shock caused Blair to lose her memories of that time.
The emperor investigated and concluded all evidence pointed to Empress Esmeralda.
The Delmark Duchy denied it, but she was ultimately condemned as a traitor.
And her only nephew—
Was Herdin.
‘Their Majesties are quite heartless… Even if it’s for reconciliation…’
It was hard to believe Blair would welcome a marriage with the very family tied to that tragedy.
As Lina was about to speak, Blair spoke first.
“Lina.”
“Yes!”
“Send someone to the Duke of Delmark. Tell him I’d like to meet tomorrow—or have him suggest a convenient date.”
Lina’s eyes widened.
“You want to meet the Duke?”
“Why are you so surprised?”
After all, Blair had avoided him even at the harvest festival a few months ago.
‘Well… she must have her reasons.’
“I’ll send someone right away.”
After Lina left, Blair stood alone, looking out the window.
Soon, she saw a carriage departing the palace.
She thought of the man waiting at the ducal residence—
And the child who looked just like him.
Placing her hand over her abdomen, she whispered,
‘If it means seeing Asiel again, I’ll do anything.’
Even if that “anything” meant reliving her lonely marriage with him.
Then there was only one thing she needed to do now.
‘Marry Herdin again—safely.’
If this truly was the past and the future was predetermined, things would unfold as before.
But Blair didn’t want to leave even the slightest chance that he wouldn’t become her husband.
‘I will definitely see my baby again.’
The light returned to her once lifeless eyes.