For the past two months, he had been busy with wedding preparations and only focused on physical training. He hadn't done any training using mana.
But while neglecting training could decrease one's ability to utilize mana, it shouldn't affect the absolute amount of mana.
Unless a part of the mana contained within him had suddenly disappeared.
However, given that he was able to use mana as before soon after, it didn't seem like the mana had actually disappeared.
After all, mana isn't something that can disappear and reappear in such a short time. It was strange.
"Herdin."
Lost in thought, Herdin snapped out of his reverie at the sound of Blair's voice.
Seeing her looking at him with worried eyes, the image that had flashed through his mind earlier overlapped. The image of her, heavily pregnant.
What could that memory have been?
* * *
The event was abruptly halted due to the sudden appearance of the monster.
Ivan summoned the royal gamekeeper for punishment and ordered the royal knights to investigate the incident. The evening banquet scheduled at the palace was also cancelled.
Because of this, the festive mood of the nobles welcoming the new year became uneasy.
However, they couldn't skip the first worship of the new year to give thanks to the gods and ancestors, so the service proceeded, albeit several hours later than planned.
Upon arriving at the temple, Herdin and Blair first visited the annex. It was to treat his broken ribs.
But there were no resting priests. The acolyte who greeted them looked troubled.
"Oh my, what should we do? All the priests have left their posts..."
Among the temple's acolytes, only those chosen by the gods can become priests who use divine magic. Therefore, there were fewer priests compared to acolytes, and they were always busy.
"There should be at least one giving lessons to the acolytes. I'll bring them right away."
The acolyte who had finished guiding them was about to leave the lounge when he seemed to remember something and turned to Herdin.
"Ah. As Your Grace probably knows, internal injuries require a delicate approach, so it would be best if you undressed."
After the acolyte left, the two were left alone.
Herdin began to take off his clothes one by one. Seeing this, Blair tried to take his clothes, but Herdin hung them on a nearby chair.
He thought if he gave his clothes to the already tiny woman, she might end up buried under the pile of clothes.
While unbuttoning his shirt, Herdin asked Blair.
"Can you really see the future?"
Blair, who had been watching him for a moment, opened her mouth.
"...You said you couldn't believe it."
Her voice was calm, but there was a hint of resentment in her tone.
"Even if it's hard to believe at first, if things like today keep happening, I'll end up believing whether I want to or not."
Herdin quickly finished removing his top. Faced with his toned, half-naked body, Blair subtly averted her gaze, turning her head away.
Herdin gently cupped Blair's cheek, making eye contact as he spoke.
"Tell me. What else did you see in the future?"
Blair looked up at him intently. His eyes were still cool, but not mocking like the night before.
But she had nothing she could tell him.
Would he believe her if she said she had died and returned to the past, and that he might be behind it?
To begin with, the future story this man was curious about probably wasn't this, but related to the fire incident at the Empress's Palace. However, she couldn't tell him about that truth because even she didn't know it.
Blair decided to just pass it off as having had an ominous dream.
It was then.
"Duke, My Lady. We're coming in."
Along with the voice of the acolyte who had gone to fetch a priest, the door opened and two people entered.
Blair, who had instinctively looked in that direction, froze upon seeing the priest following behind the acolyte.
"Hello, Duke. And My Lady."
Miela Elias.
The woman who had been Herdin's lover in her past life, and who would soon become so again.
Search "child" at redcatty [.] com to read ahead up to chap 170.