Why are you talking about your own sleeping habits when you’re the one who touched me? And I don’t go around groping people in their sleep!
“My sleeping habit isn’t groping people! It’s a misunderstanding!”
“Is that so?”
Unlike me, who was visibly irritated, his face remained completely calm. For some reason, that made my anger deflate instantly.
“Yes. Anyway, that’s right. So please don’t worry.”
“I understand, Julietta.”
Now that his concern seemed to have completely vanished, the corners of his lips lifted into a gentle curve. His face was like sunlight itself, brightening the entire room in an instant.
A man who could be so kind and smile so warmly even toward a woman he didn’t love—truly, he was a good person. As I quietly observed Yezar, he gestured toward me.
“Wife, come here.”
I had no idea why he suddenly called me over. Still, Yezar wouldn’t do anything bad. I approached him with a slight bow, and then his hand moved toward my hair.
I usually tied my hair up neatly, but because of my hangover, my head was throbbing, so I had left it down.
My hair swayed softly, shifting with the movement of his fingers. Every time his focused eyes moved, my reflection flickered in his clear gaze. For some strange reason, this made me instinctively avoid his eyes. In that breathless moment, his hand slowly lowered.
“There was dust on you—I removed it. My hands alone might not be enough, though. Will you accept my handkerchief now?”
At some point, the handkerchief I had previously refused was already in his hand.
“…I’ll take it, but running away was wrong of you.”
“Yes, Julietta.”
Carefully, I accepted his handkerchief. It was as neat and refined as one would expect from something he used. A faint, pleasant scent of him lingered on the fabric.
For some reason, my chest felt oddly warm. Was it from being touched by his kindness? A natural smile formed on my lips, and brightly smiling, I brought up the topic I had originally intended.
“Now, let’s set some rules.”
Yezar’s eyes filled with curiosity.
“What kind of rules do you mean?”
“Well, naturally, rules for married life.”
He continued to stare at me silently, still not understanding. I calmly recited my thoughts.
“Things like this morning—we might make mistakes because we don’t know each other well enough. We only signed a contract stating the bare necessities. We’ve never discussed what we’d like to follow during our married life.”
“That’s true. You’re right, wife.”
Now he finally seemed to understand. I really wanted to sit him down and talk right away. But outside, his aides were waiting, hoping our situation would be resolved quickly so they could attend to their pending duties.
“Of course, I’ll let you go for now since you must have work to catch up on. But when you return to the bedroom tonight, please have thought of at least a few rules we should follow in our married life. Understood?”
He remained silent for a moment, as if lost in thought, then nodded.
[This is the timeline separator]I returned safely to my bedroom and briefly thought over the rules for married life before Yezar arrived. First and foremost, for a peaceful two-year contract marriage, I needed time to talk with him.
I had to learn about him in advance to prevent unexpected situations like waking up hungover that morning.
Second, it would be necessary to share certain private aspects about each other. I couldn’t afford to remain ignorant and later discover something harmful to my two-year marriage.
Third, I needed education and information sharing regarding the public duties expected of me as the duchess.
Of course, as a contract wife, I wouldn’t necessarily be entrusted with the Ferhaem family’s most critical secrets, but I still had a role to play publicly as the duchess. Failing to fulfill this properly would create its own set of problems.
These three were by far the most important; the rest were minor rules—like informing each other about food allergies, or not crossing the line where we interfere in each other’s personal space.
As I calmly organized these rules, I stretched my arms high.
‘I’ve sorted it all out, but it’s still a while before Yezar comes.’
I hadn’t been at the Ferhaem estate long, and no one had given me tasks or instructions, so I had nothing else to do.
So I simply rolled around idly, waiting for Yezar. After a while, growing a bit bored, I gazed out the window as darkness fell.
Soon, I heard the creak of the door opening. The moment I heard it, I scampered over to greet him.
“Yezar. You’re here?”
Smiling brightly, I welcomed him, but strangely, Yezar said nothing. That was odd. I thought he would smile back when I did.
“…….”
“Why aren’t you saying anything? Ah, are you tired? What should we do? Still, we need to at least briefly set some rules for our contract marriage life today.”
As I circled around him, chattering like an eager puppy wanting to play, he suddenly placed his hand on the crown of my head. Not holding my hand, not brushing off dust—just placing his hand flatly on top of my head, which felt strange.
“What are you doing now, Yezar?”
When I looked up at him and asked, he seemed to snap back to reality and quickly pulled his hand away.
“I’m sorry. It’s just unfamiliar having someone else in the bedroom.”
I stood on my tiptoes and placed my hand on his head.
“I’m right here. My hand touches your head too, right?”
When I asked playfully, his eyes curved into crescents.
“That’s right. I’m starting to really feel what marriage means.”
Now that I thought about it, Yezar was far more accustomed to being alone than having someone by his side. He had no siblings, and his parents had handed the dukedom to him early and moved to a quiet area outside the capital to start a second life.
So when I suddenly appeared as his contract wife, eagerly rushing to meet him like I belonged, no wonder he wasn’t used to it. But what could I do? For at least two years, I would be by his side.
“Of course. Even if it’s a contract marriage, my official surname is no longer Orbetian but Ferhaem. Whether you like it or not, you’ll have to endure me for two years. We’ll be seeing each other every day, after all.”
“How could I ever dare dislike my wife?”
Ah, such a smooth talker. Right. Since we’ll be seeing each other daily, it’s better to get along well. Even if I disappear after two years, it’d be nice to leave with good memories from the ducal family.
To express my goodwill, I showed him the smile I used to give my father when I was little—after causing mischief, I’d run to him with this grin while he sighed deeply. Unlike Julietta’s usual smile, this one wasn’t often shown to others, but somehow, I felt it was okay to show it only to him. He smiled back in response.
‘Yeah. It works on Yezar too.’
Excited, I grabbed the lapel of his coat.
“Then come here quickly! While I was waiting for you, I thought of a few rules. They’re very, very important!”
As I tugged his coat, he easily allowed himself to be led toward me.
“Yes, I’ll come. Wife.”
There seemed to be a faint trace of laughter in Yezar’s voice as he said this.
[This is the timeline separator]I recited a few rules I had written on parchment.
“First, we must talk for at least twenty minutes every day. Second, we must share certain aspects of our private lives. This is to prepare for unforeseen circumstances. I don’t want any problems arising during my contract marriage! And third, clearly define and inform me of the boundaries of my duties as duchess. Fourth…….”
He listened quietly as I continued listing them. After stating the twelve rules I had prepared, I glanced slightly at him and added one final rule.
“And lastly, physical contact is… forbidden.”
I still had a conscience. I couldn’t possibly take advantage of such an innocent man. This rule was added after much deliberation. But unexpectedly, he pointed to this last rule.
“I know that among the conditions you reportedly mentioned for potential suitors, one was that the ideal husband should fulfill his role properly.”
Well, yes, I did say that. But why bring it up now?
“Yes, that’s right. But what does that have to do with this?”
“To appear as a harmonious couple in public, physical contact is unavoidable, I believe. So, what if we add a condition—physical contact is allowed only with mutual consent?”
At first, I didn’t understand why he challenged the last rule. But noblewomen, after marriage, often attended important banquets where their husbands escorted them. They linked arms, held hands, or inevitably touched each other while dancing.
“Now that I think about it, you’re right.”
Hmm. Upon reconsideration, this rule really didn’t make sense. After all, innocent Yezar would never try anything inappropriate, and this level of physical contact seemed acceptable even to him.
“Alright. Allowing physical contact with mutual consent sounds good.”
Yezar’s eyes softened into a gentle curve. I drew lines through my written rules and neatly added the new condition in small letters. As I organized them one by one, I realized anew how many things needed alignment even in a contract marriage.
After carefully reviewing all the rules I had finalized, I looked up and asked him.
“Now, tell me the rules you’ve thought of, Yezar.”
I had already noted everything I considered necessary. Now it was his turn to speak.
Of course, I didn’t expect him to have many demands, which was precisely why I had taken extra care to draft and list the rules thoroughly myself.
After a short wait, he opened his mouth.
“I was thinking—we should agree not to take lovers. What do you think?”
“Oh. That’s a good one.”
No matter how much it was a contract marriage, a lover would only stir up trouble in a peaceful married life. Absolutely unacceptable.
“Then we’ll write it as—’During the two-year marriage, neither party shall take a lover’?”
Well, after divorce, either of us could freely fall in love and form a real relationship—it wasn’t something to restrict afterward.
But his expression became strangely complicated. Maybe it was my imagination, but he seemed somewhat displeased.
Male lead first thought she played hard to get, only to realize she
really disliked him
Short intro:
What she can’t stand the most is the streets full of effeminate men, especially that so-called top beauty whom she avoids at all costs.
Shen Yaoxing looks at Jiang Mingyue, who keeps approaching her with coy shyness.
Shen Yaoxing: Bro, don’t be like this, I’m really about to throw up!
She fears nothing in heaven or earth, except for him getting close to her.
*
At first he thought she was just using the trick of feigning indifference to attract his attention. Later, he learned that she truly despised him.
This dealt a heavy blow to Jiang Mingyue, and he vowed to make her, like everyone else, fall at his feet in worship!
***
Synopsis:
Before transmigrating, Shen Yaoxing only wanted to find a reliable man to spend her life with. Who knew that after transmigrating, she would become a reliable woman herself…
A forced misandrist, highly skilled, and reliable female lead
vs.
An initially aloof and arrogant, later morbid, obsessed male lead
_____
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