I missed the warmth of another person more intensely than usual today. I wanted to go back to those warm moments of my past life, which were now fading even from memory.
I knew I couldn’t go back, yet I still longed for it. There had been family always by my side. Surely, their embrace had been so warm.
Now, I couldn’t even recall their faces. The single undeniable truth that I could never return, that this place was my reality now, had settled deep into my bones.
That’s why I eagerly awaited the moment the original story would end. Once freed from the fate originally assigned to Julietta, I hoped to meet people who could fill my heart again and make me happy.
I never expected to become entangled with the secondary male lead, Yezar, like this.
“Yes, my lady. I’ll always open my arms for you.”
His embrace was warm, just as I had longed for, and I didn’t mind it at all. On the contrary, I felt grateful for having met someone like him.
Even if our ending was already decided. The feelings we shared right now wouldn’t simply disappear.
[This is the timeline separator]The heavy rain had gradually softened. Was it because the sound of rain that had painfully struck my ears had subsided? Or was it thanks to Yezar, who had gently soothed my emotions? The deep melancholy that had filled me slowly began to fade.
‘Now that my emotions have calmed down, I’m fine. But when will Yezar let me go?’
I peeked up at him. Noticing my gaze, Yezar looked into my eyes. But he only smiled at me, not loosening the arm that held me tightly.
“Yezar.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“You can let me go now. It’s alright.”
His heartbeat, so close, and the warmth I felt through a single layer of clothing—it was all too near. I must have spoiled myself too much with him.
‘I ended up sharing things I didn’t need to. Still, Yezar was so kind and warm in his response, I don’t regret it.’
Everything I felt in his arms was exactly what I had been longing for. It was as if, at last, I had found where I truly belonged.
He gently loosened his arms. The hand that had been patting my back slid softly downward. Strangely, in that moment, I felt a pang of regret and was startled by it.
‘How silly of me. I can’t keep acting so spoiled.’
As I thought this and prepared to step away from his embrace, he asked.
“My lady, would it be alright if this time, I could be the one held in your arms?”
It was an unexpected question, and it naturally led me to wonder if he too disliked rainy days.
“Do you dislike rainy days, Yezar?”
“Hmm. I suppose I do.”
It was a vague answer. But having just received comfort from him for quite some time, I happily spread my arms wide.
Considering the difference in our builds, even if he were in my arms, it would practically be the same as me being in his.
Still, just as I had felt better after receiving comfort from him, I hoped he would feel better too.
“I’ll pat you gently!”
Seeing me eagerly opening my arms, he chuckled. I tilted my head, completely puzzled by his laughter.
“My lady, you really are dense.”
Me, dense? That was a first. Who was more perceptive and sensitive than me?
Thinking that, I quickly pulled him into a hug. Indeed, due to our size difference, it ended up looking just like I was the one being held in his arms again.
‘It’s just like a huge golden retriever charging at me and jumping into my arms.’
The fluffy sensation faintly came to mind, and my hand instinctively stroked his hair. His smooth, golden hair tangled gently between my fingers.
“My lady?”
“S-Sorry!”
I quickly pulled my hand away and apologized. What was I doing, stroking his head like that? He wasn’t some large dog.
“I didn’t realize my hand just moved on its own…”
“What is it?”
I tried to come up with a reasonable excuse, but my words tangled.
“It’s just… you felt like a big dog to me. I suddenly wanted to stroke your hair…”
Even I thought it was an absurd answer after saying it. But Yezar calmly replied.
“Is that so? Do you like dogs, my lady?”
Of course I did. How could anyone dislike such large, incredibly adorable creatures?
“Yes. The bigger, the better. I especially love how they’re huge but still run at you like puppies, showing affection.”
Just imagining a big dog wagging its tail wildly, panting heavily from excitement, and leaping into my arms made me happy.
“I see. Then, would you like to keep stroking me?”
“What?”
“You said you felt like I was a big dog and wanted to stroke me. I don’t mind. You can continue.”
As he seriously offered his head, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Outside, it was still damp and raining, yet why was I laughing so much?
Perhaps it was because of the man standing right before me.
“What nonsense you’re saying. But it’s kind of fun.”
I gently stroked his hair. Had he asked to be held just to make me laugh on purpose?
‘Today, we’ve had an unusually lot of physical contact.’
They say people want to lean on others when they’re struggling. It seemed to be true. Here we were, so close, as if I had never drawn a boundary between us.
“Thank you. Thanks to Yezar, rainy days might not be so unpleasant anymore.”
It was a sincere, heartfelt gratitude. Even if this contract marriage ended someday, I knew I’d smile whenever it rained, remembering this moment.
“I’m the one who should be grateful. Thank you for telling me more about yourself. But there’s one thing I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
“You dislike rainy days so much, yet why were you so insistent on going out?”
Ah. I hesitated whether to tell the truth. I had wanted to secretly buy a gift and surprise him. But I also didn’t want to lie to him anymore.
“Well, I was planning to buy gloves.”
“Gloves? As a gift for your brother-in-law?”
“Actually, it wasn’t meant for my younger brother. I wanted to buy them as a gift for Yezar, which is why I insisted on going out today.”
“What? You were going to buy a gift for me?”
“…Yes. My younger brother’s gift will be taken care of by his future sister-in-law. I wasn’t planning to brave the rain for that.”
Weaslet might feel hurt if he heard this, but honestly, I didn’t have enough enthusiasm to go shopping in the rain just for him.
“But since it was for Yezar, I wanted to buy it quickly and see him smile.”
It was a small selfish desire. I had loved his gifts so much. I wanted to see him smile when receiving mine too.
I had wanted to buy it quickly so I wouldn’t miss the timing and cause him any inconvenience.
“Ember mentioned it was about time to change gloves. If I waited too long, it might cause Yezar trouble…”
The words slipped out like an excuse. I didn’t understand why my face was getting redder the more I spoke.
“Though I’m truly touched, I don’t wish to be a husband who makes my wife go out in the rain like this. How about we go out together next time, pick out my gloves, and maybe even enjoy a picnic?”
A picnic—just hearing the word sounded lovely. But considering his packed schedule, I worried it might be too much for him.
“I’d love that, but are you sure it won’t be too much?”
“Not at all. As you said, it might be nice to occasionally take things slowly and spend time together. Wasn’t that part of our agreement too?”
That was reassuring. But I still had the tea with the Duchess of Yekert and the spring outing promised with Marchioness Stemun. I’d have to coordinate the dates carefully.
“Then please let me know when we’ll go.”
“Oh, now that you mention it, I do have some events coming up.”
“There are, but my first priority is my husband’s promise. Marchioness Stemun will understand. If it overlaps with the Duchess of Yekert’s tea, I’ll just earn a little resentment. So what?”
After all, the reason I’d been so busy meeting so many people was because I wanted to fulfill my role as a duchess properly.
Even if it was a contract marriage, I still wanted to be the ideal wife for him as much as possible.
“Yes, I understand. Then, shall we go on a nice day sometime next week?”
“That’s fine. Actually, the sooner the better.”
The tea appointment with the Duchess of Yekert was scheduled for the week after, so it likely wouldn’t overlap.
“Then, I’ll do my best to pack a beautiful picnic lunch with foods I know my lady will enjoy.”
I had only imagined it before. I never expected to actually receive a packed lunch from him so soon.
‘A lunchbox made by him. Of course, I’m looking forward to it…’
“Can I help pack it with you then?”
“Won’t you be tired?”
I was curious to see him cook. Hiding that desire, I gave a plausible excuse.
“It’s more fun and enjoyable when we do it together.”
“It would be even more enjoyable together, wouldn’t it?”
The rain had completely stopped now, as the sound of raindrops from outside had ceased. Yet Yezar didn’t leave my embrace, and I didn’t ask him to let go.
Soon, we quietly whispered back and forth about what we’d do on our picnic. I naturally leaned into his arms, laughing, and whether he knew it or not, Yezar kept looking at me and smiling.
[This is the timeline separator]An afternoon after the endless rain had finally stopped. In the corridor of the duke’s mansion, maids were chatting quietly.
“It’s almost time for the meal. Why are the Duke and the Lady still shut up in their room like that?”
“Exactly. The rain’s stopped now. They could come out and take a walk.”
Carefully approaching the bedroom, the maids softly knocked on the door. But no answer came from inside. Worried something might be wrong, they gently opened the door—and upon seeing the scene within, quietly slipped back out.
Inside the bedroom, the Lady had her head resting on the Duke’s shoulder, chirping like a lark, while the Duke listened with tender affection.
They simply didn’t have the courage to interrupt such a peaceful, intimate moment. Unaware of this, Julietta once again became the unwilling center of a heated rumor spreading through the duke’s mansion.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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