I had been busy handling work all week in preparation for the picnic with Yezar. The steward praised me, saying my skills were improving steadily, but along with that, the amount of work he brought me had been increasing.
He said the tasks I was handling were only a fraction of what Yezar managed. Looking at the towering pile of documents before me, I suddenly imagined just how massive Yezar’s responsibilities must be—and felt slightly overwhelmed.
After finishing my work, I went through the letters that had arrived for me. One was from Marchioness Stemun, and another was from Weaslet.
The Marchioness’s letter mostly revolved around deciding a date to meet up for a spring outing now that the weather was getting warmer. Seeing her affectionate handwriting, a gentle smile naturally formed on my lips.
“I’ve read Marchioness Stemun’s letter, but what could Weaslet possibly want with a letter?”
Whenever I recalled the recent letters from Weaslet, they were likely to be filled with trivial complaints again. Has he been particularly bored lately?
But strangely, this letter was different from usual.
— Julietta! You are doing well, right? I’ve heard rumors that Duke Ferhaem torments you every night. Even if you’re newlyweds, shouldn’t you exercise some moderation? These embarrassing rumors make me, your elder brother, instinctively bow my head in shame.
“What on earth! Is he teasing me through a letter?”
After not seeing me for a while, he seizes any excuse to mock me like this. I wonder how amused he was when he sent this?
Then, I frowned as I read Weaslet’s postscript.
— P.S. Should I perhaps gift Duke Ferhaem something that boosts vitality?
He must be delighted. Absolutely delighted. I had a rough idea how such rumors might have started, but I never expected them to reach Weaslet’s ears. Still, it’s better than appearing to have a strained relationship—though it does seem a bit too passionate now…
“Haa.”
Now I feared Yezar’s reputation might shift from rumored homosexual to famed virility.
‘I should invite Weaslet to visit the ducal residence once. He hears rumors quickly anyway. It’ll also be convenient to check whether I’m doing well as the duchess.’
Grrr. I gritted my teeth.
‘And when we meet, I’ll make sure to give him a good smack on the back.’
I could vividly picture his annoying face, grinning as he wrote the letter, eagerly anticipating my reaction.
I tossed Weaslet’s letter aside and gulped down a long drink of cool water. Drinking it made me feel refreshed inside.
Now I was just starting to wonder what I should wear tomorrow when the maids suddenly burst through the door one after another.
“Milady! You’re going out with His Grace tomorrow, aren’t you?”
“Why didn’t you tell us earlier!”
“That’s right! What are the maids in charge of your grooming here for, if not this!”
Not only May, Brynni, and Chelsea, who always stayed by my side, but also faces I occasionally saw in the corridors of the ducal mansion had gathered. At the back, Ember was giving orders to the children with a suspicious smile.
“Now then, quickly select the most perfect dress, shoes, and accessories for tomorrow’s outing.”
“Yes, Head Maid!”
“We’ll take care of it!”
Just watching them made me feel like I was burning up. I instinctively felt overwhelmed by their energy.
‘I’m not some military strategist! Why is Ember looking at me with such a wicked gleam in her eye!’
After our recent conversation, I thought she had warmed up to me. But seeing these maids rushing at me like this, I felt like a herbivore about to be devoured by a predator.
I was dragged along with both arms seized. Feeling a foreboding sense, I hurriedly spoke up.
“You don’t need to go to such lengths…”
But the response came loud and sharp.
“What are you saying! Not need to go to such lengths!”
“When else would we ever put in such effort!”
‘Girls, your voices are too loud. My ears hurt.’
But saying that wouldn’t reach their ears now, not when they were so excited.
“Isn’t this the first time you’ve gone out with His Grace since entering the ducal family?”
Now that I thought about it, aside from the time he came to fetch me at the Stemun Marquisate and we returned together, we’d never actually gone out together. The maids probably assumed we had met and enjoyed ourselves outside before marriage, but that wasn’t the case.
This outing was practically our first.
‘Outing, outing… No, that’s not quite it. There’s a word for this kind of thing. A word that perfectly fits a newlywed couple… a word, a word…’
“That’s true. It’s kind of like a long-overdue date.”
After saying it, I felt a slight itch run through my body. A date. Now that I said it, I could understand why the maids were so excited.
“What will you be doing, milady?”
“Well, I thought we’d watch a play, stroll by the lake, and eat a packed lunch together…”
“Kyaa!”
Even though it was my date, the maids seemed even more thrilled, whispering and giggling with joy. They looked exactly like young girls giddy over love.
“Milady, we’ll make sure you look more beautiful than anyone else!”
“We’ll do our best so His Grace falls for you all over again. You must tell us how the date went when you return!”
They were going all out as if it were their own affair. I felt I had no choice but to go along with their enthusiasm.
“Alright. I’ll tell you. But you must do your very best to make His Grace fall for me again, understood?”
“Yes, milady!”
Their loud, enthusiastic response made me smile instinctively. Quietly, I let them take hold of me and obediently surrendered my body. As they held up various colored dresses against me, I could hear them discussing among themselves.
I couldn’t help but feel a flutter of excitement myself.
[This is the timeline separator]Early dawn. Yezar was diligently preparing the picnic lunch. Unfortunately, the lady who was supposed to help him looked deeply gloomy as she spoke to him.
‘I’m sorry, Yezar! It seems the outing preparations will take longer, so I can’t help you pack the lunch.’
Well, he was packing it because he wanted to, so there was no need for her to feel so apologetic. But seeing her bright, lively eyes dim with sadness made him instinctively concerned, and he comforted her with gentle words.
There was still time, he said. They could make lunch together another time. At that, she grabbed his hand tightly, insisting he must keep his promise. Her hand was coarse and rough, unlike the delicate hands of the noble ladies he’d known.
But he liked it. A knight’s hand, rough with effort—somehow, it felt warmer and softer to him.
He wondered if physical contact had become more frequent and natural lately. Unaware of his thoughts, she smiled brightly at him.
Indeed, his wife was so blunt and defenseless. Back then, he had feared his heart’s pounding might be heard when he held her close.
Holding her smaller frame tightly, he had thought she looked cute, like a hamster. When she said she felt he was like a large dog, he had secretly rejoiced, realizing they had finally connected.
When he asked if she liked rainy days, and she instead opened up about her own feelings, he listened quietly, fully attentive.
She usually seemed so bright and cheerful, as if untouched by pain, but now he knew that wasn’t true. Whenever she opened up, her face revealed a deep loneliness and sorrow.
An endlessly lonely person. Yet, someone capable of giving boundless love. That’s why he wanted to share his heart with her—comfort, solace, whatever she needed. Someone who was awkward at receiving, but always willing to give.
Yezar began filling the empty lunchbox, recalling the foods Julietta liked.
They often dined together in the evenings, so he had paid attention to what she liked and disliked.
She wasn’t particularly picky, but everyone had their preferences. Drawing from their conversations, the foods she usually ate at meals, and advice from the head chef, he carefully decided each dish.
‘I hope she enjoys it.’
Imagining Julietta’s surprised face asking if he really made it all by himself, then bringing the food to her mouth, chewing, and saying it’s delicious, Yezar smiled happily.
He wasn’t sure how long the outing preparations would take, but he thought he could finish packing the lunch before then.
‘Once it’s done, I’ll change clothes and go pick her up.’
Whatever they were preparing, the maids had taken Julietta to the dressing room and sternly warned him not to come until they called.
‘After all, Julietta is beautiful whether she’s dressed up or not.’
From the very first moment he saw her, he had thought she was truly beautiful. In the tavern, after a few drinks, her cheeks were flushed, yet her well-kept hair clearly marked her as a noble lady.
Her fair, flawless skin and beautiful face had made him worry—wasn’t it dangerous for her to be drinking alone in such a place?
After finishing the lunch, Yezar changed clothes and went to fetch Julietta. By now, he figured, the outing preparations must be nearly complete.
When he knocked on the door of the dressing room, the maids greeted him with proud, satisfied expressions.
As if proudly displaying their handiwork. There, Yezar found Julietta, standing awkwardly with a shy smile.
“I’m sorry for making you wait. The preparations took longer than I expected…”
She fussed with her hair, nervous. Her face was even more beautiful than usual. Her eyes sparkled, as if touched with something, and the corners of her eyes were slightly lifted, giving her a more haughty look.
Her already delicate features appeared even sharper to his eyes, and her lips, slightly parted, were an unusually vivid red.
Her hair, half-tied and neatly styled, suited her well. Her red hair, which always drew his gaze, now looked as fresh and radiant as a newly bloomed rose.
Moreover, the dress, white with soft pink accents, boldly revealed her pure white neckline. It seemed that one wrong move might expose her chest.
“Her skin is too…”
Feeling his face instinctively flush, Yezar turned his head away.
My Arch-enemy Sealed My Memory and Said That He is My Husband
This is an incredibly captivating story that you absolutely shouldn’t miss! I’ll give a brief introduction here, and below you’ll find a detailed synopsis of the plot.
The female lead is a fierce and powerful demon king. The male lead is a once-in-a-millennium celestial lord, admired by the entire cultivation world.
They are equally matched, legendary rivals who have battled for centuries.
In the final duel, the female lead is gravely injured. The male lead saves her, seals her memories, and hides her true identity. He tells her that he is her fiancé. His entire life has been flawless—except for the one thing he never expected, never controlled, and never wanted to control: falling for his greatest enemy. She is his inner demon, his obsession.
When the female lead regains her memories, she is furious at his deception.
She makes his life a living hell.
And somehow, the male lead—possibly a total masochist—doesn’t mind at all. In fact, he’s happy she’s paying attention to him.
Yep, we’re back to my favorite trope: male lead suffering. If you love this kind of story, jump into the pit with me now!!!
Intro
Dong Xia lost her memory.
Her handsome and extremely powerful fiancé Li Qing comforted her: “It’s okay if you can’t remember. I’ll always be with you.”
Everyone thought Dong Xia’s ancestors must have burned incense to get such a perfect fiancé. He was the number one person in the immortal realm, yet he remained chaste and only loved her.
…
The day before marrying her fiancé, Dong Xia finally remembered everything.
She wasn’t suffering from memory loss at all.
Her arch-enemy had made her fake her death, destroyed her cultivation, replaced her memories, and pretended to be her deeply in love fiancé.
No wonder he said, “It’s okay if you can’t remember”!
Dong Xia laughed coldly as she pulled out her long knife: Li Qing, prepare to die 🙂
*
Li Qing, as the supreme being of the immortal realm, was the people’s shining beacon.
The only unknown stain in his life was his affection for Dong Xia, the ruler of the demon realm.
In the final battle of the war between immortals and demons, the sky collapsed and the earth shattered. The ruler of the demon realm was finally slain under the sword of the supreme being of the immortal realm, and everyone in the immortal realm applauded.
The cultivation world lost a ruler of the demon realm.
And in the back mountain of Li Qing’s cave dwelling, he secretly hid away a fiancée.
Notes:
1. The female lead is white on the outside, black on the inside, and the queen of flattery; the male lead repeatedly tests the edge of darkness, a VIP guest at the crematorium.
2. Fantasy cultivation world setting.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
