How could I even have such thoughts with her standing right in front of me? He fumbled, not knowing where to direct his instinctively drawn gaze.
“Yezar?”
Julietta approached with a worried expression. Every time she moved, her skirt rustled softly, rippling like waves—she looked as if a fairy stood before him.
Moreover, Julietta’s face, seen up close, was breathtakingly beautiful. She had always been lovely, but today, with her features accentuated more than usual, she was even more striking.
It became harder to endure.
“…I’m sorry. I think I need to step outside for a moment.”
“Why? Are you feeling unwell?”
“It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?”
Her pale, flawless skin was visible just inches from him. Inappropriately, a fleeting impure thought crossed his mind. He briefly considered slamming his head against a wall. He must not be in his right mind.
“Could it be because I look so beautiful that you don’t want to show me to others?”
Julietta asked playfully, smiling. At that moment, Yezar nearly decided to cancel their outing.
Julietta, of course, had only been teasing—but Yezar wasn’t.
Right now, she was truly so beautiful that he genuinely didn’t want to let anyone else see her.
“Yes. You’re so beautiful… I don’t want to show you to anyone.”
[This is the timeline separator]‘Huh?’
I felt slightly flustered. If it were just the two of us, maybe—but there were maids around. I had only played that little joke to present the sweet, loving couple image that matched the rumors.
Yet his reaction seemed too sincere to be just playful agreement. He should’ve just humored me a little, but his flushed cheeks and shy expression made me question myself.
‘I shouldn’t misunderstand. Could it be that I really look beautiful in his eyes?’
The thought made my body stiffen involuntarily. That Yezar, who naturally radiated beauty himself, genuinely thought of me as beautiful—purely, sincerely.
What on earth had the maids done to me? To earn such praise from such a perfect man.
Occasionally, when standing beside him, I worried whether my head looked disproportionately large, or if I seemed plain in comparison to his self-luminous presence. But his words just now completely erased all such worries.
“Julietta, could you please stay exactly like that for a moment?”
His face was red as he said this. So it really wasn’t my imagination after all.
Even if his comment about not wanting to show me to others was just polite agreement, his compliment about my beauty was clearly heartfelt.
Overwhelmed with emotion, I turned my gaze toward the maids who had worked so hard these past few days. They nodded eagerly, as if they had been waiting for this moment.
The sparkle in their eyes seemed to shout, “Madam! Did you see it? The moment our efforts truly shone!”
I felt like raising a thumbs-up right then and there.
‘Yes. Good job. All your hard work paid off!’
I had been so disappointed earlier that we couldn’t pack lunchboxes together this morning, but now that regret had completely vanished.
“Yes, Yezar.”
Answering cheerfully, I stayed exactly as he had asked. Then he passed by me and opened the wardrobe, taking out a shawl.
‘Why is he taking out a shawl?’
I watched curiously as he gently draped it over my shoulders.
“Why are you putting this on me?”
When I asked, he cleared his throat awkwardly before replying.
“The neckline and chest area are cut too low. I didn’t think it was appropriate as it was…”
I tilted my head, confused. The dress did have a low neckline, but nothing revealing the cleavage. Besides, I’d heard that backless dresses were currently in fashion among high society.
I, as a proper young lady, couldn’t possibly wear something so extreme, so I’d chosen a relatively modest one.
“This isn’t that revealing. And anyway, this shawl would be too warm for the current season.”
It wasn’t even made of sheer, see-through fabric—rather, it had a certain thickness. It might’ve been suitable a month ago, but now, as the weather warmed, it was unnecessary.
‘It’s not like wrapping a scarf around a snowman. Still, since he’s worried, I don’t mind.’
Just as someone might thoughtfully offer a blanket when you wear a short skirt, Yezar was simply being considerate.
“Don’t worry. When I checked in the mirror, the neckline was exposed, but the chest wasn’t visible.”
As I tried to take off the shawl and hand it back to him, Yezar uncomfortably shifted his eyes. I wondered why—until he whispered softly, just for me to hear.
“I’m sorry. From my angle… it is visible… madam.”
What did he mean, “from my angle”? And why had his face turned as red as a tomato while saying that? I carefully replayed his words. There was a noticeable height difference between us. So if he looked at me from close range, he’d be seeing me from above, downward.
Ah. So from above, my cleavage would be fully… My face instantly flushed.
“Kyaa! D-don’t look!”
“I-I’m sorry!”
I quickly re-draped the shawl and turned my head away. My heart pounded. Normally, I never wore dresses with exposed necklines, so I’d never considered the perspective of someone looking down at me.
‘Oh no. Does that mean he saw everything?’
If that’s why his face was so red… I shook my head vigorously. I didn’t want to imagine any further.
“I’ll wear a lighter shawl instead.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“And please, forget what you saw.”
I didn’t spell it out, but Yezar nodded, as if he fully understood.
“…Yes, madam.”
Just as we were having our sweet, playful exchange, we suddenly startled and turned around. I could feel the maids watching, wondering what had happened. I smiled calmly, trying to hide my burning cheeks.
“I’m sorry, but could you bring me a thinner shawl? Preferably one made of opaque fabric.”
May, who had enthusiastically recommended this dress earlier, replied with a sulky expression.
“But this dress really brings out your fair neckline, madam. It’d be such a shame to cover it up!”
The other maids nodded in agreement. Still, I couldn’t let Yezar see my cleavage, so I was about to say no. But the reply didn’t come from me—it came from Yezar.
“No. I don’t want any man besides me seeing it.”
He spoke firmly, despite clearly being embarrassed. At once, May’s downturned lips curved into a bright smile. I noticed Ember and the other maids also wore satisfied, pleased expressions.
“Oh! If that’s how it is, you should’ve said so earlier! Madam, please wait a moment—I’ll find you a shawl that ensures no man other than the Duke will ever, ever see you that way!”
Was I imagining it, or did she emphasize “ever, ever” just now? And why on earth had Yezar said that? I glanced sideways at him. He avoided my gaze.
His ears were faintly red, and his fists clenched and unclenched restlessly.
‘Was he just pretending to be passionately devoted in front of the maids? Or does he really not want other men seeing me like this…? Nah. That can’t be.’
I immediately dismissed the absurd thought. It was impossible. Why would he feel such pointless jealousy? I was merely his contractual wife, after all. And especially considering he still hadn’t let go of his first love—such thoughts were utterly inappropriate. Even if, quietly, my heart had just started beating faster.
The dress was adorned with a shawl, and the weather today was perfectly clear, not a single cloud in the sky. Moreover, the bento box I’d been looking forward to from Yezar was now in my arms.
“I’m already excited to taste it.”
“I’m glad you’re looking forward to something so simple.”
“You shouldn’t say it’s nothing! It’s a precious bento box you prepared so early in the morning.”
When I spoke with exaggerated seriousness, he smiled and nodded. His laughter was pleasant to hear. The breeze was refreshingly mild, and the sunlight warm and gentle.
“To think I’m having a picnic with someone. How long has it been?”
I’d practically been confined within the mansion, so enjoying a cozy picnic with someone had been beyond even my dreams.
Yes, I was excited. The bento made for me was in my arms, the person who would spend the day with me stood beside me, and the sky was clear, promising no rain.
“I’m excited. I’ve longed for this kind of ordinary day. Now, it feels like such ordinary moments might happen often in the future.”
I preferred daily, repeating peaceful routines over one special day. A single special day could feel lonely, but within a repeating routine, there was someone by my side every day to share joy with.
“I’m glad you’re in good spirits.”
“Of course. It’s a picnic with Yezar. Tell me, am I the only one who’s excited?”
He replied,
“How could that be? I’ve been looking forward to it too. An outing with you, madam.”
Yezar smiled gently. Today, his face seemed especially dazzling. He was always radiant, but today, it was particularly hard to look directly at him.
‘Could it be that hearing me called beautiful felt that good? No… This feeling is something more… something deeper…’
“Madam.”
His voice calling me snapped me back to reality. We had already arrived in front of the carriage.
“Oh, yes. I’ll get in.”
‘Look at me, losing focus. Why am I acting like this?’
I hurried to climb in, but then he extended his hand toward me.
“No, it’s not that. The carriage is quite high. He meant for me to hold his hand while climbing up. It’d be dangerous otherwise.”
The warmth of our clasped hands was comforting. Only then did I realize what this feeling was. This fluttering, exhilarating sensation in my chest—it was excitement.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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