Realizing it, I should have been surprised. Yet, strangely, my heart was calm.
‘It’s more unnatural not to feel a fluttering sensation toward Yezar, who remains considerate and gentle even at a moment like this.’
Such a thought arose naturally. Yezar was kind, tender, and sometimes simply being beside him brought warm comfort. Gradually, like spring rain soaking in, he himself was melting into me.
“Thank you, Yezar.”
I smiled, clasping his hand. The warmth transmitted from our fingertips remained steadily comforting.
‘Right now is perfect. Just the right amount of excitement, familiarity, and ease.’
I didn’t desire anything more than this. I didn’t want our contract to end messily either. That’s why I remained cautious, constantly reminding myself not to stir my feelings.
Crossing the line might stain even the good memories with pain. But just this much—feeling a little flutter and affection toward him—wouldn’t that be alright?
I couldn’t help but feel that desire. Contrary to the firm boundaries I’d declared earlier, my own limits had already blurred.
‘But Julietta, this is as far as we go. Any deeper emotions won’t do. Yezar probably feels comfortable because he knows I harbor no feelings for him.’
This was a resolution only I knew, one Yezar remained unaware of.
[This is the timeline separator]Inside the carriage, we chatted warmly. Even simple, everyday topics brought laughter naturally.
Besides, recently I’d been receiving swordsmanship lessons from him, so talking about it felt both beneficial and pleasant.
“So when I swing the sword, my movements tend to be rather large. I’ve been wondering how to improve that.”
“Since you excel at aggressive, sweeping attacks that push forward quickly, it would be better to eliminate unnecessary motions. The larger the movement, the more openings you expose. I’ll check your posture whenever I have time.”
“Really? If Yezar checks it, I can trust it.”
Excitedly answering, I suddenly noticed a beautiful lake outside the window.
“Oh my. Yezar, look? The lake is so beautiful.”
He suggested we stop by the lake first, since the glove shop was nearby. If it belonged to the duke’s estate, there likely wouldn’t be many people wandering around. It seemed like a good place to spend some quiet time, so I accepted his suggestion.
But he hadn’t mentioned it was this beautiful.
“I’m glad the weather is clear today. I was worried it might be cloudy. Do you like it?”
“I love it so much! You must have come here with your family several times, haven’t you?”
“I’ve visited a few times with my family, but this is the first time I’ve come here with someone outside my family. Still, I’ve always thought I’d someday want to come here with someone special.”
That surprised me. Given his nature, I’d assumed he’d have shown this place to Bertisha first. Yet I was the first.
Still, I carefully avoided letting myself get overly excited.
‘Whoever he imagined bringing here was probably Bertisha, not me.’
Perhaps that was only natural. The love I’d seen him show was deeply sincere. But then he added an unexpected remark.
“I’m glad I could show it to you, Julietta. I’m happy to see you blushing with such delight.”
For a moment, I nervously touched my cheek, wondering if I’d shown too much pleasure. Then, playfully smiling, I asked him.
“Say, if I splash around by the lakeshore, would that violate the dignity expected of a duchess?”
“It’s fine. You always surprise me with unexpected actions that bring me joy, don’t you?”
Who that “someone special” might have been—Bertisha or anyone else—suddenly seemed unimportant. Right now, he was showing me this beautiful lake.
“Is that so? If you enjoy it, then I’m happy too.”
The carriage seemed to have arrived, slowing to a stop. I took his hand and stepped down. The lake, already beautiful from afar, was now so clear up close that I could see the bottom.
“Wow. I was thinking of splashing around, but now I almost feel bad doing it in such a pristine lake. Would you like to walk along the shore together?”
“That sounds good to me as well.”
His hand, which hadn’t let go since we stepped down, gently led me forward. A cool breeze tousled my hair. Through the gaps, I caught sight of his radiant face.
“Isn’t the breeze refreshing?”
“Yes, it’s very refreshing. When you came here with your family, what did you usually do?”
I suddenly grew curious about his childhood memories. He paused briefly before answering.
“As soon as we arrived by the lake, my father would grab me and toss me straight in.”
“Toss you in?”
“Yes. It was summer, and I said I was hot, so he immediately threw me into the water. My clothes were completely soaked.”
“He treated his son rather roughly.”
“It was too rough—it was a problem. My mother stood by, laughing, and dried my hair with a towel.”
I could vividly picture the scene: a boisterous father asking if I was cool now, a bright mother laughing and drying her son’s hair, and a drenched boy grumbling between them. A warm, harmonious family image formed effortlessly.
Perhaps, this was exactly the kind of family I had always dreamed of.
“Still, it must have been fun.”
“My parents were very cheerful people. They’ve since moved to a quiet area outside the capital, saying they wanted to start a new life. Honestly, they never really cared much about their son.”
His soft sigh seemed out of character. Well, he was rather quiet by nature. Perhaps his lively parents had sometimes been overwhelming.
But I could understand why his mother and father felt so light-hearted leaving.
“Maybe it’s because they trust you, Yezar? When I look at you, I wonder if there could even be someone so remarkable. You silently give your best to your duties, care for your subordinates, worry about them. Even when things are hard, you never complain, but keep moving forward so others can trust and follow you.”
I wasn’t saying this because I harbored feelings for him. Yezar truly was someone everyone would naturally follow and respect.
“Anyone would do the same.”
“No, that’s not true. Most people couldn’t. Perhaps it’s precisely because you’re someone like this that your parents trusted you enough to hand over the dukedom? If you’d been an unreliable son, they wouldn’t have passed it on so early.”
Yezar fell silent. I felt his grip on my hand tighten slightly.
I paused and looked up at him. He was covering his face, looking embarrassed.
“…You’re praising me too much. I feel embarrassed.”
Surely, he must have heard such words often. Yet seeing him blush, I couldn’t help but laugh, even though I knew I shouldn’t.
“Ahaha. Then I should keep praising you—until you get used to it!”
“You’re being mischievous.”
“Mischievous? I’m only speaking the truth. Since you get embarrassed so easily, I’ll just keep reciting your praises while I’m beside you.”
I knew I shouldn’t, but his honest reactions made it impossible not to tease him. We bickered playfully as we walked along the shore, until gradually, I began to feel hungry.
‘Now that I think about it, I didn’t even properly eat breakfast. All I remember is being hurriedly washed, dressed, and given a single cherry tomato.’
Remembering that lone tomato, it wasn’t strange that my stomach was starting to growl. Yezar probably hadn’t eaten properly either, having prepared the lunchbox so early in the morning.
“Say, Yezar. Aren’t you getting hungry?”
“Yes, it’s about that time. Shall we sit on that nearby bench and have our lunch?”
“Yes, that sounds good.”
Finally, I’d get to eat the lunchbox he’d prepared. I already felt excited about how it would taste. I sat neatly on the bench, wiped my hands with a handkerchief, and opened the lunchbox.
Inside were sandwiches generously filled with seafood, tender lamb cut into bite-sized pieces, pasta tossed with a tangy sauce, cheese-accompanied salad, and fruits cut into heart shapes.
‘Heart shapes? Did someone suggest doing this because we’re newlyweds?’
“Did you arrange the shapes, Yezar?”
I asked, poking at the fruits. He replied.
“Well, the head chef recommended it, saying the lady would probably like it.”
That explained it. Still, imagining he’d personally arranged and placed them made me smile softly.
“Um… do you dislike the heart shapes?”
“No, not at all. They’re very pretty! Maybe next time, try star shapes? They’d be sparkly and cute.”
“Still, I prefer this shape.”
Did he like the hearts? Or was he just pleased because they were cut more neatly than expected?
“Hearts are pretty too!”
For some reason, Yezar’s expression seemed subtly different after my reply. Ah, right—I’d forgotten something.
“Thank you. I’m so grateful you prepared this so thoughtfully. It’s almost too lovely to eat.”
I should have expressed my gratitude earlier. How could I forget? He’d taken time out of his day just for me. No wonder his expression had turned awkward.
Yezar responded as gently as always.
“Not at all. Just imagining you happily eating it made preparing it a pleasure.”
My husband sure knows how to say sweet things. I was about to eat with my fork when I glanced around.
There were attendants and guards nearby, likely keeping a respectful distance. Still, I didn’t want to appear overly affectionate where they could see, even if they couldn’t hear us.
“Say, Yezar.”
“Yes, my lady?”
“Would you open your mouth?”
Without suspicion, he opened his mouth, and I gently placed a piece of the lamb he’d prepared right inside. His pupils widened slightly.
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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