Perhaps, if Yezar saw my expression like this, he might worry. He was such a kind person that he would obviously care about my condition even while busy with work.

“Huh. Never mind. As long as Weaslet comes, everything will be fine.”

After all, Yezar would feel at ease seeing Weaslet taking good care of me in various ways.

I wrote a reply to Weaslet, including a suitable scolding and mentioning when it would be convenient for him to come. Of course, I didn’t forget to add a postscript.

— P.S. Most of the young men asking about our married life weren’t actually interested in us, were they? It seems they were subtly trying to approach my soon-to-be older sister through me. I hope he figures it out soon. I wish he’d recognize the feelings of a younger sibling who doesn’t want to see their older brother being taken advantage of.

After firmly placing the period at the end, I handed the letter over to Ember. Imagining Weaslet jumping around exclaiming, “Wait, was that what it was all about?!” as soon as he read it, I couldn’t help but smile.

Weaslet, being oblivious, probably hadn’t noticed the young men’s true intentions. But Aneta Planched, who would soon become my new older sister, was one of the most renowned beauties in the Empire.

I wasn’t sure how Weaslet had gotten involved with her, but I’d heard him complain several times about certain persistent fellows who acted as if having a goalkeeper didn’t stop goals from being scored.

‘Is he really that clueless despite complaining so much?’

It was pathetic how he grumbled about not being able to enjoy a peaceful date. He clearly still had no idea he was being deliberately obstructed.

“Really, why did Aneta unnie choose Weaslet?”

There were certainly other good options. I found myself once again thinking her tastes were rather unique.

When the dim night arrived, I waited for Yezar in the bedroom. There hadn’t been much work to handle today, so I had come to the bedroom earlier than usual.

As I blankly gazed at the moon in the night sky, Yezar also entered the bedroom earlier than usual.

“It seems Yezar finished work early today too.”

“Yes, madam, did you as well?”

“That’s right. So I was just waiting, wondering when you’d arrive.”

This kind of exchange between us felt familiar. The quiet time we spent sharing our daily lives and learning about each other was always a small joy before sleep.

“Oh, by the way, I received a letter from my older brother. He said he’d drop by our estate sometime.”

Yezar knew that, unlike my other family members, I regularly exchanged letters with Weaslet. Perhaps that was why—he held a favorable view toward Weaslet.

“When is he planning to come? I’d like to properly entertain my brother-in-law.”

“He just said he’d come by for a visit, so I’ve already written back suggesting a few convenient dates. Once I receive his reply, I’ll let you know.”

“I understand.”

“But, um… would it be inconvenient for you?”

“What do you mean?”

“That… my family visiting your estate.”

I asked out of concern, knowing he tended to say everything I said was fine. In response, Yezar called me.

“Madam.”

“Yes?”

“How long will you keep drawing a line between us? Didn’t we agree to live like an ordinary married couple?”

The image of him looking at me like a large dog with drooping ears and tail flashed in my mind. I clearly remembered our promise.

‘Should I act as a real wife, meaning I shouldn’t keep drawing boundaries as if I were just a contract wife?’

‘Absolutely forbidden. Even if you’re drunk, please never say such a thing.’

Recalling that day, I felt deeply apologetic and gently took Yezar’s hand.

“Did I make you feel disappointed with my unnecessary words?”

“I was a bit disappointed. Where is your family, and whose estate is this? Your surname is Ferhaem, and this estate belongs to you as well. I’d appreciate it if you could remember that.”

“I’m sorry for making you feel that way. But would doing one genuinely married-couple-like thing make up for it?”

At my suggestion, Yezar paused briefly. After moving his lips a few times, he asked.

“What exactly counts as a genuinely married-couple-like thing…?”

“It’s something we can do right now, at night.”

This time, he creaked like a robot.

“Huh? No, even so, that’s….”

Oh no. Was he really that disappointed? Would just this not be enough to ease his feelings?

“Would this really not be enough? I feel guilty for failing to keep my promise to you.”

“No, no, it’s not that. Of course it would help. I’m just… flustered.”

“It’s okay. You just need to receive.”

“M-me receive? What exactly do you have in mind…?!”

He looked at me in flustered panic. I simply smiled brightly and replied as if telling him to trust me.

“Don’t worry, just stay still. Yezar, calm down—why don’t you close your eyes for a moment?”

His Adam’s apple bobbed noticeably. His throat must have been dry. As if making a great decision, he tightly closed his eyes. His expression made me want to laugh.

“If you want me to do it, you’ll need to let go of my hand.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

Only then did his grip loosen. I pulled my hand free and moved behind him. At the rustling sound, his body flinched. He was clearly tense. There was no need to be.

Carefully, I placed my hands on his broad shoulders. For some reason, his body felt hot. Even the tips of his ears were bright red.

Recalling what I’d done before, I firmly pressed and kneaded his shoulders. What I intended to do was give him a massage.

In my previous life, when my mother came home exhausted from work, I’d seen my father carefully approach her and massage her shoulders, arms, and legs by pressing firmly.

Then my mother would wave her hands and say,

“You must be tired from work too. Just go rest.”

“It’s fine. Your shoulders and leg muscles are all stiff. I need to loosen them. Who else will do it?”

“You’re not annoying at times like this. Not annoying at all. Thank you.”

Now I couldn’t even recall my parents’ faces from my previous life, but I still remembered how my mother had smiled then.

So right now, I was doing something genuinely married-couple-like for the disappointed Yezar.

Coming home tired from work and caring for each other, worrying about one another—that was what I thought being a real married couple meant.

“How is it? Does it feel refreshing?”

I had pressed hard, but I wasn’t sure if he actually liked it.

Soon, Yezar let out a deep sigh. Then he covered his face with both palms.

“I’m trash.”

“What? How can you say such nonsense? What kind of amazing, kind, perfect trash even exists in the world?”

But Yezar, as if his soul had been completely shattered, buried his face in his palms and shook his head.

“Innocent madam knows nothing.”

Me, innocent? I’d never thought of myself that way before. Hearing Yezar say that, my conscience prickled sharply.

Among the novels I’d read, many were so intense they were almost filthy, things I couldn’t possibly show to others. Probably, I knew far more about the intimate affairs between men and women than this pure, naive man.

“No, Yezar, you’re misunderstanding. I’m not as innocent as you think!”

But it seemed my words didn’t reach him, as he began muttering to himself.

“Haa… Right. The madam wouldn’t possibly be like that. I’m trash. How could I even dare to have such thoughts about the madam….”

To bring Yezar’s mind back from wherever it had wandered, I firmly pressed his cheek. Startled, he looked up at me.

“Madam?”

“Was my massage really that bad?”

“No, no! It felt refreshing.”

“Then why are you suddenly blaming yourself?”

“A, that….”

He kept stammering awkwardly.

“I’m sorry. Lately, I’ve been so overwhelmed with work that my mind must have drifted elsewhere.”

Ah, of course—he must have been too exhausted. I reignited my determination and continued the massage.

“Is that so? Then now, give me your hand.”

“Huh? Wasn’t it over after massaging the shoulders?”

“What are you talking about? I never intended to resolve Yezar’s disappointment with something so simple! My hands are more capable than they look. Just trust me.”

With a half-dazed expression, Yezar extended his hand toward me. I took it with both hands and firmly pressed his palm. Then he let out a pained sound.

“A… Ugh.”

“How is it? Feels good when I press here, right?”

“Haa… Ye…”

But for some reason, his pained sounds sounded like moans—was it because a lewd spirit had settled in my mind?

Trying not to show my embarrassment, I kept pressing his palm and then moved my hands up his arm. His raised veins and muscles fit perfectly under my hands. As I vigorously kneaded them, strangely, my body grew warmer.

‘Uh… s-something feels strange.’

The massage I knew wasn’t supposed to feel like this. For some reason, the sounds I heard and the sensations under my hands felt off.

“I’ll… massage your legs now.”

It seemed better to move to another area quickly. I firmly grabbed his firm calf. Then, naturally, I spread his legs slightly and settled in to press the inner muscles.

Just as my hands slowly moved past his calf toward his thigh and began pressing, my wrist was suddenly caught.

“S-stop! Not there.”

His voice was overly urgent and carried a strange heat.