Naturally, I exchanged conversation and greeted the husbands standing beside the ladies: David Stemun, Noven Pireoa, and Eric Wyden. Their names seemed vaguely familiar, as if I had heard them somewhere before.

‘But then again, I’ve never been active in social circles. I’m seeing all their faces for the first time.’

Unlike me, Yezar appeared to have met them several times at banquets and was conversing with them effortlessly. Then, Katrin glanced at her pocket watch and said,

“Shall we gradually move to another place?”

Move from here? Where could she possibly mean?

“Where exactly are we moving to?”

When I asked out of curiosity, Katrin replied with a bright smile.

“The weather is lovely, so we’ll step into the garden for a while. Ah, Duke Ferhaem cannot join us. My husband apparently has something private to discuss with him.”

At that moment, as if waiting for this cue, Count Wyden spoke up.

“My body’s been feeling stiff. How fortunate that Duke Ferhaem has arrived. Duke, aren’t you curious about how our knights train at the Wyden estate?”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“Wouldn’t you like to spar with me as well?”

“If you’d allow it, it would be my honor. Isn’t the Wyden house renowned for martial prowess?”

With that, Count Wyden laughed heartily and gestured for Yezar to follow him.

Beside them, Count Pireoa and Marquis Stemun shook their heads.

“Count Wyden seems quite pleased. As for me, I’ve never had any talent for swordsmanship, so I’ll stick to my usual routine and play chess with Marquis Stemun. Ladies, please feel free to chat among yourselves.”

“Sina. Have a pleasant talk and call for me later.”

The Pireoa and Stemun houses weren’t warrior families, so they clearly held no interest in swordplay. Still, judging by their expressions, they all seemed to have excellent relationships with their wives—so much so that affection practically dripped from their eyes.

In particular, Marquis Stemun casually kissed his wife’s cheek. He gazed at her face longingly, as if even a brief separation pained him.

‘Could it be that her paintings always warm people’s hearts because she’s loved like this?’

A sudden thought occurred to me. After all, a painter’s emotions inevitably seep into their work.

“Well then, shall we women go gossip among ourselves now?”

“I’d love to. We have so much to talk about.”

“That’s right. Let’s chat freely among ourselves.”

The ladies, clearly excited, rose to their feet, eager to continue their unfinished chatter. Of course, I had also enjoyed conversing with them.

It felt natural to join them.

“…I’m sorry, but I’d like to watch Count Wyden and Yezar’s sparring match.”

The sound of blades clashing, their breathing, the rising emotions—I didn’t want to miss the chance to witness it.

“Oh my. The Duchess must want to see her husband’s impressive form, being newlyweds and all.”

Count Wyden chuckled teasingly, and I instinctively felt my cheeks grow warm.

“I-It’s not like that….”

The ladies nearby giggled and chimed in.

“Oh my. Then you absolutely must go and watch.”

“Truly, newlyweds are something else. How passionate.”

‘That’s not what I meant.’

But denying it further here would only prolong the conversation, so I stayed silent.

“You’re right. To be honest, I’ve always been curious whether my husband could ever defeat Duke Ferhaem in swordsmanship.”

“Katrin!”

“What? It’s true. No one can match Duke Ferhaem in swordsmanship.”

Though Count Wyden briefly clutched his chest and grumbled in mock pain at his wife’s blunt remark, it was just a minor, lighthearted incident.

***

We headed together with the ladies to a separate training hall specially prepared within the villa. The fact that such a place existed even in a leisure residence showed just how seriously they took swordsmanship.

‘I’ve heard each family has its own unique sword style. I wonder what the Wyden style is like. I can’t wait to see it.’

As for Yezar, he’s always impressive. But today, I intended to pay close attention to Count Wyden’s technique during their match.

“Julietta, what are you thinking about so intently?”

“Oh. Sina… I mean, Marchioness Stemun. I was just imagining what Yezar and Count Wyden’s sparring might look like.”

Even imagining your husband’s impressive form? I thought Duke Ferhaem adored you even more, Julietta. Perhaps I was mistaken.”

The Marchioness seemed to misunderstand my thoughts, but I didn’t feel the need to correct her and simply replied shyly.

“We’re newlyweds, after all….”

“It’s that passionate phase. I read about it in the Imperial Newspaper. You won’t believe how romantic it was. I tried so hard to convince my husband to go on a disguised date like that.”

I had expected she’d know, since it was printed on the front page, but I hadn’t imagined she’d actually want to experience such a date herself.

“Did you succeed?”

At my question, Sina shook her head with a hint of regret.

“No. My husband dislikes crowded places. He’s quite timid too. I still can’t believe he confessed to me the moment he saw me.”

“He confessed at your first meeting?”

“Yes, funny, isn’t it? But it was truly delightful. Oh, this is a secret, mind you. I’m quite shy about such things.”

She seemed to say this only because Marquis Stemun had already left to play chess with Count Pireoa.

“I’ll keep it secret.”

“Thank you, Julietta. Meeting him taught me what love truly is, and because of that, I’ve come to see the world with a much broader perspective.”

Just looking at her paintings revealed this change. Previously, her works were far simpler and more rudimentary—mere depictions of what she saw. But after experiencing love, her paintings began captivating viewers’ eyes.

They radiated warm, brilliant colors that seemed to directly convey her emotions, naturally drawing one’s gaze and warming the heart.

“That’s wonderful—the feeling of meeting someone and having your world expand.”

“Yes. I can’t even bear to imagine who I’d be if I’d never met him. Still, even such thrilling emotions eventually become familiar and fade with time.”

Is she saying passionate love inevitably cools? But that wouldn’t necessarily be bad. Becoming familiar means that being loved every moment becomes natural—something taken for granted.

“But seeing how Duke Ferhaem looks at you, Julietta, brought it all back—the radiant feelings I once had. I find myself wanting to capture somewhere that fluttering, innocent, and tender emotion from those days.”

Currently, the painter Cortina wasn’t releasing any new works. Rumor had it she was on a break, but many said she simply hadn’t found inspiration.

‘Ah, so she’s preparing to start creating again. I’d love to see it—a painting that captures the feeling of excitement.’

The profits from Pelanne Trading Company were invested in expensive wines and art pieces. The faceless painter Cortina’s works were so valuable they commanded premium prices, yet I collected them eagerly.

Just looking at them filled the emptiness in my heart, which was why I cherished them especially.

“Julietta, have you never had such moments? Moments or emotions you wished to remember forever?”

When she asked, several scenes immediately came to mind: the chaotic first night with Yezar, the time we sparred, or when we whispered together under the sound of rain, leaning on his shoulder.

After recalling them, I realized all the moments I wished to remember forever had happened with him.

“There are. Moments so precious I never want to ruin them.”

Looking ahead, I saw Yezar talking with Count Wyden. Yes. Every single moment with him was precious, and I wanted to end each one properly.

So that even when I recalled them again, they’d still feel just as precious.

“Julietta, you look rather sad.”

“Huh? No, not at all. I was just remembering something precious. There’s no reason to be sad.”

There was no reason to be sad. As the Marchioness said, if I hadn’t met him, I wouldn’t have experienced so many emotions, so many moments I’d never have known otherwise.

“Let’s go quickly, Sina.”

Smiling, I urged her forward. She nodded and didn’t press me further.

***

By the time we reached the training hall, Count Wyden had already stopped and turned.

“Duke Ferhaem, shall we begin warming up?”

With a sly grin, Count Wyden drew his sword, brimming with confidence. Watching Katrin shake her head as if unable to restrain him, it was clear this was his usual bold and self-assured nature.

With such massive, imposing muscles on display, his presence was undeniably intimidating.

“I’m ready. I’ve always wanted to spar with you, Count Wyden.”

“Hahahaha! Finally, someone who speaks my language! Katrin’s circle of husbands—how they all despise physical exertion. I thought I’d die of boredom.”

At this, the Countess Wyden, still shaking her head, turned to Yezar with a request.

“Duke Ferhaem, if Eric gets too excited and charges in, please knock him down and stop. He’s a muscle-brained fool who doesn’t know the meaning of restraint.”

“No, Katrin! This time I won’t cause an accident.”

Count Wyden protested, sounding aggrieved, but she merely scoffed.

“Eric, if I trusted you one more time, I’d be the fool.”

The other ladies, used to this, covered their mouths with fans and laughed. But the moment Yezar drew his sword, the playful atmosphere shifted instantly.

“Please take this seriously, Your Grace.”

“That’s exactly what I was about to ask of you, Count Wyden.”

Their blades clashed without a single breath between them. My heart pounded involuntarily.