Still, it wasn’t even the period of pregnancy stability yet. I couldn’t understand why she had sent me a letter—especially on a day when the news of her conception was making such a fuss.

Though it felt unpleasant, I couldn’t simply ignore it, so I opened the letter.

Inside was a greeting saying it had been a while, followed by her desire to talk with me. She expressed concern that everyone should be cautious during this delicate time, but confessed she had no peer to honestly confide in, and thus found it difficult.

I read the letter to the end, yet understood nothing at all.

Neither her calling me, someone she wasn’t close to, during a time when she should be cautious due to pregnancy, nor her lies—everything felt like a trap laid out for me.

‘Everyone knows about her conception, so even if we meet, I can’t raise my voice or show displeasure. And then I’ll have to listen to her reminisce about her past with Yezar again. Can I endure that?’

The thought of meeting her brought me stress.

‘If Bertisha’s goal is to torment me, she’s already halfway successful. Haa.’

I let out a deep sigh and wrote back, offering congratulations on her conception and asking her to let me know a convenient day to meet. But I also added that the imperial family would likely oppose her summoning me at a time when pregnancy stability wasn’t even required.

Still, if she insisted on calling me, this was better than leaving it blank.

After finishing the letter, I rushed to the training grounds. My morning duties were complete. I wanted to shake off this unpleasant feeling by swinging my sword.

Coincidentally, the knights were training, and they greeted me warmly at first. But once they saw me fiercely destroy all the wooden dummies, they sensed my mood and quietly moved far away.

I faintly overheard them speculating whether I had quarreled with Yezar.

‘As if that could happen. Yezar and I get along too well—it’s almost a problem.’

I kept forgetting it was a contractual marriage, and feared I might accidentally cross a line.

After warming up a bit, my entire body was soaked in sweat.

Perhaps because the weather was getting hotter, it felt more humid and warmer than a mild spring, making my body feel feverish.

I returned my sword to its sheath. I felt a bit regretful. If I had my own sword, I could have shaken off this mood more thoroughly.

Just as I decided to leave and not frighten the knights further, a cold wet cloth gently covered my head. I could immediately feel the heat throughout my body subside.

“Ah. That’s incredibly refreshing.”

“I’m glad. But was something troubling you today? Your mind seemed more distracted than usual while handling the sword.”

Yezar approached with gentle concern. How did he know my thoughts were so cluttered?

“Just feeling a bit off today, that’s all.”

“Are you sure it’s only that? When we return to the bedroom later, please tell me in detail, my lady.”

Since this wasn’t the place to talk about such matters with knights around who didn’t know our circumstances, I simply nodded.

***

After finishing all my duties and returning to the bedroom, I realized my bad mood wasn’t only because of Bertisha—it was also due to my menstruation.

‘Troublesome…’

I didn’t want to talk with Yezar in such a tense state. Of course, since we shared the same bed every night, naturally he had come to know when my menstruation occurred.

I remembered how, at first, he had panicked and worriedly asked if I was injured, then blushed deeply and apologized after hearing my explanation.

After that, he discreetly asked the maids about various things, and now he proactively brought me warm towels and took care of me.

He would probably do the same tonight. Rather than listening to my words, he’d likely focus all his attention on my physical condition.

While I was waiting for his arrival, the door opened and Yezar walked in holding a sword I had never seen before.

“I’m sorry. I was delayed because I brought this.”

I noticed the silhouette of a sword thinner and longer than the one he usually used.

“Oh. Yezar, did you buy a new sword?”

“No. This isn’t mine. I bought this sword for you, my lady.”

“Heavens. A sword for me?”

I tried to move closer to see it, but a sharp pain shot through my waist, making me grimace.

“Are you all right, my lady?”

“Ah, it’s… my menstruation has started. I’m not feeling well.”

“I’ll bring a warm towel right away.”

Seeing him about to rush out, I stopped him.

“It’s fine! I already asked the maids to bring one. Instead, could you bring the sword over to me?”

On the first day, my back or abdomen always hurt, so I was used to it. Right now, I wanted to see the sword he had bought for me.

“Here it is.”

I drew the sword from its scabbard. Under the light, the slender blade shimmered sharply. I stared at it, almost entranced.

“It’s beautiful…”

I couldn’t swing it in the bedroom, but the sword felt light in hand, yet substantial when moving—perfect for me. How could Yezar know exactly the kind of sword I wanted?

“This is exactly the sword I’ve always wanted. It’s amazing. How did you find it?”

The sword felt as if it had been made just for me. As I held it, Yezar spoke.

“Actually, this sword once belonged to Lady Julietta’s mother.”

“What?”

This was Mother’s sword?

“Yes. Originally, I intended to buy a different sword for you, but I thought you might like this one more. Father had released Mother’s sword into circulation, so it took time to locate. I wanted to get it sooner. I’m sorry it arrived late.”

Now I understood why it felt so perfectly suited to me. It was because this had been Julietta’s mother’s sword.

Certainly, Julietta had almost no memories or conversations with her mother, who had been bedridden.

Yet she had inherited all her mother’s talents. And even this feeling of the sword fitting me like a part of myself stirred something deep within my chest.

“…Thank you. Truly.”

Sliding the sword back into its scabbard, I gently traced the finely carved hilt. For a fleeting moment, I glimpsed a family life I had thought impossible.

The image of Julietta proudly stepping forward, inheriting her mother’s sword and aspiring to become a knight—was dazzlingly radiant.

“I’ve never imagined receiving such a gift. It’s strange. I don’t have a single memory of my mother, yet touching this sword makes my heart flutter.”

An indescribable emotion overwhelmed me. But one thing was certain—this sword would become incomparably precious to me.

“That’s possible. Some emotions are beyond words.”

I buried myself in his arms. Without realizing it, tears streamed endlessly down my face. What if Julietta’s mother hadn’t been ill? If her condition hadn’t been so severe that she could only lie in bed, but had been well enough to simply build memories with her child—then perhaps my tears now would be pure, wholehearted longing.

The emotions lingering within me from Julietta kept stirring confusion. Though I had never felt affection, the more I touched the sword, the more I regretted not speaking more to her, not listening more to her stories.

“I should have tried to talk more… I shouldn’t have thought it boring that she never played with me, always lying in bed…”

Even in her pain, she had made a beautiful doll for Julietta. Yes. On the night her mother passed away, when no one welcomed Julietta and she had to face the thunder alone—that doll from her mother had stayed by Julietta’s side.

In truth, she must have loved Julietta deeply. Why had I only realized this now?

“I should have tried harder to love my mother. If I had… then I wouldn’t regret it like this.”

“My lady, you were just a child. You were someone who needed care, who needed love. So please don’t blame yourself.”

His voice gently soothed me. The more he comforted me, the more I clung to him.

“Really? Can someone like me—someone who consumed my mother, who made everyone grieve—really deserve such comfort?”

At some point, Julietta’s heart had flowed into me, as if we had merged. Was it unbearable to endure myself—someone who had taken her brilliant light and all her talents, leaving nothing behind?

“Who told you such a thing? Your mother would never think that way. Who needs qualifications to receive comfort?”

“But… I thought family love could never be mine.”

Julietta believed that everyone turned away from her because she had ‘consumed’ her mother. I, from the beginning, thought family love was never meant for me, so I tried not to desire it.

But now I knew that wasn’t true. Julietta and I both longed for someone’s love. We simply needed someone to lean on.

“I kept thinking this way—that if I couldn’t receive it, there was nothing I could do.”

But here, everyone told me it was all right to desire, that it was okay. How deeply grateful I was for those words. Even though I couldn’t fully reveal my inner thoughts, my heart warmed endlessly from his comfort.

“You are the precious daughter who inherited your mother’s remarkable talents. So please, don’t hurt yourself with such harsh words. It pains me deeply to see you suffer.”

Still, in front of Yezar, I could lay bare everything. In front of someone who wept for me as if it were his own pain, pleading with me.

Both Julietta and I could finally receive comfort.

“…I’ll try not to think that way anymore. So please, smile for me, Yezar.”

Yezar didn’t know how his smile, how the tenderness he offered me, changed me so deeply. I could no longer hold back. My feelings poured out. I could no longer deny it. I had reached my limit.

‘I love you, Yezar.’