‘I was deliberately steering the conversation elsewhere. Seems like I got caught.’

“Really, nothing happened…”

While subtly avoiding Yezar Ferhaem’s gaze, he let out a sigh at my words.

“Then why are you avoiding my eyes? I can tell whether what you’re saying is a lie or the truth.”

I knew. But there were truths I couldn’t tell him.

‘If I told him, he’d be sad. I don’t want to see Yezar swayed by Bertisha anymore.’

So I confessed only part of the truth to him.

“I did have a quarrel with Her Majesty the Empress, but I was also rude, so I’ll let it slide.”

The hand that was rubbing my cheek then brushed near my eyes.

“…What reason would you have to be rude to Her Majesty the Empress? It must be that Her Majesty did something rude to you. Don’t respond to her summons anymore.”

His firm assertion that I couldn’t have done anything wrong put my heart at ease. It meant that Yezar trusted me more than Bertisha right now.

‘Thinking that way… it’s kind of embarrassing…’

I tried to calm my flushing cheeks and playfully complained.

“How can I do that? She’s Her Majesty the Empress.”

“I’ll take responsibility for everything. You don’t have to respond.”

His words, urging me to trust him, made me chuckle. It felt like everything would be okay as long as I was with him.

“Okay, got it. Oh, by the way, I saw His Majesty the Emperor on my way out.”

“You met Camileo?”

Surprised by his question, I recounted the details of what happened.

“Yes. He asked me to check with you if he did anything wrong. He mentioned a letter asking to talk.”

“What did you say?”

I smiled brightly and chattered to him.

“Of course, I said I couldn’t tell him. You don’t want to share the details with His Majesty the Emperor, do you?”

Yezar nodded. Seeing his darkened expression, my heart ached.

‘…The situation was really bad. Some were chosen, while others suffered in silence, unable to express their feelings.’

I wished Camileo had noticed Yezar’s feelings sooner.

“But I told him it wasn’t His Majesty’s fault. He seemed really worried.”

Bertisha’s cautious inquiry about Yezar’s well-being showed the face of a friend who cared for him. So, my simple wish was that their friendship wouldn’t crack.

I felt a bit guilty for having unfairly judged Camileo as a bad person who didn’t care about Yezar’s feelings, lumping him together with Bertisha.

“His Majesty asked how you’re doing. He was so careful. I could tell right away that you’re close friends.”

Yezar listened quietly to my words. I gently patted his head, as if to say not to worry, and answered brightly with a playful smile he liked.

“Just as you’re precious to me, seeing His Majesty cherish you as a dear friend made me happy. So don’t worry. You’ll be able to go back to being close friends.”

Soon, Yezar cautiously asked me.

“If I said I wanted to be held tightly in your arms right now, would you mind?”

Of course I wouldn’t mind. He always offered his embrace when I needed it. Thanks to Yezar, I wasn’t afraid of stormy nights and could fill the loneliness in my heart.

I hugged him tightly. Our size difference made it feel like I was the one in his arms, but what did it matter?

Patting Yezar’s back, I hoped my embrace would bring him some comfort.

“You’re a duke, yet so tender-hearted. I’m worried about you. I’ll have to hold you tight tonight.”

At my playful words, he laughed. His clear, pure laughter made my heart race.

‘I love it when Yezar laughs. I hope he keeps smiling.’

Even if I were just a passing presence in his life, I desperately wished for him to smile happily in every moment we shared.

“What if morning comes while we’re like this?”

His lips were close to my ear. His whispering voice was lower than usual.

‘Is it because it’s night? It sounds so seductive.’

That couldn’t be right.

“I might end up showing you something you shouldn’t see.”

His breath tickled my ear. The heat of our closely pressed bodies felt intense.

“…Th-then, let’s put some distance—”

As I squirmed to break free, realizing something, he locked eyes with me. Yezar’s eyes curved into crescents, and his upturned lips and gazing eyes were strangely captivating.

‘A devil must have possessed him! Julietta, get a grip!’

I tried my best to stay rational, but he pulled me back into his arms tightly.

“You said you’d hold me tight tonight. Besides, our date is coming up soon, isn’t it? Getting used to being close doesn’t seem like a bad idea, my lady.”

‘Is that so? Maybe…?’

The loud thumping of my heart made it hard to think rationally. As his lips pressed against my cheek, I couldn’t think anymore.

“Yezar, that, that tickles…!”

I barely managed to squeak out with a flushed face, and he laughed.

“Sorry, my lady. I’ll stop teasing you. Good night.”

With a goodnight, Yezar closed his eyes. I couldn’t escape his embrace any longer.

My hands and toes tingled. Afraid he’d hear my racing heart, I tried to focus on clear, pure thoughts and drifted off to sleep. What a heart-pounding night.

Thankfully, Bertisha didn’t send me any letters after that.

‘She’s probably pregnant, so she must know meeting me wouldn’t do any good.’

Thinking of her made me angry and uncomfortable, and remembering the tough time Yezar must have gone through made me sad.

‘Let’s forget the bad stuff. Tomorrow is Cortina’s art exhibition, right?’

Since I was the one who suggested to Yezar that we go see the paintings for our date, I wanted to be fully prepared to spend time with him.

‘I hope nothing like the last festival happens. Making the front page of the newspaper again… well, it was fun, though.’

I chuckled, recalling the last festival. Disguised and pretending to be newlyweds, we had such a great time. I even got soaked by water from a fountain because I didn’t know better.

Even so, I laughed heartily, feeling exhilarated.

‘I wonder what will happen this time. I hope it’s fun.’

Since Sina sent a letter asking me to share my thoughts on the exhibition, she must be a sweet person. Asking me to share my impressions of her paintings.

She probably doesn’t know that I know who she is. That’s why she said that, right?

Just a few months ago, I couldn’t have imagined so many joyful moments. The days when I stared out the window alone felt like a distant past.

Just then, Ember happily handed me a letter.

“My lady, look at this! Valentino Orbetian sent you a letter!”

“My big brother sent me a letter?”

I thought he’d forgotten since he hadn’t said anything since then.

I opened the letter. It said there seemed to be some misunderstanding and proposed meeting for the first time.

But it went on to say he was too busy with work to meet right now and asked for my understanding, which brought out a resigned smile, so familiar.

‘Brother Valentino…’

I saw his face more often than Father’s, didn’t I?

‘How did I put up with this treatment all this time…?’

All I ever got from trying not to be greedy was the sight of their backs.

If this wasn’t one-sided love, what was? I didn’t want to do that kind of love anymore. Having received love from someone who makes time to talk, communicate, and be there in tough moments, I didn’t want this lonely, painful kind of love anymore.

I sent Ember away with a smile and wrote a short reply to the letter.

— Sorry, big brother. I’m too busy to meet right now. I hope you and Father are doing well.

As I pressed down hard while writing the reply, I thought to myself. Even when this contract marriage ends, I won’t return to the Orbetian estate.

I didn’t want to hurt my heart anymore.

“Am I okay?”

As I checked myself in the mirror and asked the maids, they showered me with compliments.

“You look like the goddess of beauty, my lady!”

“Could it be that your name actually starts with Beau, Ti, Ful?”

“If all the men only look at you, what if the duke gets jealous?”

‘These girls have gotten so dramatic… Should I be happy or not?’

The main culprit behind all this fuss, Lopi, was smiling proudly. I couldn’t help but let out a wry laugh.

But soon, I was pushed forward without time to laugh. My radiant contract husband was waiting for me, as dazzling as ever.

“My lady, shall we go?”

Feeling his aura practically glowing, I naturally took his outstretched hand.

“Yes, Yezar.”

I didn’t expect him to kiss my cheek in front of all the servants before we got into the carriage, though. As I touched the cheek where his lips had landed with a smacking sound, I looked at him in surprise.

Yezar smiled playfully and said to me.

“I hope you’ll get used to this in front of others too. We’ve had enough practice, haven’t we, my lady?”