Even if I tried not to be tense, his touch awakened my body’s senses with sharp clarity.

“Well, I just washed it, so…”

“Yes, that’s true.”

Yezar’s voice carried a hint of amusement. In the mirror, I saw him carefully drying my hair with a towel, gently rubbing it.

Soon, his diligent hands paused briefly. His face dipped slightly toward my pale nape.

“This is today’s practice, my lady.”

“Oh, yes… practice.”

I nodded indifferently, trying not to delude myself alone again. Like a single star shining in the dark night slowly forming a constellation, his movements ascended gradually. One, two, three, four…

Like a butterfly settling on a flower, savoring its nectar, his motions were unhurried and slow. That made it even more overwhelming.

‘Ah, it tickles.’

His movement passed over my soft cheek and ended at my lips. The towel used to dry my hair slipped quietly to the floor. We shared breath, embracing the gentle sensation.

Knock, knock. A sound came from the door. Startled like someone caught in the act, I pushed him away.

“My lady, I found what you left behind. May I come in?”

‘Gosh, what a surprise! It’s Lopi.’

Calmly settling my racing heart, I composed my voice.

“Come in.”

Then Lopi entered with a cheerful expression and spotted Yezar standing behind me. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand, looking apologetic.

“Oh, the Duke is here too. I’m sorry. This time, I really lacked awareness. I’ll just leave this here!”

She placed a comb on the dressing table and turned away without hesitation.

“Please continue what you were doing.”

With a playful wink, she left brightly. Thud—the door closed, leaving only the two of us alone. An awkward silence lingered briefly in the air.

‘Lopi, there’s no way we could’ve continued anyway—!’

Fanning my flushed face with my hand, I tried to cool down. Then Yezar burst into laughter.

“Hah… It hurts, my lady. I was pushed away.”

It was a ridiculous exaggeration. Chuckling, I teased him back.

“I only gently pushed you.”

“No, not at all. You pushed me away quite forcefully.”

“Then should I pull you back into my arms? Would that heal your wounded heart?”

I opened my arms as if truly about to embrace him tightly.

“Would you really do that for me?”

He met my gaze seriously, as if about to step right into my arms. My bold voice somehow softened a little.

“…If you wish.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Closing his eyes gently, he stepped into my open arms. Because he was such a large man, he had to fold himself somewhat awkwardly, and I couldn’t help but burst into a soft laugh.

“Won’t you finish drying my hair? I might catch a cold.”

At my slightly petulant reminder, he picked up another fluffy, dry towel to replace the one that had slipped.

“You mustn’t catch a cold, my lady. I shall promptly return to my duties.”

***

My hair, once damp, was now fully dry, and as the day’s heat faded, I leaned into the soft bed. Sleepiness began to wash over me gently.

Fragments of our light conversation while drying my hair drifted through my mind as my eyes grew heavy. The man lying beside me wrapped an arm around my waist.

The strong build of a grown man, felt through the fabric of our clothes, still sometimes felt unfamiliar.

‘I really should get used to it by now.’

Drowsy thoughts like this floated through my mind as I began surrendering to sweet sleep. But I sensed he was looking at me, as if he had something to say.

Blinking slowly, I asked.

“Yezar, do you have something you want to tell me…? If so, please say it now. I’m sleepy. I’d like to hear it before I fall asleep… I don’t want to miss it.”

Then he carefully asked me.

“My lady, I know it may not be convenient, but could you accompany me to the Imperial Palace?”

“The Imperial Palace…?”

Why the Imperial Palace…? Bertisha’s face immediately came to mind, but it didn’t seem like she had summoned me.

“Yes, I’ve been exchanging letters with His Majesty the Emperor, and he asked me to bring you along as well.”

“Hmm… Why would he want that…?”

Wouldn’t I just be in the way of their conversation? Still, sending Yezar to the palace alone made me uneasy.

Maybe it’s better to go together. My thoughts felt sluggish, probably from sleepiness.

“…Perhaps he thinks of you as my secret lover, someone I’ve been hiding away. He used to insist that there should be no secrets between friends. I think he wants to formally meet you.”

Yezar’s voice carried a hint of excitement. Thinking back, not long after our wedding, Yezar had been the kind of man who pushed even Camileo away.

But now, he spoke with warmth and affection about his old friend.

That was truly fortunate. It meant the lingering shadows around him had faded significantly.

“To be formally introduced… That feels a little embarrassing.”

My drowsy voice drifted slowly toward Yezar.

“If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll let His Majesty know in advance.”

I liked that he immediately stepped back, concerned about my comfort. Carefully, I took the hand Yezar had wrapped around my waist and placed it against my cheek. He used to hate the sticky feeling of skin touching in summer.

So why does being close to Yezar feel so good?

“It’s fine… You’re by my side, after all.”

Smiling faintly, I tried to send my exhausted mind into dreams. Through my half-open, fluttering eyes, I felt his face drawing closer.

A gentle peck brushed my cheek. I had neither the strength nor the will to push him away. In the deep, shadowy darkness of the night, soft touches came and went.

His lips traced down my smooth neck. How far would he go? Heat flared across my body.

“Ah…”

A languid breath escaped toward him. Soon, the heat gradually subsided, and Yezar carefully pulled me into his arms.

“Yes, my lady is by my side.”

Faintly, the rustling of grass swaying in the wind could be heard.

***

‘I never thought I’d visit the Imperial Palace this often.’

Right now, I was riding in a carriage with Yezar, heading to the Imperial Palace at Camileo’s request.

Back when I was secluded in the Orbetian Count’s mansion, I hadn’t even imagined getting involved with the main characters of the original story. How had things turned out this way? Once again, I realized how unpredictable a person’s future could be.

“My lady. If, by any chance, I need to speak privately with His Majesty, please don’t go elsewhere. Just wait for me.”

He was clearly worried about me being alone.

“Don’t worry! Nothing like that will happen.”

Especially after meeting Bertisha earlier, I’d gotten lost and ran into my eldest brother. Right now, I was ignoring all messages from him, so I had no intention of running into him again.

“Still, one can never be sure. Her Majesty the Empress is here, and Valentino Young, who serves in the Emperor’s palace, might appear too. I don’t want the woman I brought here out of my own stubbornness to face any discomfort.”

Yezar already knew that my eldest brother had once come to the ducal residence. He also naturally knew that I kept the letters from my eldest brother unread in my study, though he never pressed me for details.

It was his way of showing consideration. And yet, how could this journey be called stubbornness on his part?

“No, not at all. It’s not stubbornness. I want to walk the same path Yezar walks. Have a good talk with His Majesty today. You’re old friends, after all.”

Smiling, I placed my hand over his on the back of his hand, and he smiled back at me.

***

Before meeting Camileo, I heard from the imperial servants that Bertisha wasn’t feeling well and was resting in her own palace.

Since it seemed unlikely we’d run into her by chance, I breathed a sigh of relief. Earlier worries about possibly meeting my eldest brother proved unfounded—he wasn’t even a shadow here.

“His Majesty the Emperor is waiting for Duke Ferhaem and the Duchess in the audience chamber.”

Following the kind servant’s guidance, we headed toward the audience chamber. Upon arrival, the servant announced our presence. After a short wait, the tightly closed door slowly opened.

“Enter. I’ve been waiting.”

The voice was majestic, yet the warmth and pleasure beneath it were unmistakable. Walking across the long, stretched carpet, we approached the Emperor seated on the throne at the far end of the room.

A glance at Yezar’s face revealed both tension and a nostalgic smile.

“The eternal glory of the Empire. I greet Your Majesty.”

“Do we really need such formalities between us? It’s been a long time, Yezar.”

Camileo greeted Yezar warmly first. In turn, Yezar responded more casually.

“Still, manners must be observed. We stand before His Majesty, after all.”

Surprisingly, they conversed easily, as if they’d never had an awkward phase.

‘I should probably slip away quietly when the timing’s right.’

As a third party, staying too long would only interfere with their honest conversation. But then Camileo, who had been warmly greeting Yezar, turned his gaze to me.

“I’ve met the Duchess before. It was a pleasure discussing impressions of the painter Cortina’s artwork. I’ve often thought of that moment.”

“It’s an honor.”

“If you’re interested, I could show you more of Cortina’s paintings in the royal collection. That is, if you’d like.”

My eyes sparkled at the tempting offer. But quietly, Yezar took my hand and pulled me gently toward himself.

“Yezar?”

“Thank you for the kind offer, but the lady and I recently attended an exhibition of the painter Cortina together. At that time, she enjoyed sharing her thoughts with me, Camileo.”

Confused by the sudden turn, I tilted my head. Unable to hold back, Camileo burst into loud laughter.

“Hahahaha! I never thought I’d see my friend jealous.”