I rolled the word Camileo had specifically mentioned around in my mouth.

‘Jealousy, did he say jealousy?’

Leaving Camileo laughing to himself, I turned to Yezar with a question, my voice tinged with playful amusement.

“Were you really jealous?”

He covered his face with his hand as he replied.

“……Well, what husband would enjoy his wife being alone with another man?”

The word “wife” sounded pleasant to my ears. I shouldn’t be smiling, yet why did my heart flutter so, craving to hear it again?

“Pfft. Of course His Majesty the Emperor wouldn’t call only for me. There’s no reason for the two of us to admire paintings together anyway. Isn’t that right?”

Camileo, still chuckling, nodded amicably.

“The Duchess is correct. Why would I summon the Duchess separately?”

Only then did Yezar fall silent, realizing he had misunderstood. Camileo’s eyes sparkled as Yezar’s face gradually turned red.

“This will be lifelong ammunition. Yezar.”

Camileo looked delighted, as if he had just seized an embarrassing secret from his close friend that he could bring up for years at banquets.

“Please be quiet, His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Oh? Now you’re going to start formalities again?”

His tone was clearly teasing. Yezar responded without backing down.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Can’t I even know about one little embarrassing mistake from my otherwise perfect friend?”

“May I draw my sword?”

“Wouldn’t that be treason?”

Yezar’s irritation in front of Camileo, who was gleefully provoking him, looked oddly different. The intimacy woven into their banter was vividly clear before my eyes.

‘I envy them. They’ve shared moments I could never partake in.’

During those times, when I wasn’t even allowed to intrude, they must have spent brilliant moments together. And within those moments was Yezar, who once loved Bertisha.

‘Wow. Just imagining it made me feel terrible.’

A dark emotion I had forcefully suppressed surged up. Yes, this wasn’t jealousy over crossing the line between husband and wife—it was a greedy jealousy, a desire for all of his emotions to belong solely to me.

‘When did I become such a selfish person?’

I saw Yezar arguing with Camileo. His slightly curt demeanor, unlike his usual self, caught my attention.

In front of a close friend, Yezar didn’t force himself to appear strong or pretend to be fine. He simply seemed as natural and relaxed as if exhaling a breath.

That sight eased my heart, enough to push down the rising emotions and make me smile.

Perhaps now was the time for me to step back. I gently shook the hand he had held.

Yezar’s eyes turned toward me. I responded with a bright smile.

“Yezar, I’ll take my leave now. You stay and talk with His Majesty the Emperor.”

“No, my lady. I’m sorry for neglecting you while conversing with His Majesty.”

His immediate apology made me sigh deeply.

‘I’m not angry. Really, this man only thinks about how to take care of me…!’

Frustrated, I let go of his hand and pushed his back.

“M-My lady?”

“I’m not angry! I’m deliberately stepping aside. I know you two have things to discuss.”

“But….”

Why hesitate so much? Doesn’t he realize that worrying about me is what actually makes me more anxious?

“If there’s a misunderstanding, it’s best resolved slowly through conversation. Without anyone intruding. It’s precious friendship, after all.”

At my words, Yezar nodded. Camileo watched us with a faint smile.

I bowed respectfully before the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, if it’s not an inconvenience, may I step out and wait until Your Majesty and my husband have finished speaking?”

“Granted. My dear friend’s devoted Duchess.”

What was that strange description? I thought to myself, yet obediently bowed and exited the audience chamber.

***

The moment the door clicked shut, I leaned against the palace corridor wall.

‘Phew. Now where should I go? Will someone guide me to a place where imperial servants can rest?’

If I stayed here, I’d surely run into my eldest brother, who worked in the palace. Just as that awkward thought surfaced, I heard footsteps approaching from a distance. A vaguely familiar face came into view.

As the distance closed, the approaching person’s expression subtly twisted.

An irritable voice lashed out at me.

“Duchess Ferhaem, why are you standing before the audience chamber? Today’s appointment was only for Yezar… the Duke Ferhaem.”

Bertisha? Why was Bertisha here? The palace servants had told me she wasn’t feeling well and was resting in the Empress’s quarters.

Bertisha frowned at my silence, then let out a short sigh.

“Hah. Never mind. The Duke must have brought you along when he came to the palace.”

Her voice carried reluctant irritation. But something felt off. She had come here on purpose, hadn’t she? Had she not heard that I was coming?

But Camileo surely wouldn’t have failed to inform her.

“Move aside. I need to go in.”

‘No! They must be having an honest, open conversation right now. If Bertisha interrupts, the mood will be ruined.’

Instinctively, I stepped forward, blocking her path. Bertisha immediately adopted a cold, domineering stance.

“Duchess, didn’t you hear me? I said move.”

“I apologize for the late greeting, Your Majesty the Empress. However, His Majesty the Emperor has expressly ordered that no one enter while he speaks with my husband.”

At the mention of Camileo’s name, Bertisha froze. Her icy gaze swept over me, assessing whether I spoke the truth.

‘He didn’t actually say that, but stopping Bertisha is my top priority now.’

“How can I believe that? His Majesty the Emperor wouldn’t have allowed an uninvited duchess into the chamber.”

“Your Majesty the Empress, I don’t know what misunderstanding you have, but I was formally summoned by His Majesty the Emperor himself. Did he not inform you of this?”

I asked, though doubt crept in. Camileo was truthful with Bertisha and kept nothing hidden. Yet, at my question, Bertisha’s pupils trembled as if shattering.

Her lips, pressed tightly together, tried to hide their quiver.

‘Could it be… truly? But why?’

Before I could dwell on the thought, she forced out a lie.

“He did tell me. Why would he have any reason to hide anything from me?”

She concealed the rising tide of anxiety and unease before me, insisting Camileo had never kept secrets from her.

For a moment, a hairline crack appeared in what I had believed to be a perfect relationship.

“In that case, you’ll believe me when I say it’s true.”

Like stepping into her own trap, Bertisha’s lips twisted. It was a familiar yet strange expression.

I paused, wondering why—then realized it was because this wasn’t a place where only Bertisha and I were present.

‘How odd. Bertisha only ever revealed her true self when we were alone. Yet now, even though we aren’t truly alone, she isn’t even trying to hide her displeasure?’

I wondered what had set her nerves so on edge. After a brief pause, staring at the reception room door, Bertisha put on her usual gentle expression and spoke to me.

Her sharp voice instantly softened, like tangled silk unraveling.

“I’m sorry, Duchess. Of course you wouldn’t lie to me. Lately, my emotions have been unstable due to my rapidly growing fetus. As an apology, would you care to join me for a cup of tea?”

She spoke as if she had never once issued me a cold dismissal during the last invitation. But I couldn’t refuse.

It was better to accept her inexplicable invitation than to let her enter the audience chamber and spoil the atmosphere between Camileo and Yezar. Dealing with her myself was the safer choice.

“It would be an honor, Your Majesty the Empress.”

I replied, mimicking her sickly-sweet expression. Her eyes trembled slightly. She clenched her fist tightly, as if suppressing anger, then smiled.

“The honor is mine. Conversing with the Duchess Ferhaem is always a pleasure.”

But her eyes weren’t smiling at all.

***

The same place as before. Only a short time had passed. Yet the Bertisha before me now seemed to have lost all composure.

No sooner had we been alone than she lashed out with sharp words.

“The Duchess Ferhaem finds rudeness as natural as breathing.”

“I don’t understand what you mean, Your Majesty the Empress.”

“…Was I too subtle? I meant—do you torment me out of hatred because Yezar, your husband, once loved me? Orbetian Lady.”

No longer hiding her thorns, Bertisha didn’t address me by my title as Duchess Ferhaem.

Orbetian Lady. She called me by that name, unused since my marriage, as a provocation.

“My surname is no longer Orbetian, Your Majesty the Empress.”

She scoffed and locked eyes with me directly.

“Why, don’t you like that title? After all, you aren’t truly husband and wife anyway.”