“When did you get here?”

I worried whether Yezar had overheard our conversation from outside. We hadn’t spoken quietly—by the end, our voices had risen sharply.

If he’d arrived earlier, he might not have heard my voice, but he surely would have heard Bertisha’s.

Yet Yezar didn’t mention our conversation at all. Instead, his gaze remained fixed on my cheek.

“I just arrived. But madam, your cheek…?”

His hand touched the cheek Bertisha had struck. A faint shiver ran through me from the sting, and his expression darkened instantly.

‘He said he just arrived. So he couldn’t have heard us. That’s fortunate….’

Looking at Yezar examining my cheek, I could easily read his thoughts. I was standing in the Empress’s palace, and the only person I’d spoken with was Bertisha. Anyone with sense could deduce that she alone was responsible for my bruised cheek.

So I didn’t lie.

“Ahaha. Yes, I suppose it looks rather unsightly. I was disrespectful to Her Majesty the Empress, after all.”

“How could anyone lay a hand on you, regardless of what offense you committed?”

His voice carried a chilling edge. I flinched, startled by his intense reaction.

Yezar seemed to notice my unease and softened his tone.

“…Is Her Majesty inside?”

He looked ready to march in immediately, so I stopped him.

“I’m fine! Please, just go back.”

“That’s impossible. No matter who she is, not even Her Majesty has the right to strike my wife.”

Even though I insisted I was fine, why was he so stubborn? Arguing with Bertisha would only damage the fragile reconciliation I’d achieved with Camileo.

His actions made no sense. But before I could dwell on the confusion, I heard him telling the guards at the door to step aside.

Panicked, I shouted at him.

“It’s because Yezar doesn’t want to see another woman! Just go back to the Duchy!”

Ah. Honestly, it wasn’t as if I were some jealous lover spouting melodrama. Saying that, I felt my face flush involuntarily.

Then came Yezar’s dazed voice.

“Huh…?”

“If I’ve said this much, surely you understand. Let’s go… quickly!”

I turned my head, and he followed. I could feel the guards staring blankly at me, their eyes lingering on my reddened cheek.

I sighed inwardly.

***

“Ouch.”

The cold ice pressed against my swollen cheek made me gasp involuntarily. Yezar spoke, sounding distressed.

“Your cheek has swollen so badly already. Why did you shout such an embarrassing thing to stop me? You were blushing all over, too.”

“…I don’t know.”

I evaded the topic, pretending ignorance, and he let out a short sigh.

“Do you know how shocked the servants were when they saw you the moment we arrived at the Duchy?”

“….”

I didn’t answer. Of course I knew. Just an hour ago, I’d seen them—maids wailing, nearly frantic, demanding to know who had dared strike me so.

Seeing their tear-streaked faces, I began regretting my decision. Maybe I should’ve simply blocked Bertisha’s wrist after all.

In a small, meek voice, I replied.

“…Next time, I won’t deliberately take a hit for you.”

“You mean you did it on purpose?”

Ugh. He didn’t know that. I’d only made things worse. Immediately, Yezar launched into a storm of scolding. Usually, it was me nagging him, finding his actions frustrating.

Now the roles had reversed. After enduring his lecture for a long while, I was completely drained and finally replied.

“I was wrong… I’ll take better care of myself.”

“That’s what I wanted to hear.”

Soon, the ice pack, half-melted into water, was removed from my cheek. He stood and walked toward the door, apparently going to replace it with a fresh one. The door opened, and I heard him speaking with the maids.

“You could’ve just asked the maids to do this.”

I muttered it to myself, but he must’ve heard, because he answered as he returned.

“This is something I must do. This happened while I was away talking. It’s entirely my responsibility.”

“What are you saying! It’s not your fault at all.”

“I believe it is my fault for failing to stop you when you deliberately offered your cheek.”

“Ugh.”

There was nothing I could say to that. I looked away, feigning repentance, when he spoke to me again.

His voice was softer and quieter than usual, gently resonating in my ears.

“Madam, you don’t need to meet Her Majesty the Empress for my sake. Especially not if it means getting hurt like this.”

His voice sounded almost pleading. I turned to look at him.

He wore a sad smile—as if asking why I would go so far for him.

Looking at his sorrowful expression, I finally found the courage to ask something I’d long hesitated to.

“Yezar… did you hear the conversation I had with Her Majesty…?”

He was silent for a moment in response to my cautious question. Then, he nodded slowly.

“Yes. I heard it.”

“Could you… tell me how much you heard?”

“I heard the part where you said Her Majesty’s words hurt you.”

‘The claim that we aren’t a real couple, calling me by my maiden name, saying my husband loved Her Majesty—those words hurt me, Your Majesty.’

He’d heard from that point onward. Still, I was relieved. At least he hadn’t heard the beginning—the part where Bertisha cruelly probed his feelings.

Even so, he could surely infer the context: that Bertisha had known of his affection for me, and had pretended not to notice. Perhaps he even realized she had used his feelings for her own purposes.

‘I was so careful because I didn’t want to see Yezar hurt.’

I didn’t want the traces Bertisha left behind to become wounds in his heart. That would be no different than him still being entangled with her.

Carefully, I reached out and took his hand.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve told you earlier… I wasn’t trying to hide it.”

“I understand why you didn’t tell me. You were afraid I’d be hurt. Afraid I’d suffer again because of her.”

“Yes…”

‘If I lift my head and meet Yezar’s eyes, I’ll see the pain in his face.’

Seeing him still bound by the remnants of Bertisha, my heart would tear apart just the same. His head remained lowered, refusing to rise.

“Madam, please lift your head.”

“I’m sorry…”

“Please look at me.”

“But I… I don’t have the courage to face the pained look on your face. I always promised myself I’d protect you from pain, that I’d make you happy.”

Self-reproach spilled from my lips. Then, silently, he brought my hand to his cheek. Slowly, my fingertips brushed his eyes, traced his cheek, and moved downward.

“Yezar…?”

Surprised by his action, I lifted my head slightly—only for it to be pulled firmly toward him. His arm wrapped around my waist, drawing me close. Off-balance, I fell into his embrace.

His voice reached me from just inches away.

“Your heart, enduring such humiliating words just to protect me from Her Majesty, is so warm. The one who should be sorry is me, Julietta.”

He whispered like a man confessing his sins.

“I loved someone who didn’t value my heart. Because of that, I hurt the people around me. Worse, I allowed you to endure those humiliating words. I am truly a useless husband. I’m sorry. Truly sorry.”

His words pierced my heart. My hand gently patted his back.

“I’m fine. Don’t apologize. Love is like that, isn’t it? It’s painful, it’s hard—but because you hold that feeling, you want to do anything for them, you wish for their happiness… you can’t help but be swept along.”

Could there be guilt in loving? He, offering a heart as pure and clear as a lake with a visible bottom, was breathtakingly beautiful.

“I’ll stay right here with you. Until your heart feels better. Just like you stayed by my side on that rainy night.”

I felt his arms tighten around me. Our bodies pressed close, inseparable. His warmth enveloped me.

“You’re such a warm person. To stay by the side of someone as foolish as me…”

His weak voice made me smile.

“Pfft. Hahaha. Foolish? No way. Yezar is honest, wise, thoughtful, and kind. That’s exactly why I wanted to protect you. That’s why I willingly spoke with Her Majesty—to keep you from getting hurt.”

And because I liked him. That unavoidable feeling was what moved me.