“Not at all! I’m so happy you came.”

Her bright, smiling face was truly lively. The Marchioness of Stemun seemed to have an even more vibrant personality than expected.

‘Even before, when I saw her paintings, they had an interesting feel.’

There was a time when I briefly collected artworks due to having nothing to do at home. Unlike the rigid paintings of existing artists, her paintings had a unique charm. The brushstrokes were extremely delicate, and the depictions were so realistic they seemed to breathe life.

She skillfully utilized the contrast of light and darkness, and rather than the refined beauty pursued in noble and lofty art, the radiance of colors expressed with bright hues greatly captivated the eye.

“The others will arrive slowly. It was originally a tea time held with a small number of close friends.”

“Is it alright for me to be here?”

It seemed like a gathering held among closer relationships than I had thought. Of course, it was good news for me, who came with the purpose of building a friendship with her, but I was cautious.

“Of course it’s fine. If not me, you would have had to accept Countess Yekert’s tea time invitation, right? Ah, no. Since the Countess and I are not on good terms, perhaps you would have accepted her tea time after mine?”

When I flinched unknowingly, feeling caught off guard, she laughed as if she knew everything.

“If you had gone there from the beginning, you would have had a rough time, young lady. Moreover, you’re Lady Orbetian who has never participated in social activities.”

I didn’t know she was aware of me.

“You knew about me?”

“Of course I know. The world has been abuzz with gossip. Many people are curious about the love story of His Grace the Duke of Perhaem and the Duchess. Whether with pure intentions or not.”

I had roughly expected it. Wasn’t Yezar the number one prospective husband among noble ladies? But suddenly, he marries some eccentric lady from a count’s family who had been living in seclusion.

There were definitely people who would seek to criticize.

Still, Yezar would cleanly handle things to a certain extent… but even that had limits.

“I’m on the side that wants to hear the love story with pure intentions. Come, sit. I like fresh love stories the best. Like mine and his.”

Somehow, my heart felt at ease seeing the Marchioness’s face, blushing like a young girl and smiling as if just imagining it made her happy. I had definitely come to create high-class connections. But I simply enjoyed the conversation with her.

As I sat down, she handed me a warm cup of tea and stared at me intently. Unable to resist that gaze, I asked.

“What is it that you’re curious about, Marchioness?”

“Why, of course the passionate stories of newlyweds.”

For a moment, I almost dropped the teacup I was holding. What passionate stories could there be? We didn’t even consummate the marriage on the first night.

A cold sweat ran down my spine from the awkwardness. But the next words that flowed from her mouth shocked me, and I froze in place.

“I thought His Grace the Duke of Perhaem was homosexual, since he drew a line with all ladies and avoided contact. Among the ladies, rumors like this occasionally circulated.”

“What rumors…?”

“It may be a bit shocking for you, my lady, but there were rumors that His Majesty the Emperor and the Duke were actually in that kind of relationship, deliberately placing Her Majesty the Empress, who was their childhood friend, between them and associating as a trio.”

“No! Absolutely not!”

I shouted loudly without realizing it. Because Yezar was so, so pitiful. He had suffered so much emotionally, being pushed around between that couple. And behind his back… Behind his back, he was rumored to be in that kind of male relationship with the damned Emperor!

‘Then, could it be that the person Yezar loves, as Wizlet said, is not Bertisha but… Oh. It can’t be. Dear God.’

Forgetting my original purpose, I shouted, thinking only of Yezar’s honor.

“My husband likes women! When I touch his chest, he gets so embarrassed that he runs away, but he utters embarrassing words, telling me I’m lovely… And in the bedroom, he has a habit of taking off his clothes in his sleep…”

I spoke excitedly, then realized I had made a slip of the tongue and covered my mouth. Then, the Marchioness’s eyes curved joyfully, as if looking at a cute couple.

“Oh my. If His Grace the Duke of Perhaem does that every night, the bedroom must be very passionate? Is it you, my lady, who makes the first move? Or is it that abstinent Duke?”

This person was clearly teasing me. But I couldn’t avoid answering here. I had to wash away Yezar’s disgrace at this moment.

I’m sorry, Yezar.

“…It’s His Grace.”

“Oh my goodness.”

Just this once, please become a beast without principles who rushes to me every night, Your Grace. When I return, I’ll apologize.

“Hoho. The passion between you two is truly intense. It’s a wonderful time.”

“…Yes.”

The Marchioness of Stemun seemed satisfied with the answer she wanted, or perhaps she decided to stop teasing me because my face was too red, and she started talking about trivial daily matters.

Of course, even as I played along, my conscience pricked me with guilt.

‘I turned that pure man into a beast. I’m so sorry…’

But I couldn’t let people continue to misunderstand a normal man as homosexual. If I caught whoever spread such rumors, I would give them a good beating with a wooden sword.

As I was having a casual conversation with the Marchioness of Stemun, other ladies arrived one after another.

Upon entering and noticing me, they greeted me politely.

“Ah, are you the Duchess of Perhaem? It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Catrina Weiden of the Weiden County.”

“I am Betheli Pireoa of the Pireoa County.”

I also stood up and greeted them.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you too. I am Julieta Perhaem of the Perhaem Duchy.”

The Marchioness of Stemun, watching the scene, also welcomed them with a bright smile.

“Come on in, Catrin. Beri.”

Those seemed to be the ladies’ nicknames. Seeing them comfortably calling each other by nicknames, I could tell how close they were. The words about holding a tea time with a small number of close friends seemed to be true.

‘Then, do they also know that the Marchioness of Stemun is the veiled painter Cortina?’

But considering she didn’t reveal her identity even to Bertisha, the Empress, they probably didn’t know either.

I shook off my thoughts and focused on the conversation with them. I shouldn’t make any mistakes and leave a bad impression.

“I deliberately set out early when I heard the Duchess of Perhaem was coming. But it seems I’m late.”

“I was so excited to meet the Duchess of Perhaem that I couldn’t sleep. That’s why I’m late. I’m truly sorry, Duchess of Perhaem.”

“Not at all. I arrived not long ago myself.”

Contrary to my nervousness about being criticized for not participating in social activities, the Countess of Weiden and the Countess of Pireoa were warm and kind.

“I hope you two didn’t have any interesting conversations while we were absent.”

“I would be so disappointed if that were the case.”

“Oh my. That would be the fault of the late Catrin and Beri. Right, my lady?”

When she playfully asked me, I couldn’t help but laugh. Afterwards, the conversation flowed like water.

As if considering me, who had come for the first time, they paid attention to me in between and the conversation flowed with simple topics like hobbies, the content of plays I was recently immersed in, making it easy for me to join in and talk.

‘This is more enjoyable than I thought.’

I got excited without realizing it, as the atmosphere was more friendly than I had anticipated. But then, the conversation topic unexpectedly shifted to child education.

“When did you ladies hire a tutor? I’m thinking it’s about time to provide education to the child to build basic qualities.”

“Come to think of it, Catrin’s child is 4 years old, right?”

“Hoho. No, actually. The child has already turned 6.”

“They say children grow up fast. Already 6 years old.”

As everyone exclaimed and conversed, I had nothing to say, so I just blinked my eyes meekly.

However, seeing the ladies cherish and adore their children so much made me feel pleased.

“The child is very disobedient. Such a stubborn one.”

“Oh my, I still found that age to be cute. My 9-year-old seems to like friends more than me now.”

The person who said that was the Marchioness of Stemun. Among them, the youngest-looking Marchioness of Stemun had a 9-year-old child. It was hard to believe.

‘A child… Anyway, Yezar and I have a 2-year contract marriage. It’s irrelevant.’

The moment I had that thought, the topic of conversation was thrown at me.

“Come to think of it, when does the Duchess of Perhaem plan to have a child? Usually, news of a child comes right after marriage.”

“That’s right. I’m curious too.”

At that moment, my mind went blank. Since having children was a topic I had never discussed with him, I had no idea what to say.

“Since His Grace the Duke of Perhaem has such an outstanding appearance, if the child resembles him, I think a very clever child will be born.”

“That’s true. Moreover, since you are also a great beauty, my lady, I wonder how adorable the child will be?”

Indeed, if the child resembled him… The child would cherish life, smile brightly, and only say pretty words by my side.

‘Mommy. Look at this. It’s a pretty leaf, like Mommy’s eyes.’

I even imagined what the child would say and stopped my thoughts.

‘Did I just… naturally imagine a child between Yezar and me?’

The moment I realized that fact, I was flustered. But trying to calmly find my reason, I answered.

“The plan for a child is still…”

As my face reddened on its own, I fanned myself. The Marchioness of Stemun’s eyes sparkled mischievously.

“Didn’t you say it gets passionate at night? But it’s still early?”

“…His Grace said he wants to enjoy our newlywed life for now.”

I blurted out those words, unable to come up with anything else to say. But it seemed to have the opposite effect, as their smiles deepened as they looked at me.