Second Male Lead, You Said It Was A Contract Marriage? - Chapter 25

“The reason I brought this up is not because I was displeased with Ember’s actions or disappointed in Yezar.”

“Then, for what reason?”

“I wanted to ask permission if it’s okay for me to interfere in such personal matters of Yezar’s. I also refused Ember’s request because I thought trying to manipulate Yezar’s feelings at someone else’s behest would be disrespectful to him.”

Ah. Even after receiving such a request, she had considered his feelings first. That fact made Yezar feel a warmth spreading through his body.

“Ember handed me a letter.”

That letter must be from Bertisha to him.

“I haven’t opened it yet, but I saw who sent it. That person is Yezar’s former love, right?”

“Yes. That’s correct……”

Julieta continued, as if she understood.

“I was conflicted. There’s a part in our marriage rules about sharing a certain amount of our private lives, but I thought Yezar might not want to share something like this. Actually, you didn’t tell me about it first either.”

“I’m sorry. I thought you would dislike it if I made you worry about such things.”

“It’s the opposite for me. I thought you would dislike it if I wanted to share such personal matters. So, that’s why. I want to ask. Yezar, is it okay for me to interfere in such private matters?”

At this moment, she seemed more mature than usual. She watched his reaction carefully, asked cautiously, and waited for his answer. He felt pathetic. He had wanted to be someone she could lean on, but now he was the one leaning on her.

“It’s fine. Julieta can interfere with anything, I don’t mind.”

So, he thought it would be nice if someday she would tell him all her stories too. Later, he would become someone she could lean on.

“Then Yezar, I have something to ask. How do you feel about this person constantly sending letters like this?”

“It’s painful. And sometimes, I dislike it. That’s why I deliberately didn’t even reply.”

At that answer, Julieta cheerfully stood up and took his hand.

“Great! Then Yezar, shall we go burn this letter in the fireplace together?”

At this unexpected suggestion, Yezar involuntarily let out a deflated sound.

“Pardon?”

Unlike the surprised Yezar, Julieta was thoroughly excited as she led him.

“What are you doing? You said it’s painful and sometimes you dislike it, right? I don’t like seeing Yezar depressed and sad either. Besides, someone who keeps sending letters and tormenting a person who dislikes it……! I think there’s even less need to deal with them!”

Laughter escaped from his lips. Ah, right. This was the kind of person his wife was. Endlessly bright and uninhibited, so when you’re by her side, she’s all you can think about.

“Yes, my lady. I’ll follow your lead.”

With such a sun-like person by my side. How could I possibly be in pain?

‘Phew. I thought I was meddling unnecessarily, but I’m glad it turned out well.’

I glanced at Yezar’s profile. The face that had been thoroughly gloomy when bringing up the incident with Ember was now bright. Moreover, he was very diligently putting the letter into the blazing fireplace. He even added more firewood to make sure it would burn well.

The time I spent agonizing over how to broach the subject with Yezar seemed ridiculous now.

“I suppose it’s because it’s a letter. It burns quite well.”

“Indeed. Come to think of it, did you enjoy your tea time?”

He tossed me an innocuous conversation topic. It was a conversation we couldn’t have in the carriage because I was so preoccupied with the bouquet of roses.

“I enjoyed it very much. We agreed to meet again, and I’m already looking forward to it.”

“I see. No wonder you looked so happy in the carriage.”

That was surely partly due to the enjoyable tea time, but really, what made me so happy was…

“Well, the tea time was enjoyable, but I was even happier because Yezar came to pick me up personally and gave me a memorable gift. I was very grateful.”

“I see……”

“Yes, that’s how it was.”

When I spoke with a broad smile, a smile spread across his face too. In the softly relaxed atmosphere, I casually threw out a question as if it were nothing.

“By the way, Yezar. I have something to ask.”

“What is it?”

“What should I focus on when buying men’s gloves?”

He then answered haltingly.

“Men’s gloves? Do you perhaps have someone to give them to?”

It seemed he didn’t think I was asking about gloves for him. I had intended to discreetly inquire and figure out his preferences.

Seeing his clueless reaction, I suddenly felt mischievous.

“Yes, I want to give them to a very handsome person.”

When I answered shyly on purpose, he asked in confusion.

“……Who might that be?”

“Hmm. I wonder, who could it be?”

When I gave an ambiguous answer, he stood there blankly, pausing in the middle of putting a letter in the fireplace. His gaze, fixed on the flickering firelight, looked quite serious, as if he were lost in thought.

It must be a look wondering if I had found a lover and if it would interfere with our contract marriage. So, as I threw the letter in his hand into the fireplace, I answered.

“Of course, it’s for my little brother. I got a letter from him after a long time. He grumbled that there had been no contact, and then said his birthday was coming up soon, so he asked me to buy him a pair of gloves.”

Well, that was half true and half false. Wizlet’s birthday was in winter, so it was too early to talk about gifts. Of course, it was true that I had sent letters occasionally since getting married, but half were just greetings asking how he was doing, and half were trivial stories.

He did complain that he wanted to marry his beloved fiancée soon, but their family was dragging their feet, but overall he seemed to be doing well peacefully.

Father and my eldest brother sent one letter full of various worries, saying they would visit sometime soon, but… I wonder if they’ll be able to come visit before this contract marriage ends. They’re always such busy people.

“Ahem. I see. Usually, practicality is a major consideration. Since summer will be here soon, fur-lined ones would be unnecessary. It would be good to use cool leather material.”

“Then what about color?”

“As for color, dark ones are commonly used. I usually wore leather with a bluish tint.”

I carefully remembered what he said. Now that I knew his preferences, I just needed to choose a good shop to visit.

‘Alright. I should go and place an order soon. Since it’s for Yezar to use, I’ll definitely get a good quality one, and when it’s finished, I’ll wrap it up nicely and give it to him.’

As I was making plans step by step, I was surprised by Yezar’s next words and looked at him.

“I’m sure it will suit your brother-in-law well too.”

“Pardon? Brother-in-law?”

“Yes, since he’s your older brother. I think that’s the correct term to use.”

Ah. Right. I’m married, aren’t I? Why did I ask so surprisingly?

“Oh. You’re right. I’m sorry. Why does that term feel so awkward? I’ll get used to it soon.”

“No, it’s alright. I brought it up, but it feels awkward to me too.”

To others, we might look like passionate newlyweds, but feeling awkward about things like this made it seem like we were still in an clumsy contract marriage.

It’s fine to feel awkward about terms when it’s just the two of us, but if this had happened at a social gathering, it might have been troublesome. Remembering what happened at the tea time, I said to Yezar.

“Yezar, there’s something I realized at this tea time.”

“Yes. What is it?”

As he waited quietly for my answer, I was about to tell him what happened at the tea time when I remembered the question Countess Stemun had asked.

‘Who makes the first move, is it you, my lady? Or is it that ascetic duke?’

‘……It’s the duke.’

Oh. My goodness. How could I have forgotten this?

“No! Before that, I have something to apologize for first!”

“Did you make some mistake?”

“Yes…… I’m so sorry! I’ve turned Yezar into a beast of unparalleled virility!”

I blurted it out because I was in a hurry. Looking back, it sounded like something a pervert would say. And Yezar seemed flustered too, stumbling over his words.

“A, a beast of unparalleled virility?”

“Well…… Um…… It’s a long story.”

As I hemmed and hawed, Yezar cleared his throat and said to me.

“Then, shall we finish burning these letters and talk about it together?”

“Ah. Yes, that sounds good.”

I quickly burned the rest of the letters. I needed to hurry and explain properly to make him understand the perverted-sounding words I had blurted out in a panic.

“So that’s how it happened. A pederast, you say. I never dreamed such rumors about me were circulating among the young ladies……”

Just imagining it seemed to make him feel unwell, as his complexion changed instantly for the worse. I nodded my head, understanding his feelings completely.

“Yes. So for the sake of Yezar’s honor, I ended up turning you into a… passionate husband. I’m sorry. I couldn’t think of any other way.”

“No, it’s alright. I understand. Still, it must have been quite awkward for you. You handled it well.”

“No, it was nothing.”

I felt embarrassed being praised when I hadn’t done anything worthy of praise.

“But hearing this, I think there are definitely more things we need to align.”

“Yes. Contract marriages aren’t easy, I guess. I thought it would be fine just sharing our daily lives and talking during our free time. But when we have longer conversations, it becomes obvious that you and I haven’t shared much time together.”

With so many things we need to align to prove this isn’t a contract marriage. How did those romance novel heroines go around proposing contract marriages?

“You said we don’t have plans for children yet because we’re newlyweds, but if we keep using that excuse, people will start talking eventually.”

“Yes, I think so too.”

In this era, an heir to continue the family line was absolutely necessary. Considering our contract period of about 2 years, we’d be divorcing right around when people would start getting suspicious, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

In this era, the pressure to have children would surely be even stronger than in my previous life. All the ladies at social gatherings would be noblewomen, after all.

‘Are you still newlyweds? But don’t you think it’s about time to have a child?’

‘An heir is absolutely necessary. Especially for the Perhaem ducal family, right? Don’t you think you’re being too leisurely?’

‘That’s right. You should hurry and have a child, whether it’s a boy or a girl.’

Ugh. Just imagining it made me feel completely drained. After pondering for a moment, Yezar asked me.

“How about we say that I’m still busy overseeing the duchy’s territory and knighthood, so we’re thinking of having a child around the end of next year?”