“Yezar, are you joking with me now? You were always so shy about my jokes.”

“Yezar, stop joking around.”

“I’m speaking seriously.”

“But why is your ideal type similar to me?”

When I kept denying it, I pointed it out directly. Then he met my gaze and answered innocently.

“Could it be because my taste is you, my lady?”

“Enough. I won’t ask anymore. Let’s stop now.”

How could I be his type? Bertisha and I have completely different appearances and personalities. His taste can’t change suddenly in such a short time.

Whew. Really, this man. When I first saw him, he only seemed frustrating and foolish. But now I see he also has a cunning side.

Since it seemed I couldn’t get any more answers, I thought I should give up for today and go out, so I tried to turn around.

But then Yezar asked me a question.

“Then, what is your ideal type, my lady?”

“You already know from the conditions I presented for a marriage partner, don’t you?”

“Those were conditions for a marriage partner and are different from an ideal type, aren’t they?”

I tried to smoothly slip away. But he blocked my escape route.

What’s there for him to do by knowing my taste? In the first place, I only asked about his ideal type with the purpose of helping him forget his old love.

“Are you that curious about it?”

“Yes, I’m curious.”

“Hmm……”

Since he says he’s curious. I can’t not answer. I pondered for a moment. Ideal type. In other words, my taste in men.

“If possible, being handsome would be good, right? Since I have upward-slanting eyes that look fierce, I’d like someone gentle and friendly.”

I didn’t dislike this eye shape, a characteristic of a villainous supporting character, but for an ideal type, I thought it would be nice to have eyes that slope down gently. It seemed it would be easier to deal with someone who looks more like a dog than a prickly cat.

“I hate when it’s eerily silent, so someone who laughs well at what I say and has a pretty smile would be good.”

I was sick and tired of the unbearable silence during the time I spent almost secluded, so I liked someone who listens well to what I say and laughs a lot.

“And maybe it’s because I handle a sword, but I’d like someone who can protect themselves. If he’s tall, has a nice body, and occasionally spars with me while staying by my side, even better…”

“W-wait a moment! My lady!”

“Yes, why are you calling me? I had more to say.”

“That, that ideal type.”

“Yes.”

“Are you joking with me too, my lady?”

“What do you mean?”

Why is his face suddenly flushed? And when did I joke around with him?

“Isn’t the ideal type you just described the same as me…?”

Surprised by his words, I carefully retraced what I had just said. Soft and friendly puppy-like features without upward-slanting eyes. Someone who laughs well at what I say and has a pretty smile. Tall with a nice body who can protect himself and spar with me…

Oh. That’s right. It’s Yezar, isn’t it? Did I subconsciously think of him as my ideal type? Otherwise, how could there be someone right in front of me who fits exactly what I said?

‘If Yezar was joking with me, then I pretty much just stated my real taste. How could this happen?’

I muttered to myself, finding it so amazing.

“I guess… Yezar was my ideal type… Otherwise, it couldn’t match this perfectly.”

“P-please stop joking.”

I’m not joking. My mind was in emergency mode as he made me realize something I didn’t even know myself.

In other words, I was currently married to a man who is my ideal type. Although it’s a contract marriage, we sleep in the same bed and share a daily life…

Drip, drip. The beautiful man drenched in sweat reflected in my sight again. Despite my efforts not to deliberately look at his body, I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

‘It’s dangerous. This is dangerous.’

A red warning light turned on in my head. But my body ignored it, and my hand stretched out unknowingly.

“Ju-Julieta?”

Then, startled by his call, I withdrew my hand. Right now, I was in a dangerous state. I had to hurry and leave before extending an evil hand to him.

“S-sorry! I’ll get going now!”

Why is this happening? Why is my pulse racing so fast, my breath quickening, and my face feels hot?

I need to quickly cool down this heat.

“Wait, hold on a moment. My lady!”

Why is Yezar chasing after me!

“You just came back from the training grounds. Hurry and go wash up! You don’t have to keep following me!”

“It looks like you’ll fall over!”

“I won’t fall… Eek!”

Of all days, the heels of the shoes I wore today were high. As I staggered, I tried to regain my balance and get into a safe falling posture. But his hands quickly snatched my waist first.

“Why are you running in such a dangerous way?”

“…I’m sorry.”

He lifted me up and made me stand upright. Then, after looking at my shoes, he knelt down.

“Yezar, what are you doing now? Why are you kneeling!”

Surprised, I tried to make him stand up. Because the only person a duke like him should kneel before is the emperor.

But his reaction was nonchalant.

“Julieta, it seems the heel of your shoe has come off. It’s dangerous, so it would be best to change shoes before going out.”

“Oh. Thank you… That’s true. But the servants will see, so it’s probably better for you to get up.”

Even at my words, he silently and carefully caressed my foot and took off my shoe. Not knowing what to do, I gave up and followed his touch.

He neatly placed my shoe to the side and stood up. Then he apologized to me.

“I’m sorry, my lady. I was in a hurry and touched your foot.”

“No, it’s fine! You were just trying to help.”

Rather, I was the one who was sorry. I tried to run away and fell, and even the heel of my shoe came off. Yezar personally knelt down and carefully examined it for me.

“Now, I’ll take care of it myself.”

“But you can’t wear a shoe with a broken heel, can you?”

“I can quickly go and come back barefoot. Besides, I’ll see maids if I walk a bit.”

As I said that, trying not to trouble him any further. But Yezar stopped me.

“What if you step on a thorn or something while walking in that state?”

“Oh. But then what should I…”

I couldn’t fall again wearing those shoes.

“If it’s not rude, may I carry you, my lady?”

“You want to carry me? But I’ll be heavy.”

I already troubled him so much like this. I said that because I didn’t want to sap the strength of him who just finished training. But Yezar laughed out loud.

“Pfft, hahaha.”

At that laughter, I was puzzled. I wondered what was so funny.

“That was the most amusing thing I’ve heard all year.”

“I said it with sincerity though?”

Then he smiled brightly and swiftly lifted me up in his arms. Suddenly being carried, I unconsciously wrapped my arms around his shoulders.

“But you’re so light like this. It’s dangerous, so keep your arms wrapped around me, my lady.”

Realizing my mistake, I tried to remove them. But at his added words, I couldn’t take my arms off and meekly stayed in his embrace.

‘It’s not like I’m a three-year-old child.’

He seems to have a tendency to overprotect me sometimes. My skirt fluttered in the blowing wind. Perhaps because his arms were quite broad. It was more comfortable than I thought, and it was awkward to deal with my gaze.

His chest was too visible. Deliberately not looking there, I only stared at the distant sky.

“So why did you run away?”

It was hard to deny it since I spectacularly fell over.

“…Well, I had a realization.”

“A realization?”

“The ideal type I described, it wasn’t a joke. My ideal type really matches with you, Yezar. So I just…”

I was afraid I might do something bad. Unable to finish my sentence, I tightly shut my lips.

No matter how well he treats me and says we should act like a real married couple. There’s no way he would like a brazen wife who touches his body as she pleases.

“Julieta.”

“Yes?”

“If it’s true that I match your ideal type, I’m very happy about that.”

I wondered what there was for him to be happy about even if he matches my ideal type. But I was shocked by his next words.

“Actually, I don’t have much confidence in my appearance.”

What? What did Yezar just say? He doesn’t have confidence in his appearance?

“Yezar. Who in the world said such a thing to you?”

“M-my lady?”

“Tell me right now! Do you remember I said I really like your face?”

“I-I remember.”

Who could have said what about this beautiful appearance bestowed by the heavens that made him lack confidence!

“Then why don’t you have confidence? If someone with looks like this doesn’t have confidence, then who would!”

“Ahaha. Is that so?”

“Yes! Of course.”

He smiled good-naturedly, but it wasn’t a time to laugh. I was very curious about who disparaged this handsome man.

“Whew. Why did you think that way in the first place? Did someone say something terrible to you, Yezar?”

“Well. It’s not like that, but I had some concerns. However, hearing your words, I feel like I can have confidence and courage now.”

“Yes! Why are you stating the obvious?”

“Thank you, my lady. Thanks to you, I’ve gained courage.”

I nodded vigorously, not even knowing what kind of courage Yezar was mustering. Completely unaware of the fact that he was racking his brain about how to use his good looks against me in the future.