Today, I yearned for the warmth of human touch more than ever. I wanted to return to the warm moments of my past life, now faded in memory.

Even though I knew it was impossible, I still longed for it. I used to have family members who were always by my side. Their embrace was surely very warm.

Now, I could not even recall their faces. The fact that I could not go back, as if this place was my reality, settled deep into my bones.

That’s why I counted the days until the end of the original story. If I could break free from Julieta’s predetermined fate, I wanted to meet people who would fill me up and make me happy.

I never expected to get entangled with Yezar, the sub-male lead, like this.

“Yes, my lady. I will offer my embrace to you anytime.”

The arms enveloping me were warm, just as I had yearned for, and I did not dislike it. Rather, I felt grateful to have met such a person.

Even if our end was predetermined, the emotions we shared now would not disappear.

The heavy downpour thinned out. Perhaps it was because the painful sound of rain hitting my ears had lessened. Or maybe it was thanks to Yezar, who soothed my emotions. The gloomy feelings that had filled me slowly subsided.

‘Now that my emotions have calmed down and I’m okay, when will Yezar let me go?’

I slightly raised my head to look at him. As if noticing my gaze, Yezar met my eyes. But he only smiled at me without loosening his arms that held me tightly.

“Yezar.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“It’s okay to let go now.”

His heartbeat heard from such close proximity, his warmth felt through a thin layer of clothing, it was all too close. To begin with, I felt like I had relied on him too much.

‘I even said things I didn’t need to. But I don’t regret it because Yezar’s reaction was so kind and warm.’

Everything I felt while being held in his arms was what I had been longing for. As if I had finally found where I belonged.

He carefully loosened his arms. His hand that had been patting my back slid down. Strangely, at that moment, I felt a pang of regret and was startled.

‘Really, I can’t keep being so needy.’

With that thought, I was about to pull away from his embrace when he asked.

“My lady, may I be the one held in your arms this time?”

It was an unexpected question, so it naturally led me to wonder if he also disliked rainy days.

“Do you also hate rainy days, Yezar?”

“I guess so. It seems I do dislike them.”

It was a cryptic answer. But since I had received comfort from him for a long time, I opened my arms wide.

Considering the difference in our physiques, even if he were to be held in my arms, it would be no different than me being held in his.

Still, just as my mood had improved after receiving solace from him, I thought it would be nice if his mood could also get better.

“I’ll pat you well!”

As I opened my arms, inviting him to come, he chuckled. I tilted my head, not understanding why he was laughing.

“My lady, you are truly… dense.”

Me, dense? That’s the first time I’ve heard that. Where else can you find someone as quick-witted and sensitive as me?

With that thought, I hugged him tightly as he approached. As expected, due to the large difference in our physiques, I ended up being held in his arms again.

‘It feels exactly like a big golden retriever running up and being held in my arms.’

The fuzzy sensation vaguely came to mind, and my hand stroked his hair. His fine blond hair tangled between my fingers.

“My lady?”

“I’m s-sorry!”

I quickly removed my hand and apologized. He was not some large dog for me to stroke his hair.

“My hand just went there without me realizing…”

“Why?”

I tried to come up with a plausible answer to his question, but the words got tangled.

“It’s because you felt like a large dog, Yezar. I suddenly wanted to pet you…”

Even after saying it, I thought it was an absurd answer. But Yezar replied to me nonchalantly.

“Is that so? Do you like dogs, my lady?”

Of course I liked them. How could anyone dislike such large and adorable creatures?

“Yes. The bigger, the better. It’s cute when they run up to you, showing affection like when they were puppies, even though they’ve grown so big.”

Just imagining a large dog wagging its tail excitedly, panting and rushing towards me to give me a big hug made me happy.

“I see. Then, would you like to continue petting me?”

“What?”

“You said I felt like a large dog and you wanted to pet me. I don’t mind, so you can continue.”

When he seriously offered his head, laughter burst out of me uncontrollably. Outside, it was still damp and raining. Why was I laughing so much?

Perhaps it was because of the man in front of me.

“What nonsense are you saying? But it’s amusing.”

I carefully stroked his hair. Did he ask if he could be held in my arms on purpose to make me laugh?

‘Today, there’s an unusually high amount of physical contact.’

They say when you’re having a hard time, you want to lean on someone. It seemed to be true. As if the line I had drawn with him never existed, being this close to him.

“Thank you, Yezar. Thanks to you, I don’t think I’ll dislike rainy days as much anymore.”

It was a sincere expression of gratitude. Even if this contract marriage ended someday, the memory of today would come to mind whenever it rained, making me smile.

“I’m the one who should be thankful. For letting me know more about you, my lady. But there’s one thing I’m curious about.”

“What is it?”

“If you dislike the rain so much, what was so urgent that you insisted on going out today?”

Ah, I pondered whether I should tell the truth. I had planned to secretly buy a gift and surprise him. But I also didn’t want to lie to him anymore.

“Actually, I was thinking of going out to buy gloves.”

“Gloves? The gift for your brother-in-law?”

“No, it wasn’t a gift for my brother-in-law. I was planning to go out today to buy a gift for you, Yezar.”

“What? You were going to buy a gift for me?”

“…Yes. My sister-in-law will probably buy a gift for my brother-in-law. I didn’t intend to go through the rain for his sake.”

It would be hurtful if Wizlet heard this, but I didn’t have the enthusiasm to buy a gift for Wizlet by going through the rain.

“But since it’s for you, Yezar, I wanted to buy it quickly and see you smile when you received it.”

It was a small desire of mine. Your gift made me so happy. I wanted to see you smile while receiving my gift too.

I was trying to buy it quickly so you wouldn’t be inconvenienced if I missed the timing.

“Ember said it’s about time to change your gloves. If it’s too late, it might be troublesome for you, Yezar…”

The words came out like an excuse. I didn’t know why my face was getting redder the more I spoke.

“I appreciate the thought, but I don’t want to be the kind of husband who makes his wife go out in the rain like this. So, how about we go out together next time, choose my gloves, and then enjoy a picnic?”

A picnic sounded wonderful, but considering his packed schedule, I was worried if it would be too much of a burden for him.

“I would love that, but it won’t be too much trouble, right?”

“Of course not. As you said, I think it would be good to take some time to relax occasionally. It was in our rules, wasn’t it?”

If that was the case, I was glad. But there was also the spring outing promised at the tea time with Marchioness Eckert and the gathering with Marchioness Stemun. We had to coordinate the dates well.

“Then, please let me know in advance when we’ll be going.”

“Ah, come to think of it, there were gatherings you had to attend, right?”

“There are, but my top priority is still my promise with my husband. Marchioness Stemun will understand, and if it overlaps with Marchioness Eckert’s tea time, I’ll just have to endure a little bit of her dislike.”

After all, the reason I was busily socializing with various people was because I thought I had to fulfill my role as the duchess smoothly.

Even though it was a contract marriage, I wanted to be an ideal wife to him as much as possible.

“Yes, I understand. Then, shall we choose a day with good weather next week and go?”

“That’s fine. I’m glad it’s so soon.”

The tea time appointment with Marchioness Eckert was the week after that, so it didn’t seem like it would overlap.

“Yes, then I will try my best to prepare a pretty lunchbox with foods that you will like, my lady.”

I had only imagined it. I never thought I would receive a lunchbox from him so quickly.

‘A lunchbox prepared by him. Of course, I’m looking forward to it, but…’

“Can I be by your side and help you prepare it then?”

“Won’t you be tired, my lady?”

I was curious to see him cooking. Hiding this desire, I made a plausible excuse.

“It’s more fun and enjoyable to do it together, don’t you think?”

“Doing it together would indeed be more enjoyable.”

It seemed the rain had completely stopped now, as the sound of rain from outside had ceased. But Yezar did not pull away from my embrace, and I did not tell him to do so either.

Soon, we were whispering to each other about what we would do at the picnic. I naturally leaned into his arms, laughing, and whether he knew it or not, Yezar kept smiling while gazing at me.

On the afternoon when the relentless rain had stopped, the maids were chatting in the corridor of the ducal residence.

“It’s almost mealtime. Why are the Duke and Duchess still cooped up in their room?”

“I know. Now that the rain has stopped, they could come out and take a walk.”

The maids, who had cautiously arrived in front of the bedroom, knocked on the door. However, there was no response from inside. Worried that something might have happened, they very carefully opened the door and then quietly exited the room after seeing the scene inside.

In the bedroom, the Duchess was chattering like a nightingale, resting her head on the Duke’s shoulder, and the Duke was listening to her lovingly.

They did not have the courage to interrupt that harmonious moment. Unaware of this, Julieta once again became the unwitting subject of a heated rumor, setting the ducal residence abuzz.