“Did you say Lieta?”

“Well… I can’t call you by your full name openly. So I tried shortening it instead. Do you dislike it?”

Ah. Only then did my startled feelings subside. Everyone always called her Lady Julieta or Julieta. The nickname felt unfamiliar.

Of course, Yezar probably meant it as an alias rather than a nickname.

‘I was surprised. I’ve never been called by a nickname before, so it’s hard to get used to.’

“I don’t dislike it. It’s just unfamiliar. It sounds too much like a nickname…”

“Ah. If using a nickname carelessly is inappropriate, I’ll change it.”

“No, it’s fine. No one else has ever called me by a nickname. I like the name Lieta. Please call me that.”

Though a bit embarrassing, I didn’t dislike it. As I said this with a bright smile, he took my hand.

“Understood. I’ll keep calling you that today so it becomes familiar. Lieta.”

“Yes, Ern.”

He was startled by my response. I had just tried calling him that since he called me Lieta. I wondered why he was so surprised.

“Did you call me Ern?”

“It sounded like a nickname, so I tried it. Has no one ever called you by such a nickname?”

“There was someone.”

I immediately thought of Bertisha, but then eliminated her as a possibility. I recalled she only called him Yezar and didn’t use any nicknames.

Then who called him that?

“When I was very young, my parents called me that. No one else has.”

I wondered why his face was red. Ah, it must be because it was a childhood nickname.

‘Did I make a mistake? But he doesn’t seem to dislike it.’

I gathered my courage and said to him:

“Even if it’s a childhood nickname, may I call you Ern today? Just as you’re calling me Lieta.”

“…I said I’d keep calling you that so it wouldn’t be unfamiliar. But when you call me by my nickname, it feels embarrassing somehow.”

He seemed visibly flustered, as if experiencing the same emotions I had felt.

‘Ah, it’s not just me. Yezar also finds it awkward, unfamiliar, and ticklish to be called by a nickname.’

Realizing this made me feel lighter.

“That’s the same for me. But what does it matter? We’re already out. Let’s go around as Lieta and Ern today!”

“Yes, Lieta.”

“Yes, Ern.”

He called my nickname easily, but his cheeks flushed when I called his. It was an expression he probably didn’t want to show others.

“Ern, make sure to keep your hat pressed down tightly.”

“Is there a reason?”

“Well, I don’t want other women to see you, of course?”

When I playfully repeated what he had said before, Yezar brought his face close to mine.

“Yes, please look only at me, my lady.”

I was just joking, but showing me such a heart-fluttering face up close was too much.

“O-okay! Let’s go now.”

As I pulled his hand, he followed. Somehow, he seemed to have become more mischievous than before.

To quietly enjoy the festival, I told the maids to wait separately in the carriage. And the guards were secretly following behind us. The street he mentioned was bustling with people, probably due to the festival.

“Hold on tight so you don’t get lost, my lady.”

He must have been worried about losing me if our hands let go. I held his hand tightly as he said. Maybe it’s because it’s been a while since I’ve been in such a crowded place. Rather than noisy and chaotic, the lively atmosphere lifted my spirits.

Just then, we heard a voice calling out to us as if trying to attract customers.

“Hey, young couple over there! Stop for a moment! Try a bite of this!”

It seems we look like a couple to others as well. As we paused our steps, Yezar looked at me.

“Shall we stop by there?”

Hearing our conversation, the merchant who was calling out shouted:

“Oh! Good thinking! Come on over!”

“Is there something you’d like to eat?”

“Yes, so let’s go there quickly.”

I led him towards where the merchant was. There, they were selling skewers of ripe strawberries dipped in sugar water.

“It looks so sweet just by looking at it.”

The merchant replied to my mumbling.

“It’s very sweet indeed. It’s popular among young ladies. But with such a pretty wife, the husband must be worried.”

I only thought about covering Yezar’s face completely. Since my face wasn’t covered by a hat, it seemed like a natural comment.

‘I changed my eye and hair color anyway. I didn’t think I would attract as much attention as Yezar.’

Still, hearing this made me think I should have worn a hat too.

“Some weird guys might try to hit on you, you know.”

“It’s alright. If anyone approaches my wife, I’ll get rid of them all.”

Although it flowed naturally, it was far from what Yezar would usually say.

‘Get rid of them all, he says. Yezar is really playing his part well.’

The merchant laughed heartily at Yezar’s resolute answer.

“Hahaha. My, your love for your wife is intense. Since I saw such a pretty wife, I’ll give you one for free. Take it.”

Unintentionally, we received one fruit skewer for free. Seeing Yezar standing there holding fruit skewers in both hands made me laugh.

“It looks tiring holding them in both hands. What should we do, Ern? Shall we sit somewhere to eat?”

“There seems to be an empty bench over there. Let’s go there.”

Since he was quite tall, it wasn’t difficult to navigate through the crowd. We sat on an empty bench and took a bite of the sugar-coated fruit skewer.

“Wow. It’s really sweet. Does it suit your taste, Yezar?”

I was worried, but he ate it surprisingly well.

“Yes, I’ve bought these occasionally before.”

“Ah, I see. You must have bought these things one by one when you went out for inspections. It’s interesting. I thought you were far removed from such things.”

The image I had of him was far from this bustling marketplace. Maybe it’s because I only saw him sparring in the training grounds or focused on work in his office.

“But it’s nice to see this different side of you. If we go out together often, I’m sure this sight will become familiar too, right?”

“Yes, it will become familiar.”

He had already finished eating and was slowly waiting for me to finish. After finishing the fruit, we blended back into the crowd and walked down the street.

“Wow. Look at this, Ern. They say it’s a bracelet made of raw stones. Does it suit me?”

Although I usually wore jewelry made of expensive gems, such things didn’t fit here. I showed him the bracelet made of raw stones with a bright smile.

“Everything suits you well, Lieta.”

“Then, shall we buy one?”

As we were having this conversation, the merchant at the jewelry stall looked at us and casually remarked:

“The couple’s love is burning hot. Newlyweds? The husband’s eyes are dripping with honey. Enjoy it while it lasts.”

Somehow, we heard that comment every time we stopped at a stall. At first, it was embarrassing, but now it seemed I had gotten used to it.

“Yes, we’re newlyweds.”

“Oh my. The wife is so pretty, so pretty. Why hide your handsome face when you have such a pretty wife?”

I had heard that comment several times too. Feeling mischievous, instead of thanking him, I said something else:

“Well, actually, my husband is so handsome that I’m the one who goes around covered up. I get jealous thinking other women might look at him.”

“Is that so? The wife is pretty, and the husband must be handsome too.”

“Yes, he’s extremely handsome.”

“You two are a great match, a great match indeed.”

As I was boasting and leaving the place, Yezar called out to me.

“My, my lady. What was that about just now?”

Waiting for his reaction, I said:

“I was just telling the truth, wasn’t I? I said I didn’t like other women looking at you.”

He seemed to know I was joking, but he scratched his cheek in embarrassment. Then he looked around, searching for something.

“Is there somewhere you want to go? What’s wrong?”

“I think you should wear a hat now too, my lady.”

“A hat?”

“Yes… I don’t like seeing others glancing at your face either.”

“Glancing? Is it because there are so many people? I thought they were just looking at things they wanted to eat or places they wanted to go, and our eyes met by chance. But since you say that, maybe I should follow your suggestion.”

‘It really feels like we’re a real couple doing this.’

Even though it’s a contractual relationship, setting that aside. Going around just the two of us, being called a couple and responding nonchalantly. It made my heart flutter involuntarily. I thought it was good that we came out.

“Alright. Then let’s go to a hat shop and buy a hat. Ah, before that, let me get the money… Huh?”

The money pouch I was holding had disappeared. I didn’t think I had dropped it anywhere, so I looked around. There was a presence that had brushed against my back earlier when Yezar was speaking.

I thought it was just because of the crowd, but…

“Ern, I think a pickpocket stole my money and ran away.”

“Shall I catch them?”

“Hmm. No. I should find what I lost myself. So, could you lend me your sword for a moment?”

My body had been aching lately anyway. This might be just what I needed.

Today was a lucky day. To steal such a heavy money pouch.

‘No matter how shabby I dress, it shows. I don’t know what wind blew the noble lords here, but thank you very much~’

He slipped away from the crowd and headed towards an alley. He couldn’t afford to be caught by other pickpockets and have to share this.

He thought he should drink to his heart’s content today.

Tap tap tap. He heard someone chasing after him. He thought it was his imagination, but the sound grew closer.

‘Damn. I thought I stole it smoothly. Are the guards chasing me? Just my luck.’

As he was thinking this and about to run, something flew up in the air. He thought it was a bird at first, but looking closely, it was a person.

“Eek! What is that!”

In his 10 years as a pickpocket, he had properly met an opponent that would haunt his nightmares.