“Why are you talking about what I did when discussing your sleeping habits? And I don’t just grope people’s bodies!”

“My sleeping habit is not groping people’s bodies! It’s a misunderstanding!”

“Is that so?”

Unlike me, who was quite heated, his face remained very calm. That made me suddenly lose steam.

“Yes. Anyway, that’s right. So don’t worry.”

“I understand, Julieta.”

As if his worries had completely disappeared, the corners of his mouth curved up into a smile. His face was like sunshine itself, enough to make the whole room feel brighter.

A man who is so kind and smiles so warmly even to a woman he doesn’t like. He really was a good person. As I was quietly observing Yezar with that thought, he beckoned to me.

“My lady, come here.”

I couldn’t understand why he was suddenly calling me. Still, Yezar wouldn’t do anything bad. As I lowered my head towards him, his hand moved to my hair.

I usually tie my hair up neatly, but because my head was throbbing from the hangover, I had left it loose.

My hair rustled as it moved with the movements of his fingers. Every time his focused eyes moved, I saw my reflection in his clear eyes. For some reason, that made me want to avoid his gaze. Just as I was unknowingly holding my breath in that moment, his hand slowly came down.

“There was some dust stuck in it, so I removed it. I don’t think my hand alone will be enough. Will you accept my handkerchief now?”

Somehow, the handkerchief I had refused earlier was now in his hand.

“…I’ll take it, but you were wrong to run away.”

“Yes, Julieta.”

I carefully accepted his handkerchief. As expected of something he used, it was neat and elegant. The handkerchief faintly carried his scent.

For some reason, my heart fluttered. Was it because I was touched by his kindness? A smile naturally formed, and with a bright expression, I brought up the main point I had wanted to discuss.

“Now, let’s set our rules.”

Yezar’s eyes filled with question.

“What rules are you talking about?”

“Obviously, the rules for our married life.”

Even after hearing my words, he still seemed confused as he quietly looked at me. I carefully recited what I had been thinking.

“We could make mistakes due to not knowing about each other, like this morning. We only wrote a contract stating just the necessary things. We haven’t talked about what we’d like to maintain during our married life together.”

“That’s right. You’re correct, my lady.”

He seemed to understand now. I wanted to sit him down and talk right away, but outside were aides waiting for our situation to be resolved quickly so they could handle business.

“Of course, I’ll let you go now since there must be pending work, but when you return to the bedroom at night, have a few rules in mind that we should keep in our married life. Understood?”

He seemed lost in thought for a moment before nodding.

Having safely returned to my bedroom, I briefly thought about the rules for married life until Yezar arrived. First and foremost, for a peaceful two-year contract marriage, we needed time to talk with each other.

We needed to know about each other in advance to avoid unexpected situations like the morning when I woke up after drinking. Secondly, we needed to share any unknown aspects of each other’s private lives. We couldn’t let anything harmful to my two years of married life come up because we didn’t know anything. And thirdly, education and information sharing about the duties I needed to perform externally as the Duchess were necessary.

Of course, I was a contract wife. Even if I couldn’t be privy to crucial information to maintain the secrecy of the Perhaem ducal family, there were still roles I had to fulfill externally as the Duchess. If I couldn’t perform these properly, that would cause problems in its own way.

These three points were the most important overall, and the rest were minor rules. Like informing each other if we had any food allergies. Or not crossing lines that shouldn’t be interfered with.

After carefully organizing the rules like this, I stretched out.

‘I’ve sorted everything out, but it’s still a while before Yezar arrives.’

Maybe because I hadn’t been at the Perhaem ducal family long, there wasn’t much for me to do or learn yet.

So I just idly rolled around waiting for Yezar. When I got a bit bored, I was looking out the window at the darkness that had fallen. Soon, I heard the creaking sound of the door opening. As soon as I heard the sound, I quickly ran out to greet him.

“Yezar. You’re back?”

When I greeted him with a bright smile, for some reason Yezar was silent. Strange. I thought he would smile back when I smiled.

“…”

“Why are you quiet? Oh, are you tired? What should we do? But today we need to set at least some simple rules for our contract married life.”

As I fluttered around him, chattering like a puppy wanting to play, he suddenly placed his hand on the top of my head. It was strange, just his hand resting on my head, not holding my hand or removing dust from my hair.

“What are you doing, Yezar?”

When I looked up at him and asked, Yezar seemed to come to his senses and removed his hand in embarrassment.

“I’m sorry. I’m not used to someone being in the bedroom, so…”

I stood on my tiptoes and placed my hand on his head.

“I’m here. My hand is touching your head too, right?”

When I asked playfully, his eyes curved into crescents.

“So it is. Marriage is starting to feel real now.”

Come to think of it, Yezar would be more accustomed to being alone than having someone by his side. He had no siblings, and his parents had long ago handed over the title of Duke to Yezar and moved to the outskirts of the capital to live their second life.

But then I, his contract wife, appeared with a ‘poof’ and ran out to greet him, so he didn’t seem to be adapting well. But what could we do? I would be by his side for at least two years.

“That’s right. Even though it’s a contract marriage, my surname is officially Perhaem, not Orbetian, right? Like it or not, please endure it for two years. We’ll be seeing each other’s faces every day, after all.”

“How could I dare to dislike you, my lady?”

Ah, such a man with pretty words. Right. If we’re going to see each other’s faces every day anyway, it’s better to get along well. Even if I’ll disappear after two years, it would be nice to make good memories at the ducal house.

I showed him the smile I used to give my father when I was young and ran to him after he sighed deeply when I occasionally caused trouble, as a gesture of asking for his favor. Unlike Julieta’s usual smile, it wasn’t one I often showed others, but I felt I could show it to him. When I smiled brightly, he smiled back.

‘Yes. It works well on Yezar too.’

Excited, I grabbed his collar.

“Then come here quickly. I thought of a few rules while waiting for you, Yezar. They’re very, very important!”

As I pulled him by his collar, he followed me very easily.

“Yes, I’m coming, my lady.”

I thought I could hear laughter mixed in at the end of Yezar’s words.

I recited a few rules I had written down on parchment.

“First, talk for at least 20 minutes every day. Second, share a certain amount of each other’s private lives. This is to prepare for any unforeseen situations. I don’t want any problems during my contract marriage! And third, define and inform me of the duties I need to perform as the Duchess. Fourth…”

He listened quietly as I listed the rules one after another. After I finished stating the twelve rules I had thought of, I glanced at him and added one last rule.

“Lastly, physical contact is… forbidden.”

I have a conscience, you know. I couldn’t lay hands on that innocent man. So I added this rule after some deliberation. But unexpectedly, he pointed out that last rule.

“I know that among the conditions you spread as rumors for your ideal marriage partner, there was also the requirement to play the role of an ideal husband.”

I certainly did say that, but why is it coming up here?

“Yes, that’s right. But why?”

“I think physical contact is unavoidable to appear as a loving couple in public. So, how about adding a condition that it’s possible with mutual consent?”

At first, I didn’t understand why he was pointing out the last rule. But typically, when a noblewoman gets married, her husband escorts her when attending important banquets. They link arms or hold hands, and when dancing, their bodies inevitably touch.

“Come to think of it, you’re right.”

Mm-hmm. Thinking about it carefully, this condition doesn’t make sense. Anyway, it’s unlikely that the innocent Yezar would do anything, and this level of physical contact seems fine with him.

“Alright. Let’s say that physical contact is allowed with mutual consent.”

At that, Yezar’s eyes curved gently. I crossed out the rule I had written and added the condition in tiny letters. As we sorted things out one by one like this, I realized anew that even a contract marriage had many points to agree on.

After carefully checking the rules I had organized, I looked up and asked him.

“Now, tell me the rules you thought of.”

I had written down everything I thought was necessary, so now it was time to hear his opinion.

Of course, I didn’t think he would have much to ask for, so I had intentionally been more thorough in setting and listing the rules.

After waiting a bit, he opened his mouth.

“I thought about not creating lovers. What do you think?”

“Oh, that’s good.”

Even if it was a contract marriage, a lover who could bring a storm to our peaceful contract married life was absolutely not allowed.

“Then, shall we write ‘Not creating lovers during the two years of married life’?”

Well, it was content that didn’t matter if we dated or became lovers with people we truly loved after the divorce.

But his expression became somewhat ambiguous. It might be my imagination, but he looked like something didn’t sit well with him.