“Newlyweds! Yes, you’re still newlyweds, aren’t you? That makes sense.”
“Of course, once you have a child, your mind becomes completely occupied.”
“Not to mention, nighttime duties become difficult too.”
At the word “nighttime duties,” I involuntarily hiccupped.
“S-sorry. Hic. It’s just… hiccups.”
As I held my breath, trying to stop the hiccups, the ladies looked at me affectionately.
“We never expected the Duchess of Ferhaem to be this adorable.”
“Exactly. She’s so fresh and innocent, just like we were when we were young.”
“No wonder the Duke of Ferhaem is completely smitten.”
Their words were so embarrassing to hear that I quickly turned my head away. But the more I did, the more those three pairs of eyes sparkled as they fixed on me.
Tick, tock. Time passed quickly. Perhaps because I had unintentionally become a passionate newlywed, the ladies treated me with extra warmth, and our tea time concluded without any particular incident.
I secretly let out a deep sigh. There had been a few awkward moments, but aside from feeling slightly embarrassed, the conversations and atmosphere had been pleasant overall.
‘Perhaps it’s fortunate. Even in such relaxed conversations, there were times when I completely froze up.’
I had confidently promised myself to become close enough to Marchioness Stemun to support her from behind. But now that I was here, I realized that if someone like me—who had almost no experience in high society—had approached Marchioness Yekert’s tea gathering first, I would surely have been suspected or scrutinized.
‘Once I return to the mansion, I really need to coordinate more with Yezar. Since I’ll likely attend many tea gatherings and formal events, I must avoid freezing up every time.’
While I was busily thinking, the ladies were discussing the date of their next meeting.
“So, when shall we meet again?”
“Hmm. Since it’s still early spring, how about we meet when it’s warm enough for a spring outing?”
Eager to remain in this circle and grow closer to the Marchioness, I tried to join the conversation. But Marchioness Stemun turned to me first and asked,
“That sounds wonderful! The Duchess of Ferhaem will come next time too, won’t you?”
Caught off guard by the invitation, I hesitated like someone who didn’t know where to put herself, and instead offered a timid question.
“…May I really keep attending?”
I should have answered confidently. But nervousness crept in, and an uncharacteristically hesitant response slipped out.
Honestly, I genuinely wanted to keep spending time with them. They all seemed kind, and I enjoyed the simple, lighthearted chatter I hadn’t experienced in a long time. Even without ulterior motives, I wanted to keep attending such gatherings.
Then all the ladies spoke to me at once.
“Of course! A lovely lady like you is always welcome.”
“Yes, please come again next time.”
“Indeed. We’re quite curious about your passionate newlywed life too.”
I had nothing to say about a “passionate” marriage, but since I wanted to stay, I responded with a bright smile.
“Yes, I’ll definitely come.”
Thus, we left together in a warm and cheerful atmosphere. But an unexpected guest was waiting for me.
“Oh my. It seems the Duke has come to pick up his wife.”
“Huh? The Duke?”
I had told him I was visiting the Stemun Marquisate today, but I hadn’t heard anything about him coming to meet me.
Even from a distance, the radiant aura surrounding him announced his presence. His neatly combed hair and the crisp white uniform—clearly worn after finishing official duties—suited him perfectly.
I hurried toward him.
“Yezar, what brings you here?”
Then his gaze turned to me. At that moment, a smile spread across his previously expressionless face. His cheeks, flushed like a setting sun, and his blue eyes holding me within them, glowed so brightly that it was hard to look directly at him.
“I’m sorry, my lady. Although I couldn’t accompany you, I wanted to come and meet you since you were going out.”
As he spoke, he handed me a bouquet of roses.
“This is…”
Surprised, I took it, and his shy voice gently reached my ears.
“I bought them because they’re as beautiful as your hair color.”
Indeed, the fully bloomed roses in the bouquet were as red as my hair.
“You said you liked flowers, didn’t you?”
That was just a passing comment I’d made to him once, joking about how the scent of flowers always filled the Count’s estate because I loved them.
For him to remember that, and then go out of his way to bring me roses matching my hair color…
‘And besides, it’s not even the season for roses to be in full bloom yet…’
I knew how tightly packed his daily schedule was. Our only chances to talk were during joint training or when falling asleep together in bed.
“…It’s been a very long time since someone gave me such a gift.”
Julietta’s birthday had been terribly lonely. The very people who should have celebrated with her were too busy to be at the estate. Father and the eldest brother were preoccupied with their duties.
“Julietta, I’m sorry. An urgent trade issue has come up, and I must leave immediately.”
“It’s fine. Please go and handle it quickly.”
“Julietta, an emergency has arisen at my department, so I’ll have to stay at the palace for a few days. I’m truly sorry.”
“No, it’s alright. You haven’t been sleeping well lately, and you’re so busy. I understand.”
Still, I was okay because my younger brother had always taken good care of me. But even Weaslet had priorities that didn’t include Julietta.
“Since it’s your birthday, I planned to have breakfast with you.”
“Do you have plans this afternoon?”
“Well, my fiancée asked me to meet her, so I’ll have to go out. I’ve already told the servants to leave your gift in your bedroom.”
“I see.”
“If you’re really bothered, we could have lunch together—”
“No, it’s fine. Go to your fiancée quickly. After marriage, she should be your top priority.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
It’s okay. Really, it’s fine. Everyone is busy. At least my younger brother had breakfast with me. And gave me such expensive gifts. The affection I craved was never meant for me anyway. Why do I keep foolishly wishing for more?
Birthdays weren’t supposed to be special anyway. Back then, I was forcing food into my mouth in the empty banquet hall as the sun set. The room was filled with gifts—precious jewels, accessories, dresses.
But the presents, sitting alone in the empty space where my family should have been, felt like hollow gift boxes.
I remembered my nanny, who had held me close and comforted me, seeing how pitiful I looked.
Ah… Yezar was too kind. He touched my heart. A simple gift he bought just because he thought of me made my chest ache.
Even if he was doing this as the perfect husband, without any deeper meaning, I was genuinely happy. I couldn’t help but smile.
“I’m truly happy… Thank you, Yezar.”
Seeing my expression, his eyes softened gently.
“Then shall we head back now, my lady?”
I naturally took the hand he offered. His words to return home resonated softly in a corner of my heart today.
[This is the timeline separator]Marchioness Stemun watched their retreating figures with a satisfied smile. The other ladies beside her also smiled and continued chatting.
“After all, those rumors must have been false. Look how devoted they are to each other.”
“Exactly. How could such a lady ever be involved in baseless rumors about homosexuality?”
Hearing their words, Marchioness Stemun nodded in agreement.
“Aren’t they such a beautiful couple?”
“Indeed. They’re truly adorable together.”
Just as Marchioness Stemun was thinking she should go inside and prepare to welcome her own husband, her eyes fell on the red rose bouquet cradled in the Duchess’s arms.
“Come to think of it, roses have different meanings by color. The meaning of red roses is…”
Her gaze naturally shifted toward the Duchess.
Ever since his arrival, his eyes had been fixed solely on the Duchess. Seeing his cheeks flushed as if absorbing the color of the red roses, and the way he gazed at the Duchess as if honey were dripping from his eyes, there was no mistaking it.
‘It must be love, right?’
At first, she had sent the invitation simply because she wanted to meet the protagonists of the romance circulating in society. There was also a somewhat calculated hope that inspiration might strike when she saw them.
After all, art often becomes special when it carries the incomprehensible emotion of love. In fact, after falling in love herself, that very emotion had seeped into her painting style.
But after her relationship with Marchioness Yekert soured, the weaker ladies had relayed refusals on her behalf.
She hadn’t expected the newly established Duchess of Ferhaem to accept the invitation. Yet she did, and the Duchess turned out to be refreshingly sweet and charming.
Especially the sight of the Duke and Duchess exchanging a bouquet—so sweet it made her mouth water. Cortina, the Marchioness Stemun and the genius painter hidden behind a veil, felt her hands itching. Inspiration surged so intensely she wanted to run straight to her studio and grab her brush.
The fresh, innocent love she had long forgotten—felt when she first met her husband—resurfaced vividly after so long. Her heart pounded like it did when she first held a paintbrush. This time, there was no doubt: a masterpiece of unprecedented caliber was about to be born.
[This is the timeline separator]“Are you that delighted?”
“Oh, sorry. I was staring at the roses again, wasn’t I?”
Inside the rattling carriage, I gazed at the red roses like someone enchanted by love.
‘But I’m just too happy. What should I do?’
I knew it was just a casual gesture with no special meaning. I shouldn’t misinterpret it. Yet it was impossible to suppress this tingling, fluttering feeling.
“Yezar.”
“Yes, my lady?”
“Did you always take good care of people like this?”
I asked this to calm my rising emotions, knowing well of his kind nature. But his answer left me flustered.
“Not necessarily. But you are my wife, Julietta. I bought them because I wanted to see you happy.”
“…I was happy. But still, it’s not even the season for roses to bloom. Don’t push yourself too hard.”
Then he smiled gently at me, his eyes curving beautifully.
“If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t go to such lengths. But you are the most precious person I must always put first.”
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
