Sweet. Ah, too sweet.

It didn’t seem like we’d been together for very long. Yet so many awkward situations had occurred—ones I never would’ve experienced if I’d been alone. Naturally, I’d also found myself smiling much more often.

In the past, when I sat by the window gazing at the night sky, I used to recall one by one the things I missed from my previous life. Now, memories of the times I’d spent with him quietly drifted across my mind.

‘Even if this someday comes to an end, these feelings will remain with me for a long time.’

I’d look back and think, “Those days were truly wonderful.” Occasionally, I’d wonder how he was doing, and from afar, I’d silently wish for him to find someone who could heal the pain of heartbreak and make him happy.

That would be enough. I didn’t want to burden him with my desires or make him uncomfortable. Every moment spent with him felt so precious that I never dared to distort it.

While counting the stars embroidered across the pitch-black night sky, I suddenly heard the quiet sound of the door opening.

“I… have resolved it.”

Seeing Yezar entering hesitantly, I couldn’t help but smile. Clearly, I myself was embarrassed—my ears were completely red.

Playfully, I asked,

“So, you’ll speak with me again now?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“If you pull the blanket up to your neck again, that’s not allowed.”

“I won’t do that, my lady.”

Even as he said this, he stood at a noticeable distance from me.

“Alright. But Yezar, why are you keeping your distance from me?”

Upon this, Yezar stepped closer. Unconsciously, my body flinched. He paused briefly and said to me,

“My lady, you flinched when I approached.”

I hesitated for a moment, lips trembling, then summoned my courage and took his hand. Then, moving in slightly awkward rhythm, I led him to the bed and gently pushed him down.

Yezar collapsed limply onto the bed, and I quickly lay down beside him. Startled, Yezar called my name.

“M-Milady?”

“It seemed like nothing would change if we just stood like this! I don’t want to have awkward conversations tomorrow. I hate the idea of growing close and then drifting apart.”

“Still, this is too close.”

“Close, yes, but we’re not even touching. And after sharing the same bed every night, isn’t this a bit unnecessary?”

“I don’t think you’ll be very convincing when speaking with such a flushed face, Julietta.”

I pretended not to notice. After all, I’d never seen a man react like this before.

“It’s my first time experiencing this, so of course I’m embarrassed and shy—what can I do? But I dislike the thought of becoming awkward with Yezar even more than this embarrassment. I’ve taken courage. What about you? Will you keep hesitating like this?”

“No. Since my lady has shown courage, I won’t avoid it. I also don’t wish for our precious time of conversation to shrink further due to growing awkwardness.”

Realizing that he, too, cherished these moments of sharing our daily lives as much as I did, I felt strangely happy.

“Pff. Ah, even a contract marriage isn’t exactly easy.”

“A contract marriage is still a marriage, after all. It’s a time of adjusting to another person.”

Sharing everyday life with someone entirely different couldn’t be easy. We’d met knowing only fragmented pieces about each other, so it was even harder.

Ah, of course, I had watched Yezar from within the novel, so I probably knew him better than he knew me.

“Then this is our adjustment period. Let’s adapt well, shall we?”

“Yes. Perhaps in one year, we’ll understand each other better and adjust more smoothly than we do now?”

Now that I thought about it, our contract period was two years. Usually, in other novels, it was just one year? That’s why I rarely saw marriage anniversaries being celebrated.

“In a year, we’ll have a wedding anniversary. Celebrating it once might be fun.”

After all, he wanted a life resembling that of a real married couple. Maybe I should try everything possible.

“Of course, if it feels burdensome, we don’t have to celebrate. We agreed to respect each other’s wishes.”

“How could it be burdensome? I’d truly enjoy it. Though, my parents might visit the ducal estate around that time. My mother especially holds such anniversaries in high regard.”

Recalling what he’d told me, his mother did seem like someone who particularly valued special occasions.

“That’s great. By then, I’ll naturally fit the role of a wife, and no matter what questions your parents ask, I’ll be able to answer well.”

“Would it be uncomfortable for you if my parents stayed at the estate?”

“Well, aren’t they good people?”

My cheerful reply made Yezar’s expression unexpectedly darken.

“I brought it up because I worried you might find my parents inconvenient. You’re so kind and gentle—it makes me feel guilty.”

“But they’re Yezar’s parents. People who raised such a wonderful son couldn’t possibly be bad.”

“Your opinion of me, Julietta, is far too generous.”

“It’s not excessive at all. To me, Yezar has always been someone admirable and impressive.”

That was exactly why I felt this fluttering emotion. He was someone I couldn’t help but grow fond of naturally. He had seeped into me so deeply that it was almost frightening—like I needed emotional safeguards.

“I think my face is turning red again…”

“It’s okay. Mine is red too.”

We laughed from embarrassment, our faces flushed and everything a mess. But perhaps nights like this, messy as they were, weren’t so bad after all.

The maids were checking my appearance with unusually stern expressions. Even when they had helped me choose my outfit for the picnic with Yezar, they had been careful—but then, their faces had been bright with smiles.

Now, however, they were completely serious, putting in tremendous effort.

‘Why has the cheerful atmosphere suddenly turned like this?’

Just moments ago, the maids had been giggling, debating whether this outfit or that one was better for attending the tea party. But the moment Ember opened the door and spoke, the atmosphere changed drastically.

“This isn’t a time for laughter and chatter. My lady is heading to attend the tea party hosted by the Marchioness Yekert.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the maids lined up sharply in front of Ember and responded in a serious tone I’d never heard before.

“Head Maid, please give us your instructions.”

“What must we do to make my lady look absolutely perfect above anyone else today?”

An eerie silence fell, with no unnecessary words spoken. I opened my mouth, feeling uneasy.

“Do we really need to go to such lengths for the Marchioness Yekert’s tea party?”

At once, their hands froze. May, the most outspoken among them, trembled and cried out to me.

“My lady, how can you say such a thing? The Marchioness Yekert! She’s the viper lady who criticizes even the slightest misalignment in attire and dominates weaker noblewomen!”

Certainly, the butler hadn’t mentioned anything like this. But among the maids, it seemed she was infamous enough for rumors to spread widely.

“May! How can you speak so loudly in front of my lady?”

Ember scolded her, and May immediately gasped and clamped her mouth shut. Apparently, she was being reprimanded for openly badmouthing another noblewoman in my presence. I was about to tell her not to worry so much—had it not been for what came next.

“Besides, calling her a viper lady… that title is practically a compliment to the Marchioness Yekert.”

Huh? Ember wasn’t usually one to speak ill of others. And she said that was almost a compliment?

I had thought attending the Marchioness Yekert’s tea party wouldn’t be as relaxing as the previous one hosted by Marchioness Stemun. But it seemed I was heading somewhere even more terrifying than I’d imagined.

As I nervously glanced around, Ember skillfully pinned up my hair and said,

“My lady will do fine, but the Marchioness Yekert has rather unpleasant tastes.”

“What kind of unpleasant tastes?”

“She enjoys finding flaws in noblewomen unfamiliar with high society and humiliating them. She also targets proud noblewomen who don’t bow their heads before her. For example, she might misinform guests about the dress code or deliberately give the wrong arrival time—either extremely early or extremely late.”

I thought it was a rather petty way to torment people. I began wondering if it was too late to cancel.

“Furthermore, if someone accepts the invitation but later doesn’t show up due to personal reasons, she seizes the opportunity to punish their underlings. She’s truly malicious.”

It’s going to be tough. Cancellation was now definitively impossible.

‘Sigh. No wonder even Ember speaks of her this way.’

It wasn’t someone else’s problem—she’d experienced it herself. Now I understood why Marchioness Stemun had assumed I’d naturally accept the Marchioness Yekert’s invitation.

With such a person at the center of high society and noblewomen’s circles, who would dare consider declining?

“I truly hope my lady doesn’t get hurt.”

Ember expressed her worry in a voice filled with genuine concern. The other maids standing before me felt the same way. Their usually bright eyes were now moist.

“I’m the Duchess of the Ferhaem Duchy. Don’t worry too much. I’ll have a good conversation and return safely.”

Of course, the Marchioness Yekert likely already knew I had attended Marchioness Stemun’s tea party. She was probably waiting for me with full intent.

“If that lady happens to find fault with you, punish us instead, my lady.”

“Why would I punish you? You’re serving me so perfectly.”

“But, my lady…”

“It’s alright. And I truly love seeing everyone in the ducal estate happy. Will you smile for me?”

At my words, they all tried their best to smile through their worried expressions. Truly, the people in this mansion were all equally adorable and dear to me.