Yezar Ferhaem’s eyes curved gracefully.He lightly tapped my hand holding his fingertips, as if playing the piano keys.

When I relaxed my grip, his long fingers slid along my palm, gently clasping it.The warmth of his touch slowly warmed my palm.

“That’s not true. I’m speaking my feelings honestly in front of you.You’re the kind of lady who’d notice if I forced a smile, and I don’t want to cause you more worry.”

“What’s wrong with causing worry? I’m Yezar’s wife, after all. Anything is fine.”

If he was troubled by lingering feelings for Bertisha, I wished he’d confide in me.Pent-up emotions fester over time, becoming something you can’t discard and must carry.

I hoped he could shake off those feelings, letting go of any lingering attachment to Bertisha.

A clear, refreshing laugh, like morning dew on grass, softly echoed in my ears.

“You’re right. Julietta is my wife.But I don’t want to be a husband who hides helplessly behind his wife.”

Despite the situation, I pictured a golden retriever with its tail and ears drooping, hiding behind me.

It’d probably be quite cute.

While I was imagining something rude about Yezar, his next words startled me.

“I’ve caused you trouble, my lady.”

“What? You, to me?”

If anyone was at fault, it was me. He had done nothing wrong.

“If I hadn’t ignored her letter and had clearly conveyed my intentions,you wouldn’t have had to face her today. You wouldn’t have had to leave tea early to worry about me or have an unpleasant experience.”

Even if Yezar had clearly conveyed his intentions to Bertisha, she would’ve come to see me.The fact that a man who once gazed at her like a sunflower now looked elsewhere wouldn’t have changed.

I didn’t want to think ill, but it seemed right to assume Bertisha was angry, believing I’d taken something she rightfully owned.

So, I didn’t want to give her anything—his longing, his sadness, his pain.There was nothing to give to someone who didn’t cherish him.

“It’s fine! She’s someone I’d have met at some official event eventually.Besides, the tea wasn’t as enjoyable as I thought, so I left early.I need to do well as a duchess, but social activities are still difficult for me.”

I smiled brightly, hoping Yezar wouldn’t worry that I felt out of place at the tea.When I smiled brightly, he always smiled back.

When he saw my smile, he soon smiled too.

“You can take it one step at a time. If social activities are hard, you don’t have to go.Just meet someone you get along with, like at Marchioness Stemun’s, and talk with a smile.”

“Yes, I’ll do that. So, Yezar, I didn’t have an unpleasant experience.You haven’t caused me any trouble.”

“But, my lady…”

His hand trembled slightly. His wavering eyes and reddened rims looked anxious.

“I don’t know if you overlooked it because you see this as a contract marriage,but I think it’s wrong that I let a rational friend, not even of the same sex, ask you for favors related to me.If we were an intimate couple, you’d likely feel upset if someone your husband was once close to came asking to reconnect.”

Oh! The unpleasant experience he meant was a close female friend unnecessarily approaching his wife to make requests about him.

So, what people call that is jealousy, right?

The natural jealousy a wife feels for her husband, or a husband for his wife.Honestly, hearing Bertisha talk about Yezar wasn’t exactly pleasant.

I had some affection for him, and even if it was a contract, I was his wife.

“Of course, we’re a contract couple… so it might not have been an unpleasant experience for you,but if it were me, I would’ve been upset.”

His hesitant, uncertain tone became clear by the end. He was saying he’d be upset—jealous, in other words.

…Not a good attitude for a clean contract relationship.

But even if he only wanted a short-term contract, he hoped we’d be a couple who cared for and considered each other.With a bit of selfishness, I answered him.

“Aren’t you curious about Her Majesty the Empress’s recent affairs?”

“No, I’m not particularly curious.”

“But you were quite close. You spent most of your days together at one point.”

He carefully chose his words.

“The person closest to me now is you, my lady, not Her Majesty the Empress.”

It was like him. Calling her “Her Majesty” instead of her name, drawing a line, was likely out of consideration for me, his wife.

“But hasn’t the time you spent with Her Majesty been much longer than with me?The memories you built must be special too.”

When I pressed him, unlike my usual self, Yezar looked at me, unsure what to do.I couldn’t hold back a chuckle.

As I started laughing out loud, Yezar stared at me, as if he didn’t understand what was happening.

“Pfft. Sorry. Was I being too petulant?”

“Petulant?”

“Yes, I was throwing a tantrum because of the unpleasant experience.”

Realizing my intent, he smiled happily but then hesitated, wondering if it was okay to be happy about this.Seeing his lips move to apologize, I spoke to him.

“No more apologies, please. I’ve heard enough and don’t want more.Instead, smile for me. You know I love seeing you smile.”

His cheeks flushed peach-pink. He seemed shy. His soft-spoken voice was bashful.

“…I always feel cared for.”

He blushed so quickly, got sulky so easily. Few people’s emotions showed so clearly on their face.

“Because you care for and respect me, Yezar. I’m just doing the same.”

I received comfort from him that even my family couldn’t give.So, it was only natural for me to care for and respect him.

Holding his hand, smiling continuously, he asked me,

“May I ask you something, my lady?”

“Yes, it’s fine.”

Why does he look so serious?

Curious, I waited for his question. Its unexpected content made me blink for a moment.

“Before our marriage… did you ever have feelings for someone rational, or anything like that…?”

If I had, would his expression turn crestfallen? Would he feel guilty, thinking he forced me into an unwanted marriage?With Yezar, probably both.

“I was practically confined to the estate, so I didn’t have any close rational people.The only man in my life is you, Yezar.”

“Is that so?”

He looked relieved. Somehow, a playful urge sparked.

“Of course, who knows what the future holds.”

Maybe there was a hint of spite. He had Bertisha, someone closer than me, and he’d given her his heart.

He froze for a moment, then whispered softly to me.

“Still, right now, I’m your husband.”

Looking into his serious blue eyes, my spiteful feelings melted away.Maybe I teased him to hear those words.

“Yes, and I’m your wife.”

I might want to keep playing this childlike husband-and-wife game for a long time.The better he treated me, the more that thought blossomed.

A few days had passed since attending the tea at Marchioness Yekert’s.I was surprised anew by the news the butler brought me.

“They say unkind rumors about you, my lady, are spreading among the noblewomen.”

“Already? I knew it would happen, but is Marchioness Yekert really that diligent?”

I thought it’d take at least a week for rumors to spread.I didn’t expect unkind rumors about me to circulate so quickly.

The butler, surprised, asked me,

“What do you mean you knew it would happen, my lady?”

“Well… I left early because I wasn’t feeling well.”

Of course, the situation was complicated, but I couldn’t explain in detail.

“I see. Marchioness Yekert has a fastidious nature, so she might not have liked that.”

But it couldn’t be helped. I couldn’t let Yezar and Bertisha meet either.

“Can you tell me exactly what the unkind rumors about me are?”

“They say there’s a reason you didn’t fit in with high society,that you mingled with commoners inappropriately and took pride in it without shame.”

“That’s the kind of rumor that’d shock rigid noblewomen.”

Dividing people by status never felt natural to me.Nobles kept to nobles, commoners to commoners, drawing lines and refusing to cross them.

That’s why I was lonely at Count Orbetian’s estate.There were plenty of people, but they drew a line, treating me as a lady to serve, avoiding overly friendly actions.

“My lady, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. I don’t care much about rumors about me.But if they cause harm to the ducal estate, I won’t sit still.”

It was fine if they slandered me.But I wouldn’t tolerate them targeting the people here who cared for me.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door. When I said to come in, a young girl entered.

“Thank you for hiring me, my lady.”

It was Lopi, the maid I’d decided to hire from Marchioness Yekert’s estate.