Ah, of course this isn’t about me. So, how would the lady feel, I wonder, when Yezar ended up in a real marriage instead of just a contract one?

“That’s something I already know well—the wretched glances clinging to such a remarkable lady. Many would gladly spar with her one by one.”

“Wretched glances toward me? Probably just curiosity because I’m the rumored Duchess of Ferhaem. And don’t waste your effort sparring with others. You should spar with me instead.”

He’d been so busy lately that we barely had time to spar anyway. Now he wanted to spar with someone else? Not a single hair of me wanted to give up such a precious opportunity to another.

“I barely have enough time to devote to my lady. Still, Julietta, I think you need a more objective view of your own appearance.”

If he kept telling me I was beautiful, I might start believing I was truly peerless. While I knew I was good-looking, I also knew I wasn’t someone who could captivate every gaze.

But arguing here wouldn’t make Yezar change his mind—he was too stubborn. So this time, I decided to back down.

“Yes. I’ll take care of all those numerous men who seek sparring opportunities with me due to my appearance.”

That settled it, didn’t it? If any wretched scoundrel truly dared to approach me, a married woman, I’d personally deal with them in his place while he stayed busy.

“That way, Yezar won’t have to think about anyone else and can focus solely on sparring with me.”

I shrugged my shoulders as I said this, and he laughed.

“It does seem that way. But if another man grabs your hand and keeps trying to talk to you, don’t be kind—just push him away. Better yet, draw a sword. I’ll handle the aftermath.”

He wouldn’t say something he couldn’t back up. So those words must have been sincere.

‘Now that I think about it, he mentioned recently that he’s almost out of stock because he’s broken too many wooden dolls.’

If some vile trash dared to approach me, a married woman, maybe I could just tap them lightly with my scabbard, like knocking over a wooden doll.

People don’t break easily anyway, and besides, the one who did something vile deserves whatever comes to them.

“I’ll try treating them like wooden dolls.”

He fell silent for a moment, then added:

“Please control your strength.”

“Of course. I learned how to do it skillfully—just up to the point before someone faints—last time.”

Back then, when I taught that pickpocket a lesson, how exhilarating it felt. Even recalling it now, it was as if all my muscle soreness melted away.

Just then, the gentle melody changed. Camileo and Bertisha joined hands and began dancing with me.

‘The first dance was with the imperial family, right? Then everyone dances with their partners and enjoys the atmosphere…’

Relying on hazy memories, I vaguely recalled the procedure and quietly watched them dance.

Indeed, regardless of how awkward I felt around them, they looked perfectly matched, and everyone watched them in awe.

“How can His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress be so perfectly suited?”

“Exactly. The way they look at each other is so sweet, I feel like melting myself.”

Their gaze, as if seeing only each other, seemed like the perfect picture of love. Like protagonists who’ve reached their happy ending, with nothing left but joy.

‘Then why don’t they just stay happy together? Why keep dragging poor Yezar into it?’

I could understand Camileo’s confusion—he might have been startled by my sudden, unexplained distance. But Bertisha’s feelings made no sense. She had a husband who adored her and the exalted position of Empress. Why did she come to me, speaking so much about Yezar, wanting to return their relationship to how it once was?

The “past” she longed for must have been when Yezar was infatuated with her, endlessly doting on her from behind.

The dance ended as smoothly as flowing water, and other nobles began pairing up and moving toward the center of the hall.

That’s when Bertisha’s gaze landed on me—more precisely, on Yezar standing beside me.

I clearly saw her smile warmly upon seeing him, then whisper something to Camileo at her side.

‘I don’t understand. Why are you doing this, Bertisha?’

Yezar didn’t want to grow close to them again. If they remembered their time together as a fond memory, for Yezar, it had been nothing but a painful chapter.

So why, after being close for so long, did they refuse to understand his feelings?

“Julietta.”

“Ah, yes?”

“You’ve been deep in thought for quite some time. You looked even more serious than I did.”

He looked at me with mild concern. It should have been Yezar whose heart was tangled now—yet here he was, checking on me.

I quickly came up with a plausible excuse.

“Ah… I was just thinking that I have to dance now. My dancing skills aren’t very good, so I was worried.”

Hearing this, Yezar sighed in relief and extended his hand toward me.

“Didn’t you already dance with me once before? Don’t worry, it’ll be fine. I’ll lead again this time.”

My mind was so chaotic I felt like I might actually mess up this time. Yet, despite my anxiety, I couldn’t refuse his outstretched hand, so I carefully placed my hand in his.

***

He wrapped his arm around my waist and began moving slowly. I followed his lead, keeping time with the music and his movements.

“There was no need to worry. You’re doing well, aren’t you?”

“Really? When I danced in the plaza, I felt relaxed and it was fine. But now I’m so nervous about making a mistake.”

I was desperately trying not to expose my clumsy dancing. Making a mistake here would inevitably become gossip.

“Just slowly turn once and come back to me.”

Still, because he kept reassuring me and leading me gently, I made fewer mistakes than my tension suggested. But the moment I met Bertisha’s persistent gaze fixed on us, my attention involuntarily shifted in that direction.

I missed a beat, my steps tangled, and I stepped hard on his foot. Shocked, my mind went completely blank.

‘Oh no! I’m wearing high heels!’

I worried if Yezar’s foot was okay. My already tense body stiffened further, making it hard to move.

“Y-Yezar…”

I was embarrassed that everyone had just seen my clumsy dancing, and at the same time, deeply concerned about his foot. My face flushed deeply as I called his name, and he smiled reassuringly.

Overwhelmed by guilt, I didn’t know what to do—when he responded with self-blame.

“It’s my fault for not dodging your foot.”

It was entirely my fault, yet why was he blaming himself? I doubted I’d ever get used to this side of him.

I struggled to move my stiff body again—when suddenly, he lifted me up into his arms. I immediately felt his hands supporting my waist and legs.

“W-what are you doing!”

“Well, I thought I’d try dancing wrong too.”

Muttering such incomprehensible words, he slowly spun once around the hall while holding me in his arms, just like the other couples danced. The flowing fabric of my dress fluttered with his movements.

I kept punching his chest with my fists, demanding to be put down, but he didn’t budge.

“Now that’s enough. Put me down, Yezar.”

In response to my plea, he kindly explained why he was dancing while holding me like this.

“I’m making it so you don’t have to force your body to move. I could see you were stiff. Otherwise, you’d miss the beat again while dancing.”

“Even so, to carry someone like this…”

“Everyone is staring, though. At my beautiful wife.”

I heard gasps around us—apparently, Yezar’s words had reached the ears of the other dancers.

‘Has he gone mad?’

My face burned even hotter in response. He stubbornly continued dancing with me in his arms, finally setting me down when I squirmed intensely during a brief pause in the music.

I wanted to just leave it at that, but he kept his arm around my waist and said:

“You remember the next move, don’t you, my lady?”

Just like at the beginning, he led me. I was about to say I had no idea—but somehow, after being held and wriggling in his arms, my stiff body had loosened up. Following his movements felt natural now. Watching me, Yezar broke into a bright smile.

“It seems your body has loosened up. Now you can dance without trouble, right?”

Seeing him smile so brightly, I couldn’t help but laugh. What was I supposed to do with this man? How could I possibly handle someone who cared only for me, so desperately eager to make things easier?

“Ah, huff, ahaha. How could I ever stop you, Yezar?”

Being with him always brought unexpected things. But they were so delightful that laughter kept spilling out.

As the dance drew to a close, I moved perfectly in sync with him, feeling his breath as I followed his lead.

“Yezar?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Does your foot hurt from where I stepped on it?”

“…It doesn’t hurt.”

“You’re terrible at lying—so why lie? After the dance ends, we’re going to check on it.”

It must have hurt, yet he still danced with me in his arms. But perhaps I didn’t mind such recklessness because I knew it came from pure kindness.

‘Where else could you find a husband who’d make the same mistake as his embarrassed wife just to protect her?’

Laughing joyfully, I brought our dance to an end.