“It was by chance that I met her, and since she kept appearing in my thoughts, I took the initiative to approach her first. My wife doesn’t know this, though.”

“Why hide it? Just say it outright. I also wonder why you never told the girl about our knowing the fact that we were originally in a contract marriage—forcing her to play along pointlessly.”

At Diovil’s reproach, Yezar hesitated briefly before answering.

“It was my selfishness. I didn’t want to let go of Julietta. So I wanted to leave behind anything that might keep her heart tied to me.”

At this answer, Garene and Diovil glanced at their son’s face in surprise. Their son, who had always been so free of desire. Even during that long, unrequited love, he had preferred to watch from afar rather than pursue what he wanted. Garene had nearly suffocated from the frustration back then.

“To see you wanting something for the first time—it’s astonishing. But yes, she’s like sunshine. The way she makes an effort to meet my eyes and smile brightly while talking—it was so lovely.”

Garene recalled the time she had spent with Julietta. Despite struggling inwardly, she had always managed to smile, never once showing displeasure. Diovil shared the same sentiment.

“She listened so attentively to my dull stories, always responding with kind words. There were foods she didn’t like, but since we offered them, she ate them earnestly—I didn’t even realize they were ones she disliked.”

“That’s right. And when I tried to give her a necklace, do you know what she said? She refused, saying an object imbued with someone else’s precious memories was too rare and valuable to accept. That’s when I realized it—ah, a too-precious angel has come to our son.”

They had only briefly seen her face on the wedding day. Neither Garene nor Diovil truly knew what kind of person their son’s wife was. And their son had never shown much interest in women to begin with.

They had briefly worried—but that worry now felt like something to be ashamed of. Julietta was radiant and lively, like a flower blooming in spring, a sweet girl who naturally drew the eye.

The reason their originally planned three-day stay had stretched so long was largely because Julietta had captivated them.

Yezar listened to their words and nodded in understanding.

“Yes. Julietta is someone far too good for me. I dare to hope she won’t leave.”

Garene and Diovil noticed the smile blooming at their son’s lips. Their son, who always wore a pained expression when in love. Now, just thinking of her, he smiled with genuine happiness.

The change was truly astonishing and deeply moving. It was as if that sunlit girl had rekindled the light in their once-dark son.

And in truth, even aside from their son, they had grown fond of Julietta. That bright, cheerful girl, always on the verge of bursting into laughter, had quietly seeped into their hearts.

But Garene momentarily set aside her own wishes and asked Yezar,

“I understand your feelings. But now, what do you want to do? It seems we three are unusually in agreement. Still, if we truly care for that girl, perhaps it would be better to let her go when the contract ends, as originally planned.”

At her words, Diovil’s smiling face turned pale.

“Garene? What are you saying! Didn’t you like our daughter-in-law too?”

“Yes. That’s precisely why I’m saying this. I know that if another woman still occupies my son’s heart, letting her go would be the right thing for the girl.”

Julietta already knew there had been another woman in their son’s heart. And she had seen all the pain and sorrow their son endured because of that love.

To overturn the terms of a contract marriage and beg her to stay would be an unforgivable act.

After all, what wife would willingly accept a husband still clinging to memories of a past love? Garene herself would have packed her bags and returned to her parents’ home if Diovil ever wept over his old flame.

Garene looked her son straight in the eyes.

“Yezar. Are your feelings clear?”

To her question, he answered without hesitation. His emotions were now unmistakably clear, even to himself.

“Yes. Only Julietta—she alone is in my heart.”

“Then I won’t ask further. Marriage means becoming life partners through love. But the girl has witnessed every trace of your past love from beside you, hasn’t she?”

“Yes. That’s true…….”

The face of his wife, who had stepped forward as if it were her own burden, smiling and comforting him whenever he suffered and struggled, came vividly to mind.

“You say your heart is directed toward her, but she might not believe in your love after seeing all that. And each time she discovers a remnant of your past love, she might compare her own position to that woman’s. I want to know—do you truly believe you can accept all those emotions from her, keep trying, and still be happy together?”

Her voice was firm, sharp as a blade. She was telling him that if he lacked the strength to bear it all, then it was right to relinquish his desire and let her go.

Yezar recalled the days he had spent with Julietta in response to Garene’s question. At first, their meeting had been absurd. Then, a few conversations over drinks had strangely lingered in his heart. He had felt unfamiliar with himself—doing things he never usually did, even becoming a coward who wanted to run away at times.

While his body moved instinctively toward Julietta, his mind had hesitated, uncertain. Was it alright? Was he pointlessly wasting her time?

But amid these growing doubts, clarity faded. He had been happy. The conversations, the time, the kisses—they soaked his entire being like steady, gentle rain.

One should shiver from being drenched in rain, yet this warmth was so intense it felt as if it could consume his entire being, and he wouldn’t mind at all.

“If Julietta doubts my love, I will let her hear the fierce heartbeat that beats only for her. If she gets angry and draws her sword at me for harboring another woman in my heart for so long, that’s fine. As long as she smiles at me again once her anger fades, that will be enough.”

He had no intention of ending things after the two-year contract. Julietta, who always put others first and placed herself last—precisely because of that, he wanted to be the one who placed her first, always by her side.

“Mother, as long as she remains by my side, every day of mine will be spring.”

Only then did Garene’s stern eyes soften gently. Her voice, once cold as winter, now resonated calmly.

“So you truly love her?”

To this question, Yezar answered with infinite sincerity.

“…I do. I love her. Julietta, my wife.”

I love her. His heart was filled only with her. Even now, he longed so deeply to see her face.

“Yes. Your heart is certain. I don’t know how she feels yet……. Hmph. If that’s your resolve, then properly charm her. We’ve only ever given you the best—how can you still be stuck in a contract marriage?”

That rebuke pierced Yezar’s chest painfully. Diovil, who had been listening, stood and placed a firm hand on his son’s shoulder.

“I somewhat agree with Garene, son. Your anniversary is coming soon. After a year together, you should at least have made her develop some affection for you.”

“I’m trying…….”

Then, as if sharing a good tip, Diovil whispered to Yezar.

“If all else fails, try seducing her with your well-trained body. Your mother was also won over when I used my—hmm, well.”

“Ahem.”

Yezar frowned as he noticed his parents exchanging knowing glances.

“I’ll handle it myself. Let’s go have a meal. Julietta will be waiting.”

At that, they quickly stood up.

“Oh dear. Our daughter-in-law shouldn’t have to wait anxiously for me.”

“Oh my. We can’t keep our daughter-in-law waiting.”

Watching their retreating backs, Yezar let out a soft laugh. His parents were always so flustered. Soon after, his father rushed toward Julietta the moment he saw her, blurting out various worries.

His mother, as expected, approached him and whispered one sentence.

“To me, there is only one daughter-in-law—and that’s her.”

After winking, his mother went to greet Julietta warmly. Julietta, who had been busily attending to his parents, spotted him and beamed, waving her hand.

A blush naturally rose to his cheeks.

“Yes. To me, she is my final love.”

Even if I let the first time pass aimlessly, for the years ahead—10, 20 years……until the very end—I will gladly pour myself into you.

Keep looking at me like this, Julietta. I am seducing you, hoping that our end won’t be merely two short years.

He gently embraced Julietta as she hurried toward him. Her eyes sparkled with life, like fresh green sprouts just breaking through the soil.

Whenever those eyes looked fully at him, he always longed to be close to her.

“Yezar?”

His lips met hers with a soft kiss. They brushed lightly, then pulled away, only to press gently again at the corner of her mouth.

Julietta suddenly came to her senses and exclaimed.

“Ah, Mother and Father are here!”

He smiled innocently and whispered to her.

“I have to do today what I couldn’t do earlier, wife.”

“Still……!”

Like sugar melting under the blazing sun, he wished for her to melt into him completely. With that thought, he pressed a kiss onto her deeply flushed cheek. Of course, he stopped immediately when her hand gently patted his back, reminding him not to make her uncomfortable.