“Sounds the same? Can’t you speak clearly?”

At Yezar’s scolding, the knights bowed their heads.

“We’re sorry.”

“To think this happened while I was briefly away. You’d better be thorough tomorrow.”

“Yes, my lord…”

I grew anxious and tugged at Yezar’s arm.

“I think I need to go to my study. Can you ensure no one enters?”

If the contract had disappeared, it would be a big problem. I didn’t care about the gossip of scandalmongers. After all, many marriages were arranged for political reasons. There might be controversy, but it wouldn’t be a major flaw. But my family was different. If they found out, they wouldn’t stay quiet.

“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. I’ll station knights to guard the front during your inspection, just in case.”

“Thank you.”

I replied as I hurriedly rushed to my study.

“It’s gone…”

It was gone. Only the contract, carefully hidden, had disappeared. No other valuables or jewels were missing—just that. It didn’t feel right.

And in my study, not Yezar’s office? It felt like someone had acted with malice toward me.

A face flashed through my mind. But what could someone who had just given birth do? The empire was abuzz celebrating the prince’s birth, and Bertisha, having completed childbirth, was said to be resting.

‘Am I overthinking this out of personal feelings? No matter how much Bertisha dislikes me, she wouldn’t go as far as to rummage through the Ferhaem duchy…’

Yet my instincts kept insisting that Bertisha, she, was the culprit. I steadied my breath and left the disordered study. Then I spoke to the knight waiting at the door.

“Sir, can you quickly bring me a messenger bird?”

There was someone perfect for uncovering the truth behind this. I needed to contact Felanne urgently.

Having sent a messenger bird to Felanne in a hurry, I lay my weary body on the bed. I had been so happy to finally connect with him. But now it felt like a bolt from the blue.

‘The knights who failed to notice a spy will likely face punishment, won’t they?’

The heavy atmosphere came back vividly. It was an unavoidable reprimand. After all, they had let a spy roam freely in the Ferhaem duchy.

If I hadn’t gone out and had been in my study as usual, overseeing internal affairs, what harm might I have faced if I’d encountered that spy? Even though I’m learning swordsmanship, it’s unlikely a mediocre fighter would infiltrate the Ferhaem duchy. Injury would have been inevitable.

Yezar, busy inspecting the duchy, came to the bedroom later than usual. It was well past midnight, and I was about to urge him to rest when—

He knelt before me.

“Y-Yezar…? What are you doing!”

So startled that the sleepiness waiting for him fled, Yezar spoke to me in a serious tone.

“…I have no face to show you, my lady. You could have been in danger.”

“No! I’m fine. I’m not hurt at all.”

Despite my words, he lowered his head.

“Even if you’re unharmed, the fact that you were nearly in danger doesn’t change. In truth, it’s not the knights’ fault—it’s all mine. I was so caught up in wooing you that I paid less attention to the mansion’s security than usual.”

“Yezar…”

“Please punish me, my lady. I’m ashamed that I, who you said you love, not only failed to give you what you like but put you in danger.”

I reached out and cupped his face.

“Please look up. Look into my eyes, okay?”

“I’m not worthy to meet your eyes…”

“I want to see your face, Yezar. Please grant my request.”

Then he raised his head. His expression trembled with anxiety. What was he afraid of?

“Why are you trembling so? Even your eyes are red…”

“I-I’m scared… that you’ll be disappointed in me and leave… The joy of connecting with you was so overwhelming, and now I’m just as terrified.”

My husband was a fool. To think I’d leave him over this. I got off the bed where I was sitting and knelt. Then I hugged him tightly.

“Yezar, I really love you. You don’t know how hard it was to hold back from telling you I love you every day.”

“…Even someone as unworthy as me?”

“Unworthy? What’s unworthy? I’m the unworthy one. I got sulky because you didn’t accept my love. I was about to finally say the words that kept rising to my throat, but you didn’t listen. I resented you for not understanding my heart. Did you really never know? Never notice anything? I was the one who brought up divorce first, so I’m the unworthy one, aren’t I?”

“That’s not true… You’ve never been unworthy, my lady.”

“Yes. That’s how I feel too, Yezar.”

I pressed my lips firmly against his reddened eyes. I didn’t want him to cry. I didn’t want him to feel guilty. I didn’t want us to drift apart anymore.

“We’ve shared our hearts. It hasn’t even been long, and I don’t want us to drift apart again. A year of misunderstandings and missteps is enough.”

The time we let slip away felt wasted. I could have felt more joy with you. My cowardly heart and foolish misunderstandings led us on a long detour.

“I love you. Don’t think I’d leave you over something like this. I don’t want to let you go anymore. From now on, I’ll act on my desires. I’ll confess my love, cherish you, and reach for you.”

As if sealing that resolve, I kissed his lips. He hesitated, then said shyly,

“This is a reward… not a punishment, Julietta.”

It’s fine. My husband is stubborn to the end. I confessed the lie I’d told him.

“Then punish me too. I lied to you, Yezar.”

“You lied to me, Julietta…?”

“Yes. The magic that affected you was actually cast on me. It was a spell to make the person I love desire me. That’s why you desired me. As a result, I took your purity. Now, punish this wretched scoundrel.”

“Even without magic, I wanted you to take my purity…!”

“Shh! Be quiet. Back then, I didn’t know you loved me. A wrong is a wrong.”

At my firm response, he faltered uncharacteristically, looking at me as if unsure what to do.

“But how could I punish you…! I could never do that.”

At the expected reply, I smiled brightly.

“Yes. That’s how I feel too. So let’s hold each other tightly and let the past go.”

As if realizing my intent, he rubbed my back. A languid sigh escaped me.

“I can never win against you, my lady…”

His voice, admitting defeat, sparked my playful side, and I whispered seductively,

“Oh? Then give me a kiss… Mm!”

Before I could finish, he pulled my face closer. Then, like melting candy, he devoured me slowly. My face flushed red in no time.

Soon, Yezar pulled away reluctantly and said,

“The duchy will be chaotic for a while, so rest, my lady. Once things settle, we’ll set the next conjugal night right away.”

His sultry voice clung to me stickily. My body heated up. He kissed my ear and whispered provocative words.

“…That day, I’ll make sure you can’t leave the bed. I’ll mark your body with my traces, so the maids won’t call me a refined gentleman.”

Recalling that dizzying night at the inn, I nodded slightly.

Truly, his seduction was hard to resist.

These past few days, the duchy was in disarray. Even the knights, who used to chuckle, moved about with stern faces. This time it was the knights, but next time it could be different. They began thoroughly investigating the newly hired servants again.

And their question was why the spy targeted my study, not Yezar’s, the duke’s. Seeing it as a threat against me, Yezar was on edge, tirelessly searching for the culprit, which I keenly felt recently.

‘I want to help too.’

Though Felanne was gathering information, there was still no word. For now, I subtly informed Yezar that the marriage contract was missing, but finding its whereabouts was difficult.

If it had fallen into someone’s hands, there would be rumors. But there were none.

Sighing in frustration, Ember announced a visitor. Puzzled, as I hadn’t invited anyone, I went to the entrance.

There, catching their breath as if they’d rushed over, was my elder brother waiting for me. He wasn’t taken to the parlor, likely because Ember knew he was an uninvited guest.

“Elder brother…”

Seeing his face after so long softened my heart. I opened my mouth to send him away quickly, but my elder brother said something unexpected.

“What are these documents that arrived at the Orbetian count’s house, Julietta…?”