Therefore, please do not insult my husband. He is not someone who deserves to be insulted. It was I who accepted the contract marriage. If there is any fault, it lies with me—the sin of treating marriage so lightly.

At that moment, Father grabbed my body and shook me, as if to snap me back to my senses.

“You’ve been deceived, Julietta—! Haven’t you refused to meet people and shut yourself inside the mansion? That’s why you were so easily swayed by a few words from Duke Ferhaem…….”

His tight grip on my shoulders made my head spin, and I frowned in discomfort. At this, his grip loosened.

“I’m… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Father seemed to think I was in pain. I wasn’t hurt, but continuing to confront him like this wasn’t good. I looked straight into Father’s eyes.

Then I saw the wavering in his gaze. At least now, it seemed possible to have a proper conversation.

“Father, I’m not a fool. I know very well who truly cares for and loves me.”

Yes. I understand now. I know who truly cherishes and loves me. It wasn’t the father standing before me who stayed by my side during hard times. It was my husband, who looked at me with worry and tried to hold me back, pleading for me not to leave.

Therefore, for the sake of the person who values me, I had to do what I must. I pushed away Father’s hands from my shoulders.

“I wasn’t deceived. On the contrary, I’ve been loved here. But I can’t deny that the first button was fastened incorrectly. That’s why I’m leaving. I want to fix it properly.”

Father’s confused gaze shifted from Yezar to me and back again. My decision to cut ties seemed to have shocked him greatly—his earlier fiery energy had noticeably diminished.

“I don’t know anymore, Julietta……. But fine. If that’s what you want, let’s go back and talk about it.”

Father stepped back slightly. But it was only a temporary retreat. If the misunderstanding wasn’t properly cleared up within the Orbetian household, he would return to the Ferhaem residence with an even fiercer expression.

I let out a long breath. I saw Father and my eldest brother heading toward the carriage. I had to follow behind them.

That was the only way to stop the fight for now.

‘Ah. Even though I’m only leaving for a short time, why does my heart feel… so hollow?’

I had only spent about a year here. Yet, leaving this place felt painful, and my steps wouldn’t move forward easily.

Just as I was about to follow Father, Yezar grabbed my wrist.

“My lady, let me beg Father instead. I will beg, and beg again, and keep begging until he forgives me. Can’t you stay here…? I don’t want to let you go…….”

He knew what he was doing, holding me like this. He knew I didn’t want to see him in such a state, yet he still did it……

I deliberately smiled brightly.

“I’m sorry, Yezar. I’ll come back soon. Things are already tense because of the spy, and now I’ve caused trouble. When I return, I’ll properly apologize.”

“That’s not necessary. It’s all my fault.”

“A husband’s fault is also the wife’s fault. So please, don’t say that.”

I carefully released his hand from my wrist. Unable to hold on any longer, he spoke to me.

“As soon as the matter of the spy’s mastermind is resolved, I will come to you. Leaving my wife alone for too long would mean I’ve failed as a husband. Please wait for me just a little while.”

I nodded in response. He wouldn’t lie. He would come find me. He couldn’t bear seeing me lonely and alone.

‘How long has it been since we realized our feelings for each other? And yet we must be apart. I truly don’t want to go…….’

But I had to leave. In truth, the first button hadn’t only been fastened incorrectly in one way. I paused and turned back.

“Ember, and the butler. I entrust the management of the servants to you while I’m away.”

At my request, they nodded seriously.

“Yes. Leave it to us, my lady.”

“We’ll wait for you, my lady.”

Relieved by their responses, I moved forward. I followed Father and my eldest brother into the carriage. It was the carriage heading toward the Orbetian estate.

***

Silence filled the carriage. I didn’t bother to speak, and neither did Father nor my eldest brother.

As soon as I stepped out of the carriage, my nanny rushed over and tightly embraced me.

‘Ah. Right. There’s this place too. Someone who cherishes and loves me.’

“My dear……. My little miss, how long has it been? You look well, having lived in the Ferhaem Duke’s mansion. You’ve become even more beautiful.”

I was the Duchess of Ferhaem now. Yet my nanny still smiled and called me by my old title. Warm, nostalgic memories welled up inside me.

“Thank you, nanny. But I’m the Duchess of Ferhaem now? Calling me ‘miss’?”

“To me, my little miss will always be my small, adorable girl!”

“If you say so, then that’s what I’ll be. I really missed you.”

“I missed you too, my dear.”

Seeing her hug me so warmly, it seemed word hadn’t spread among the servants about what had happened with me. After exchanging warm greetings with my nanny, I headed toward Father’s study.

It was because Father had told me to go ahead first. Since my eldest brother said he’d come shortly, I went to the study alone. And there, I found Weaslet, clearly furious.

“Hello?”

At my greeting, Weaslet let out a scoff as if I were absurd.

“You’re greeting me now?! What the hell was that damn contract? Was there a two-year term so that damn man treated you kindly? Huh?!”

Somehow, his reference to Yezar had turned into “that damn man.” This was an expected reaction. Weaslet always seemed ready to get angry as if it were his own problem.

But his eyes were red—had he been crying? That I hadn’t expected. I felt guilty, as if I’d hurt my younger brother. He must have wished for my happy marriage.

He was the type who’d be shocked just seeing the contract. How great a shock must he have felt seeing that forged document?

I approached my younger brother. Then I hugged him tightly. Since I’d never done this before, I could feel Weaslet’s body stiffen in surprise.

But I meant it sincerely. I was sorry. I had hurt someone who cared for me, and that was true.

“Younger brother, I’m truly sorry. I mean it. I’m sorry for hurting you.”

“……Your voice is trembling, Julietta.”

“Because I’m sorry. Sorry for deceiving you. You were the one who wanted me to be happy. I hid it. I knew you’d clearly be sad if I told you the truth…….”

My younger brother couldn’t possibly have approved of a two-year contract marriage with someone who loved another. He must have grieved alone, feeling sad and depressed, wondering why I had to go through with such a marriage.

“I understand why you’re angry. It’s all my fault. For not telling you the truth…… For deceiving you from the start, I’m sorry. It wasn’t a political marriage, but a contract marriage. I entered into a contract marriage that might have made me unhappy.”

At my confession, Weaslet trembled. An emotion I couldn’t tell whether it was anger or sorrow surged within him.

“……Julietta.”

“……Yes.”

“Is everything written in that contract true? Is that why you couldn’t endure it anymore and demanded divorce from that damn man? And told me you had reconciled well?”

I quickly corrected my younger brother’s misunderstanding.

“No. It was a contract marriage, but the clauses disadvantageous to me were forged. You saw it yourself. You know what kind of person Yezar is…….”

“He might have been acting in front of you.”

“Then let me ask differently. Given my personality, does it seem likely I’d sign such a contract?”

Without hesitation, Weaslet answered immediately.

“No. Given your personality, there’s no way you’d sign such a contract.”

“Yes. I wouldn’t sign a contract like that.”

Only then did Weaslet seem to relax, visibly relieved.

“Haa……. Good, at least it’s not true. That’s a relief.”

“Younger brother……. I’m sorry for making you worry. I truly feel I’ve wronged you. I didn’t want to hurt you. I’m sorry.”

Then Weaslet gently patted my back—a most uncharacteristic gesture.

“It’s okay. As long as you’re happy, that’s all I care about, Julietta. Though I still think Duke Ferhaem is quite despicable…….”

“Don’t take it out on Yezar. He’s someone precious to me.”

“Tch. How can you say the man who proposed a contract marriage to you is wonderful! No, never mind……. Do you like Duke Ferhaem?”

“Yes. I love him.”

At my answer, my younger brother let out a helpless, long sigh. Then he gently pulled me from his embrace and sat me beside him.

“How can I stand in the way of my sister’s love? I’m angry, but that guy……”

“Brother, call him properly.”

“Duke Ferhaem…… I’ve already felt many times during my visits how much he cherishes and values you. But Julietta, deceiving us was wrong.”

“Yes……. I know.”

“Regardless of the current situation, the fact that Duke Ferhaem first made such a proposal was a rude act of disrespect toward you and the Orbetian household. Father will surely not allow you to return to the Ferhaem estate.”

Weaslet’s gaze was utterly serious.