Chapter 16
Julietta Orbetian might cause trouble the next day if she drank any more, or so it seemed.Yezar Ferhaem stood with a glass of wine and asked the head maid waiting outside to bring warm water mixed with honey.+
During that brief moment, Julietta seemed to have fallen asleep, her face resting on the table.+
“Madam, let’s go to bed. It’s chilly here.”+
“Mm, I’ll go…”+
Perhaps due to her drunkenness, her words trailed off, and she blinked tiredly.Yezar Ferhaem gently sat her on the edge of the bed and handed her the glass of water the head maid had brought.+
Julietta, staring blankly, drank it down without hesitation.+
“Ah, that feels nice.”+
“Are you feeling alright?”+
“I’m fine… Is this honey? It’s so sweet…”+
“Is it?”+
She said she felt good, so it didn’t seem unpleasant.While wondering whether to ask for more honey water, Julietta asked,+
“Are you curious?”+
“Pardon?”+
“I mean, are you curious if it’s sweet or not? If you are, want to come closer?”+
He wasn’t that curious, but Yezar Ferhaem, wanting to comply, approached Julietta.Then, instead of the glass, something else briefly touched his lips.+
A sweet taste flowed into Yezar Ferhaem’s mouth, startling him.His mind was in disarray, and his ears flushed red.+
Soon, their lips parted softly, and Julietta asked calmly,+
“Mmm, is it sweet…?”+
“Why… why with your mouth…?”+
“Oh, I drank all the honey water in the glass…”+
Her eyes blinked slowly as she pointed unsteadily at the glass.+
“But your lips are sweet.”+
“…”+
“Did Yezar Ferhaem have some honey too?”+
Her innocent eyes held him.Yezar Ferhaem, his face thoroughly flushed, shook his head.+
“I didn’t…”+
“Then, maybe your lips are just naturally sweet.”+
Seeing the woman smiling brightly, Yezar Ferhaem wondered what to do with her.It seemed the only option was to put her to bed gently, but as he tried,+
She chirped softly like a small bird.+
“Talking about that knight reminded me, I don’t believe in love at first sight.”
Come to think of it, among the conditions she sought in a husband was that he shouldn’t speak of fated love.+
And at the tavern, she had told him that love at first sight wasn’t true love.+
“Why is that?”+
“Well, at first glance, all you see is appearance, not someone who truly loves me.I believe in a love that grows from small habits, my personality, and the little daily moments we share.”+
Even though he should put the thoroughly intoxicated woman to bed, he wanted to hear more of her words.+
“So, I wanted to tell that knight if I met him again:Instead of chasing someone who doesn’t even look at you after falling at first sight,find a woman who smiles at you, spends daily life with you, and slowly melts your heart like a gentle rain, and be happy.”+
Yezar Ferhaem, who kept his pains to himself, unable to share them with others,strangely felt comforted listening to Julietta’s words.+
Hesitantly, Yezar Ferhaem asked her,+
“Could that knight meet such a woman?”+
“It might be difficult, but sometimes such a person appears in life.Someone who makes you smile, lingers in your thoughts, excites you…That kind of love is hard to escape from, though.Love that seeps into your heart slowly is far more frightening than love that strikes instantly.”+
Their first meeting was merely a coincidence.But as they met a second and third time, sharing a drink became a comfort in daily life.Before he knew it, he grew curious about her and even looked into which family she belonged to.+
But he thought it wrong to dig into someone’s identity one-sidedly while she knew nothing of his.So, he intended to tell her the truth.Yet, the thought of disappointment crossing her smiling face held him back.Strangely, he feared facing her disappointment, so like a coward, he stopped visiting.+
But even while swallowing pain alone in his room after hearing of Bertisha’s marriage,those past meetings kept circling in his mind.+
Then, hearing that Julietta was looking for a husband, he rushed to her.As if he’d never been afraid, his body moved on its own.That’s when Yezar Ferhaem realized he felt something akin to affection for Julietta.+
But wary that it might just be curiosity, he was cautious.Perhaps she only came to mind because she filled a void in his heart.+
So, he set a contract period.He wanted to know her better but worried that his mere curiosity might trap her in a stagnant marriage.+
Fortunately, the empire was more lenient about divorce than other nations.+
But as he talked with her and opened his heart, a thought struck him:Could I not love this kind and lovely person over these two years?+
“If, Madam, even though we’re in a contract, I come to truly love you…Would it be alright to stay by your side as a real husband then?”+
Even in her hazy state, she was resolute.+
“Mmm, no way. ‘A contract relationship ends cleanly, no strings attached!’ That’s my rule.”+
She was firm, as if they’d be strangers after a divorce.His mood sank like a dejected puppy.+
How could he keep her by his side?As he pondered, Julietta smiled brightly.+
“But, if I fall for Yezar Ferhaem, that’s another story…You’re so kind and gentle, I might just be tempted…”+
As if reaching her limit, her body slowly collapsed onto the bed.Hearing her soft breathing, Yezar Ferhaem tucked her in warmly and whispered,+
“I’ll try my best, Madam.”+
The next morning, an embarrassing incident made him avoid Julietta.But her sparkling eyes as she chased and caught him…+
Perhaps because he recalled their first night, stroking her hair while gazing at her.Julietta, tossing in her sleep, turned toward him.+
Like seeking warmth, Julietta squirmed closer to him.It was an adorable sleeping habit.He lay down slowly on the bed.+
Then, the tossing Julietta hugged him tightly.Her soft breathing and the satisfied curve of her lips were precious to Yezar Ferhaem.
Come to think of it, among the conditions she sought in a husband was that he shouldn’t speak of fated love.+
And at the tavern, she had told him that love at first sight wasn’t true love.+
“Why is that?”+
“Well, at first glance, all you see is appearance, not someone who truly loves me.I believe in a love that grows from small habits, my personality, and the little daily moments we share.”+
Even though he should put the thoroughly intoxicated woman to bed, he wanted to hear more of her words.+
“So, I wanted to tell that knight if I met him again:Instead of chasing someone who doesn’t even look at you after falling at first sight,find a woman who smiles at you, spends daily life with you, and slowly melts your heart like a gentle rain, and be happy.”+
Yezar Ferhaem, who kept his pains to himself, unable to share them with others,strangely felt comforted listening to Julietta’s words.+
Hesitantly, Yezar Ferhaem asked her,+
“Could that knight meet such a woman?”+
“It might be difficult, but sometimes such a person appears in life.Someone who makes you smile, lingers in your thoughts, excites you…That kind of love is hard to escape from, though.Love that seeps into your heart slowly is far more frightening than love that strikes instantly.”+
Their first meeting was merely a coincidence.But as they met a second and third time, sharing a drink became a comfort in daily life.Before he knew it, he grew curious about her and even looked into which family she belonged to.+
But he thought it wrong to dig into someone’s identity one-sidedly while she knew nothing of his.So, he intended to tell her the truth.Yet, the thought of disappointment crossing her smiling face held him back.Strangely, he feared facing her disappointment, so like a coward, he stopped visiting.+
But even while swallowing pain alone in his room after hearing of Bertisha’s marriage,those past meetings kept circling in his mind.+
Then, hearing that Julietta was looking for a husband, he rushed to her.As if he’d never been afraid, his body moved on its own.That’s when Yezar Ferhaem realized he felt something akin to affection for Julietta.+
But wary that it might just be curiosity, he was cautious.Perhaps she only came to mind because she filled a void in his heart.+
So, he set a contract period.He wanted to know her better but worried that his mere curiosity might trap her in a stagnant marriage.+
Fortunately, the empire was more lenient about divorce than other nations.+
But as he talked with her and opened his heart, a thought struck him:Could I not love this kind and lovely person over these two years?+
“If, Madam, even though we’re in a contract, I come to truly love you…Would it be alright to stay by your side as a real husband then?”+
Even in her hazy state, she was resolute.+
“Mmm, no way. ‘A contract relationship ends cleanly, no strings attached!’ That’s my rule.”+
She was firm, as if they’d be strangers after a divorce.His mood sank like a dejected puppy.+
How could he keep her by his side?As he pondered, Julietta smiled brightly.+
“But, if I fall for Yezar Ferhaem, that’s another story…You’re so kind and gentle, I might just be tempted…”+
As if reaching her limit, her body slowly collapsed onto the bed.Hearing her soft breathing, Yezar Ferhaem tucked her in warmly and whispered,+
“I’ll try my best, Madam.”+
The next morning, an embarrassing incident made him avoid Julietta.But her sparkling eyes as she chased and caught him…+
Perhaps because he recalled their first night, stroking her hair while gazing at her.Julietta, tossing in her sleep, turned toward him.+
Like seeking warmth, Julietta squirmed closer to him.It was an adorable sleeping habit.He lay down slowly on the bed.+
Then, the tossing Julietta hugged him tightly.Her soft breathing and the satisfied curve of her lips were precious to Yezar Ferhaem.
I fell into thought for a moment.Then, a sudden guess prompted me to ask,
“How’s the relationship between Marchioness Stemun and Lady Yekert?”
