Chapter 29
Give Me Your Embrace
Today, I found myself yearning more than ever for the warmth of another person. I wanted to return to those fleeting, tender moments of a past life—moments now so dim that even my memory barely held them.
Even though I knew it was impossible, I still longed for it. I once had family who were always by my side. Surely, their embrace had been incredibly warm.
But now, even their faces failed to come to mind. The inescapable reality that I could not return settled deep into my bones.
That’s why I had counted down the moments until the original story ended. Once I broke free from the destiny originally laid out for Julietta, I wanted to meet the people who would fill me again and find happiness.
I hadn’t expected that I would end up entangled with the sub-male lead, Eyzar.
“Yes, my wife. I’ll always offer you my embrace.”
The warmth of his arms around me was just as I had longed for, and I didn’t dislike it at all. Rather, I felt grateful that I had been able to meet someone like him.
Even if our ending was predetermined, the feelings we shared now wouldn’t vanish.
The rain, which had been falling so violently, began to thin. Perhaps it was because the harsh sound striking my ears had softened—or maybe it was thanks to Eyzar, who had soothed my turbulent emotions. The melancholy that had filled me gradually subsided.
‘Now that my feelings have calmed down, I’m okay… but when will Eyzar finally let me go?’
I tilted my head slightly to look at him. Noticing my gaze, Eyzar met my eyes. Yet he only smiled at me and didn’t loosen the hold of his arms around me.
“Eyzar.”
“Yes, my wife.”
“You can let go now. It’s fine.”
His heartbeat so near, the warmth through his clothes so close—it was overwhelming. Perhaps I had been too clingy.
‘I even said things I didn’t need to, yet his reaction is so kind and gentle that I don’t regret a thing.’
Everything I felt while in his arms was exactly what I had been missing. For the first time, it felt like I had finally found the place I belonged.
Carefully, he relaxed his grip. The hands that had been patting my back slid away. Strangely, I felt a pang of disappointment and was startled by it.
‘I really shouldn’t be so spoiled…’
Just as I thought this and prepared to slip from his embrace, he spoke.
“My wife, may I… be in your arms this time?”
I hadn’t expected him to say that. My mind immediately jumped to wondering if he, too, disliked rainy days.
“Do you dislike rainy days too, Eyzar?”
“I suppose so. I guess I don’t like them.”
His words were enigmatic. But having been comforted by him for so long, I spread my arms wide without hesitation.
Considering the difference in our sizes, even if he lay in my arms, it would feel similar to me being in his.
Still, just as I had felt comforted and uplifted by him, I wanted him to feel the same.
“I’ll pat you gently!”
I stretched out my arms to invite him, and he chuckled quietly. I tilted my head, unsure why he was laughing.
“My wife… truly, you are oblivious.”
Oblivious? I’d never heard that before. Someone as perceptive and sensitive as me? Never.
Thinking that, I grabbed him as he approached. As expected, with our size difference, it ended up being me in his embrace again.
‘It feels like a giant Golden Retriever has run and jumped into my arms.’
The soft, fluffy texture reminded me vaguely of that, and my hand reached out to stroke his hair. My fingers tangled in his fine blond strands.
“My wife?”
“S-sorry!”
I quickly withdrew my hand and apologized. He wasn’t a dog, after all. Why was I stroking his head?
“My hand moved without me realizing it…”
“Why?”
I tried to come up with a plausible answer, but my words got tangled.
“It’s just… you felt like a big dog, and I wanted to pet you…”
Even as I said it, I knew how ridiculous it sounded. Yet Eyzar replied calmly.
“Is that so? My wife, do you like dogs?”
Of course I did. Who could dislike such a large and adorable creature?
“Yes. And the bigger, the better. It’s cute when something so huge acts like a playful puppy, rushing and snuggling up like when it was small.”
I could already imagine the big dog wagging its tail furiously, panting from excitement, and leaping into my arms.
“I see. Then… shall I let you continue petting me?”
“Huh?”
“You said I felt like a big dog and that you wanted to pet me. I don’t mind; you may continue.”
As he leaned his head forward earnestly, I couldn’t help but laugh. Outside, it was still damp and rainy, yet here I was, smiling. Why? Probably because of the man in front of me.
“What nonsense you speak… but it’s fun.”
I carefully ran my hands through his hair. Had he asked to be in my arms just to make me laugh?
‘Today, there’s a lot of physical contact.’
They say when you’re troubled, you want to lean on someone. That was certainly true. Being this close now, it was as if the boundaries I had drawn before had disappeared.
“Thank you. Because of you, Eyzar, rainy days might not feel so bad anymore.”
It was a simple, heartfelt expression of gratitude. Even after this contract marriage ends, I would remember today whenever it rained—and it would make me smile.
“And I should be the one thanking you, for letting me know more about you. Though… I do have one question.”
“What is it?”
“If you dislike rainy days so much, why were you so insistent on going out today?”
Ah. I hesitated to tell him the truth. I had secretly wanted to buy him a gift to surprise him. But I didn’t want to lie any longer.
“I… planned to buy gloves.”
“Gloves? For my brother-in-law?”
“Actually, not for my elder brother. I was planning to buy them as a gift for you, Eyzar.”
“Oh? You were going to buy a present for me?”
“…Yes. My elder brother would get a gift from his future sister-in-law, so I didn’t plan to go out in the rain for him.”
If Wizlet had heard that, she might have felt slighted. But I wasn’t motivated enough to brave the rain for her.
“But since it was for you, I wanted to buy it quickly and see you smile.”
It was a small selfish desire. His gift had made me so happy; I wanted to see him smile at mine.
I didn’t want him to struggle because I delayed, so I intended to buy it quickly and give it to him.
“Amber said it’s about time to switch gloves. If it’s too late, it might be inconvenient for you…”
My words came out like an excuse, and I had no idea why my face flushed.
“I appreciate your thought, but I don’t want to be the kind of husband who makes my wife go out in the rain. So next time, we’ll go together, pick my gloves, and maybe have a picnic?”
A picnic. Just hearing it sounded lovely, though I worried it might be too much given his tight schedule.
“I’d love that, but it won’t be too much, right?”
“Not at all. Like you said, taking time to enjoy ourselves occasionally is good. It’s in our rules too, isn’t it?”
That was a relief. Though I still had to coordinate with the tea time with the Marchioness of Yekert and the spring outing promised to the Marchioness of Stemun.
“Then, let’s choose a good day next week?”
“That works. Actually, sooner is better.”
The tea with the Marchioness of Yekert was the following week, so it wouldn’t conflict.
“I’ll try to prepare a lunchbox with foods my wife enjoys.”
I had only imagined it before—never thought I’d receive it so quickly.
‘A lunchbox made by him… I’m looking forward to it…’
“Could I help you make it too?”
“Wouldn’t you be tired?”
I wanted to see him cook, so I came up with a plausible excuse.
“It’s more fun if we do it together.”
“True, it would be more enjoyable together.”
It seemed the rain had finally stopped; the pitter-patter had faded. But Eyzar did not leave my embrace, and I did not tell him to.
Soon, we quietly talked about what we would do on our picnic. I leaned against him naturally, smiling, and whether he noticed or not, he kept looking at me with a smile.
In the afternoon, after the endless rain had ceased, the corridors of the Duke’s mansion buzzed with the whispers of maids.
“Meal time is near. Why are the Duke and Duchess still holed up in their room?”
“Yes… now that the rain has stopped, they could at least take a walk.”
The maids cautiously approached the bedroom door and knocked gently. But there was no answer. Fearing something might have happened, they carefully opened the door—and quietly slipped away upon seeing the scene inside.
Inside, the Duchess rested her head on the Duke’s shoulder, chattering like a little bird, while he listened with a loving gaze.
None of them dared to interrupt such a tender moment. Unaware of this, Julietta again became the subject of unwanted gossip, heating up the Duke’s mansion.
