SMLYSI 12

Chapter 12

“A secret?”+

“Yes.”+

His voice carried a hint of amusement as he spoke.+

“Then will you tell me the reason later?”+

“Yes, I’ll tell you. Shall we head out now? If we stay in the garden too long, the servants might get the wrong idea.”+

“What’s there to misunderstand about walking amicably in the garden?”+

He hesitated briefly at my response before speaking cautiously.+

“…It’s not exactly pleasant to hear, but my parents, who often sought unconventional entertainment, frequently chose the garden as their spot.”+

“Unconventional entertainment?”+

What kind of unconventional entertainment was he talking about? Was it something embarrassing? As I slowly pondered, I noticed his face had turned flushed. Suddenly, I grasped the implication and gasped.+

“No… You don’t mean that…”+

“Yes. It’s exactly what you’re thinking…”+

They were renowned as the epitome of refined nobility—Yezar’s parents. And they raised such an upright man, yet this…+

The conversation, which had been chattering along, abruptly stopped, and silence followed as I suddenly learned the backstory of the former ducal couple.+

Thanks to that, the servants who saw us emerge from the garden with flushed faces whispered among themselves and stole glances our way. Even without looking, I could feel their gazes growing warmer.+

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Two weeks passed as the servants’ misunderstandings, unaware of our true situation, piled up layer by layer.+

I naively assumed Yezar had already cleared up the misunderstanding. Unaware of how the atmosphere in the ducal household was shifting, I immersed myself in my duties as the duchess.+

I worried I might get scolded for not knowing much, but the steward managing the estate seemed rather impressed by my abilities.+

“Have you ever managed a budget ledger like this before?”+

“Yes. After my mother passed away, there was no one to manage the internal affairs of the count’s household. Once I was old enough to receive some education, I often took on those responsibilities.”+

Of course, what I said was half true, half false. It wasn’t training from the count’s household. In my previous life, I had been rigorously educated for over a decade, and after shutting myself away, I voluntarily helped manage the count’s internal affairs.+

‘With nothing else to do, I meddled in all sorts of things and roamed around the estate.’+

Thanks to that, I learned for the first time that the count’s household affairs weren’t well-managed, so I meticulously handled the ledgers alongside the steward.+

‘It might be time to start looking into other tasks.’+

As I lifted my head with that gedacht, the steward apologized.+

“I’m sorry, my lady. I shouldn’t have brought up that topic. I was rude.”+

There was no need for him to apologize. I didn’t exactly feel longing for someone I’d never met.+

But if I answered that way, it might spark another misunderstanding, so I didn’t bother correcting the misconception.+

“It’s fine. Just tell me about other tasks. While I’m here, I’ll do my best as the duchess. Of course, don’t show me anything concerning critical family matters. I’m someone who’ll have to leave, after all.”

Since the steward knew our circumstances, I answered honestly. Getting involved in the major secrets of the Ferhaem ducal family would only be a headache.+

But at my response, the steward gave a wistful smile.+

“Calling yourself someone who’ll have to leave sounds so sad, my lady.”+

Why were the people of this ducal household so sentimental? I was just someone staying for two years before leaving.+

“It’s the truth. Besides, it’s something both the duke and I agreed on.”+

“Even so, I’d like to serve you as someone who isn’t leaving.”+

The head maid said the same thing. So did the steward. Even the servants took after the master of this estate.+

Liking a contract duchess so much—what was the point? Once I left, I’d be a stranger. Still, I couldn’t say anything harsh to someone who sincerely wanted to serve me.+

“If you feel that strongly, I won’t stop you. Fine. While I’m staying at the Ferhaem ducal estate, I’ll take my role as duchess more seriously than anyone.”+

“Yes, my lady.”+

“Now, shall we finish reviewing the next task?”+

Lately, I’d been so busy learning my duties that I hadn’t kept up with the rules of our married life. Yezar hadn’t said anything, but if I didn’t start spending leisure time with him, I might come across as a neglectful wife rather than an ideal one.+

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After finishing my tasks, I stopped by the dressing room to change. The maids who helped me asked,+

“My lady, does the outfit fit well?”+

I moved around a bit and smiled brightly.+

“Yes. It’s fine. Very comfortable.”+

“That’s a relief. We were so surprised when you suddenly asked for activewear meant for the knights.”+

Since I couldn’t go to the training grounds in a cumbersome dress, I’d asked for the activewear the knights used. They still seemed unaccustomed to it. At Ember’s words, I replied calmly,+

“Is that so? It’s not like I’m wearing armor, just comfortable clothes.”+

“Most noble ladies don’t wear such attire.”+

True. They didn’t engage in active pursuits like wielding swords or running until they sweated.+

“I suppose so. Thanks for preparing it.”+

“Not at all. Shall I escort you to the training grounds?”+

I quickly followed at her words. My body had been feeling stiff, so this was perfect.+

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My start with swordsmanship was trivial. While confined to the house, I was terribly bored. With nothing to do and my busy father and eldest brother often away, even Weaslet, who stayed at the estate, would disappear when his fiancée called.+

So I started looking for hobbies. Embroidery and knitting, considered proper for noble ladies, bored me in less than two hours, so I quit. Then my attention turned to swordsmanship.+

Exercise was tough, but it left no room for boredom. Since I had no intention of becoming a proper knight, I learned only what seemed important and spent my free time holed up in the library reading.+

During festivals or lively events outside, I’d sip expensive wine and leisurely gaze at the night sky alone.

I even started a business, though I only provided rough ideas and delegated the operations to someone else. It was just something to keep me occupied, and though it did well, it was merely a hobby born of boredom.+

As we neared the training grounds, I could hear the knights’ vigorous shouts. The clashing of swords, the sound of dust rising—it all felt familiar.+

‘I wonder how the knights at the count’s estate are doing.’+

At first, they vehemently opposed a delicate noble lady wielding a sword. But unable to resist my stubbornness, they occasionally indulged me. They taught me how to hold a sword, basic self-defense techniques, and spoke to me warmly while running laps together at the training grounds.+

Since I was the daughter of their master, they didn’t fully let their guard down, but those times were still enjoyable. My favorite hobby was training with the knights and learning about swordsmanship.+

“It seems the duke is still focused on training. What would you like to do?”+

At Ember’s words, as she paused, I answered without hesitation.+

“I already informed him, so he should know. Could you let him know I’ve arrived?”+

“Yes, my lady.”+

After sending Ember off, I watched the knights train from a distance. I could hear the maids behind me giggling and whispering to each other.+

“How are all the knights so dashing?”+

“Right? Didn’t Katelyn confess to that brown-haired knight over there the other day?”+

“Really?”+

Listening to them, I couldn’t help but smile. Girls their age were often smitten with romance.+

“Are the knights that dashing?”+

Startled by my question, the maids bowed their heads.+

“We’re sorry. Were we too loud?”+

“No, it’s fine. I was genuinely curious.”+

The hesitant maids then chattered excitedly.+

“Yes! They look so cool when they’re focused on training, and their bodies are so toned!”+

“Exactly. When it gets hot, the knights sometimes take off their shirts, and their muscles are just…”+

The maids blushed, clearly thrilled by the thought. The knights at the count’s estate never bared their torsos in front of me, so the first time I saw a man’s bare upper body was on that first night.+

Firm lines, scars here and there, but muscles that twitched so sexily… I bit my tongue hard.+

That night was a mistake. Thinking improper thoughts would be rude. I quickly changed the subject.+

“Is that so? Then which knight do you think is the most dashing?”+

“Obviously, regardless of gender, the duke is the most dashing.”+

“Right. He’s serious, kind, but strict when needed, and someone everyone respects.”+

Their eyes turned mischievous as they looked at me.+

“Don’t you think so too, my lady?”+

“Indeed, Yezar is quite dashing.”

Kind, gentle, and dedicated in everything he did, he was undeniably an impressive man. He was once the top choice for noble ladies’ ideal husband.+

“That first night must have been spectacular, right?”+

A slightly teasing question followed. Though nothing like what the maids were imagining happened, the scene I’d tried to forget bloomed vividly in my mind.+

“It was spectacular. His muscles were no joke…”+

The words slipped out naturally, but I stopped mid-sentence and shut my mouth.+

‘Why did that scene have to pop into my head?’+

But Yezar, focused on training, wouldn’t have heard, and as long as the maids kept quiet, it wouldn’t spread. So I quickly continued,+

“That came out wrong. Could you forget I said that?”+

But the maids, who had been smiling, suddenly bowed their heads deeply. My gaze naturally shifted forward. And there stood Yezar.