Episode 136

Marquess Rohan believed that he himself had ruined his relationship with Yvonne, yet he still resented the Emperor who drove him to that point, and Yurian, who had captivated her.

That’s why, at first, he helped the Emperor erase Yurian’s memories. But even so, Yvonne never returned to him. She went back to the Emperor’s side, in exactly the pitiful state he had always dreaded.

Always forcing a fake smile, afraid, hiding her true feelings.

Pretending to be strong, but in truth so fragile, easily frightened—just like the Yvonne he remembered.

No matter how much he had lost his sanity, he couldn’t forgive himself for pushing Yvonne off that balcony. Even if he wasn’t in his right mind, it was something that should never have happened.

If anything, that should’ve made him want to protect her more.

He had wished—selfishly—that Yvonne would break her legs and be forced to lean on him, live like a puppet in his arms. But that was a twisted desire. That path would never bring Yvonne happiness, and he himself would eventually be destroyed by it.

He loathed Emperor Hildebrandt. Even if he couldn’t be with Yvonne, he still wanted her to smile from the heart again.

The way Yvonne looked at Yurian. The way she acted around him. That alone told him everything. No—how could he not know? His eyes were always on her. How could he not know who she loved?

Even just having been with her for a brief time… that was enough for him. The memory of Yvonne cherishing him sincerely and trying to be by his side—that was enough. With that alone, he felt he could live out his days in solitude.

So, he made up his mind to help Yurian.

“Don’t go to the Holy State.”

“What are you talking about?”

“His Holiness the Pope isn’t in the Holy State right now. He’s staying on Rokenia Island. You’d be better off going there to make your request.”

Yurian had intentionally left his subordinates behind, but he still had some concerns about having to drag along someone as frail-looking as the Marquess.

“What do you think I’ll do when I awaken?”

“If Your Grace awakens, I believe you’ll raise a revolution with Princess Yvonne at the front.”

“…”

“The March has pledged its support as well.”

“I don’t need it. As long as I can block the Emperor, the Capital Guard can be subdued within a day.”

That was true. The Leonhardt Duchy was located on the border. He was an exceptional border duke, and his house held more gifted individuals than any other family besides the imperial one.

Yvonne’s legitimacy as a royal was more than enough. Even if she couldn’t use her power, just revealing that she was bonded to Yurian as his Guide would be enough to silence the whining ministers.

“So, Your Grace already knew Yvonne is a Guide.”

“Yeah. But something seems strange. She’s a Guide, yet her mana feels… overwhelming.”

“There are cases like that. People who have a lot of mana they can’t use. But if the ability isn’t awakened, it’s useless, isn’t it?”

“That’s true.”

Talking about Yvonne made Yurian miss her, and his chest ached. If she didn’t awaken, she’d be in danger.

Now that all his memories had returned, he could see the situation for what it truly was.

‘The Emperor doesn’t see me as his daughter.’

That was true. With his memories restored, Yurian understood all too well the way Hildebrandt looked at her. It was the gaze of a man toward a woman he longed for and desired. The only thing Yurian could confidently say was that, unlike the Emperor, he wasn’t that depraved.

‘I like you too, Yurian.’

“I think I’m coming down with love sickness.”

“Hardly the right thing to say in front of someone who’s actually suffering from it.”

Marquess Rohan let out a bitter smile. Yurian’s face returned to a cold, serious expression as he sighed.

“A mistake.”

“Yes.”

Whatever the case, since he had to travel with Marquess Rohan, Yurian decided to show him some respect. Even if he had once played the role of her fake husband.

“I suddenly want to kill you.”

“Your Grace, you have quite the nasty personality. Does Yvonne know about this?”

“She does.”

Yurian could let it go when the man looked at him with disdain—but the thought that he had once slept in the same bed as Yvonne… that genuinely made him want to kill him.

Even if nothing had happened, they still lay beside each other in bed. Was it really okay to be fine with that?

“I guess I need to be more generous.”

“Yes, please try.”

Marquess Rohan replied halfheartedly, and Yurian boarded the ship after buying up all the tickets. Aside from the crew, only two passengers were aboard: Yurian and the Marquess.

It was the beginning of hell.

* * *

“Damn it.”

Yurian swore with full sincerity.

“Uuurgh…!”

Marquess Rohan was suffering a terrible case of seasickness. Yurian had no idea how this man had managed to escape with Yvonne on a ship in such a state.

“…You’re kidding.”

Yurian frowned sharply and shot a glare at the Marquess.

“Were you like this back then too, and that’s why Yvonne took care of you?”

“Ugh… Yes.”

“How about drowning in the sea instead?”

“Phew… Just looking at Your Grace’s face makes me want to throw up again.”

Yurian didn’t feel a shred of sympathy as Rohan, covered in blotchy bruises, vomited everything he had into the ocean.

If he’d shown Yvonne such a pathetic sight, there was no way she could’ve seriously considered him. How had she lived with this?

“Uurgh…!”

Yurian watched the Marquess start retching again just from seeing his face. He genuinely wanted to toss the man overboard.

The ship was massive. And yet, on that large vessel, the sailors kept a silent, wide berth from Yurian and the Marquess.

“You could at least pat my back!”

“Why would I do that?”

“Then I’ll just keep—urk!”

“…Hah.”

Yurian had to muster all his self-control not to hurl the man into the sea.

“So, what now?”

Though they’d made it to Rokenia Island, where the Pope was supposed to be, just as the Marquess had said, actually getting inside the island’s inner sanctum wasn’t going to be easy.

If he were alone, Yurian could’ve snuck in using his ability—but dragging around a burden like Rohan made that option nearly impossible.

“Let’s rest for now.”

“Have you forgotten I’m on a tight schedule?”

“And… I need to forge some documents.”

The Marquess still looked pale. Sweat-soaked blond hair clung to his cheeks.

For some reason, Yurian found the man’s body… oddly unnatural. Now that he thought about it, this schemer used to be physically frail. But one day, he’d started bulking up, eventually transforming into something resembling a knight.

“Don’t tell me you used your ability on your body too?”

“…Why are you suddenly asking that?”

“You used to look like a bean sprout.”

“…That’s harsh. Don’t you realize I might accidentally vomit on Your Grace’s coat?”

Rohan hated Yurian. The fact that he had to show this pathetic side to him of all people—it was mortifying. And even now, Yurian wasn’t the least bit grateful despite his help.

But separating from him wasn’t an option—not with the ring involved. The Marquess sighed again and muttered:

“…Yvonne said she liked this kind of body, so I tried.”

“What kind of body did she say she liked?”

“She said she liked men who were big like knights… broad chested, with square shoulders.”

“So you reshaped your body with your ability, is that it?”

“Yes.”

“Pathetic.”

“Yes, go ahead and mock me as much as you like.”

The Marquess began drawing sigils on the documents he’d brought with him. Yurian recognized them. It was the technique Rohan used to imbue objects with his power. Anyone who looked at those papers would form new memories, even if they were false.

“Fraud.”

“Coming from someone who probably has nothing but muscle in his skull, I suppose it looks like that.”

“Says the guy with a fake body.”

“…Hah.”

Rohan was starting to genuinely loathe Yurian. And yet, he also envied him. Maybe this harsh side of Yurian… was exactly what Yvonne had fallen for.

“…If only I’d manifested as a Strength type like Your Grace…”

Yurian, hearing the bitter complaint, was reminded of how he’d once thought the same himself—and his hostility faded a little.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

With that, Yurian decided not to argue with Rohan anymore. After all, Yvonne had chosen him. And Rohan, loving someone who was no longer his, had decided to help him.

He still couldn’t trust him. He might need to kill him at any moment. But as long as the man cooperated, Yurian didn’t want to treat him poorly. Just imagining Yvonne leaving him was already painful enough.

If it had been him, he would’ve fought to the death. But that was just his way of thinking. Rohan had never even properly held a sword. Yurian couldn’t entirely fault him for that.

In any case, they managed to enter the Goddess Temple where the Pope resided.

“Are you truly here under the orders of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Bricesys, to offer an apology to His Holiness the Pope?”

“…Yes.”

“Yes.”

Yurian responded begrudgingly, but the Marquess answered with shameless confidence.

“If you accept us as envoys and assist us, His Majesty has promised to kneel before His Holiness in person.”

Seeing the high priest already swooning under his ability, the Marquess decided to push even further.