Episode 2

Hildebrandt had been formally registered as Yvonne’s son in name only.

She hadn’t returned his original title as Duke of Ferrite, nor had she allowed him to become the late emperor Hildegarde.

Instead, he became the forgotten son left behind by Hildegarde, who had no woman and no heirs due to his impotence.

Hildebrandt swore loyalty to Yvonne in exchange for returning to the imperial palace, agreeing to become her son. Of course, unlike what he had done to her in the past, he was made an adopted child.

Just like he once did to her, she made him erase his own memories. Through Marquess Rohan, his memories were manipulated, and Yvonne even used her ability to ensure he could never defy her commands.

Yvonne looked at the ring on Hildebrandt’s finger—a binding from a top-tier contract ability user. If he ever disobeyed her, his heart would stop.

Just looking into Hildebrandt’s glacier-blue eyes made her feel sick.

“Hmph…”

So she kissed Yurian even more intensely than before. Yurian knew the kiss was born of her awareness of Hildebrandt, but he was never someone who could refuse a kiss from Yvonne—especially one she initiated.

Besides, Yurian had no knowledge of the past between her and Hildebrandt—memories she never shared with him. All he knew was that Yvonne’s hatred and loathing for Hildebrandt were entirely justified.

He sensed where her breath had caught and swept his tongue beneath, brushing along her soft palate, habitually deepening the kiss as he bit down gently on her lips.

Yvonne smiled, remembering how he always nibbled her softly with his canines before letting go.

Only when saliva dripped down their chins and left a wet shadow on their clothes did their kiss finally end.

“Ah, my jaw hurts.”

“I did hear a bit of creaking.”

Yurian replied playfully to Yvonne’s teasing.

By the time their conversation resumed, Hildebrandt—and Francis, the man assigned to watch over Hildebrandt like another one of Yvonne’s loyal dogs—were both gone.

“How pathetic.”

Yvonne spoke with loathing toward Hildebrandt, who had run from her.

Then, realizing she was still in Yurian’s arms, she tapped his shoulder and asked to be set down. He gently lowered her to the ground.

She wobbled a little on her high heels but regained balance thanks to Yurian’s steadying hand.

“Yurian.”

“Yes, Yvon.”

Yvonne loved this about him—how he always gave her what she wanted, never denying her anything.

“Yurian, don’t you find me… cruel?”

She asked because of how she had acted toward Hildebrandt. She believed her hatred was justified—but Yurian, not knowing the full story, might not. He was, after all, an outsider.

She also knew Yurian wasn’t disappointed about not being given the position of Crown Prince. His standing in the Bricesys Empire was already second only to the Empress herself.

He had his own elite knight order composed of powerful ability users from the Duchy of Leonhardt, and he was a second-stage awakened who could nullify mental ability users.

He was the only being in existence immune to Yvonne’s taming ability.

And yet, people still doubted his power. Even though Yvonne’s ability didn’t affect him, he was more loyal, more devoted, and more in love with her than anyone else under her control.

Yurian’s love was easy to see—it overflowed past the point of containment.

“I’m not by your side to judge you, Yvon. I’m here because I want to understand you… to be someone you can rely on.”

“Yurian…”

“More than anyone else, I want to be the one who understands you. And if the man I am now isn’t enough—I’ll become someone who can.”

His words warmed her heart. They felt entirely sincere, without a shred of deception.

“I want to become that man… for you. That’s the reason I live.”

“That’s a lovely thing to say.”

Yvonne replied playfully, but Yurian only smiled in bliss.

“I’m glad you like it.”

Even though she felt the weight of his love more than anyone else, she exhaled softly, her chest warmed by his words.

“When I’m with you, I feel alive, Yurian.”

“And I feel human… only when I’m with you, Yvon.”

He meant it.

When he was with Yvonne, even the memories of being treated like a beast—locked away in childhood, bound, drugged, and controlled—felt like love.

He had once hated those things with every fiber of his being. But now, reliving them with her, they seemed… tender.

In fact, he thought he wouldn’t mind being locked up by her again. Waiting for her all day in a cage didn’t sound so bad anymore.

Now, it was the interruptions—everything that kept them apart—that annoyed him.

Yurian was someone who wanted to monopolize Yvonne. The only reason he hadn’t proposed was because he respected her freedom.

He loved her. But he couldn’t break her wings just to keep her by his side.

He loved her most when she was smiling—and for her to smile, she needed to do the things she wanted.

More than anyone, Yurian believed in her. Perhaps even more than he believed in himself.

“Then what about when I’m not with you?”

“In those moments, you already know how people see me.”

Yvonne did know.

Most people feared Yurian. His magic power was immense and densely concentrated. A top-tier physical enhancer, completely immune to mental powers.

A warhound who could become a living weapon at any moment.

But to the Empress who owned that hound, he was a loyal companion who would give his life for her.

Of course, Yvonne never saw him as a dog.

“Then I should punish those insolent people.”

“Please, punish me instead. Any punishment from you is a reward—I’d rather not let anyone else have it.”

At those words, Yvonne smiled and stroked his cheek. His ears turned red again. When she noticed his flushed neck, she laughed without meaning to.

He should have been used to it by now—but each time, he blushed and gazed at her with tender longing, as though he wanted even more.

“It’s really strange. My ability shouldn’t affect Yurian at all…”

Every time he acted like this, she wanted to test whether he truly was immune.

Those under her power always acted like Yurian—begging her for punishment like it was a reward, loving her with worshipful devotion.

But with Yurian, it never felt fake.

He was different.

“Didn’t you say we weren’t doing anything in the garden?”

She teased, and Yurian laughed without meaning to.

“Then I’ll be on guard and make sure no one comes near.”

“Oh my. Weren’t you the one always saying we had to be careful?”

“That’s because you’re far too tempting, Yvon. Every time, I wish I were a stability-type user instead.”

“I haven’t even started with the really tempting part yet.”

Yvonne leaned in and whispered near his ear, almost like a sigh.

“If you just undo the ribbon in the back of this dress… you’ll see the sheer negligee I’m wearing underneath.”

She placed the long ribbon into Yurian’s hand.

His fingers instinctively clenched, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself not to pull.

Her smile widened as she watched his inner torment.

“Is there any ruler in the world more wicked than you?”

Yurian said that as he swept her up into his arms.

“The garden is a no-go. Unless you want me to become known as a murderer.”

“Heavens, what kind of weird threat is that?”

She laughed—and bit his ear.

“Then… shall we go to the bedroom?”

To obey her command, Yurian moved swiftly toward the Empress’s chambers.

Once there, he laid her carefully down on the bed.

“You’re not going to do anything?”

The moment Yvonne looked back at him, Yurian tugged the ribbon she had given him.

Because of the strength in his grip, the ribbon came loose—and fell from the dress.