Episode 4

“Hn… mm…”

Yurian, as if unable to restrain himself any longer, grabbed the sides of Yvonne’s dress and pulled it apart.

She had worn something easy to take off—but even that ended up like this, which made her laugh again.

Yvonne thought of the Duchy of Leonhardt. Of the monsters locked up for Yurian’s training. He reminded her of them.

Whenever her hands touched the monsters, they’d calm down. Her power was taming, so bewitching beasts and making them obey her like limbs was never difficult.

After she became Empress, her power grew strong and stable enough that she could wage war with monsters instead of ability users.

All of those beasts combined—that’s what Yurian felt like. Locked in a cage, but rejoicing to see his master, willing to throw himself away for her joy, and loving her with a gaze fiercer than anyone else’s.

Yvonne loved the way he devoured her like a beast the moment his leash came off. His restraint had only one key, one door—and only she could open it. Once she did, he’d pounce on her like something wild.

And yet, the fact that her power didn’t work on him at all made her feel delight more than anything else.

She loved Yurian. Breathing was easier when she was with him. Talking never felt hard. His gaze held thoughtful affection, and his love always tried to be gentle for her sake.

The real Yurian wasn’t someone especially kind or thoughtful. That was obvious. But she’d gotten used to his softer side. And when she saw how his subordinates feared him, she knew—those gentle expressions were only for her.

Maybe that was why she felt so comfortable around him.

Even before she became Empress—even back when she was just a princess cloaked in false affection, suffering in secret—he had loved her, unwavering.

Even when she pretended to be another man’s wife, he hadn’t given up. He moved for her happiness, even when she pushed him away.

“Hnn… Yurian…”

Yvonne raised her hand, watching Yurian tear through her clothes with increasing urgency. As she stroked his cheek, his red eyes sparkled like gemstones, trembling again with deep affection.

“Your eyes are beautiful.”

“Yours are far more so, Yvon. Every time I see them, I can feel your emotions.”

“My, I was just about to say the same thing.”

Yvonne teased with a crescent-eyed smile, and Yurian smiled as if entranced. Her fingers brushed down his cheek and over his lips, and he pressed a kiss into her palm, as if begging to be touched more.

“Maybe it’s Yurian’s fault that the recovery-type ability users are always overworked.”

“Lucky for them, then. Recovery-types usually don’t get paid much—their skills aren’t in high demand.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

He wasn’t lying. Recovery-type users were considered part of the special class, but they were so common that their labor came cheap.

Like having a hundred people on standby when you only ever need one. It happened all the time.

That’s why, when the imperial family announced mass recruitment of special-class users, competition flooded in.

And they loved overtime. Yvonne had always paid fairly for labor—enough that no one could complain.

“Besides, they’re all quite tight-lipped.”

“That’s because of the rings you gave them.”

The rings Yurian had distributed to the imperial civil servants were imbued with conditional contract abilities. If they leaked imperial secrets, it would automatically be reported to the top.

In that sense, they had no choice but to remain loyal to the crown.

As for the ministers, they willingly followed Yvonne—dazed by her ability.

She didn’t particularly like that she had manifested as a mental-type user like Hildebrandt, but she had to admit—it was useful.

“It feels nice when you bite.”

Yvonne murmured, smiling as Yurian gently nibbled her fingers with his fangs. The soft pressure and warmth against her skin made her giggle.

Then, the way he looked at her—like he might devour her whole—sent a flutter through her chest.

“Yurian… do you really love me? Aren’t there times when you find me… unbearable?”

Yurian had wanted to stoke her body further—but that question made him pause.

So instead of continuing, he clasped her hand gently and interlocked their fingers. To him, soothing her fears mattered more than his desire.

“Words can’t express how I feel. And no—I could never find you unbearable.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because that’s the only thing I am sure of. I may be uncertain about everything else in life, but this one thing—how I feel about you—I’ve never doubted.”

Yvonne realized he was making a point of meeting her gaze directly as he spoke—and that flutter in her chest returned. It was like swallowing a feather that danced inside her, tickling her heart.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“You’re sure?”

“I could swear an oath on it. Bet my heart on it.”

Yvonne laughed softly in relief, thinking of the binding vows they already bore—etched into their hearts through ability.

“We already have a pact, you know.”

“What I want is a bond-for-life vow. One where my heart stops the moment I stop loving you.”

“Does that mean I have to do the same?”

She asked with a playful glint, and he shook his head.

“I love you more than you love me. There’s no reason to ask the same of you.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Love isn’t about fairness. My love wants your happiness. That’s all.”

“Yurian…”

“Even if your love doesn’t look like mine… I’ll still love you. That will never change.”

His words made her eyes sting with a strange warmth.

“Isn’t it kind of pathetic… how I keep needing reassurance like this?”

“I don’t mind. I enjoy proving it.”

“…Yurian.”

“Maybe that’s why we’re really destined for each other.”

Yvonne smiled without meaning to, recalling how he once claimed to be emotionally dull. But of all the men she knew, Yurian was the most delicate.

Unlike other physical-type ability users, he was sensitive and clear in expressing his emotions. He was always the one who stayed close by so she would never feel insecure.

“Every time Yurian says something so shameless, I get the urge to torment you.”

“And I happen to enjoy being tormented. Quite a lot, actually.”

He tugged on her hand, almost asking her to tease him more. Then he began pulling her dress apart entirely, tearing it open as if it had been in his way.

Yvonne could feel how obsessively he stared at her body, and she couldn’t help but let out a quiet laugh. Her cheeks were already warm—but looking at him made the heat bloom even more.

“You always look at me like that. Don’t you get bored of seeing me every day?”

“Then please, let it be boring. I’m the only one who’s always nervous.”

At his words, Yvonne instinctively straightened her back. Yurian, worried she might try to slip away, leaned into her more.

She responded by beginning to untie the cravat around his neck, as if to reassure him she wasn’t going anywhere.

“Ah.”

Though he could feel her undoing it, he still didn’t move from where he lay heavily over her—just in case she tried something and left him again.

Even though her bare skin was now exposed, his clothed body pressing against hers made it feel as if nothing had changed—aside from her arms, her torn dress still clung to her the same.

Slowly, she loosened the cravat—one that was easy to untie but always felt like something she didn’t want to undo.

His thick neck and strong collarbone came into view right before her eyes.

“Yurian.”

“If you run, I’ll catch you this time.”

“Is that why you tore my clothes right away?”

“Of course.”

Yurian was used to this. Yvonne would say something that made his heart pound… only to vanish moments later.

“Didn’t you disappear right after saying you’d kiss me in the middle of the ball once?”

“And you’re a physical enhancer—how did you not notice I ran off?”

“You took off your heels and ran! How would I know?”

“Why not?”

“Because there were so many other noises… and when you provoke me, all I can hear is the sound of my own heart.”

As he confessed that, Yvonne gave him a bright, amused smile.

“Ah, you’re just too cute.”

She murmured, brushing her fingers along the edge of his ear.

“Please… make me feel even cuter.”

“Shall I?”

She could feel the flush blooming at the corner of his eyes—and his arousal beneath her.

“Take it off… seduce me while you do. Tonight, I’ll be on top.”

At her words, Yurian’s eyes widened like a man enchanted—and then he laughed with delight.

“Gladly. But you have to keep that promise.”

He said, breathless with anticipation.

TL/N: hah I wanna vomit at their affection rn