Episode 102

“What are you doing!”

Yvonne glared at Yurian in disbelief, stunned that he had thrown her into the fountain. Although she was pretending to have lost her memories, most of the manipulations Marquess Rohaten had placed on her had already been undone. As a result, her original personality had nearly returned.

“Yvonne?”

She grabbed Yurian’s arm, attempting to trip him.

“Huh…?”

“Pfft…!”

“Why isn’t this working?”

“Ahahaha!”

Yurian burst into laughter, his voice loud and unrestrained, even though he tried to cover his mouth shyly. Yvonne, however, felt a strange sense of frustration. His legs were too sturdy for her feeble attempts to knock him over.

“Yurian, you’re so childish.”

“Thank yo—ow!”

Before he could finish, Yvonne used her full weight to topple him. Despite falling, Yurian instinctively used his abilities to ensure she wouldn’t get hurt.

“Are you alr—ack!”

Before Yurian could finish checking on her, Yvonne began splashing water at him furiously.

“I’m fine, thank you!”

Cupping her hands, she scooped water and flung it at him repeatedly. The splashing sounds echoed, but Yurian didn’t resist at all, letting her do as she pleased.

“Kyaa!”

“Hahaha!”

But just as she was enthusiastically splashing him, the fountain’s jets shifted direction, sending a stream of water cascading over her head.

“Cold!”

“Hahaha! Bear with it!”

Yurian wrapped his arms tightly around her waist as she flailed in surprise, unable to get up because the water pouring over her was freezing cold.

The water temperature was strikingly different. The lower water where they sat was slightly cooler than body temperature, but the cascading water from above was icy, almost like melted snow. That was because it was newly purified holy water, concentrated and colder due to the fountain’s purification system, which had been designed with the help of purification ability users.

“Yvonne.”

“Let go of me! It’s freezing!”

“You should endure a bit longer. It’s good for you.”

“Good for me or not—ahh!”

Yvonne trembled as the water poured over her relentlessly. After about a minute, the fountain’s jets shifted again, redirecting the water away from them.

“Well? How do you feel?”

“About what?”

“Do you feel… purified?”

“Are you insane? I feel like I’m going to freeze to death!”

Yvonne, now thoroughly annoyed, hit Yurian’s shoulder with her fists. Despite her obvious frustration, Yurian couldn’t help but feel a sense of happiness. The fact that she was focused solely on him in this moment made him feel like he’d lost his mind—in the best way.

“Let’s get out now.”

“Yvonne… ack—!”

As she stood up and let go of his arm, she shoved him back into the fountain.

“Is this your revenge?”

“Of course it is.”

Yurian didn’t mind at all, even as the water soaked him completely. He cherished this moment. It felt precious beyond words.

He wanted to grant her every wish, no matter how small.

“Can’t we stay just a little longer?”

“Why?”

“I’m worried about you, Yvonne. Holy water isn’t something you can just use anytime.”

Yurian’s voice, soft and pleading, caused Yvonne to relent a little.

“Yurian.”

“Yes?”

“Why is your face so red? The water isn’t cold, is it?”

“Ah… that’s…”

Yurian lowered his head in embarrassment. He hadn’t realized just how thin the white priest robes were. Now that Yvonne’s robe was soaked through, it clung to her skin, making her silhouette more visible than he could handle. It made facing her surprisingly difficult.

“Feeling guilty?”

“…Yes. I’m sorry if you’re cold.”

Yurian’s face flushed hot, his ears burning as his voice trembled slightly. Her casual demeanor while sitting on him only heightened his unease. The memory of her once asking if he lacked experience with women came rushing back to him.

“Do you prefer someone experienced, Yvonne?”

“Experience is good in anything, isn’t it?”

Yurian felt a pang of bitterness, thinking he now understood why she had chosen Marquess Rohaten over him.

“Why is experience important?”

“Because being inexperienced often means clumsiness.”

“Even first-timers can be skilled.”

He cringed at his own stubborn, childish retort, realizing how immature it sounded.

“If they’re skilled from the start, that’s ideal, isn’t it?”

Yvonne didn’t think he was just saying random things out of guilt. However, she had already decided she couldn’t stay with him for long.

Being with Yurian allowed her to momentarily forget her worries about her surroundings, but she couldn’t fully trust him—or anyone else. Not after everything. The man who once gave his life for her in the original story had tried to kill her, and Yurian had once expressed his desire to imprison her.

So, she played along, knowing it would lower his guard and eventually give her a chance to escape.

“Yvonne.”

“Yes?”

“My ability is physical enhancement.”

“I see.”

Even though she already knew, Yvonne feigned ignorance. She needed him to lower his guard further.

“I won’t lie to you.”

“I see.”

“And I don’t have any mental abilities.”

“I see.”

Yurian was indeed a physical enhancement ability user. That made him acutely aware of even the smallest of her movements—like how she averted her gaze when thinking of something else, only to force herself to look at him again with a fake smile.

To Yurian, it was impossible not to notice that she was everything to him.

“I won’t imprison you.”

“Did you say something like that before?”

“Yes. I… I was inexperienced and said something foolish.”

“….”

“I was a little crazy at the time.”

When he looked into her eyes and spoke, Yvonne found her guard lowering despite herself. His crimson eyes sparkled dangerously, but his trembling words seemed genuine.

“I’m the one imprisoned now.”

“What does that mean?”

“Even if my body isn’t confined, I’m still trapped. I keep thinking about you, longing to see you.”

“I’m here with you now.”

“Even so, I feel lonely and miss you. That’s why I said I’m trapped.”

Yvonne felt strange seeing Yurian blush and smile so innocently, even as he confessed something so intense.

“I told you not to confess.”

“Sorry. I’ll be more careful.”

He genuinely didn’t want to do anything she disliked. But even as he apologized, he was also confirming that she didn’t entirely reject his words.

Her shoulders had relaxed noticeably, her posture more at ease. Even her beautiful, soaked figure seemed more vulnerable in the moment.

Splash!

“Ah…!”

“Pfft….”

This time, Yvonne laughed as a stream of holy water cascaded over Yurian’s head, leaving him completely drenched and red-faced.

“Hahaha.”

Yurian found himself relaxing at the sound of her laughter. He had been tense, watching her every reaction, but seeing her genuinely smile, even if it was faint through the water, brought him relief.

“It’s cold.”

“I told you it was cold earlier.”

“I didn’t realize it was this bad.”

As the fountain’s jets began to shift again, Yvonne tried to move slightly to avoid the water.

“Ahh!”

“But it’s better if you get more of it than me.”

“Let go! It’s freezing! It’s colder than before!”

“Hahaha!”

Yurian held her waist firmly, preventing her from escaping. In response, Yvonne instinctively clung to his head, enduring the cold by gripping him tightly.

As she wrapped her arms around him, his grip loosened without realizing it. He had to fight to keep his trembling hands from betraying his emotions.

“Ah…”

Neither spoke until the fountain’s jets shifted again. Yvonne sighed in relief, feeling that the holy water had indeed worked in settling her untangled abilities. She let go of Yurian and stepped back.

“Now we’re both soaked like drowned rats.”

“Yes.”

Yurian, meeting her gaze, felt his heart pounding uncontrollably. Unable to endure the intensity, he quickly looked away.

“Yurian, your hands are trembling.”

“My apologies.”

Yvonne found a sense of relief in his reaction. Unlike the men who had instilled fear in her before, Yurian seemed genuinely nervous, perhaps even thrilled, by the situation.

“Are you scared?”

“Yes.”

“You really weren’t lying when you said you wouldn’t lie, were you?”

“…Yes.”

Yvonne gently tilted his chin upward, forcing him to meet her violet eyes. The moment their gazes locked, Yurian felt his heart race even more, as if it might burst from his chest.

“Why are you scared?”

“Because it’s my first time.”

“Didn’t you say someone could still be skilled on their first try?”

“It seems that doesn’t apply to me. Are you disappointed?”

His voice trembled as he spoke, a mix of apprehension and vulnerability.

“No.”

Yvonne released his cheek and answered calmly.

“Then… could you touch me just a little more?”

Yurian mustered the courage to ask, though his voice shook so noticeably that she couldn’t possibly miss it.

 

 

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