Episode 106

“Hello?”

Yurian approached Yvonne’s table and sat down naturally, greeting her. Then, with a silent hand signal, he dismissed the subordinates who had been standing behind him.

“Who are you?”

Yvonne deliberately lowered her voice to avoid being recognized.

“I told you last time that it would be your turn next.”

“Excuse me? What are you talking about? I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”

“There’s no way that’s possible.”

A chill ran down her spine as she tried to push him away, but it was useless. His arms coiled around her like a snake, tightening as if he were about to devour his prey.

“You can’t go anywhere now, Yvonne. Not unless I allow it.”

It seemed like everything had gone wrong. She had expected that leaving would only put her in Hildebrandt’s grasp, but of course, he was never going to give up so easily.

Yvonne felt a cold sweat forming as she thought this.

“I told you, you’ve got the wrong person!”

She shouted, attempting to get away from him.

“Then what’s your name?”

“Ivenril.”

“Then that means you’re Yvonne.”

Yvonne chose not to argue with him. If she protested like last time, it would only be the same as announcing her identity.

Besides, he wouldn’t be able to get a clear look at her face. She was wearing a hood, her hair had been dyed a deep brown, and she wasn’t speaking in her usual tone.

If she was lucky, she might be able to escape.

“Yvonne.”

“Ivenril.”

“Yvonne. Are you really going to eat in a shabby place like this?”

For a moment, their eyes met. His crimson irises still shone brilliantly, as polished as a flawless ruby.

“…The Yvonne you’re looking for.”

“Yes.”

“Where exactly do you plan to lock her up?”

“Who knows?”

She could tell from his evasive answer that it was, in fact, a yes. Perhaps he had been lenient before, but he had no intention of letting her go this time.

“Let’s go back now. I can’t allow Yvonne to eat in a place like this.”

“You have quite the nerve to interfere in a stranger’s business.”

“My interference is barely worth a handkerchief. But when it comes to Yvonne, it’s boundless.”

Yvonne pulled her hood down even lower as he stared at her intently while speaking. Strangely enough, Yurian was also dressed in commoner’s clothing. But somehow, probably because it was him wearing it, it still looked refined and expensive.

“I attached a tracking cuff to the priest robe you were wearing.”

“….”

“Really.”

“….”

“It was easy.”

As he spoke, he ran his fingers lightly across her cheek. She shrank back, pulling her hood down further as she smacked his hand away.

“You’re being rude. I’m not that person.”

“Sure, let’s say that’s true. But I must admit, I’m a little angry this time.”

Yvonne thought that, in a way, this was actually fortunate. If he was at least expressing his anger, she could feel a little less guilty.

“Then go and be angry at that ‘Yvonne’ person.”

“How could I ever be angry at Yvonne?”

“Then what are you planning to do?”

“I’ll just show her how upset I am by staying right by her side.”

“…Are you insane?”

“Yes.”

Something about this situation felt completely off. He was clearly angry, yet he was smiling at her.

“So, you’re directing your anger at me, a completely different person?”

“My heart is angry. But now that I’m seeing you, I don’t actually feel mad anymore.”

“….”

“But I am angry, so you’re not wrong to notice.”

His logic was ridiculous, but he was smiling so brightly that she couldn’t even bring herself to argue.

“Ah, I wish I could be mad.”

As he spoke, his fingers brushed against her newly shortened hair.

“You, seriously….”

“Your meal is ready!”

“….”

“Your meal is ready, sir! Is this person with you?”

“No, I don’t know them. Get rid of him.”

“Oh, uh—yes!”

Chris glanced at Yurian, who was sitting closely beside Yvonne. Unlike the affectionate way he had been acting toward her, Yurian now rested his chin on his hand, glaring at Chris with an icy stare.

Chris felt a chill run down his spine. The sheer murderous energy radiating from Yurian’s presence made his jaw tremble uncontrollably.

“S-Sir…! I—I can’t do it! Enjoy your meal!”

Chris muttered those words and then turned around, bolting away.

“Ha.”

Yvonne hardened her expression as Yurian looked at her again, smiling innocently.

She decided to ignore him. More than anything, she was hungry. So, she turned her attention to the salmon steak in front of her. However, when she reached for the fork and knife, she realized they were already in Yurian’s hands.

“If you insist on eating this, I suppose I have no choice.”

“I don’t share food.”

“Well, I don’t share my wife. Let’s both keep that in mind.”

Yvonne pretended not to understand what he meant. For a moment, she glanced down at her chest, wondering if it looked obvious—but no. She had gone through great effort to flatten it.

“Ah.”

When she lifted her head again, he had already cut a neat piece of salmon steak and was offering it to her.

“What are you doing?”

“Feeding you.”

“I thought you were angry.”

“This is me taking it out on you.”

Yvonne tried to recall if this was how he usually vented his anger in the original story.

“You’re the one who made me angry. So, stay still.”

That was one of the most chilling things he had ever said.

“You’re directing your anger at the wrong person.”

The one he was supposed to be obsessed with.

Yvonne swallowed half of her words as she spoke.

Whenever he was upset, Yurian used to burn with passion in bed with Hildebrandt. But now, he was expressing his anger like this?

Was something broken in him? Had things strayed too far from the original story?

Yvonne started to feel a little worried about him. But at the same time, his happy smile made it impossible to predict what he was thinking.

“…Ah.”

“…Ha.”

With a sigh, she accepted the bite of salmon steak he offered. It wasn’t bad. The smokiness was well done, and it paired nicely with the tartar sauce.

“What are you doing?!”

“An indirect kiss.”

Yurian pressed his lips to the fork she had just used, as if kissing it.

“I’m not using that fork anymore.”

“Then use the knife.”

Without hesitation, he cut another piece using just the knife, then speared it and handed it to her. Yvonne, seeing no other option, took it. He smiled, then wiped the corner of her lips with a napkin.

“Watching you eat makes me even angrier.”

It was then that Yvonne realized he meant something completely different when he said he was angry.

Maybe… he was still upset that she had told him not to confess.

“I don’t want to stay with someone I don’t even know.”

“My name is Yurian.”

“…”

“Miss Ivenril, now that we’ve introduced ourselves, we know each other.”

Yvonne didn’t respond. Instead, she simply accepted the next piece of salmon he handed her. It seemed like staying silent was the best option.

Yurian, surprisingly, let her eat in peace, as if satisfied just watching her. The less she spoke, the more he could focus on her.

At first, when he realized she had betrayed him, he was furious. Up until he arrived here, he had planned to capture her, lock her up, and keep her in his room forever.

And yet.

Even though that had been his intention.

The moment he saw her face and met her gaze, he couldn’t be angry.

It was as if a part of the story had been ripped away, erasing his rage completely. When he thought about it, he would feel the anger return, but the moment he locked eyes with her, it would disappear.

Almost as if someone was cutting away pieces of his memory with a blade, leaving behind only what they wanted him to remember.

Either way, at this moment, he wasn’t in a bad mood.

In fact, he felt rather happy watching her eat.

“Stop taking it out on me and just leave.”

“I will. Eventually.”

Yurian turned his attention to the leftover salmon steak. Yvonne had always had a small appetite, so it wasn’t surprising that she hadn’t finished it.

For some reason, the fact that she had—however clumsily—tried to disguise herself, cutting her long, luxurious blonde hair and dyeing it…

It was adorable.

He should be angry.

But he wasn’t.

“I really must be seriously ill.”

“Yes, you’re a lost cause. Go see a doctor.”

“Do you even know where we are?”

“…”

“This is a small island called En First.”

Yvonne regretted not asking Chris to get her a map.

“Today is the island’s festival day.”

“…”

“I’m still angry. Why don’t we enjoy the festival together?”

“Why would I? I told you, I’m not that person!”

“Even if you’re not her, you can still be the one I take it out on.”

She shot him a glare, unsettled by the subtle threat.

But despite how ridiculous he was being, the way he looked at her made it hard to be mad at him. His ruby-red eyes sparkled, curving into arcs every time they met hers.

“Shall we go?”

In the end, she had no choice but to follow him.

 

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