Episode 119

“What did you just say?”

“Yurian… I understand everything.”

“Pfft…”

“You don’t have to worry about me.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Wahaha!”

Yvonne placed a hand on her chest as if she were sincerely trying to reassure him.

Yurian stared at her, frozen, not even blinking.

“Well then, I’ll be off. I’d like to explore the mansion a bit.”

“Yvonne.”

“Enjoy your time, Yurian.”

“Yvonne!”

“Pfft—hahahaha!”

Yvonne dodged his grasp and bolted down the stairs.

“Wait, Yvonne!”

Yurian cursed under his breath as he threw the man he had been holding and chased after her.

With a loud thud, Melvin crashed onto the floor.

Yvonne, recognizing the sound, knew she had to move faster.

She wasn’t a fool.

The original story had changed, and Yurian was no longer the same person as before.

He didn’t love Hildebrandt. That was clear.

His actions, his demeanor, the way he looked at her—

His trembling voice, the way he gazed at her as if she were precious—

There was no doubt in her mind.

Yurian loved her.

She was certain of it.

There was no need for misunderstandings.

Before, she wouldn’t have known. But now, she was sure.

“Yvonne…!”

“If you chase me, I’ll be really upset.”

“Ah… but…”

“No buts.”

“Yvonne…”

A small irritation flared within her.

At first, she had genuinely believed Melvin was a woman.

The long hair, the pronounced chest, the muscular yet perfectly proportioned frame—

The tall figure, making the skirt appear even longer.

Everything about him had seemed like her ideal type.

Melvin wasn’t even that tall compared to Yurian, barely over 170cm.

But for someone who could change their body at will, his size worked to his advantage.

She now knew he was a man.

She knew Yurian had no feelings for him.

And yet—

Why was she still so annoyed?

Throughout her life, she had heard countless stories about Yurian.

He was the kind of man any woman would want to marry.

No rumors of scandal.

A well-managed estate.

A military leader who brought home overwhelming victories.

A noble beloved by his people and fiercely respected by his knights.

And above all—

His looks.

There was no flaw to be found in him.

“Ugh… ah…! Damn it….”

Yvonne suddenly stumbled.

“Ah….”

She landed on the ground, sitting up quickly as a sharp pain shot through her ankle.

When she lifted her skirt, she found a gnarled tree root and her now-broken shoe.

The heel had snapped clean off.

“Oh, come on….”

As she looked up, she realized something else—

She had wandered far.

The main mansion was a mere speck in the distance.

Drip.

“No way.”

Whoosh—shaaa!

As if to mock her, rain began to pour.

“Are you kidding me…?”

She sighed, tilting her head back to glare at the sky.

“The weather was perfect just a minute ago. This isn’t fair.”

“It happens often in this region.”

A voice answered her.

A voice she knew too well.

“I told you not to follow me.”

“Under normal circumstances, I would have listened.”

“Then why are you here now?”

“Because there was no way I could just let you go like that.”

Yurian knelt on the wet ground and reached for her ankle.

Yvonne smirked as he carefully lifted the hem of her skirt.

It was amusing—

She had already pulled it up herself, yet here he was, hesitating as if it were some grand transgression.

“You’re having improper thoughts, aren’t you?”

“…”

“That’s why you’re trembling?”

“…Yes.”

He admitted it outright, then immediately let go of her skirt, allowing it to fall back down.

He exhaled in relief when he saw that her injury wasn’t serious.

But then—

He noticed something else.

The rain had soaked through her thin dress.

It clung to her, making the fabric dangerously translucent.

His ears burned.

And her legs—

He forced himself to look away.

Thank the gods for the cold rain cooling his body down.

“You can’t walk like this.”

“You’re lying.”

“…Yes.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Did you just make that up so you could carry me?”

“Yes.”

“I thought you said you don’t lie.”

“From now on, I’ll just say I want to hold you.”

“I’d rather you lie.”

“No.”

Yurian spoke firmly as he wrapped his arms around Yvonne’s waist and held her still.

“I told you to lie.”

“I want to stay like this with you.”

“That’s exactly why I told you to lie.”

“There’s no need for that.”

He sighed in relief as her usual attitude returned. Resting his head against her shoulder, he rubbed his damp hair against her.

Yvonne, feeling the wet strands tickle her skin, gently ran her fingers through them.

“Why did you leave like that?”

“What will you give me if I tell you?”

“A kiss.”

“Shameless.”

“You like me shameless.”

Yvonne didn’t deny it.

She felt a pang of guilt—like she had underestimated his worth, like she had been taking him too lightly.

“Tell me.”

“….”

“Don’t I deserve a reward?”

“And what exactly are you being rewarded for?”

“For knowing that your words and feelings don’t always match.”

She fell silent.

Yurian lifted his head slightly, his gaze locked onto her.

His crimson eyes glowed with intensity.

Then, he lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss to her damp platinum hair.

“Give me my reward.”

“Explain first.”

“Alright.”

At her lack of rejection, he exhaled in relief.

Releasing her hair, he pulled her into a firm embrace.

“I needed a fake fiancée so that you could stay here without suspicion.”

“….”

“That person is Melvin, one of my subordinates. Normally, he disguises himself as a woman to gather information.”

“Ah.”

“He’s a mimic. He can alter his appearance to have longer hair and a fuller chest, but nothing else.”

“Ahh….”

Yvonne held his gaze.

She didn’t look away, even as he studied her intensely, searching for her reaction.

The rain had lessened, though the sky remained overcast.

Sunlight filtered through the clouds, casting a soft glow over them.

“With a supposed fiancée, no one would question why you’re here.”

“I see.”

Yvonne had assumed it was Marquess who was tracking her.

Hildebrandt had no reason to chase her anymore.

What would he do, now that she was gone?

She briefly wondered.

But she had no desire to ask.

He no longer had anything to do with her.

She never wanted to see him again.

She had lived in constant fear of his unpredictable moods—those days were over.

“What will you do with your fake fiancée once I leave?”

She asked out of genuine curiosity.

She didn’t dislike Yurian.

And she knew how he felt about her.

But the truth was, they weren’t anything yet.

For nobles, engagement wasn’t taken lightly.

Unlike concubines, once a marriage was formalized, it was nearly impossible to annul.

Especially for a Grand Duke like Yurian, whose people would be greatly affected by any changes in the duchess’s position.

If his duchess changed too often, it would disrupt the stability of his lands.

Her dowry, her influence, her role—these things shaped an entire region.

“Do you not understand why I went this far?”

“You think I don’t?”

“No.”

“Then tell me—why do you think you’re doing this?”

“Because I’m afraid.”

Yvonne fell silent.

His words rang too true.

As if he understood her better than she understood herself.

“What am I afraid of?”

“That I’ll become like the people who hurt you.”

“….”

“That I’ll be just like them. But I won’t. If you tell me to stop, I will. If you ask me to change, I’ll try to become someone better.”

“Yurian.”

“Yes.”

She couldn’t bring herself to tell him to stop confessing anymore.

Maybe she had been arrogant, thinking she knew him.

Perhaps it was he who knew her all along.

She glanced at the sky, noticing the rain had stopped.

When she looked back at him, his red eyes were bright with warmth.

His lips curled slightly, as if unable to contain his happiness.

“Yurian, why do you look so pleased?”

“Because I am.”

Annoyed by his expression, she frowned.

“And what exactly are you so happy about?”

“Because you were jealous.”

“….”

She couldn’t argue.

Because she had just realized it herself.

“Yvonne, your cheeks are warm. Is it because of the rain?”

“No. It’s because of you.”