Episode 120

“Did I make you angry?”

“Yes.”

Yurian asked with a small sliver of hope.

But the moment he realized she was truly upset because of him, a sense of unease settled in his chest.

Because he wanted her to feel something more than just anger toward him.

“How can I make it up to you?”

“How can you ask me that? You’re the reason I’m mad in the first place.”

“Then I’ll kill Melvin and offer him to you as a gift.”

“Do you not realize that barbaric acts are the thing I hate most?”

Yurian let out a heavy sigh.

She was impossible.

And yet, she was the only person he wanted.

“Understood. Then, I’ll try my best to make amends.”

“I’ll be expecting it.”

With that, the two had no choice but to return to the mansion.

The rain had begun to pour again, harder than before.

* * *

Yvonne returned to her room and immediately took a bath.

The sensation of someone else washing her was oddly comforting.

Now that she thought about it, in this lifetime, she had rarely bathed alone.

She had been through many ups and downs, but at the same time, she had lived quite a luxurious life.

The maids seemed overly cautious around her, always watching for the slightest change in her expression.

If she so much as frowned, they corrected themselves immediately.

Not wanting to be someone who even the maids feared, she found herself being careful not to scowl too often.

After a satisfying bath, she slipped into a thin négligée and stepped out.

The maids, who had been lingering near the door, suddenly stiffened at the sight of something—or someone.

They hesitated, their steps faltering, before hurriedly scurrying away.

Yvonne tilted her head at their strange behavior.

And once the maids had fully left, she finally saw what they had been covering with their skirts.

“What are you doing?”

“Reflecting.”

It was Yurian.

Blindfolded, kneeling, with his hands raised.

“This is your way of reflecting?”

“…Yes.”

“But you’re an enhanced fighter. Your arms don’t even hurt, do they?”

“Ah. So you think pain is the only form of punishment. I, on the other hand, consider humiliation to be punishment.”

“Oh.”

It finally clicked.

That’s why he had chosen to do this in such a public space—where even the maids could see him.

For some reason, the ridiculousness of it all struck her as oddly… cute.

“What if I get even angrier?”

“Then I’ll reflect even harder.”

She couldn’t help but laugh, reaching out to gently stroke his cheek.

“Why are you blindfolded?”

“Because you just took a bath.”

“Ah….”

Yurian momentarily forgot to breathe.

Her fingers grazed his jaw lightly, but even that brief contact made his magic stabilize—

A sensation so overwhelmingly pleasurable it froze his thoughts completely.

Her touch, warm and soothing, combined with the subtle, sweet scent lingering on her skin—

It was intoxicating.

“Can I ask what bath oil you used?”

“You’re being scolded right now.”

“Ah… I will continue my reflection.”

His voice was dazed, as if he had momentarily been enchanted.

But when her fingers left his chin, his body tensed in disappointment.

“How long do you plan to stay like that?”

“Until you’re no longer upset.”

“Pfft….”

The way he apologized was strangely endearing—

Like a child seeking forgiveness.

“Instead of that, find another way to make it up to me.”

“Anything. Just name it.”

“You’ll do anything I say?”

“Yes.”

Yurian was fully expecting some form of punishment.

And right now, he was in such a good mood that he was willing to do whatever she asked.

“Take off the blindfold.”

“…Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

She could hear the anticipation in his voice.

And she, too, had become fully aware of her own emotions from earlier.

But accepting them completely was still difficult.

Ever since she had helped Yurian escape, her feelings had grown and twisted in ways she hadn’t expected.

And it had all led to this moment.

“Yvonne.”

Slowly, Yurian removed the blindfold.

Droplets of water from his damp hair trickled down his face, and Yvonne, annoyed by the sensation, pushed her hair back behind her shoulders.

Yurian, watching her, broke into a bright, boyish smile.

“Why are you smiling?”

“May I stand now?”

“I only told you to remove the blindfold.”

“Yes.”

Yurian smiled again and continued to watch her.

He was still soaked.

After getting caught in the rain earlier, he had come straight to her room without drying off.

“Yurian, go wash up.”

“Yes….”

He looked reluctant, his lips curling into a faint, disappointed smile as he stood.

Before he could leave, Yvonne added—

“Here. In this room.”

“…Are you sure?”

“Yes. But you’ll wash alone. I’ll wait out here.”

“How is that a punishment?”

“You’ll receive your punishment after you finish bathing.”

“Ah.”

His expression briefly fell—only to brighten a moment later at the mention of another punishment.

Seeing that excited gleam in his eyes, Yvonne couldn’t stop the small laugh that slipped from her lips.

She quickly covered her mouth.

Yurian, grinning to himself, turned and entered the bathroom.

As she watched him disappear inside, she heard the rainstorm continue to rage outside.

The wind howled through the trees.

This was the same room where she had seen that dark silhouette before.

A faint shiver ran down her spine.

But Yurian was still here.

If she screamed, he would come running.

Since he hadn’t closed the bathroom door all the way, she stepped forward to shut it for him.

“Ah—”

She instantly regretted it.

Yurian had already stripped.

Completely.

Standing with his back to her.

And Yvonne—

Had just seen everything.

“Ah….”

Embarrassment rushed through her, burning from her ears down to her neck.

She dropped to the floor, covering her face with both hands.

Then, very slowly, she nudged the door shut.

“This is insane….”

Even with her eyes squeezed shut, the image remained burned into her mind—

As if it had been seared beneath her eyelids.

If it had been anyone else, it wouldn’t have affected her this much.

But of all people—

It had to be Yurian.

And worse—

He looked even better than before.

She had seen his back before.

But this was the first time she had seen—

…more.

Yvonne couldn’t stand.

She stayed on the floor, dazed.

And yet, despite the overwhelming embarrassment, she didn’t feel the urge to flee.

Because she knew—

Yurian would never force her into anything.

She had realized that long ago.

Forcing herself to focus, she took deep breaths and glanced toward the bookshelf on the far wall.

Most of the books were ones she had read in the imperial palace.

Since she had studied extensively after coming to this world, she had absorbed a great deal of knowledge.

Choosing to avoid anything political, she grabbed a random humanities book and climbed onto the bed.

Her damp hair clung to her skin uncomfortably, but it wasn’t unbearable.

She considered drying it—

But with the sound of Yurian bathing just behind that door, she really didn’t want to move.

Better to focus on reading.

If she concentrated on the text, maybe—

Maybe she’d forget what she just saw.

Leaning back against the pillows, she forced herself to look at the words in front of her.

Whoosh. Drip. Splash.

The sound of water sloshing filled the room.

Even the faint, rhythmic scrubbing of a sponge reached her ears.

She had told him to bathe in her room to mess with him—

But somehow, she was the one suffering.

She had been prepared for many things—

But not for this.

She couldn’t read a single word.

The black text blurred together, forming meaningless patterns against the white page.

“Ah….”

She clenched her eyes shut, then reopened them.

She had to focus.

Rumble!

“Ah—”

She flinched at the sudden thunderclap.

Then, using it as an excuse, she forced herself to look back at the book.

She had to concentrate.

…But it was impossible.

She was the one enduring a punishment now.

Then—

The sound of running water changed.

The faucet turned slightly, the stream softening.

And then—

“Yvonne. I just realized—I forgot a towel.”

“I see.”

“And clothes.”

“I see.”

Yvonne hesitated.

Should she fetch a towel for him?

No.

That was a very bad idea.

“I’ll just step into your room for a moment.”

“Why?”

“I’ll find a towel here. And I’ll bring your clothes from your room.”

“We could just call for a servant.”

“Oh… right….”

Her face burned.

Had she really forgotten something so obvious?

Yurian chuckled softly.

Even though she couldn’t see him, she felt like he was standing right in front of her.

“Yvonne. Wouldn’t it be easier if you helped me?”

“H-Help? How?”

“Just hand me a towel.”

“Ah. Of course….”

She swallowed hard.

Yurian was still a virgin.

The inappropriate thoughts that had immediately popped into her head just now—

Were entirely her own problem.

When he said help—

For a brief moment, she had imagined—

Something straight out of Cry, Your Majesty.

“Yvonne. Your face is very red.”

“Where’s the towel?”

“On the shelf over there.”

Grateful for the distraction, she quickly stood and grabbed the towel.

Then, stepping toward the bathroom—

She immediately regretted it.

Even through the slight gap in the door—

She could see him.