Episode 121

“I’d rather get the towel if Yvonne closes her eyes.”

“Alright.”

Yvonne was flustered because of his bare body visible through the door crack. So instead, she turned her back to the door, deliberately keeping her gaze away so he could come out.

Soon, with a creak, the door opened, and she heard the soft sound of his footsteps brushing against the carpet. The towel on the shelf was quite high up for Yvonne, but for him, it was within reach even without stretching his arm all the way. He picked it up nonchalantly and then looked at Yvonne with eyes full of desire.

Just from her back, it was obvious she was oddly tense.

“I don’t do anything Yvonne tells me not to.”

“…”

“You know that for a body-enhancement ability user, the second awakening is mental enhancement, right?”

“Yes.”

“My second awakening isn’t far off.”

“That’s a lie. There aren’t many who reach the second awakening.”

“That’s true.”

Yurian recalled how he had occasionally, without realizing it, broken through Hildebrandt’s hypnosis. On top of that, he had undone Marques’s memory manipulation. Truly, he had a strong feeling that his second awakening was imminent.

That’s probably why the Emperor kept me in check.

“I never do anything that would make Yvonne uneasy.”

“You don’t think I’m uneasy right now?”

“No.”

“You’re standing behind me, naked.”

“Yes.”

Yurian spoke calmly. At his words, Yvonne realized that although she was indeed tense, it wasn’t due to unease. The tension was clear—but it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling.

It just felt like a butterfly was fluttering in her chest.

“You’re shameless, Yurian.”

“I have to be shameless if I want to ask about Yvonne’s heart.”

At that moment, Yvonne turned around.

“Yvonne?”

Yurian was startled and quickly covered his lower half with the towel. Then Yvonne looked at him with a crooked smile.

“You should be punished.”

“Showing my body is a punishment?”

“Who knows.”

“That sounds more like a reward.”

“Do you want to show me your body?”

“I want to show you everything. I know how your eyes change when you look at my body.”

She thought he was right. Unconsciously, Yvonne’s eyes drifted to the mirror, and she could see exactly how she had just been looking at Yurian.

“I don’t want to imprint.”

“Just sleeping together doesn’t automatically cause imprinting.”

“But in the books it clearly said…”

“It can only happen if Yvonne allows it.”

“Ah…”

Yvonne had believed that if a guide slept with an ability user, they would automatically imprint. It was written that way in the books too. In truth, intimacy wasn’t mandatory. The reason it was written that way was just to stress how careful one had to be.

“I thought so too. But from what I’ve found, that’s not true.”

“How do I know you’re not lying, Yurian?”

“You already trust me, Yvonne.”

Despite knowing he was a body-enhancement type, whenever he spoke like he could see right through her thoughts, Yvonne always wondered if he was secretly a mental-type user. One who could read minds.

“How did you find out?”

“By chance. I heard it from a priest when I visited the Holy Nation.”

“I see…”

“Yes.”

Yvonne relaxed and looked at Yurian again—but the moment she saw his body, she tensed up once more.

“What if you’re lying?”

“Shall we make a pact?”

“No need.”

She didn’t want to reveal that she already trusted him, but she had to stop him from making a pact. She knew even that was falling into his trap.

“Just put the towel on properly.”

“If I do that now, you’ll think it’s disgusting.”

“I can already see everything.”

Yurian slowly shifted what he had been using to cover himself.

“It reminds me of how you walked funny last time.”

Then Yurian lowered his head.

“Does that happen often?”

“Always, when Yvonne touches me.”

“Because I’m your guide?”

“No. Because it’s Yvonne.”

Her eyes, his condition, the scent of her filling the room—it was making it hard for him to breathe. His cheeks felt like they’d burn, and even his ears were hot. Somehow feeling ashamed, he covered his face and looked at her.

“Why are you covering your face?”

“Because I’m embarrassed.”

“Your face is the most beautiful part, why cover it? Move your hands.”

“…Yes.”

At her words, Yurian trembled slightly with every breath. Lifting his head so obediently—it was so embarrassing.

“That’s your punishment.”

“…What?”

“Stand there like that all night. I’m going to sleep.”

“…Yes.”

Leaving Yurian like that, Yvonne walked toward her bed.

Even if the figure with black hair came out now… no, Yurian’s hair was black too.

Yvonne suddenly became unsure whether she should turn off the light or not.

“You’re not turning off the light?”

“If I do, I won’t be able to see you well.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Instead, stand right next to the bed.”

“Yes.”

She pulled back the bedsheet and slipped inside again. The only problem was the dampness left behind by her still-wet hair.

“Yvonne.”

“What?”

“You might get cold sleeping alone.”

“So what, you’re going to be my heater?”

“Yes.”

“You really say shameless things so easily.”

“Yes, because I really like you, Yvonne.”

She couldn’t tell him not to confess anymore. Honestly, she liked hearing it. His pitiful yet desire-filled eyes every time he confessed were honestly nice to see.

“You’ll catch a cold with wet clothes and hair.”

“Ah, right.”

Yvonne gave a half-hearted reply and looked at Yurian. He had already come close to the bed. She found it more fun than expected to tease him. When he was imprisoned, she had feared him—but now, he feared her.

He gave great weight to even her smallest actions, trying to become the kind of person she wanted.

Maybe that’s why Yvonne wanted to tease him a bit more. After all, if she said no, he’d never force anything.

“Yvonne?”

Yvonne took off the negligee she was wearing and handed it to Yurian.

“If you’re cold, dry this and wear it. I’m going to sleep and won’t catch a cold.”

The feel of the blanket against her bare skin was uncomfortable, but she didn’t care. What mattered was Yurian’s self-control reacting to her behavior.

“Sometimes, Yvonne… you’re truly cruel.”

“Yeah. I’m going to sleep, so don’t talk to me.”

With that, she let her hair spread across the pillow and closed her eyes. She could hear Yurian’s pounding heartbeat from nearby.

Listening carefully, it sounded like two hearts were beating in rhythm. Somehow, Yvonne felt the pulse in her ears, chest, and wrists matched that fierce rhythm.

Undeniably, that was her own heartbeat.

Yvonne knew it too, but she pretended to be asleep. She kept her eyes shut like that for a long time.

“Yvonne, I can tell if you’re asleep or not.”

“I just fell asleep and woke up because of you.”

“When you’re really asleep, your breathing isn’t like this.”

Yvonne thought his abilities were so unfair. He wasn’t even a mind-reader, yet he could read her reactions like one.

“What if I’m not asleep, huh?”

“Then I’ll warm the bed so you can sleep better.”

“You say lewd things like it’s nothing again.”

“Yes.”

Honestly, the bed was cold. Yurian had dripped water all over the sheets with his wet hair earlier.

“Maybe I’m not cold.”

“You say that, but your voice trembles, and your breathing is uneven.”

The cold that was bearable before suddenly felt unbearable once he mentioned it.

“You’re trying so hard to get in bed with me, Grand Duke Leonhardt.”

“If I could, I’d give you my soul.”

Yvonne opened her eyes and looked at him. Yurian’s face, as always, betrayed him. Even though he said such things, his face was red with embarrassment, eyes flickering nervously yet full of desire, and his lips were swollen from being bitten.

“Did you cry? Your eyes are red.”

“I’ve been holding back so much I feel like crying.”

“Then you can’t come any closer. How do I know what you’d do if I let you in bed?”

“You’re right.”

The fact that he admitted it so easily made Yvonne’s heart sink. For some reason, it felt like he was giving up, and it made her uneasy.

“If it’s not about imprinting, why do you want to hold me?”

“I’ve liked you since the first time I saw you.”

“That’s your reason for wanting to hold me?”

“Because I love you.”

“….”

“I want to be with you, stay by your side, and reach even your most intimate parts.”

At that moment, Yvonne saw his eyes shift again into the expression she always wanted to see, and she smiled faintly. Then she took his hand.

“Tell me more.”

“I want to become one with you completely.”

Yurian spoke as if pleading, his voice laced with embarrassment.

“I like that.”

Yvonne pulled him by the hand and led him into the bed.