Episode 22
Hildebrandt, the emperor who held the key to the binding spell that Yuri had, was smiling, but his eyes were cold.
“No words to say?”
“I’m sorry.”
It’s better to be somewhat honest than to lie, especially for someone as suspicious as him.
“I searched for it for a while after losing it. So…”
“If that madman threatened you, what would you have done?”
“I didn’t want to disappoint my father.”
As if reading his expression, I quickly averted my gaze to the floor. Francis still stood threateningly behind, and the emperor was not someone who would easily calm down with just this level of anger.
“I haven’t awakened yet. I was afraid that if I failed this time, my father would abandon me.”
It would have been nice if he had the ability to fake crying. I inwardly reproached myself for thinking about everything just to survive in his hands.
He bowed his head and stayed that way, causing a silence to settle around.
“Fine.”
“…”
“If you don’t awaken this time, I’ve decided to abandon you.”
The answer he came up with to survive seemed like a scratchy solution.
“Francis.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Escort Yvonne until the diplomatic visit. Is that enough protection?”
“…Yes.”
Unable to lift my head due to the worse-than-expected situation in managing his expression, the increased surveillance was frustrating.
“Other than that, do you have anything else to say, Yvonne?”
“…Actually…”
Ah, damn it. It seemed like this life had come to an end here. Unable to estimate whether the words were revealing or testing, he finally disclosed a fact he had hidden.
“I lost the pendant.”
“What?”
“It seems like it went out through the balcony… No matter how much I searched, I couldn’t find it.”
Just when he thought he had nothing to lose, the damn wolf, not even worth a piece of shit, had disappeared. Whatever purpose it had for sticking by his side, losing it so quickly would surely make him angry. Regardless, it was a gift.
“I wanted to hold it while sleeping. I guess I bothered you too much.”
“Huh?”
“I’m sorry, dad.”
I gently looked up, and unexpectedly, his eyelids were completely down. So, I was somewhat relieved. It seemed like a scratchy solution.
“It’s okay. It’s in my room.”
“Ah…”
He must have already known, so he said it not as if testing me, but confirming. In that case, I did well.
“I’ll send it to you tomorrow.”
“Thank you.”
“But Yvonne, did you like it?”
“Yes.”
No. How could I like that smelly creature? Moreover, considering what happened to my five puppies that I raised, he should know. I laughed inwardly, pressing down the words inside.
When I smiled like that, he seemed to regain the fox-like smile from before. It was fortunate that there were no mind readers in the empire.
“Why did you like it?”
“Because it resembles you, Father.”
“Really? What part resembles me?”
“The fur color, eyes, and also the affectionate nature.”
Although I babbled to make him feel good, his expression didn’t seem pleased. His eyes were smiling, but his lips were tightly closed, indicating that I might have made a mistake.
“Still, I like Father the most. Hille is just good because it resembles you.”
“I see.”
Despite his acknowledgment, his expression didn’t seem to loosen up. Cold sweat formed, making my palms moist. Nevertheless, although I seemed to have avoided a dead end, I still felt uneasy.
“I’ll come to your room later.”
“Yes, okay. I’ll be waiting.”
Nervously waiting, that day’s life could be saved after his farewell.
* * *
Yurian couldn’t see ahead, making him uncomfortable. The current situation, where the flow of time couldn’t be estimated at all, was frustrating from the start, but now it was even more so because he couldn’t see.
Moreover, the number of times Princess Yvonnes visited, and the time, seemed to be decreasing, probably due to the attempts to escape back then.
Clack-clack, tap-tap.
There were two sets of footsteps. One was light and frail, indicating that it was undoubtedly Princess Yvonnes. The other one must be the Emperor’s, who put me in this place.
Yurian had to make an effort not to use his ability to avoid the binding spell from activating on the third use. The binding spell activated when the ability was used for the third time. Unconsciously, he had been using his ability to see Princess Yvonnes’ expression whenever she was nearby.
He had to make sure it didn’t happen this time.
“Your eyes are still alive.”
As the Emperor approached and mockingly spoke, Yurian’s fists clenched in anger, boiling from the bottom. Small chains hung from both hands fixed to the wall, producing a clinking noise every time he moved his arms.
The cold touch of leather brushed against Yurian’s neck, and it was due to the gloves Hildebrandt was wearing. When it pressed a certain part of the binding spell, his vision returned.
Yurian stared fiercely at Hildebrandt, who looked down on him contemptuously.
“Why did you try to take Yvonne away?”
“Ugh…”
Hildebrandt held Yurian’s hair, making him look like a bug being tormented by a pure child. Hildebrandt hated Yurian. Not only did he interfere with his work, but being a fellow top-level ability user was also irritating. Moreover, despite having a body enhancement ability, he had a good mental resistance, making it troublesome to re-hypnotize after some time.
“If you don’t answer, I’ll press this.”
“Grrr…!”
Contrary to his words, he immediately pressed the button. At that moment, a pain comparable to the agony of not taking the stabilizer flowed through Yurian’s body. It was a painful sensation as if his whole body was being stabbed with knives, and Yurian clenched his teeth, enduring it.
Revealing pain is a sign of weakness. He didn’t want to lose to the Emperor.
“Hahaha. This is why our Yvonne got in trouble.”
“…”
Yurian looked at Princess Yvonnes standing behind him. She seemed a bit different from the Yvonne I knew. Originally, she used to show me various expressions. Now, she had become completely expressionless.
Could it be that she fell under some kind of hypnosis from the Emperor?
The sloppy princess seemed not to know what was going on. That’s why she behaved obediently like a fool in front of the Emperor.
Yurian recalled the past when she leaned against the Emperor’s knees.
“Ugh… huh…”
Hildebrandt pressed the button again to make the pain disappear.
Yurian, unable to hold back physiological tears, looked towards Yvonnes. Her eyes showed no signs of blurred focus or numb expression. She was genuinely indifferent, looking at him as if he were a stranger.
As if she were someone else.
“Why did you try to take our Yvonne? I’ll ask you one last time.”
Yurian thought coldly that there was no loyalty between him and Princess Yvonnes. Although she had helped him escape, she was not someone he could trust. She was thoroughly the Emperor’s person and didn’t treat him well.
Instead, she became more distant as he approached.
Yurian thought rationally like that, but his mouth didn’t move.
He hoped that she would understand the pain he was feeling, but she was looking at him with indifference.
“Of course, I thought about returning her. Only her head, though.”
Even as Yurian laughed and lied, Hildebrandt, who had completely withdrawn his laughter, was about to press the button on his neck.
“It seems you’re still lively without the stabilizer. I should extend the intervals of administering it.”
Yurian wasn’t afraid of his words. The craving for the stabilizer had disappeared long ago. Now, he felt like he could live without it.
Especially now.
“Ugh…!”
When the button on his neck was pressed again, Yurian stopped his thoughts. Intense pain struck his entire body to the point where his back felt numb.
“Hold on well, maggot.”
“Ugh, kgh…!”
Yurian watched the backs of the two leaving. Perhaps Yvonne Princess might turn around and look at him at least once. However, she didn’t glance back and left the place.
Then, he lost consciousness.
And it took quite a long time until he regained consciousness. When Yurian opened his eyes again, the restraint that bound his arms was gone. The one on his neck seemed to be still there, but his clothes looked fresh and soft.
The first thing he saw when he fully opened his eyes was Princess Yvonne sleeping leaned against his bed.
She seemed to have fallen asleep while treating him, awkwardly leaning against the bed frame.
Yurian didn’t feel angry seeing her next to him, unlike when she left without looking back. Rather, he couldn’t help but focus on her slightly parted lips.
As he gently spread those lips with his thumb, he felt the soft tip of her tongue touch his thumb.
