Episode 31
‘When Yvonne comes to see you, kill yourself in front of her.’
The command to commit suicide in front of her meant to die within her sight. That’s why Yurian was afraid. Meeting Yvonne would mean his death.
The side effects of Espers manifest as their greatest fear. So, Yurian, who feared death the most, became a homicidal maniac whenever the side effects manifested.
Hildebrandt feared losing control so much that he drank heavily until he couldn’t control himself, and Marquis Rohan, who loved Yvonne, experienced the side effect of mixing with others, something she hated the most. No, even if it wasn’t her, Marquis Rohan’s side effect would be difficult for anyone to accept. Because he had to spend the night with someone he didn’t love.
But Yvonne didn’t know that now. All she knew was that their side effects, as seen through the books, were quite serious.
“Okay.”
After hesitating for a moment, Yvonne said.
“Close your eyes, Yurian.”
“…Yes?”
“If you can’t see me, you won’t know if I’m looking at you or not.”
“Ah…”
Yurian found her words quite reasonable, but he wanted to believe her. He was afraid while waiting for her to come. He didn’t want to die, and death still scared him the most.
But he didn’t want to continue being isolated like this, unable to meet her. It felt like waiting for the only human in his life.
“So, if I see you, I die immediately?”
“That’s not it.”
“Really?”
“There’s a hypnotic suggestion that you’ll commit suicide in front of Yvonne.”
With his words, Yvonne could see that there were many loopholes to escape.
“Are your arms and legs all tied up?”
“Yes.”
“But how are you going to commit suicide?”
“Ah…”
“Did he tell you to bite your tongue and die?”
“No, there was no such thing.”
That was true too. Yurian couldn’t even use his abilities because of the restraint on his neck. Moreover, the shackles were filled from his arms and legs to his wrists, ankles, and even his waist as if he were fixed to the wall. But how could he commit suicide under such conditions?
Furthermore, if he tried to bite his tongue, the shackle would create a long piece of iron inside his mouth, making it impossible to do even that.
“You’re clever, Yvonne.”
“Because I take after Dad.”
Yvonne praised Hildebrandt as if it were a habit, and Francis met her eyes.
She smiled brightly, pushing Francis aside and hugging the food she brought to her chest again.
“Close your eyes, if you’re scared.”
“Yes.”
Saying so, Yvonne murmured to Francis.
“Francis, pretend to enter and check on me.”
“Yes.”
Francis felt somehow confident as he spoke, but he couldn’t help but smile at her cuteness when she asked him to go in first because she was scared. Then, he met Yvonne’s violet eyes, and for a moment, he paused as if he could see the eyes of Hildebrandt, who was revered because of his fear in the darkness.
To avoid Yvonne noticing that he was looking at her, Francis casually entered the room. Then he stood in front of Yurian.
Using his thumb and index finger, Francis flicked his forehead.
“Yvonne.”
“…?”
“What’s this all about?”
Yurian smiled as if he didn’t mind, and his hair moved. Francis felt strangely sorry for Yurian. But this was a test. He pushed aside his cheap sympathy and slapped Yurian’s cheek with the palm of his hand.
“It’s better to hit than to pet, Yvonne.”
That should have been enough, but as Yvonne didn’t come in, Francis, feeling irritated, slapped Yurian’s cheek loudly.
Thwack! His head turned, but Yurian kept his eyes tightly closed.
“If Yvonne is the one hitting you, then this is fine.”
“I never knew Francis was such a crazy person.”
“Francis, what are you going to do if I talk?”
Yurian wanted to open his eyes, but he forced them shut.
“Now come out!”
“Yes.”
As Francis casually left, he pondered whether it was okay to leave Yvonne with such a pervert. After all, she was someone special to the Emperor.
However, seeing Yurian tightly bound by the shackles that restrained his eyes and body, there seemed to be nothing to worry about.
“If it gets dangerous, scream.”
“Yes, thank you.”
After he left and closed the door, Yurian, realizing they were alone, spat out resentfully, as if he blamed her.
“You’re being too much, Yvonne.”
“I was worried it might be dangerous.”
Her words weren’t wrong, but still, Yurian felt disappointed because he had hoped Yvonne would come.
“Let out your anger.”
As Yvonne approached, her strong fragrance filled the air.
“Did you spray perfume again?”
“No, I hugged Dad a bit, and his gardenia scent rubbed off on me.”
Yurian was truly confused whether Yvonne would help him escape. Even though she had threatened to kill him unless he awakened, the Emperor’s affection for her seemed significant.
Moreover, he felt like he knew the reason she had put him under such a hypnosis.
“I heard that some royal families in the past regarded incest as sacred.”
“Is that so?”
Despite the seemingly suggestive remark, Yvonne didn’t react much. Instead, she placed the items she brought on his bed and headed for the bathroom.
Surprised by the sound of running water, Yurian became anxious when she didn’t return.
“If I release everything except the one on your neck, would it still be dangerous?”
“…No.”
He realized it would be fine as long as he didn’t open his eyes. The problem was that he wanted to see her eyes.
His fear of death still lingered. However, as he thought about her fingertips touching him while releasing the shackles, his desire surpassed his fear.
It felt like finally drinking water after two days without a sip.
“Can I really release you?”
“If you’re anxious, just touch my cheek for now. It hurts where I got hit.”
“Oh… okay.”
Yvonne couldn’t tell if he had been hit on the right cheek or the left one. It was because Francis’s large body was blocking her view, so she couldn’t see properly. So, she covered his cheek with both hands.
“Are you feeling better now?”
“Yes.”
“Is my hand cool?”
“Yes.”
Yurian remained still because he liked it when she exhaled fragrantly and touched his face in front of him.
Suddenly, Yvonne, who had been listening to the running water, removed her hand and was adjusting the keys to unlock the shackles.
Yurian hoped the shackles would come off quickly. If only they did, he could touch her directly. But then again, she might not like it.
He found it difficult to balance between desire and reason. It felt like he was a starving animal with a cowardly owner who wouldn’t feed him unless he restrained himself.
The slowly loosening shackles made a clinking sound as they hit the wall.
Yurian felt uneasy because none of Yvonne’s touches reached him after both legs were released from the restraints. He sensed her standing up. But even this time, as she freed his arms and wrists, her hands didn’t touch him. He began to feel increasingly frustrated by her elusive presence.
“Yvonne.”
“Yes?”
“Aren’t you being too careful?”
“You have a lot of wounds. I’m afraid it might hurt if I touch you.”
Yurian, who couldn’t get angry at her words out of concern, made an effort to calm himself. Eventually, all the restraints except the one on his neck were removed. She took his hand and led him to the bathroom.
“Let’s wash up first, then we’ll eat.”
Yurian deliberately walked very slowly as she led him. She seemed to be walking cautiously because she thought he couldn’t see in front of him, and she also held onto his waist with her hand.
It felt strange that the distance to the bathroom was short.
“After I close the door and leave, you can wash up on your own.”
“Yes? But…”
“I can’t wash you myself, can I?”
“Do you think I ended up like this because of you, Yvonne?”
“Oh…”
Yvonne considered blocking the conversation altogether because she thought he was trying to persuade her with some logic. But she also understood why he acted like this. He must have wanted to act out because he had been kidnapped because of her and suffered abuse from Hildebrandt.
“I have to cover you with a towel if I’m going to wash you.”
“Why is that?”
“An unmarried man shouldn’t show his body to a woman from outside.”
“I’m fine with it.”
As soon as Yvonne finished speaking, Yurian responded. But Yvonne wasn’t one to easily give in.
“An unmarried woman from outside doesn’t like it.”
“That woman from outside likes my body very much.”
Yurian responded with a twisted smile at Yvonne’s rebuttal.
“You’ve been blatantly staring at my body every time you treat me.”
“When did I do that?”
“You do it every time. Anyway, I can’t see in front of me right now, so don’t worry about it and relax.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Yes.”
Yvonne didn’t realize that Yurian already knew she had looked at him unintentionally. But even so, she wasn’t embarrassed. Yurian acting this way was like the survival instinct left to escape.
As he thought about it, he began to feel somewhat ashamed.
“Then, would you mind undressing me, Yvonne?”
