Episode 33
“Hmm…”
Yurian accepted Yvonne’s touch as she scratched his neck, holding his breath. He enjoyed the thoroughness of her scrubbing, moving her hands all over his neck. Since he couldn’t see with the blindfold on, the sensation of her touch was becoming clearer and clearer.
He also liked how her slightly long fingernails unintentionally caused him to shiver. The pink nails attached to her thin, long fingers gliding over his skin.
He was gradually realizing that it wasn’t just her scent he was sensing through his nose. It felt like the scent was being directly imprinted into his mind. It was as if his chest was being filled entirely with that sweet fragrance.
“Don’t make strange noises.”
“Hahaha.”
Yvonne playfully pretended to squeeze his neck. Yurian was delighted when her palm touched his neck. However, what bothered him was that there were areas her touch couldn’t reach because of the restraint.
“Yurian.”
“Yes.”
“I want to make a pact with you before we leave this place.”
Espers could make unique pacts.
“Are you putting your abilities on the line?”
“Yes.”
When putting their abilities on the line in a pact, the moment they break that pact, their abilities vanish. It was like having the magic intact but being unable to use it. Therefore, they had to live with the agony of having lost their abilities.
“Is Yvonne becoming my companion?”
“Not a companion pact.”
So generally, when espers encountered another esper to become companions or met a rare entity as a guide, they would mainly make pacts.
“How about a companion pact?”
“How can we share a bed when you can’t even see?”
“What can’t you do?”
Yvonne was momentarily taken aback by Yurian’s retort.
“It’s sympathy, Yurian.”
“…Yvonne.”
“Yes.”
“Yvonne, with Marquis Rohan…”
“No.”
Yvonne cut off Yurian’s question, knowing immediately what he was about to ask. While Yurian felt like the warm water in the bathtub was gradually overflowing, he didn’t tell her to stop the water. He wanted to feel Yvonne’s breathing closer than the sound of the water.
“Yurian.”
“Even if it’s sympathy, I know what to do.”
“I don’t want to do it that way.”
“…”
“It’s my first time too.”
“Ah…”
Yurian was surprised by her unexpected response and was at a loss for words. He had never thought she would be like him.
She was the imperial princess favored by the emperor. Therefore, he thought it was highly likely she had many bed slaves behind her.
“I misspoke.”
“Yeah. Yurian, you messed up this time.”
“Yes.”
He closed his mouth as if repenting. Yvonne seemed to like his contrite demeanor, and she said that because she knew Yurian would forget even this.
“Yurian.”
“Yes.”
“Raise your other arm.”
“Yes.”
He obediently raised his other arm as instructed.
Yvonne closed the water and sat on the edge of the bathtub. The water seemed to almost touch the edge of the tub, making her skirt look like it would get wet. However, she paid no mind and cleaned Yurian’s arm with a sponge.
“Yvonne.”
“Yes.”
“What kind of person do you want as a companion?”
“Someone who listens to me well.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
When Yurian spoke like that, Yvonne couldn’t help but recall Marquis Rohan, who had said something similar to her. However, since it wasn’t sincere, she quickly pushed away the thought and returned to the main topic.
“What I want for the pact is this.”
“…?”
“Not killing me under any circumstances.”
“I don’t think I’ll do that even without a pact.”
“You never know.”
Yurian, who had lost his memory, could indeed kill her. But she had no intention of discussing memories with him. That’s why she wanted to make the pact in advance.
“If I experience any side effects…”
“The pact partner suffers.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Yvonne found it curious that Yurian didn’t know this. She had wondered why Yurian and Hildebrandt in the original story, despite becoming companions, didn’t make a pact. It was because they loved each other despite hating each other as if they could kill.
“Now, if I make a pact not to kill Yvonne, will I not kill her even if I have side effects?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s do it now, then.”
“Not now.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s difficult to take off the clothes you’re wearing.”
“Has it changed to a companion pact?”
“No. Originally, a pact made with abilities involves matching hearts on each other.”
Yurian was momentarily taken aback by Yvonne’s words. Then he remembered a method he had vaguely heard of a long time ago.
“Oh.”
“Let’s do it tomorrow or the day after.”
“Tomorrow, then.”
He replied promptly.
“First, let’s unsettle Dad and remove the hypnosis on Yurian.”
“…Okay.”
He somehow felt more annoyed hearing about Hildebrandt from Yvonne than hearing about Marques. That was why.
“Splash!”
Yurian pulled her waist and plunged them both into the bathtub.
“You’re insane!”
“Yes.”
He still felt irritated by Yvonne. It bothered him that she could think of another man while looking at his half-naked body. And there were many things strange about the emperor and her as a lady. He suddenly realized that the emperor’s gaze towards her was far from that of a father looking at his daughter, making him feel even dirtier and hug Yvonne tighter as she struggled.
“The clothes! They’re all wet!”
“They’re already wet.”
“And the shoes…!”
“If I leave here, I’ll buy you new clothes and shoes.”
Yvonne, unable to understand why Yurian suddenly acted this way, let out a sigh and relaxed. She knew she would calm down if he got what he wanted.
“Yvonne.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
Even though he apologized, he realized his mistake because of her quietness.
“Are you angry?”
“No.”
“I’m sorry.”
Yvonne thought he was quite shameless. Despite apologizing, he didn’t let go of his arms around her waist.
The large muscles of his chest felt firm against her back. And his muscular arms with prominent veins looked impressive. The sturdy legs beneath the overlapping ones felt the same way.
“I want to be with Yvonne.”
“I can’t undress alone in this outfit.”
“You don’t have to undress. After all, my eyes are covered anyway.”
“It’s difficult for me if you don’t undress. How heavy do you think a dress soaked in water is?”
“Oh…”
Yurian felt embarrassed for only thinking from his perspective. Yet, he found himself feeling bad again because it seemed like she wasn’t concerned about how she looked to him.
“I feel like I become very narrow-minded when I’m with Yvonne.”
“Yurian is originally narrow-minded.”
“…I don’t like it when Yvonne calls out other men’s names.”
“Then you’ll keep disliking it. You seem to be saying impossible things.”
Yurian felt like the wall she was lowering seemed to rise again enormously. It felt like it had lowered until he asked her to be washed earlier.
It seemed like Yvonne’s mood was affected by him becoming narrow-minded. But he couldn’t understand why he was like this. According to the original plan, he was supposed to seduce her, then escape from here and kill her.
But now, seeing her not giving him any attention no matter how hard he tried, irritated him, and the well-treated companions who got along well with her annoyed him even more. He felt like he wanted to end it all if he left this place.
When he first saw her, the lingering affection for her seemed to intensify under his eyelids like a seal. It should have been nothing compared to his safety.
He wasn’t originally that kind of person. But why did he become such a narrow-minded person because of Yvonne, and why did his mouth dry up every time she treated him coldly?
“Now, let go slowly.”
“….”
“Yurian.”
“…Yes.”
Yurian slowly released the arm he was holding tightly. As Yvonne got up straight away, he desperately wanted to see her face beyond the blindfold.
But he remembered that he couldn’t do that and tried to endure it.
Yvonne thought it was fortunate that he couldn’t see her face. Her face got hot because of his wet body sitting on top of hers.
“The rest, wash yourself.”
“Yes.”
“And make sure to eat.”
“…Yes.”
With that, she went back to her room.
Left alone in the bathroom, Yurian felt uncomfortable again because of the lingering scent of Yvonne.
* * *
Returning to her room, Yvonne saw a large white wolf lying down, wagging its tail obediently next to Hildebrandt.
“Our daughter is back?”
“Dad!”
Although the soaked dress felt like it was going to suffocate her, Yvonne held it up with both hands and ran to him to hug him.
