Episode 46

“Why are you trembling like that?”

Hildebrandt stroked Yvonne’s neck as if he found it amusing. There, the bite marks left by Yurian were still visible. Although he found it unpleasant, the sight of Yvonne trembling at his touch was so endearing that his discomfort quickly faded.

“Because I like it.”

She said that, but she was trembling as if she was scared.

“You can do it without the bond.”

“But I want to make a bond.”

Yvonne said that and looked at him, as if to tell him to stop. Her ear was still hurting. There was a dried bloodstain on Hildebrandt’s ear as well.

Yvonne gently touched the ear she had covered in blood.

“That’s mine.”

“Yes.”

He smiled contentedly and enclosed Yvonne’s body within his thick arms.

“Ten of them, you said?”

“Ugh… yes…”

Yvonne was tense because of Hildebrandt pressing his hand on her stomach.

“On this small belly.”

“Hil…de…”

He still looked pleased. However, his breath, close enough to touch her nose, carried a strong scent of alcohol.

“Hilde.”

“Yes.”

“Have you ever kissed anyone? Oh… you must have, since you have a mother…”
TL/N: He says ‘mom’ not sure why

“Yes.”

Yvonne spoke as if she didn’t know she was an adopted daughter. But Hildebrandt remembered that his first kiss was with Yvonne and replied.

“I’ve done other things too.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Hildebrandt spoke calmly.

“I’ve done much more. But I wasn’t allowed to form a bond.”

“Who didn’t allow it?”

“You did.”

He looked at Yvonne resentfully for a moment but decided not to anymore.

Even though their lips were close enough to touch, she still didn’t avoid him. Despite trembling in fear, she tried not to avoid him.

Her memories were gone, and she was likely in a hypnotized, incomplete state. Unlike last time, she was trying to accept him.

Maybe, this time.

Perhaps, they wouldn’t be at odds again like before, and could reconnect.

Unlike when they mingled without forming a bond.

If their hearts mingled first, not their bodies.

Then maybe they wouldn’t be at odds like last time.

He let out a delighted sigh at Yvonne’s attempt to hide her trembling while staring straight at him.

“It was me who did that.”

“Yes.”

“I won’t do it anymore.”

Yvonne stroked his hair. Hildebrandt felt as if the warmth from her fingertips was melting his ice-cold heart.

“You must have hated me.”

“Yes.”

Yvonne matched his tone, thinking he was speaking nonsensically again. Hildebrandt was in a dangerous state, more so than usual, due to his drunkenness.

In that case, giving him what he wanted to hear and appeasing him would bring it to an end.

He wouldn’t desire her; he was just testing her.

Yvonne reassured herself of this as she stared directly at Hildebrandt.

“I forgive you, Yvonne.”

“Yes…”

“I will completely forgive you now. I won’t resent you or hate you anymore.”

He confessed this and then, as if embarrassed by the tears that welled up in his eyes, he smiled.

“So let’s live like a perfectly matched puzzle again…”

As Hildebrandt said this, a strange memory surfaced in Yvonne’s mind.

‘We’re a puzzle. My rough edges fit perfectly with your indented parts. That’s why we match so well.’

“Yes.”

Yvonne closed her eyes to pass his test. As she did, he leaned in to press his lips to hers but stopped.

Because she was still trembling, despite her words.

Again.

If their bodies mingled before their hearts, then all efforts to turn back would be futile.

It was different from the days when he couldn’t forgive Yvonne. No longer could he push her away, deny her advances, and remain aloof.

Even though he had erased his memories and treated her coldly, she would still cling to him, professing her love.

She was exactly like the Yvonne who had completely captivated him in the past.

Now, there was no uncle to take her away.

“Yvonne.”

“Yes?”

“Is it because I became your uncle that you love me?”
Tl/N: He says Uncle in this

“What are you talking about?”

Hildebrandt knew her memories and thoughts were incomplete. Even so, he wanted to hear her answer. Even if it was a lie, he hoped it would reassure him.

“I only love my daddy. I don’t like anyone else. Please don’t become my uncle. You said you would become my partner.”

As Yvonne hastily spoke, Hildebrandt laughed.

“I’ll sleep here tonight.”

He said this and lay down beside her.

“Hilde?”

“I’m tired.”

Saying this, he reached his arm under her pillow.

“We should sleep without clothes.”

“Yes…”

Yvonne thought he was still testing her. But the feeling of his breath, which had touched her lips, left her feeling somehow embarrassed.

Hildebrandt watched her, blushing bright red, and smiled happily again.

Then, he sat Yvonne on the bed and began to undress her from her evening gown-like underdress. She watched quietly as he thinned out her clothes. She felt his solid chest muscles behind her and the large arm muscles over her shoulders.

He slowly untied the ribbon in front of her chest, his breath tickling her ear.

“Hilde.”

“Yes.”

“We need to disinfect our ears.”

“You’re right.”

He said this and finished undressing her. Yvonne watched as his large hands hovered close to her chest, almost but not quite touching. Soon, the ribbon was completely undone, and her dress fell open on both sides.

He quickly undid the corset behind her, and she felt a sense of relief as her breathing eased. Now, she was only in her negligee.

“Francis.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

He responded immediately from beyond the door.

“Bring disinfectant and cotton.”

“Yes.”

Saying this, he pushed the clothes near her off the bed.

With a click, the door opened, revealing Hildebrandt, dressed only in his trousers, and Yvonne, in her sheer negligee, to Francis’s eyes.

Francis kept his gaze on the floor to avoid looking at Yvonne and handed what he brought to Hildebrandt.

“I will stand guard nearby.”

“Alright.”

Francis didn’t understand why he said that. But since he couldn’t watch the Emperor’s private affairs, he turned his back.

“A lot of blood came out.”

“So did yours.”

She said this, then took the cotton and alcohol from him and first cleaned his ear.

“Do you know how many I pierced?”

“Five.”

“Hehe.”

Yvonne laughed as she carefully cleaned his ear. As she meticulously cleaned his earlobe and the outer ear, she noticed it was slightly swollen due to the piercings.

“Ah!”

She jumped out of bed. Hildebrandt watched her as she rummaged through the first drawer of her dressing table.

What she pulled out from her jewelry box was…

“Amethyst earrings.”

“Yes.”

She showed him five identical earrings.

“Can I put these on you?”

“Yes.”

Yvonne leaned in to put the earrings on him. As she did, Hildebrandt soaked a cotton ball with alcohol and cleaned her ear, jaw, and cheek.

“Ugh…”

“I’ll match yours with sapphires.”

“Okay.”

Even though her ear hurt, Yvonne endured it. Soon, she placed the platinum-set amethyst earrings in his ears and securely fastened the clasps. She looked at him.

“They look pretty.”

“Yes.”

He said this, throwing the cotton ball off the bed, and then hugged Yvonne.

“Ugh…”

“Are you suffocating?”

“I’m suffocating with happiness.”

She hugged the large Hildebrandt back. He felt pleased, sensing her heartbeat matching his own.

“I’m going on a tour tomorrow.”

“Okay…”

“I’ll be back before my birthday. I will announce you as my partner on my birthday.”

“Alright.”

Yvonne, planning to run away before then, was willing to agree to anything he said.

“Hilde.”

“Yes.”

“Hilde…”

“Yes.”

For some reason, she felt both relieved and strange about parting with him the next day.

Their love and hatred had piled up so heavily.

* * *

In the morning, she couldn’t move because the emperor, who had fallen asleep holding her tightly, was still embracing her. She knew he was already awake but pretending to sleep.

His well-defined upper body muscles trembled slightly with each breath. To reassure him, Yvonne raised her arm and touched Hildebrandt’s face.

He had a face as beautiful as a sculpture, but he was sharper than a shard of glass. As brilliant as broken glass but capable of staining one’s hands with blood upon contact.

Yvonne touched his eyelashes and eyebrows, then moved to his nose and lips.

“Shall we kiss?”

Hildebrandt opened his eyes and smiled brightly. Yvonne, startled, tried to pull her hand away, but he caught it and rubbed his nose against hers.

Then, as if commanding, he repeated,

“I want to kiss you, Yvonne.”