Episode 49

Yvonne held Yurian until he calmed down. As she stroked the back of his head, Yurian’s desire surged, making him want to be even closer to her.

“Yvonne.”

“Yes.”

“Please, promise me you’ll make a companion vow with me later.”

“Alright.”

She answered easily.

Yurian would forget this.

As he let go of her, he looked into her eyes. His beautiful red eyes, clear and polished like rubies, stared at her with a smile.

This made her feel a slight pang of guilt.

How desperate must a person be to show such kindness to the daughter of the one who kidnapped them?

Yvonne felt sorry for him, yet she was relieved that he would soon forget everything and be free.

“Yurian, I hope you’ll be happy.”

“I will make sure you are happy, Yvonne.”

“Okay.”

When Yvonne smiled and answered, the irregular heartbeat he felt made his chest tingle. It was as if he had swallowed a butterfly whole, making his stomach tingle while the butterfly inside awakened all his nerves, leaving him in a state of euphoria.

“Shall we go now?”

“…Yes.”

She unlocked the last shackle around his neck with the key she brought.

Once free, Yurian picked her up in his arms.

“What are you doing?”

“I feel strange. I wanted to get revenge on you once I got out of here…”

“Yes.”

“But now, I want to be tied up again. Isn’t that odd?”

“It is odd.”

Yurian enjoyed the way she looked down at him, and how her expression had softened compared to before.

He didn’t feel much joy in being free of his shackles. Instead, he felt a sense of melancholy at the thought of leaving. It was as if, once he was out of this place, Yvonne would no longer look at him the way she did now.

So, he resolved.

To keep her at his estate, just like he had been kept here.

“Yvonne, will you pat my head?”

“Will you put me down then?”

“Yes.”

Yurian almost felt breathless as she gently patted his forehead with her fingertips. She looked down at him like a noble goddess, tender and yet so intensely engraved in his mind that it felt as if she were imprinted beneath his eyelids.

He felt like he could see her even with his eyes closed.

When Yurian opened his eyes again, he saw Yvonne looking down at him with a smile.

“Yurian.”

“Yes.”

“Put me down now.”

“…Alright.”

He had hoped she would say something more to him.

But she didn’t, and he found that characteristic of her, though he still felt a sense of longing.

They walked hand in hand out of the underground prison. As they stepped out, Marquis Rohanappeared, right on time.

“Let’s go.”

“This person is…?”

“My assistant.”

Marquis Rohanintroduced his assistant.

“This is Erkin.”

“Hello.”

“Oh….”

Erkin had never seen Princess Yvonne up close before. He had only ever seen her from a distance, wearing a veiled blindfold or a large hat. So, he was momentarily stunned by her appearance.

“What ability does he have?”

Yurian asked, positioning Yvonne behind him protectively. Marquis Rohan, feeling strangely irritated, almost stepped forward to retrieve her but refrained. Yvonne seemed intent on placating Yurian at the moment.

And there was no reason to be angry. Yurian Leonhardt, Duke of Leonhardt, would soon forget all about Yvonne.

“Visual distortion.”

“Invisibility, then?”

“Yes.”

Yurian continued to glare at Erkin. Yvonne patted Yurian’s arm soothingly, and he found it hard to focus on his anger with her touch. Like a cat in the rain, he looked at Yvonne and calmed down.

“What about the other supplies?”

“Everything is ready.”

Marquis Rohanknew Yvonne was deceiving Yurian.

So he didn’t get angry.

Yvonne had confided everything about the plan to him alone. Not Hildebrandt, whom she loved and hated, nor Yurian, whom she relied on while keeping a hidden knife, but him.

Only him.

Marquis thought so and smirked at Yurian.

Regardless of anything else, Marquis believed he had loved Yvonne the longest.

He knew who she was attracted to and whom she trusted.

If he didn’t have such flaws.

If that were the case, she would have truly accepted him as her confidant.

Even so, he was glad just to escape the emperor and be alone with her, but he hid his emotions.

The Yvonne he knew wouldn’t accept his feelings just because he expressed them.

It was a love that required patience and waiting, like a hunter.

“Let’s go.”

“Which gate are we using?”

“We’ll use the gate at the North Gate. It leads to the Leonhardt Duchy.”

“I see.”

Yurian squeezed Yvonne’s hand tightly and looked at both her and Marquis. He felt relieved that she wasn’t looking at either of them, yet he also felt a pang of regret that she wasn’t looking at him.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Erkin cast his magic, making the four of them invisible.

As they moved together, Yurian pretended to stumble, hoping Yvonne would help him. Each time he leaned on her, she genuinely showed concern and helped him. Marquis, watching this, almost decided to leave Yurian behind as a mistake but restrained himself.

Leaving him behind would be troublesome. If Yvonne planned to free Yurian while escaping with him, it would be even more problematic. He didn’t want Yurian to linger in her thoughts as a burden.

“Yvonne.”

“What’s wrong, Kes?”

“Your complexion looks off.”

“I’m fine. It’s just nerves.”

Yvonne’s affectionate use of Marquis’s nickname made Yurian’s mood sour. He squeezed Yvonne’s hand tightly and said,

“Can you call me Yuri as well?”

“That nickname doesn’t suit you.”

“Puhuh….”

Marquis laughed openly at Yvonne’s blunt response.

“Then how about Yuan? Rian? What do you prefer?”

“I like Yurian. Haven’t we discussed this before?”

“…Yes.”

Yurian forced a cheerful smile, hiding his displeasure.

There weren’t many servants or guards on the way to the North Gate. Most of them had accompanied Hildebrandt on his tour.

They moved through the grass, quietly making their way. The guards were relaxed since the emperor, who often tormented them, was away.

Hildebrandt was known for his erratic behavior, suddenly appearing to kill guards or hypnotize servants. He would randomly show up, claiming to enforce discipline.

Now that the emperor was away, most of the palace staff felt at ease.

Moreover, the captain of the royal guard had also gone with the emperor, making Yvonne the highest-ranking person in the palace.

But since Yvonne rarely left her quarters, it was unusual for the general staff or guards to see her face.

Even when they did, their memories were often distorted, and they couldn’t recall her appearance clearly.

“Yawn….”

“If you yawn that wide, your mouth might tear.”

“Haha, didn’t you just yawn too?”

On the way to the North Gate, the guards were chatting and strolling around, visibly relaxed. This put Yvonne and her group at ease as well.

Yvonne had to pass by the emperor’s palace on her way to the North Gate, including Hildebrandt’s cherished garden.

The garden was filled with the scent of hydrangeas, Hildebrandt’s favorite. Yvonne thought of the paper hydrangea bouquet he had given her.

“Yvonne.”

Noticing her staring at the hydrangeas, Marquis Rohannervously grabbed her arm.

“They’re beautiful.”

“…Yes.”

Unlike Yurian, Marquis Rohanknew Yvonne and Hildebrandt’s relationship was far from simple.

“Why did Dad like hydrangeas so much?”

She asked this rhetorically, smiling and continuing to walk.

Marquis knew the answer but chose not to respond.

Hildebrandt kept using hydrangea-scented perfume because Yvonne had given it to him when she confessed her love. But Marquis had no reason to share this.

Even if their marriage was a ruse, he didn’t want to evoke pity or regret for the past in Yvonne.

When they arrived at the North Gate, activating the gate was a problem.

Despite it being a day when no guards were supposed to be present, there were guards stationed there.

“What do we do now?”

Yvonne whispered to Marquis, who smiled and answered.

“Kill them.”

But it was Yurian who responded.