Episode 51

Yvonne knew that Marquis Rohan was renowned as a strategist. Because he was extremely meticulous, even the demanding and capricious emperor couldn’t trouble him much.

Perhaps because of this, everything was perfectly prepared. The only things Yvonne had brought were her personal belongings, and even the tranquilizer master left outside had been contacted by Marquis Rohan and moved to Apentina. He had also made sure her personal property could not be traced. Additionally, the soldiers at the north gate were all those who held grudges against the emperor.

At first, those who bore grudges against the emperor wanted to kill Yvonne. The emperor’s beloved princess. Without her, the emperor would surely collapse.

Therefore, Marquis Rohan used his abilities to alter all their memories. Despite overextending himself, unlike before when he would isolate himself and become addicted to contact, this time he was fine, as he often interacted with Yvonne.

Thus, the emperor could not suspect him. Nor could anyone else.

Marquis Rohan knew that as long as he had Yvonne, he could use his abilities freely. However, he was also afraid that doing so might distance her from him, so he was hesitant to speak before completely leaving.

He had not approached her out of a desire to use her. What started as a desire to repay the favor to Yvonne, who had saved him, had turned into love, becoming the driving force that kept him alive.

He was overwhelmed by the immense feelings that he could not control.

Thus, he feared most that Yvonne would hate him.

He even loved the occasional contemptuous expressions caused by side effects. Despite how much it hurt him.

“This way.”

The guards at the north gate opened the door. They still harbored hatred for the emperor, but remembered Yvonne as the one who had saved their lives. Of course, that manipulated memory had been planted by Marquis Rohan.

So, he altered their memories to hate the emperor but remain loyal to Yvonne.

“Kes.”

“Yes.”

Yvonne climbed into the carriage leaving the imperial palace. The guards at the north gate watched Princess Yvonne as she boarded the carriage outside and then bowed their heads.

Yvonne felt strange somehow.

Leaving this place meant saying goodbye to the imperial palace she had grown so tired of. It also meant parting with Hildebrandt, Yurian, and Francis.

Yvonne thought of Ebony, who had treated her with the care of a mother despite her stern demeanor.

“I think I will miss Ebony.”

“Ebony will miss you too.”

Marquis Rohan added. Ebony, Princess Yvonne’s personal maid, was the one who handled her external affairs. She was an elderly woman whom the emperor had deliberately assigned to her.

Yvonne had suspected and distanced herself from Ebony, but Marquis Rohan knew well of Ebony’s loyalty. He was also aware of Ebony’s true identity.

“We will see her again someday.”

“Do you think so?”

“Yes.”

Reassuring her, Marquis Rohan held her hand. As Yvonne climbed into the carriage, he joined her and sat down beside her.

Soon, the carriage started to move forward with the sound of clattering hooves.

She couldn’t tell how long they had been traveling. They had to ride for quite a while to cross the gate on the outskirts of the capital and reach Apentina.

“Yvonne, if you’re sleepy, lean on me.”

He tapped his shoulder. Yvonne finally took a good look at Marquis Rohan. Perhaps because of what she had said last time, it seemed like he had really bulked up.

She had told him she liked a broad, knight-like body while imagining Yurian’s physique. Although Hildebrandt had a similar build, she had first seen Yurian’s bare body at that time.

“Have you been working out a lot?”

“A lot. I will continue even after we arrive.”

Marquis Rohan took a deep breath, finding Yvonne adorable as she pressed her hand on his shoulder and upper chest.

“Is it possible to get this firm in such a short time?”

“Yes.”

He had received special training from an esper who helped with his workouts. He even drank the medicine provided only to knights.

From his original strategist’s body, he had completely transformed into a knight’s physique.

“This part is even firmer.”

He moved her hand to his abdomen.

Yvonne pressed his abdomen with a curious smile, feeling the well-defined abs with her fingers. She stopped suddenly when she noticed something else firm.

“If only you could fix your lewd thoughts.”

Knowing exactly what she was referring to, Marquis Rohan crossed his legs. Naturally, Yvonne did not lean on his shoulder.

About an hour later, Yvonne began to doze off. Marquis Rohan gently moved her head onto his shoulder to prevent her neck from getting hurt. Her sweet scent still enveloped him.

As she slept, her slightly parted lips revealed her neat teeth, looking enticing. Her pink lips, the way she breathed softly, and her twitching nose made her look as cute as a bunny.

Although her hair was brown due to the necklace, her eyebrows remained silver. Imagining the amethyst-like eyes beneath her eyelids, he let out a soft sigh unconsciously.

“Umm…”

She shifted in her sleep. He considered touching her lips but refrained. Given his already poor reputation from unwanted relationships with women, touching her while she slept would only make him appear more despicable.

Marquis Rohan felt that if Yvonne could love him, he wouldn’t mind never being intimate again. There were other ways to comfort her.

He even considered showing her his heart, hoping she would understand his sincerity. But then, someone else might take his place beside her, so he dismissed the thought.

Marquis Rohan wanted her to be happy and fervently wished to be the one by her side.

He lowered one shoulder slightly to make her head rest more comfortably.

Thus, the two had to spend a long time inside the carriage.

* * *

“Yvonne.”

“Mmm…”

Yvonne slowly opened her eyes to the gentle touch shaking her awake.

“We have a slight problem.”

She looked drowsily at Marquis Rohan, who spoke carefully. He tidied her messy hair and waited for her to fully wake up.

“What kind…?”

“It seems they’ve noticed your disappearance sooner than expected.”

“Oh…”

“Using the gate would leave traces, so we should take the land route instead.”

“…Alright.”

Yvonne readily agreed to his words. Marquis Rohan, with an apologetic smile, gently stroked her cheek.

“Kes, relax your expression.”

“Yes.”

He smiled broadly as she mirrored his gesture by stroking his cheek.

“I’m just worried you might suffer, Yvonne.”

“I’m fine.”

With that, Yvonne gathered her thoughts.

“So, how has the route changed?”

“We’ll travel by land to the port, then take a ship, passing through Melpin Island.”

“That’s a good idea.”

Melpin Island was a demilitarized zone. No one could use their abilities there, much like a sacred inviolable area.

Passing through there to reach the Kingdom of Apentina would make tracking them difficult.

“But they are looking for me?”

“Even if it hasn’t reached His Majesty, they are.”

“Oh…”

Marquis Rohan deliberately avoided mentioning that Hildebrandt would be searching for her.

In his opinion, if the emperor knew she was missing, he would go mad. He would then use his powers on everyone around her to force confessions.

He likely wouldn’t kill them, since they might provide clues. He would probably declare them all dead but keep them alive until something came up. At least until Princess Yvonne was found.

However, once they reached Apentina, the emperor would never find Princess Yvonne. The king there, while not having any abilities himself, was a high priest from Melpin Island who could neutralize powers.

That was precisely why Marquis Rohan chose Apentina as their refuge. He didn’t know about the hypnosis Hildebrandt placed on him, nor did Yvonne.

To be completely free from the emperor, that was the only way. Unless Yvonne manifested as a body-strengthening ability user like Yurian and completed a second awakening, which was unlikely.

But if Marquis Rohan’s guess was correct, Yvonne was a guide. So that possibility was slim.

“When we get to Apentina, Yvonne will become my wife.”

“I see. Will my name change too?”

“Yes. But it will be as similar as possible.”

“What will it be?”

“Ivnes… Rohaten.”

Marquis Rohan couldn’t help but smile, feeling pleased about adding his surname to her alias. Seeing his innocent smile, Yvonne found him somewhat endearing.

“So, will you call me your wife now, Kes?”

“Yes.”

He answered obediently, his face turning bright red.

“I will be a husband who listens well to his wife.”

Speaking as if proposing, he knelt on one knee on the floor of the carriage.