Episode 58

Yvonne paused for a moment when she saw Marquess talking to Yurian. She wasn’t sure if she should approach or not and hesitated, contemplating retreating.

At that moment…

“Dear!”

Marquess called out to her warmly.

Yurian also looked at her, eyes wide with surprise.

“Ha ha… dear…”

Yvonne approached Marquess, who looked tired but seemed genuinely happy to see her.

“I had some matters to attend to. Were you looking for me?”

“Yes.”

Marquess smiled brightly, happy that Yvonne had been looking for him. Yurian found it strange that the man who had been speaking so coldly with him just moments ago now seemed to melt at the sight of his wife. This woman had a face very similar to the princess he once loved. He had even unintentionally confessed to her the previous night.

“Is this your wife?”

“Yes.”

“We’ve met before.”

“…Yes.”

Yvonne spoke first to prevent any misunderstandings Marquess might have about Yurian. Yurian, though initially reluctant to mention it, responded to her first.

“How do you know each other?”

“Your Grace helped me look for you yesterday.”

“I see. Thank you.”

Marquess smiled at Yurian, but Yurian found the smile somewhat sharp.

“I’m sorry you had to eat breakfast alone.”

“It’s okay. You must have had something urgent to attend to.”

Yvonne felt relieved that Yurian didn’t seem to remember Marquess. She linked arms with Marquess, maintaining eye contact as if they were a perfect couple.

Seeing Yvonne linking arms and laughing with another man made Yurian feel strange. It was odd to have such emotions for a woman he had just met the previous day, no matter how much she resembled the princess.

He wanted to kill Marquess.

Startled by his unfamiliar emotions, Yurian stepped back.

“I’ll see you at the ceremony.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Yurian left quickly, almost fleeing.

“What happened?” Yvonne asked Marquess as soon as Yurian was completely out of sight. Marquess found Yvonne’s curious expression utterly endearing.

“If you let me touch your lips, I’ll tell you.”

“Okay.”

She allowed it, and Marquess gently touched her lips as if handling a delicate glass object. His heart pounded as he carefully pressed her soft lips.

“No kissing.”

“…Okay.”

Seeing the intensity in Marquess’s eyes, Yvonne spoke first. He found her prissiness incredibly charming.

“Now, tell me.”

Marquess sighed and collected himself, then began to explain.

“I made him remember someone else’s face instead of mine.”

“Oh, there’s a way to do that.”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you come back last night?”

“…I found it hard to resist seeing you asleep. So, I stayed here.”

Yvonne remembered how they used to be at odds, constantly trying to outmaneuver each other. Yurian had been against the emperor, and Marquess had manipulated the emperor to trouble Yurian.

Hildebrandt had a habit of bothering people whenever it suited him, often supporting Marquess against Yurian, which made Yurian want to kill both of them.

Seeing them having a civil conversation was surprising.

“Yurian suspected I was the princess yesterday.”

“I erased his memories from the past three months to be safe. I erased all of them.”

“Oh…”

Yvonne was surprised that Marquess had erased all of Yurian’s memories rather than just those related to her.

“What if he regains his memories?”

“Don’t worry. Even the High Priest can’t undo that hypnosis.”

“How do you know?”

“The emperor’s hypnosis is mixed with my power. To undo it, the emperor himself would have to do it. But do you think he will?”

“Oh.”

Yvonne felt relieved.

Marquess hadn’t told her about Yurian’s abilities.

Yurian’s ability was physical enhancement. If he awakened a second time, no mental ability could affect him. He was an unprecedented genius who could unknowingly break mental powers.

Marquess planned to erase Yvonne’s hypnosis and his own as much as possible and then disappear. It was the best course of action.

* * *

That evening, they were heading to the ceremony to dispel the abilities.

Yvonne held Marquess’s hand as they walked. Yurian was also in the High Priest’s office, seemingly joining them for the ceremony.

“We meet again.”

“Yes.”

Yurian greeted and observed Yvonne.

Yvonne found it extremely bothersome to have to act affectionately towards Marquess whenever Yurian was around.

“Dear, just hold on a bit longer. I’ll bring you a delicious snack later.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes.”

Marquess’s sweet words were part of his act, but they had a genuine undertone, making Yvonne’s heart flutter a little despite her annoyance at the situation.

Yvonne couldn’t tell if Marquess was acting so affectionate in front of Yurian or if he was always like this. She found it reassuring.

“The first person to receive the ceremony will benefit the most. The rest will weaken my strength.”

“Then I’ll go first.”

“Very well, dear.”

Yvonne stepped forward, trying to calm herself as she looked around.

The office was neatly organized. Books were perfectly aligned on the shelves, and because the High Priest appeared to be around ten years old, several stepping stools of varying heights were placed beside the bookshelf. Everything seemed tailored to his height.

Yvonne stood under the chandelier, observing the moonlight streaming in through the window. A strange magical circle was drawn on the floor beneath her.

“What is this pattern?”

“It’s a circle designed to amplify the goddess’s power.”

“It’s pretty.”

“Hahaha.”

The High Priest laughed, amused by Yvonne’s comment.

“You might feel sleepy.”

“Okay.”

The High Priest began to channel his power towards Yvonne, who stood in the center. As his energy reached her, the magical circle started to glow white.

Yvonne felt as if the abilities entangled within her like cobwebs were gradually unraveling. However, the strongest bindings remained intact, while only the minor ones were breaking away.

When the light finally faded, Yvonne assessed her condition.

“What’s changed?”

“I’ve removed some of the abilities that were cast on you.”

“I see.”

She felt somewhat cheated since she didn’t notice any immediate changes.

Yvonne knew roughly how much money Marquess had spent on this magic. She also knew he never hesitated to spend money on her.

But while Marquess didn’t mind the expense, Yvonne did.

It felt like taking an expensive health supplement with no noticeable effect.

She stepped out of the magical circle with a dissatisfied expression.

Next, it was Marquess’s turn. After undergoing the same process, he emerged with a bright expression. This prevented Yvonne from accusing the ceremony of being a scam.

Then it happened.

She felt a series of abilities within her breaking in quick succession.

“Ugh…!”

Startled by the sensation of something flowing from her eyes and nose, she wiped it with the back of her hand.

“Dear!”

It was blood.

“Oh… damn.”

She felt blood gushing from her ears as well, and she couldn’t help but vomit. It was blood.

She felt as if blood was pouring from all her orifices, and her legs gave out beneath her. Marquess, who was trembling with a panicked expression, caught her.

“Priest!”

“Call the healing priests! Quickly!”

The High Priest, alarmed, ordered the other priests outside. They rushed in and began using their abilities on Yvonne.

Bright, glowing energy from the hands of high-ranking and mid-ranking priests flowed into Yvonne, calming her.

Marquess was terrified. Seeing Yvonne suddenly coughing up blood and collapsing, he felt his heart clench and his breath catch. His mind went blank, rendering him unable to think logically, a stark contrast to his usual pride in his rationality.

Yurian was similarly affected.

“Ugh…”

“Dear… sob… dear, are you okay? Dear…!”

Marquess, involuntarily sobbing, called out to Yvonne.

At that moment, her platinum-blonde hair turned to the silver-white shade unique to the Bricesys royal family.

Yurian was certain then that she was indeed Princess Yvonne.