Episode 64
Marchioness Jhanna had invited a guest to win Yvonne’s favor.
The guest was Yurian Leonhardt’s aide from the Bricesys Empire.
“Here he comes!”
Yvonne turned her gaze in the direction indicated by Marchioness Jhanna and saw the aide, who was quite extravagantly dressed. The man had jet-black hair and eyes as red as blood, yet his eyes gleamed like polished rubies, making it hard to look away when their gazes met. He smiled brightly when he saw Yvonne, which sent a shiver down her spine, as if cold water was trickling down her neck.
“Greetings.”
“Oh my, no one mentioned that the aide was so handsome.”
“Hohoho.”
The noblewomen began openly admiring him, as if a prized catch had arrived. The aide, seemingly pleased, smiled and took a seat naturally. He sat next to Yvonne, who was seated in the highest position as the guest of honor.
“What is your name?”
“Yuri.”
“Your name is similar to your master’s.”
“Yes.”
Yuri smiled at Yvonne, an enigmatic air about him. She felt like a prey animal sensing a predator, instinctively aware of the danger he posed.
“And what is your name, my lady?”
“Yvonne Rohan.”
“So, you are the Duchess.”
“Yes.”
Yvonne placed her hand on his outstretched one. Yuri brought her hand to his lips, lingering longer than a mere formality. The warmth of his breath on her hand made her feel ticklish.
“What is your rank?”
“Just call me Yuri.”
“Are you a commoner?”
“A baron.”
“I see.”
As Yuri released her hand, Yvonne quickly withdrew it. Despite disliking the act of someone kissing her hand, she didn’t find his touch repulsive—just ticklish.
“My master is eagerly looking forward to coming here.”
“Oh, tell us more about Duke Leonhardt.”
Marchioness Jhanna leaned in with interest. Yuri finally broke his gaze from Yvonne and looked at the marchioness with a charming smile.
“My master has the power of physical enhancement. He excels on the battlefield.”
“Oh my, how impressive.”
“He is skilled with the sword and adept at many things.”
“My goodness.”
“He’s also extremely handsome.”
“Oh!”
The noblewomen all fanned themselves and laughed behind their fans, except for Yvonne, who remained silent. Something about Yuri’s words made her uncomfortable.
Her memories of Hildebrandt kidnapping Yurian and threatening her were becoming clearer, but everything else was a jumbled mess. She had no recollection of Yurian’s appearance, voice, or how he looked at her.
Her instinctive attraction to Yuri made her uneasy. If Duke Leonhardt recognized her, it could spell trouble.
Yvonne wondered if her scattered memories were truly Hildebrandt’s doing or if there was more to it.
“Duchess, you look pale.”
Noticing her pallor, Yuri brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. When their eyes met, her heart pounded as if he could read her thoughts.
“How dare you touch my hair. That was very impolite, Baron.”
“I apologize if I offended you.”
Yvonne had meant to offend him, but his bright smile only made her feel more uncomfortable.
“Shall I pour more tea?”
Countess Sharia asked, sensing the tension.
“I’m fine. My husband is running late.”
Yvonne wanted to change the subject and distance herself from Yuri’s unsettling presence.
Yvonne instinctively mentioned her husband, causing Yurian to frown. Although he had come to Apentina under the guise of an aide, he was truly a delegate. Upon arrival, he encountered a beautiful woman who was wary of him. It puzzled him why she would be so afraid of someone with just a baron’s title.
Yvonne was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her platinum eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, and her graceful actions and voice captivated him. Yurian felt as if he had met his ideal woman.
But a husband?
The word felt strangely out of place, almost as if it were a lie.
“I recently saw a strange-looking cat on the street!”
“What kind of story is that?”
The noblewomen shifted back to everyday conversations, and Yvonne pretended to be engaged, completely shutting off her interest in Yurian.
* * *
The first to arrive at the Jhanna estate was Marquess Rohan. He had finished the court meeting earlier than usual. Being extremely competent, no one complained about him leaving thirty minutes early. Additionally, the king of Apentina showed great favor towards him.
“My lady!”
“Dear? You’re even earlier than yesterday.”
“Yes.”
Marquess Rohan rushed to Yvonne, ignoring the other noblewomen. Yvonne felt odd, like he was a loyal animal coming to its master. He seemed to charge forward like a racehorse, focusing only on her.
“Dear.”
“My lady, I missed you so much.”
“I see.”
Marquess Rohan embraced Yvonne from behind her chair and then released her to look into her eyes.
“Kes, I was just about to get up. Let’s go together.”
“Sounds good.”
“Pleased to meet you, I’m Yuri.”
Yurian found it strange, as if he had seen Marquess Rohan before but couldn’t place him. The surname Rohan triggered a vague unease. His former rival, the Marquess of Rohan, had died in an accident, but the name still bothered him.
“Who are you?”
Marquess Rohan immediately recognized Yurian but was wary since he introduced himself as ‘Yuri.’
“I am Yuri, aide to Duke Yurian Leonhardt. Due to some circumstances, I arrived two days earlier.”
“…”
Marquess Rohan knew Yvonne didn’t remember Yurian, but he couldn’t be sure if Yurian knew her. Yurian’s enhanced physical abilities made him a potential threat, capable of overcoming mental barriers.
“Is he joining us on the boat?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Marchioness Jhanna noticed how Marquess Rohan always beamed around his wife. But now, despite Yvonne’s presence, his expression darkened.
“Kes.”
“Yes, my lady.”
He quickly reverted to his kind demeanor when Yvonne called him.
“Stay by my side since you dislike the water.”
“Of course, my lady.”
Yvonne knew Marquess Rohan’s aversion to water. She remembered him getting seasick and had heard stories of how she, as Princess Yvonne, had saved him from drowning. Despite his outward calm, she knew he was uneasy about the boat trip. She hoped he might overcome his fear of water by joining them.
“You two seem very close. Was it a political marriage?”
“No, it was a love marriage.”
“Oh my, are you finally going to tell us how you met?”
“Yes, we’ve always been curious since you never shared the details.”
The noblewomen, always eager to know, laughed with interest.
“I liked him a lot and proposed.”
Yvonne’s dry tone surprised Marquess Rohan, but he couldn’t help feeling happy. He squeezed her hand tightly.
“I liked you first.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
Marquess Rohan’s affectionate words made Yvonne smile.
“Shall we head to the boat?”
Marchioness Jhanna frowned at her servant’s message.
“The others are already there. I told them to wait here.”
“Let’s go then.”
As they headed to the boat, Yvonne would later remember this moment and wish she had returned to the estate instead.
