Episode 7
“Instead, since I can’t trust your word, you have to swear on your ability.”
Yurián’s surprised face appeared, but this time it seemed genuine, not fake. Even if it wasn’t the red light entering his throat, the fact that I surprised him might have pleased me a little.
“What do I have to do?”
Ironically, he seemed amused by the situation.
“What do you think will happen to Your Highness if I leave from here?”
“We’ll part ways and say our goodbyes. You will reclaim your status as a Duke, and I will continue living my life as it is.”
It hadn’t been long since he came out of the bath, and drops of water were dripping from his jet-black hair. Come to think of it, I hadn’t brought a towel.
“Why do you think that way?”
“First of all, it’s not me who brought you here; it’s my father. I am merely the person who will let you go. Am I not a benefactor?”
“….”
“….”
He looked at me with a smiling face, so I smiled back. My heart thumped because it felt like he was going to kiss me, but he seemed quite relaxed.
“That’s one way to see it.”
I slightly regretted that I seemed desperate, but escaping from this place was the most important thing, regardless of the outcome. It was better than living in fear of death in a place where I didn’t know when I would die.
“Think it over.”
I placed the brought food on the bed. The better part of this room compared to the previous one was that it had a bed. The bed itself in this room was the core of the choker, making the restraint stronger than in the previous room.
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes.”
As I turned to leave, he quickly approached and grabbed the sleeve of my clothes. When he noticed the lace on my wrist might loosen, he quickly let it go.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Stay a little longer.”
“I’m busy.”
“Then, just slap me once and leave.”
It sounded like nonsense, so I looked at him, and he blushed even to his ears. Although I didn’t say anything perverted, it always seemed like embarrassment was my share. This time, however, he also looked a bit embarrassed, and he finally appeared somewhat human.
“Now, please leave.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded, and I turned to leave.
Now that I think about it, Yurián seemed perfectly fine, as if the magical pain had disappeared. Well, maybe a maid gave him a stabilizer while moving the room.
“Because it hurt.”
Seeing him return with a seemingly relaxed expression, it was clear that he was pretending to be embarrassed.
“Why do you want to be slapped? Are you a pervert who likes being hit?”
“No.”
“Really?”
“I want to feel Your Highness’s touch.”
He’s trying to tempt me again.
The original Ivonne was reaching a pitiful state now. Well, there’s no hope if you’re captivated by that beauty.
“If you don’t like it, at least hold my hand.”
“I don’t want to do that either.”
“Touching Your Highness soothes my magic.”
“It’s a delusion.”
“There are no side effects either.”
“That’s also a delusion.”
Taking my hand off his sleeve, I walked forward, and he looked at me like a puppy waiting for its owner, soaked in the rain. Trusting that face would lead to death.
I thought about how sincere the original Ivonne was; in the early part of “Cry, Your Highness,” I thought the story would continue with Yurián and Ivonne rather than the emperor and this guy.
Perhaps that’s why I felt no sympathy for the pitiful sight he presented. Instead, it felt even scarier, like a lion hiding its claws.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes.”
He can’t approach until the door. So, I stuck to the door and turned around. He looked at me like a dog waiting for its owner, gripping the choker with both hands.
After all, Yurián looked like the dogs I used to raise after becoming Princess Ivonne.
Although all those dogs are gone now, seeing Yurián somehow reminded me of them, making it harder to leave with a heavy heart.
“Is it over?”
“Yes.”
Since I didn’t want to slap him, I stroked his hair. It was still damp, but it smelled nice. As I touched his hair, he shyly smiled, and our eyes met, making me feel strangely uneasy.
“I’ll be going now.”
“Your Highness.”
“Why again?”
“I’ll wait.”
It’s fortunate that he can’t see the necklace. He laughed again, spewing red light from the choker.
The price of his ability is a desire to see blood.
Even doing this to me now is probably his instinct to devour prey.
* * *
“When I went to take care of the next meal, it seemed like someone was already there.
A groan accompanied by a strange, moaning sound could be heard.
“It seems I didn’t properly educate my daughter because she’s too kind.”
“Ugh….”
“The arrogant look in your eyes is still there, Duke Leonhardt.”
I didn’t have the courage to completely open the door, so I stood there. I brought food, but it felt incredibly uncomfortable, so I gently placed it near the stairs.
“What are you looking at? Huh?”
“Ugh!”
It seemed like Heldebrandt was using his ability on Yurián. Through the slightly open door, I could see the emperor pulling the chain connected to Yurián’s restraining device and stepping on his back.
Yurián lay flat on the floor, gripping the restraint as if in pain, while Heldebrandt seemed to enjoy the sight, laughing.
“My daughter’s temperament is a bit weak. I gave you to her to play with, and she treated you nicely.”
“Please…!”
It was clear he was experiencing hallucinations. It was probably Heldebrandt’s ability. I had experienced it before. It was a hypnotic trance that could reveal even the most horrifying things, often accompanied by hallucinations.
“What do you see?”
“Ugh!”
Yurián tightly held onto the restraint as if frustrated, tears streaming down his cheeks. In the midst of this, he glanced in my direction, as if our eyes had met.
Frightened, I took a step back and stumbled.
“Ugh!”
“Ah.”
Fortunately, I didn’t fall because someone behind me caught me.
“Are you okay, Your Highness?”
Francis, the expressionless captain of the guard, asked while releasing his grip on my shoulders. My heart was pounding as he let go.
“Oh, um… my father…”
“He is inside.”
“Oh…”
I was too shocked to say anything, and he gestured as if suggesting I shouldn’t go inside. Then, with a trembling fist, he seemed to indicate for me to leave. Glancing at me with shaky hands, he ascended the stairs without caring. I was scared that he had witnessed something he shouldn’t have.
I didn’t expect Heldebrandt to come and see Yurián.
What if Yurián says something?
What if I tell him that I’ll help him escape?
In the original story, they didn’t pay much attention when Yurián was kept underground. Why is it suddenly different?
Did I act too differently from the original?
What if Heldebrandt starts suspecting me? Come to think of it, the questions I asked back when I was with the bookseller, did he know something then?
“Ugh….”
Nothing was going according to plan. I couldn’t trust Yurián. Despite Princess Yvonne’s love for me in the original, he tore her apart. Such a person couldn’t possibly have maintained loyalty to Emperor Heldebrandt.
Maybe they met again sooner than in the original, and they fell in love? After falling in love, Yurián wouldn’t lie to him. Instead, it was Heldebrandt who got punished for lying after falling in love.”
Francis let me down when I regained my composure. He wasn’t someone to be trusted either—an obedient lapdog of Heldebrandt. And he was the one who tried to copy me.
“Is this the first time you’ve seen His Majesty like that?”
“…”
Yes, Heldebrandt had never shown such a rough side to his daughter. That’s probably why Yvonne followed him so devotedly—with all her heart and sincerity. It was Francis who directly killed the dogs, not Heldebrandt.
Nodding my head reluctantly, he smirked.
I shouldn’t forget to act like a foolish princess who is loyal to the emperor with all her heart.
“It must have been a great shock.”
Nodding again, he chuckled with a strange expression.
“His Majesty values you greatly. The last time he used me to frighten you, it wasn’t his intention.”
“Then what was the intention?”
“Awakening naturally occurs. However, there are those who, even after reaching adulthood, do not awaken. Generally, it happens to lower-level espers.”
“Oh…”
“Perhaps His Majesty has felt impatient with the incessant chatter of the courtiers these days.”
Only Princess Yvonne would believe such words. I still couldn’t shake off the tremors. I had no idea what kind of conversation the untrustworthy individuals inside were having, and my life was still hanging in the balance.
“Don’t hate His Majesty too much.”
“I-I don’t hate him. I truly… like my father.”
It was a forced statement, but I was relieved that it could come out of my mouth.
“Really?”
When I turned around, Heldebrandt was approaching. It seemed he followed because of the signal I gave earlier.
“But our daughter, if you like me so much, why didn’t you do what I asked?”
My heart couldn’t stop pounding, and I couldn’t catch my breath.
