Episode 74

Marquess Rohan looked at Yvonne as she approached him, seemingly flustered.

She was undoubtedly a guide. The scent of a guide emanated from her, the warmth he felt every time they touched, and the sense of calm that flowed through him when he was near her.

And the overwhelming desire he had to possess her was driving him mad.

The more magic power one had, the higher the grade of ability, the more an ability user craved a guide.

Despite this, Marquess Rohan knew that his feelings were love. That’s why he had never forced himself on Yvonne. He had believed that one day, she would open her heart to him, and when they finally united, it would be the happiest moment of his life. He had believed that one day she would forgive him for the side effects of his power.

But every time Yurian Leonhardt appeared, she turned her attention to him, the gaze that should have been focused on Rohan shifting toward Yurian. The mental energy she should have spent on him was instead directed at Yurian.

When she was with Hildebrandt, he became the focus, and when she was with Yurian Leonhardt, her attention shifted to Yurian.

He didn’t know what he had to do to win her heart completely and become one with her.

But now, he knew the answer. The one way for an ability user and a guide to become eternally united—imprinting.

Marquess Rohan approached Yvonne with this thought in mind as she moved toward him.

“My lady.”

“Why is my room like this? Did something happen…?”

“I sensed suspicious magic in the room. I was worried someone might be watching you, so I searched.”

“I see.”

Yvonne noticed the fish-shaped glass ornament lying broken on the floor, shattered into two pieces.

“Dear, your hand is bleeding.”

“It’s nothing.”

Only then did he realize that he had unconsciously shattered the glass fish.

“My lady.”

“Yes?”

“I need to hold you.”

“Oh…? Alright.”

Yvonne, slightly surprised, embraced Marquess Rohan tightly. He realized that she had misunderstood his words, and it struck him that if he hadn’t erased her memories, even this action would have been impossible. He became even more certain that imprinting was the only way.

“Dear, you smell strongly of hydrangeas. Didn’t you use to wear rose-scented perfume?”

“I changed it.”

“I see.”

If Marquess Rohan hadn’t been in his current state, he might have suspected the amulet his sister had given him. The hydrangea scent that emanated from it, the way it drove people mad to the point they couldn’t think straight.

It was a power Hildebrandt often used.

“Come here.”

Marquess Rohan partially closed the door and led her to the bed. Yvonne, sensing what he intended to do, felt a resistance building within her.

But they were husband and wife. Was there anything wrong with a married couple sharing intimacy?

She convinced herself that the resistance she felt was just due to instinctive shyness.

The maids and servants often said that she and Marquess Rohan were a very affectionate couple. So, this kind of thing must happen frequently.

So, despite the reluctance, she didn’t resist.

Gathering her courage, she gently caressed his cheek. Marquess Rohan, standing in place, looked at her.

Yvonne found the red hue in his eyes ominous. His eyes were bloodshot as if he were a madman, yet his lips were curved in a smile.

“My lady. I’m going to fill you completely.”

As he gently pressed on her lower abdomen, she felt a strange sense of shame.

“My lady.”

“Kes. Wait a moment.”

“No. I can’t stop now.”

As he said this, Marquess Rohan pulled Yvonne’s arm, laying her down on the bed. She was momentarily startled by the soft sensation of the mattress beneath her back and the way her hair spread out across it.

Looking up at Marquess Rohan, who now hovered above her, his arms caging her in like iron bars, she noticed the anxious expression on his face.

“I never said to stop. But…”

“But what?”

“You’re going to undress, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then, let me undress you.”

Yvonne had a strange feeling that doing so might bring back her memories. It was as if something was trying to surface in her mind, but a veil obscured it, and repeating the action might help her see beyond that veil.

“Do you not want me to?”

“No, how could I refuse you?”

Marquess Rohan said this and withdrew his hand, allowing Yvonne to sit up beside him.

Yvonne began to untie the cravat around his neck. As it came loose, his neck and collarbone were revealed.

“Kes, my nails are short. So how did I leave so many scratch marks on your body?”

“Even short nails can leave marks during intimacy. You were in pain.”

“You kept going even though I was in pain?”

“You told me not to stop, even if it hurt.”

Yvonne found it hard to believe that she would have said that. She had always disliked even the slightest pain.

Moreover, if she had scratched him with her short nails, she should have felt some discomfort or pain in her fingers. But her hands were fine, her nails still very short.

“Kes, why did you bite my neck?”

“Because you looked so lovely in my arms. I won’t do it again.”

Marquess Rohan’s gentle words prompted Yvonne to continue unbuttoning his shirt, revealing his well-defined chest. Seeing his muscular physique made her blush.

But as she looked at his chest, she had a strange feeling, as though she had seen a more impressive chest before.

For some reason, his chest and Yurian’s face overlapped in her mind.

It was as if she remembered seeing Yurian’s bare body.

“Shall we have five children?”

“Excuse me?”

“Both of us are blonde, so our children would likely be blonde too.”

“Oh….”

Marquess Rohan hadn’t expected her to speak so freely about having children, and he let out a breath of astonishment, finding it hard to resist the urge to caress her cheek. But he had to hold back; the goal was now within sight.

“But I hope their eyes are green, like yours. I love the way you look at me with those eyes.”

Yvonne kissed Marquess Rohan on the cheek. It was the first time she had initiated a kiss, and he froze in place, stunned. He then regained his composure and looked at her.

Seeing that the red hue had faded from his eyes, Yvonne rested her head on his shoulder and spoke softly.

“Dear.”

“Yes?”

“I really like you.”

“I like you too. I love you. I don’t think I could live a single day without you.”

She felt pity for Marquess Rohan as he spoke, his voice breaking with desperate tears.

“But it’s still daytime, and we have guests at the estate.”

“….”

“Even so, if you want to continue, we can. But I think I might be a little embarrassed.”

Yvonne tried to gently manipulate him, pretending to comply while intending to refuse.

Marquess Rohan was so entranced by her words that he found himself reflecting on the thoughts he had moments ago, the suspicion of her and the urge to kill Yurian.

He realized that something was wrong with him. Even now, every time he saw Yvonne, he wanted to leave his mark all over her body.

The fact that he lied to her, convincing her that the experiences he had with other women were ones he shared with her, made him feel disgusted with himself.

“My lady, you tried to persuade me with such an empty gesture.”

He realized that her behavior was likely a subconscious reaction to the fact that she knew he had been with other women, and that this was her way of avoiding him.

And with that realization, his self-restraint snapped.

“Ugh….”

He reached up and undid the ornament that had been prettily placed in her hair, letting it fall onto the bed.

“Dear…?”

As the bed dipped beneath them, causing her to sway slightly, Marquess Rohan’s eyes rolled back, and he bit down on her neck.

“Ouch…! That hurts!”

He bit her so hard that Yvonne felt like prey being hunted, an unbearable mix of anger, frustration, and rejection welling up inside her.

“My lady.”

“Get off me!”

Slap!

Yvonne struck Marquess Rohan across the face, pushing him away briefly.

Marquess Rohan, his head turned from the impact, could feel the sting on his cheek and the clear rejection in Yvonne’s eyes.

“Haha.”

Marquess Rohan laughed like a madman as he looked at Yvonne. She recoiled as she realized his eyes had turned completely red, no longer the kind green they once were.

“My lady, you won’t be able to leave me anymore.”

Speaking like a man possessed, Marquess Rohan pinned her down on the bed. Yvonne struggled, slapping his face repeatedly and trying to push him away, but it was no use.

“Ugh… Let me go!”

He grabbed both of her arms, pinning them above her head as if he wouldn’t allow any resistance.

“I’ll let you go once the imprinting is complete, my lady.”

Knowing that once the imprinting was done, he could never truly let her go, he said this with grim determination.