Episode 78

“Isn’t just looking enough?”

Yvonne responded immediately, and Yurian felt a slight pang of disappointment. He found himself staring at the mark on her chest, identical to his, as if entranced. He looked at it intently, as if he might never see it again.

His expression, although flushed, betrayed a sense of suppressed embarrassment.

“You must have seen something like this often when noblewomen wear revealing dresses.”

“It depends on whose attire it is.”

“Ah.”

Yvonne felt a small surge of satisfaction at his words, pulling herself back to focus.

“Now that we’ve confirmed it, we’re done.”

“I’d like to look a little longer.”

“Are you always like this?”

“Only with you, Yvonne.”

His desire to linger a little longer made Yvonne clutch his discarded shirt nearby. He seemed to fidget with his hand, as though he wanted to touch her, then hesitated and pulled back again.

“Would you like to touch mine?” she asked.

“Yes.”

He answered immediately, and Yvonne, smiling slightly, brushed her fingertips over the mark on his chest. His body radiated heat, even from just that small touch, and she wondered if it was because of his flushed face or if his body temperature was naturally higher.

“Touch it more,” he urged as she was about to pull away. His voice was desperate, and the expression on his face was almost pleading, making her decide to oblige.

The mark was surprisingly beautiful. Yvonne pressed her fingers into the symbol on his chest, tracing it with firm pressure.

“Ugh…”

Yurian barely managed to suppress a moan, his body trembling as he tried to hold it back.

“Does it hurt?”

“No.”

When Yvonne quickly pulled her hand away, startled, Yurian instinctively bit his lip.

“It must hurt.”

“It doesn’t. It actually hurts more when you stop touching it.”

“You’re full of nonsense.”

“If you don’t want to hear nonsense, keep touching. I’ll behave.”

Though his words were absurd, they were also honest, and Yvonne couldn’t help but laugh. Without thinking, she returned her hand to his chest, scratching lightly with her nails.

“Ah…”

“Does it hurt?”

“Too much.”

“…”

“But it’s nice.”

“You’re shameless.”

Yurian turned his head away in embarrassment, covering his mouth with his hand, but the way he trembled gave him away. Amused by his reaction, Yvonne almost teased him more but decided against it.

The man in front of her was unlike any she had encountered before—he was large and powerfully built, with a body sculpted like a statue. His shoulders were broad and perfectly straight, his arms thick with muscles that seemed ready to burst. She could see the veins and the well-defined lines of his muscles. If they were to arm-wrestle, she imagined he could easily break her arm.

And yet, those red eyes, which suited his imposing figure, held a look of pure nervousness, like fragile glass.

“What if I say I don’t want to go to your estate?” she asked.

His previously shy face instantly hardened.

“Would you come with me if I begged?”

“I’m tired of people begging.”

“Ah…”

Yvonne had spoken without thinking. The memory of the Marquess begging her was still a traumatic one. He had pleaded with her, only to push her off the balcony later. The cruelty of it had been all too clear.

“May I ask why you don’t want to come with me?”

Yvonne laughed at his innocent question and looked at him. His bright red eyes seemed confused, almost desperate.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to imprison me in your mansion?”

“Even if I lock you up, I won’t do anything to you. I just want you to wait for me in my room.”

“Does that sound normal to you?”

“Even if it doesn’t sound normal, I won’t do anything abnormal.”

His shameless response made her laugh as she looked at him. He seemed sincere.

“What would you do if you locked me up?”

“Nothing. Just…”

“Just?”

“Just wait for me to come.”

“That’s all?”

“Yes.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

Yvonne laughed, but Yurian’s desire was genuine. Buried deep in his erased memories was the feeling of waiting for her, wanting nothing more than for her to wait for him too, for him to be the only one in her world.

“Strange,” Yurian murmured.

“Yes, Yurian, you’re really strange,” Yvonne replied.

“It feels like, even though I’m not trapped anywhere, my entire world revolves around you.”

Yurian said this as if he’d come to a sudden realization, and Yvonne found herself momentarily speechless as she looked at him. He seemed different from the man who had awkwardly expressed his clumsy desires and quickly fled just a short while ago.

“Leave me alone,” she said.

“…Understood.”

Yurian, sensing her fatigue, responded obediently.

“I’ll bring you clothes soon.”

“Alright.”

“And… this,” he said, handing her something.

“What is this?”

It was a ring imbued with the power of the King of Apentina.

“Wearing this weakens any minor abilities that have been cast.”

“I see.”

Yurian thought he should probably wear it himself, but he was saddened by Yvonne’s fragmented memory and gave it to her instead. He hoped that if her lost memories returned, she might view the Imprint between them more favorably.

“Now leave.”

“…Yes.”

Yurian left the room, looking disappointed. Yvonne, having mischievously decided not to return his shirt, left him standing there in just his pants.

* * *

Yvonne knew there were very few servants in this estate. Though Yurian had purchased it, he mostly stayed at the royal palace, so there were likely only a handful of staff present.

She felt a bit guilty toward Yurian, who had trusted her enough to leave her alone, but she had already made up her mind to escape. The moment he put the ring on her, fragments of her memories had returned.

‘Yvonne.’

‘Yes?’

‘Please make an Imprint with me someday.’

‘Alright.’

It was a conversation between her and Yurian, where they seemed tied together. She wasn’t Eveline; she was Yvonne. And the ability pact between them was real, making her wonder if she had once intended to be with him.

But now, she wanted to break free from everything. She longed to escape and live the solitary life she had originally desired. It wasn’t about seeking true freedom; Yvonne simply wanted to distance herself from the actions of the Marquess and all the chaos surrounding her.

Even though some of her memories had returned, she wasn’t sure if she could fully trust Yurian. His request to imprison her wasn’t normal. Even if he promised not to do anything abnormal, the mere fact that he wanted to keep her locked away was concerning.

Would he act rationally after taking her to his duchy?

“Of course not,” she muttered to herself, shaking her head and clenching her fists.

*Knock, knock.*

“Come in,” she called.

The door opened to reveal a maid holding a dress, confirming her suspicions about the attire.

“Leave it there and go.”

“Are you sure you don’t need help?”

“Yes.”

Yvonne’s curt response seemed to momentarily confuse the maid, who glanced at her torn clothes before quickly leaving, as if assuming something had happened between Yvonne and Yurian. Yvonne saw no reason to explain.

As the door clicked shut, she removed her tattered clothes and picked up the dress the maid had left.

“Well, at least they’re perceptive.”

The clothes Yurian had ordered were simple, something easy to move in. Yvonne remembered how Apentina’s attire was always extravagant and heavy.

“Sigh.”

As she wore the ring, more memories surfaced. The Marquess had set up his ability in a way that allowed her to slowly regain her memories over time.

Most of them were general knowledge, along with memories of the time she had spent with the Marquess.

Of course, there were some false memories mixed in, but Yvonne instinctively rejected those, letting them fall away.

“Ugh…”

She even remembered being in bed with the Marquess. That memory filled her with intense revulsion, as if it didn’t belong to her at all.

Shaking off the thoughts, Yvonne quickly dressed. This room was on the ground floor.

“How much does he trust me?”

Yvonne couldn’t help but think Yurian was being foolish. If he truly trusted her enough to leave her here, then what was his desire to imprison her all about?

She didn’t yet realize that Yurian was as confused as she was.

“Well, time to go.”

Yvonne opened the terrace door. She could escape by simply climbing over the terrace railing.

“Ugh, it’s cold.”

Her heart pounded in her chest as she leapt over the railing, a sense of liberation washing over her. She was unaware that someone was already approaching her location.