Episode 9
Yurián nonchalantly unbuttoned the shirt he was wearing.
I couldn’t understand the connection between me leaving marks and Heldebrandt bothering Yurián less. I wondered if making someone submit meant something like this…?
“Oh my.”
My thoughts paused for a moment, and I noticed his firm chest and abs that I had seen during the previous treatment. However, what caught my eye more than that was the bloody bandages.
“Hurry and go wash up.”
“What?”
“Wash up and get treated.”
Although he seemed confident about undressing, the wounds looked severe. If left untreated, there was a risk of infection. Moreover, this place wasn’t exactly clean.
“Quickly.”
“…”
He hesitated, gripping the sleeve of his clothes. Then, with a smirk and a glance at the other side, he took off the shirt he was wearing.
“I’ll get some new clothes.”
“I’ll wait, Your Highness.”
“Yes.”
After glancing at the first aid kit, he headed outside.
* * *
There were no clothes in my room suitable for a man. If I took the guards’ clothes, it would reach Heldebrandt’s ears. Previously, I had taken what the emperor left in my room.
Opening the wardrobe, fortunately, there was only one left. The clothes Heldebrandt had taken off and left.
He had left one in my room each time he induced my awakening. It was also a way to create an excuse for him to bring clothes. It was good to have a pretext for bringing clothes in advance.
“Where are you going?”
It was the moment when I was returning from the dressing room to my room.
“Now it’s almost afternoon. Aren’t you leaving the palace?”
The Imperial Palace had set times for entering and leaving. Those without permission couldn’t stay beyond the designated departure time, especially Marquis Rohan, the librarian.
“I am an exception.”
“Don’t lie. I know you stayed until departure time last time and got fined.”
“You seem very interested in me.”
“…”
Not because of interest but because he was so annoying, she looked into it. However, she couldn’t say that. His ability manipulated memories, and she never knew when or how that ability might be useful to her. So, the emperor would probably use Marques through her.
“I’ve been waiting to walk and talk with you.”
“Unfortunately, I’m a bit busy.”
“Too bad, I’m glad.”
The emperor seemed unusually persistent today, either because he found it a waste to give Marques a noble position or for some other reason.
Come to think of it, it was clear why Marquis Rohan liked Heldebrandt, but she couldn’t remember why he came to like Princess Yvonne. Maybe it wasn’t mentioned, or it was briefly discussed in the early parts that she had skimmed over.
The reason Marquis Rohan fell for the emperor was Princess Yvonne. The emperor who mocked and despised Marques in every way. But whenever he fell under his enchantment, Marques would see Princess Yvonne.
As time passed, his body and mind became entwined, and eventually, unable to forgive himself, he went into exile to a foreign country. It was a sad ending, ending with his suicide after exile.
“I like knights who are good at sports.”
“Really?”
“Shoulders square, strong arm muscles, a broad chest, and good looks.”
She didn’t explain further because he knew what she meant.
When he looked at her with a face he hadn’t seen before, she looked at him the same way. Then he came close enough to touch when he reached out.
“Then, if I have square shoulders, strong arm muscles, and a broad chest, will you engage with me?”
She was breathless at the seriousness of the question, as if she were being proposed to.
“Well… sure.”
“You promised.”
But how was the librarian going to achieve that? She knew he was aware that he didn’t have time to train due to his heavy workload. Moreover, he didn’t have the physique of an athlete, despite his handsome face.
“Not just arm muscles, like real knights.”
“Yes.”
“And a broad chest like this.”
She gestured, trying to show him what she had seen in hero movies.
“Oh, and, if you have spare clothes, please give me some.”
“Yes?”
It would be a good idea to leave at least one of the emperor’s clothes. It could serve as an excuse when needed.
“Don’t you like it?”
“Why would I… Alright, I understand. Please wait a moment.”
So, I went to my room first. He would bring it to my room.
* * *
Returning to the room, I had to think carefully. I had to leave bite marks on Yurián’s body. However, there was no need to leave my actual bite marks.
Princess Yvonne was skilled in art. Although it wasn’t originally my skill, she could draw, sculpt, and excel in visual arts. Thanks to her, I had to work hard to catch up with that ability.
Luckily, there was plaster. I started carving the plaster, shaping it like a fist.
So, I diligently carved it into this shape.
It might be difficult to make both upper and lower teeth, so making one side would be enough.
With a crunchy sound, white powder fell on the clothes I was wearing. In the past, I might have been horrified at the thought of staining precious clothes.
But Princess Yvonne, superficially the emperor’s beloved daughter, had so many dresses that they overflowed into other palaces. Moreover, she had various jewels, and who knows how many.
The building right next to the palace where I resided was a place for storing items for dressing up. The first and second floors were dedicated to dresses, the third floor to shoes, the fourth floor to jewelry, and the fifth floor to accessories.
Think of it as having built a department store.
As some idle thoughts and time passed, a perfect carving of this shape was completed. If you looked closely, it seemed as if it was made to insert a denture model.
Knock, knock.
Before I could respond, the door opened.
“I brought what you asked for.”
It was Marquis Rohan. Generally, officials knew that they left spare clothes in the imperial palace. What he handed over was a white button-down shirt and black pants.
Suddenly, I realized that Yuriánand Heldebrandt had similar heights and body types. However, compared to them, Marquis Rohan had a slightly leaner physique.
What if it doesn’t fit?
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
After he handed me the clothes and continued to stand there, I gestured for him to leave. Strangely, there seemed to be a strong scent coming from the clothes, reminiscent of Marquis Rohan.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes, now leave.”
“But before that…”
As Marques was about to leave, he turned back at the door.
“Since I gave you the clothes, I would like to receive the meaning of your gratitude.”
“Don’t talk nonsense and just go now.”
“…Please join me for tea time tomorrow.”
“Fine.”
I responded appropriately, fearing he might persistently bother me again. With a smile, he left. Having tea was not a particularly burdensome task.
After he left, I changed into something more comfortable. Then, carrying the model teeth and the clothes, I went downstairs.
Originally, I didn’t intend for the maids to find out about my good treatment of Yurián. What the emperor expected from me was submission. So, I thought persuading and calming Yurián, making him submit to me, might be a strategy. Therefore, using a persuasive method was my own strategy.
So, it shouldn’t be a big deal even if he overhears it.
As I descended the stairs, I heard the clinking sound of chains on the floor. It seemed Yurián had heard my footsteps and was on the move.
“Have you arrived?”
“I haven’t even opened the door yet.”
When I opened the door, he was sitting on the bed, still wet, looking at me.
It was a good idea to bring several towels. I handed them over roughly and also gave him the clothes. Upon receiving them, he used a towel to dry himself and then put on the pants.
“Your Highness.”
“Oh, excuse me, I’ll turn around.”
After turning around for a moment, I heard a very loud rustling sound as if he were taking off his clothes. It seemed like I was conscious of it.
“It’s done.”
When I turned back at his voice, sure enough, the size didn’t fit well.
“The clothes are a bit small.”
“I’ll bring new ones tomorrow.”
Yurián seemed somewhat tense. He wasn’t buttoning up the shirt, and the meaning was so obvious that I didn’t want to ask.
“Now, what do I do?”
“Yes. Please show your neck.”
“…Okay.”
With a strange smile, he unbuttoned the shirt again. Even though he had washed, there were still wounds here and there.
As Yurián swallowed dry saliva, his Adam’s apple seemed to tremble. Then our eyes met, and his expression seemed odd, as if he were forcing a smile.
“I brought this.”
I showed him the plaster teeth. Upon seeing it, Yurián’s smile disappeared, as if he realized something.
“Shall I make it with this?”
“…”
Thinking it would be good for both of us, I brightly smiled and said, and a red light began to glow in Yurián’s eyes.
