Episode 91

Hildebrandt could only leave the tower when he turned eighteen. It was only after Emperor Hildegard had formally recognized numerous princes and princesses that he remembered Hildebrandt, all because Duke Ferrite had fallen ill. Of course, Duke Ferrite wasn’t truly sick. It was simply a ploy to bring Hildebrandt out of the tower before his coming-of-age ceremony.

Moreover, Duke Ferrite still harbored hopes of making him emperor. That’s why he ensured Yvonne always delivered books and studies to Hildebrandt. Hildebrandt, bored with his time in the tower, eagerly accepted everything his father sent through Yvonne. His time in the tower felt stagnant unless Yvonne was there. The moment she arrived, his time began to move again.

“Tomorrow, His Majesty will pardon you!”

“I see.”

“Then we’ll marry when we turn twenty.”

“Didn’t we call off the engagement?”

“Nope! I took care of that myself!”

Hildebrandt knew how wise Yvonne was. Even so, he couldn’t help but feel guilty that she continued doing such foolish things because of him.

“So, you won’t be coming here anymore.”

“Do you feel sad about that?”

“Not unless I’ve gone mad.”

Even as he said that, Hildebrandt felt a pang of sadness. He had always thought he would die in that tower, so the idea of being pardoned felt strange. At the same time, he found it disheartening that Yvonne would no longer visit. It was as if he had lived in a world solely built around Yvonne, only to be dragged out into another world where he would have to relearn everything.

In truth, he was content with his current life. A monotonous but hopeful existence. Reading books, fulfilling his father’s expectations to some extent, and waiting for Yvonne to visit. It was a life he found surprisingly satisfying. So much so that, even though he could end it all himself, he wanted to keep waiting.

“I’d like to marry a wise wife.”

“I’m really wise. All my teachers said they’ve never seen a genius like me!”

“….”

“Piano, flute, violin, cello, viola, ballroom dancing, history, politics, economics, art, mathematics, science, alchemy, engineering, sociology, administration… and…”

“….”

“And a few other things too. Anyway, they all said I was the best.”

Hildebrandt believed she excelled at all those things, even without proof. She often taught him something she had learned from books. Truthfully, there was little he didn’t understand. But sometimes, he pretended not to know, just so he could learn from her.

“At the very least, I’d like to marry someone prettier than you.”

“Then you won’t get married! Not to anyone!”

Fuming, Yvonne threw her arms around his waist and pushed him onto the bed. He didn’t have to fall back, but he let himself do so anyway. He knew that provoking her further would lead to unpredictable outcomes.

“You never know. If I look hard enough, I might find someone.”

“Then I might have to do something drastic to make sure you don’t run away.”

“And what would that be?”

“What do you think?”

Yvonne pouted and climbed on top of him.

“What do you think? Something only a husband and wife would do.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. You’re not even an adult yet. Get off me. You’re heavy.”

But Yvonne didn’t move. Instead, she cupped his cheeks with her hands and kissed his eyelids.

“You’re mine now.”

Peck.

Next, she kissed his nose.

“Mine.”

Peck.

Then his upper lip.

“Mine.”

Finally, she pressed her lips fully against his. After the kiss, she pulled back, leaving Hildebrandt frozen in place, his body stiff with shock.

“There, now you’re mine, right?”

“….”

“Since we’ve kissed, you’re mine. I’ll have to take responsibility for you now, right?”

His heart pounded as he looked at her. How could someone spout such nonsense and still be this adorable?

“Are you crazy?”

“You always ask me that, Hilde.”

“Because you keep doing crazy things.”

Smirking, she caressed his cheek.

“Can I do more?”

“Get out.”

“Do you think I will?”

Yvonne collapsed onto his chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat. He let out a small sigh and left her alone.

“I want to have about ten kids.”

“I want to live alone.”

“Even if you live alone, you’ll still need to give me children. You’ll share your name, your title, your bedroom, meals, and walks with me every day.”

“…Then what’s the point of living alone?”

“There isn’t any. How could you live without me?”

Yvonne said this confidently, knowing his protests weren’t genuine. Hildebrandt pretended to dislike it, but her words made his heart race so much that it became unbearable to listen.

“Get off me. I can’t breathe.”

“You’re making it hard for me to breathe too, Hilde.”

“Me?”

“Yes. You’re breathtakingly beautiful.”

“…Ha.”

Caught off guard, he laughed at her words.

“You’re crazy. Truly.”

“Crazy because I love you. So take responsibility for me.”

“….”

“Take responsibility.”

She whispered those words as she slowly got up, following his movements.

“Take responsibility.”

Her voice was low, and Hildebrandt gazed at her intently. She met his gaze, unwavering. Then, just as before, Yvonne leaned in closer to him.

* * *

“Five years is a long time to be confined.”

“My apologies, Your Majesty.”

Hildebrandt stood before the emperor with his head bowed. Nominally, he was the first prince, but there was already a designated crown prince. Naturally, Hildebrandt’s position in the imperial palace was tenuous, especially since there were an abundance of princes and princesses.

Furthermore, in the Bricesys Empire, gender was no barrier to ascending the throne. The one with the strongest manifested abilities became emperor.

Historically, the empire thrived most under empresses. The founder of the Bricesys Empire was an empress, and its longest golden age was also under an empress. This meant that the newly acknowledged princes and princesses posed significant threats to Hildebrandt.

However, he had no interest in the throne.

“What did you do in the tower?”

“I spent my time reflecting on my sins.”

“I see.”

The emperor had called for him only as a formality—after all, his older brother had fainted from wanting to see his child.

“Five years of reflection should suffice.”

“My apologies.”

“You may leave now.”

“…Yes.”

Hildebrandt felt relieved by the emperor’s apparent lack of interest in him. However, he was careful not to make eye contact with the emperor.

Those with mental abilities often activated their powers through eye contact. While not always the case, intense hypnosis was commonly triggered this way.

Without once meeting the emperor’s gaze, Hildebrandt left and headed back to his original residence in the detached palace.

When he arrived at the palace, the first thing he saw was—

“Hilde!”

“Go away.”

He yelled, startled to find Yvonne waiting for him at the entrance of the detached palace. Completely unconcerned about the people around them, she ran toward him.

“Let go!”

“Hehehe.”

Ignoring his flustered outburst, Yvonne wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Hilde,” she called him sweetly, making his chest feel strange. Her elegant dress, different from her usual maid’s attire, was part of the reason.

“Your hair…”

“Pretty, isn’t it?”

Yvonne’s hair was back to its original platinum blonde.

“No, it’s disgusting.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Although his heart pounded for a moment, he was relieved to successfully hide his reaction. Yvonne had reverted to her natural hair color because she knew the emperor had lifted the abilities placed on Hildebrandt.

“Then should I try black again?”

“You’re insane.”

“You don’t like it?”

“No. Black is the worst.”

“Hahaha.”

She laughed, recalling that this was an old conversation they had once had. Taking his hand, she led him inside the detached palace.

“I got permission from His Majesty to reintroduce you to this place.”

“…”

“Didn’t I do well?”

“No.”

Despite just having seen the emperor, Hildebrandt still felt uneasy. He was worried about what kind of hypnosis the foolish Yvonne might fall under.

“Don’t come to the palace if you can avoid it.”

“Okay. If I can avoid it, I will. But since that’s impossible, I won’t.”

Her playful response to his warning made him feel a brief sense of relief.

“But why are all my attendants men?”

“Well… because I picked them?”

“…”

“Hehehe.”

Yvonne’s awkward explanation annoyed him further. All the attendants she chose were male and undeniably good-looking.

“So, this is your taste?”

“What is?”

“Hah.”

He started to wonder if Yvonne liked him only for his face. After all, she seemed to choose attendants based on their looks, all polished and attractive.

“My taste is you, Hilde.”

When she spoke with such seriousness, he momentarily forgot his earlier thoughts.

“Hilde, is this jealousy?”

Yvonne asked with a bright, delighted expression.

 

 

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