Episode 6

Yvonne looked at Yurian and smiled in satisfaction.
Since he had gotten out of bed and shown her everything, she felt like a delighted spectator enjoying a pleasant show.

Looking into his eyes, she was reminded once again of how she felt right now.

“When I’m with you, Yurian, I feel like I become a little strange.”

“I’m always like that.”

“I like it. It feels like we’re becoming strange together.”

Yvonne liked how Yurian only pretended to be okay in front of her—and always failed at it.
He was someone who got nervous every time they were alone, someone who made it clear that she was the only thing he desired.

He was someone willing to change himself for her.
And Yvonne felt the same. If it was for Yurian, she didn’t mind changing, either.

“Yurian, I… I think I need to tell you something important.”

Yurian was more nervous than ever, sensing she was about to say something significant.

When Yvonne saw the life drain from his face, she couldn’t help but laugh.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen you look dead.”

“That’s because Yvon is being scary.”

He wanted to rush her, to press her for an answer, but when he saw her expression softening, he held back.
He just hoped—really hoped—it wasn’t something serious.

“Come here.”

At her words, he moved closer.
Yvonne swung her legs down from the bed and looked at him.
Yurian, like an obedient beast, placed his hand on her thigh and looked up at her.

Yvonne gave a little chuckle.

“I thought you’d give me a hug.”

“This is the prep pose for a hug. May I?”

“Pfft… Yes.”

As soon as she said that, Yurian parted her knees and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“Whatever you have to say, just say it comfortably. I want to be someone you can do that with.”

“You already are. I can say anything with you. And whatever I say, I feel safe.”

She hugged his head close and spoke.

“I want to have a child.”

At her words, he froze.

“So, stop drinking that contraceptive tea now.”

Yvonne knew Yurian always brewed and drank that tea just for her.

“D-Did you… suddenly decide that?”

His voice cracked as he stammered.
Yvonne couldn’t help but laugh when she saw him flustered, but still happy, and obviously holding back a million thoughts just to let her speak.

“It’s not sudden. Being with you made me think—it would be nice to have a child.”

Her voice stayed calm, composed.

“And if it’s your child, Yurian, I think I could love them too.”

At that, Yurian’s eyes started to fill with tears.

“So, give me that thing you always carry inside your coat.”

She was talking about the small box Yurian always kept close to his chest.

“You knew about that?”

“How could I not?”

Yvonne recalled the small box he would tuck into his chest pocket, fiddling with it while watching her out of the corner of his eye.

He had always wanted to propose—but had held himself back.
Because he wanted to be considerate of her situation, and of her heart.

“Not now.”

“Why not?”

“Because… right now feels too insignificant.”

Yvonne chuckled softly again, seeing how his eyes were completely soaked now.

“I want to propose to you properly.”

“Even though you’ve already heard my answer?”

“Yes. I want to show you how much I love you.
If I propose like this… one day you might feel that my love wasn’t enough.”

“That’s never going to happen.”

“Still, I don’t want to leave even that chance. If you ever feel that way… I think I’d want to die.”

At Yurian’s words, Yvonne felt her heart flutter.
Every time she was with him, she felt like a shattered glass. A broken vessel that could never be filled again.

But he was like the deep sea—when she was submerged in him, she forgot she was broken. He was someone who made the waters overflow, endlessly.

“Yvon?”

“Ah…”

Yvonne’s breath suddenly quickened, and even she was caught off guard by it.
When Yurian realized she was crying, he panicked and grabbed his coat again.

“Please don’t cry! If it’s because I haven’t proposed yet, I’ll do it right now!”

He frantically searched through his coat for the ring box.

Riiip!

“Damn it.”

He had dug through his coat with such urgency that the left sleeve tore clean off.
Yvonne, forgetting she’d been crying just a second ago, burst out laughing.

“Pfft… It’s not that.”

“But…”

“Really. It’s not that. I was crying because I was happy.”

At her words, he let go of the ruined coat and dropped to his knees at her feet.

“If there’s ever something I’ve done to upset you, please tell me. Right away. Even better if you scold me for it.”

“I already do. All the time.”

“That’s a relief.”

As Yurian smiled brightly again, Yvonne felt strange in the best way.
Like cotton slowly soaking in water, she felt herself gently permeated by the calm and deep love he gave her.

She looked at him with a deep sense of peace.

“Come here.”

“But… are you really giving up on enjoying the honeymoon and going straight to having a child?”

He couldn’t contain his joy as he asked.

“With you, Yurian, it’ll feel like a honeymoon no matter what.”

“I’ll make sure of that. I’ll never forget.”

“Good. Around the time you give me the ring, I’d like to return the favor with some news… that I’m pregnant.”

She said that as she draped her calves over his shoulders.
Yurian kissed her ankle, then looked up at her with eyes that gleamed like a beast once again.

“Who knows? Maybe it’ll happen tonight.”

“Give it your best shot. I’d like a daughter.”

Yvonne said it with a soft laugh, welcoming the way Yurian’s body pressed into hers once more.

She had said she wanted peace, but their night ended up being long and intense.

Yvonne, overwhelmed by how fixated Yurian was on always seeing her face, ended up with her back aching.
Only when she started to cry, saying she really couldn’t go on, was she finally allowed to lie face down.

But Yurian hated it when she didn’t face him during intimacy.
So even then, he ended up guiding her to the mirror.

In the end, she clung to him, wrapped in his arms.
She liked that position—being held tight, entirely suspended by him, even while fearing she might fall and hurt herself.

Yvonne bit Yurian’s neck so hard her jaw went numb.
But perhaps his skin was too thick, because by morning, the mark was completely gone.

With her voice hoarse, she fell asleep as if she’d fainted.
As always, Yurian bathed her with the utmost care once she had drifted off.

Lying down beside her, he reminded himself again: she really wasn’t drinking the contraceptive tea anymore.

Heart pounding, he closed his eyes to sleep.

* * *

“What is this?”

Yvonne much preferred the office over the audience chamber.
She didn’t enjoy meetings with the ministers in the audience hall—they were dull men, easily manipulated with a flick of her psychic abilities if she wanted to.

They were the kind who would move with a single command from her anyway, so the meetings themselves were tiresome. More than anything, she felt no affection for men whose essence revolved solely around personal gain.

Besides, seeing the wistful look in Marquess Rohan’s eyes was starting to wear on her.
She couldn’t cast Marquess Rohan aside.
He was necessary for manipulating Hildebrandt’s memories, and he was a top-tier, highly capable psychic.

It also didn’t help that Yurian had firmly insisted she keep him close.

“I made it because I wanted to give it to you, Mother.”

The one who had brought her a bouquet of hydrangeas folded from paper was Hildebrandt.

“Prince Hildebrandt.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Hildebrandt, in exchange for giving up his claim to succession, had become Yvonne’s adopted son—and the hidden son of the late emperor.

With the help of Marquess Rohan’s powers, all memories he had of Yvonne had been erased.

“Are you doing this again so I’ll take that collar off your neck?”

Yvonne spoke flatly, rising from her seat as she looked at him with disinterest.
Seeing her expression shift, the nearby aides quickly retreated.

Only Hildebrandt continued smiling brightly at her.
He no longer remembered her at all. His memories had been completely wiped clean, and now he was nothing but a pure young man who had lived in hiding as a commoner until recently reclaiming his title as prince.
Though the memories in his body still lingered.

“No. I just came because I missed you, Mother.”

The memory in his body pulled him toward Yvonne.
Before him was someone around his age, yet who made his heart race wildly—and he couldn’t control his emotions.

The way his heart pounded with something close to hatred felt, at a glance, frighteningly similar to love.

Whenever he saw her, his heart thudded violently, his mind going completely blank.

“Is that so? Because I find you quite detestable.”

Yvonne looked at the bouquet of paper hydrangeas he had given her and then swatted it away.
As the flowers hit the ground, she stomped on them and spoke.

“Instead of wasting your time on nonsense like this, why don’t you awaken already? You’re useless without your powers.”

Just like how Hildebrandt once wounded her—now, she returned it in kind.

TL:N: hah hahahahaha what kind of bullshit is this? Girl! Tf?? Are we being fr? Girl ik you suffered cuz of the late emperor and hilde, but he’s partly a victim too. For god’s sake, how much useless a plot can be?
My god Im seeing the future that when fl and ml gonna have children he’s gonna get more dragged into the hole as if this guy hasn’t suffered enough ?!. I only see fl playing the victim card.