Seeing Ferzen talking to a doctor, Yuriel looked down and assessed the state of her body.
The only thing that remained was the faint muscle pain and her sweaty skin.
But there was a piece of clothing tied around her crotch.
Her clothes were also different.
Yurielâs memories from the night before were still a bit elusive, but she could remember some faint whispers telling her about her clothing.
<b>âŚâŚCome to think of it, did I ventilate my office that night?</b>
If that werenât the case, then her scent must have been deeply entrenched in the room.
Suddenly Yuriel shuddered at the thought of how Ferzen must have reacted.
âWhatâs with this scarfâŚâŚâ
Fiddling with the long scarf wrapped around her neck, Yuriel glanced at Ferzen who had just finished speaking with the doctor.
âYou donât have a place to stay.â
âI was simply preparing for the upcoming examsâŚâŚJust some overtime work.â
âThereâs no carriage at the parking lot, and there are signs that someoneâs living in your office.â
Yuriel winced at Ferzenâs interrogative tone.
âSo what? Since when did you care?â
âCorleone, that old coot, has done something foolish.â
âThatâs not your businessâŚâŚâ
Yuriel struggled with her weak body as she tried to rise from her bed.
âDidnât I already tell you not to refer to me like that?â
âWhat is it, Professor Ferzen.â
âCanât we do it here?â
âIf that was possible, we would already be in the middle of it.â
âSigh. Just go work or something, Iâm still tired.â
Yuriel grumbled as she turned her head away from him trying to end the conversation.
But Ferzen grabbed her wrist and dragged her out of the bed and the clinic.
âHey! It hurtsâŚâŚLet go, you crazy bastard!â
âStop struggling, Iâm not even putting on much pressure.â
âI know my body better than you, you bad bastard!â
Yuriel wiped her faint tears as she struggled against his hold, but Ferzen didnât budge.
âS-Slow down!âŚ.. My, my chest hurts!â
With each rushed step, her body ached.
So with her free hand, she started to slap his body.
But at that moment, Ferzen stopped.
The place they arrived atâŚâŚ
Was the parking lot of the Administrative Building.
Seeing a carriage engraved with the crest of Brutein, Ferzen gestured for Yuriel to board it as she chuckled helplessly.
âWhat? Are you trying to get me in your mansion now? Donât bother. Iâm never setting foot in there even if I have to live out on the streets.â
âI never said we were going to my mansion.â
âThen just say where! Whatâs the problem with you? Why are you doing this to me? Did you develop sentiments now that I lost everything?! If thatâs the case, then you shouldnât have done that shit at the Imperial Banquet in the first place!â
ââŚâŚIf you donât want to, then do as you please.â
Leaving Yuriel standing there like a scarecrow, Ferzen got on the carriage.
âI will give you 30 seconds.â
Then leaving the carriageâs door open, Ferzen started to count down the seconds.
Bested by her own curiosity and a little bit of hope, Yuriel got on the carriage with 15 seconds remaining.
âDo you have the talent to complicate everything you do?â
Closing the carriageâs door, Ferzen signaled to the coachmen.
The rain had ceased for a moment, but the black clouds indicated that this was only a brief interval.
Glancing at the window, Yuriel closed it fearing that the cold winds would worsen her condition as she looked at Ferzen.
âSoâŚâŚOut with it.â
âGeralt Ren Millien Asran.â
âHe told me that he wished to thank me by inviting me to a formal meal. However, no matter how much I think about it, I donât remember doing anything warranting his gratitude. So maybe I did something that caused something favorable to themâŚ..Thatâs what I think he meant.â
<b>GeraltâŚ..You arenât as tightly lipped as I thought.</b>
âPerhapsâŚNo, Iâm certain, Corleone must have arranged your marriage with him.â
Since there wasnât any reason for her to deny his words, Yuriel nodded her head.
âThatâŚâŚHas nothing to do with you.â
âWhy do you think so?â
âWhat, are you feeling guilty, that because of you, Iâm now stuck with this arranged marriage? ReallyâŚâŚWhat a joke.â
âIf I had any guilt Yuriel, I wouldnât have caused that scene at the Imperial Banquet.â
âYouâŚâŚIâm getting tired of your riddles. Get to the point.â
At Yurielâs demand, Ferzen lifted his head, looked straight at her purple orbs, and announced with a low-pitched voice.
âIâm planning on cutting the Head of the North.â
âSo, it wouldnât do if the Asrans managed to secure even more power.â
Upon hearing Ferzenâs words, Yuriel narrowed her eyes, andâŚâŚ
âHahahahahaâŚâŚâŚâ
âLet me see if I got this rightâŚâŚAre you asking me to whore myself to the bastard you intend to put as the new head of the North?â
âThis isnât even funny. Iâm not some cheap whore you can order as you please. Iâm tired of this shit. Everyone is always seeing me as their personal breeding mare.â
âI will become the new head of the North.â
âWhat nonsense are you spouting now? If thatâs the case, why did you break the engagement 10 years ago? I wonder if the almighty Brutein can even salvage the spilled milk. That would be impressive.â
Despite Yurielâs sarcasm and lack of decorum, Ferzen continued calmly.
âIf I was incapable of it, we wouldnât be having this conversation.â
âCorleone will surely jump at my offer as well. His disgusting obsession with acquiring a direct descendent with the bloodline of Brutein is nothing new. Surely, you must be aware of this, no?â
âJust like that time Yuriel, your opinion is irrelevant.â
âYou see, Yuriel, every premium good, is already chosen by its owner before itâs even made. Wasnât that for your case as well?â
âPre-Premium goodsâŚâŚNo, Iâm not!â
âItâs ironic isnât it, although livestock also have lives, theyâre still the rancherâs property.â
âA farmer with a sword is of no threat to me as they wouldnât even be able to use it properly anyway. NoâŚâŚ Even if the sword ended up in the hands of a powerful knight, it wouldnât be a problem as long as they donât oppose me. But thatâs not the case here, is it? So isnât it better to recover the discarded sword than to let it fall in the hands of someone who could threaten me?â
Ferzenâs crimson eyes stared at Yurielâs purple ones as he continued speaking.
âYuriel, thereâs nothing you can do now. Just resign yourself. No matter how much you struggle, the result wonât change.â
âReallyâŚâŚ Did you forget what you said to me 10 years ago? Do you really think youâll be able to bear having a child with someone whose blood you hold in contempt?â
âSee? Ah, you also hate when I curse, donât you? Well then, allow me to speak freely now. Can you even stick that cock of yours inside of me? Fill me with your seeds? Knock me up with your goddamned child whoâll have both Alfred and Brutein blood?â
His veins popped as his fists were clenched tight.
Every single one of Yurielâs words annoyed him.
In fact, everything she said felt a little repugnant.
However, if it were the original âFerzen,â he wouldnât have made such a choice, nor even attended the Imperial banquet in the first place.
Yes, although he was FerzenâŚâŚHe wasnât Ferzen.
âIâŚâŚI apologize for my words from 10 years ago.â
A modest house could be seen outside.
As he opened the carriageâs door, Ferzen stepped out.
With Yuriel following him.
Ferzen took a key from his left pocket, unlocked the door, and entered the house.
And once again, Yuriel followed him.
ââŚâŚI never wanted to hear an apology.â
âYou can stay here while I take care of things.â
âThereâs money here as well. Use it however you wish.â
On the bed was a pile of gold coins.
âFerzenâŚâŚVon Schweig Brutein.â
Yuriel uttered his full name with a quiet tone.
Then, she took off her clothes.
Transforming her mana into water, she cleaned her body.
Her beautiful, alluring naked body became visible.
Then, she walked seductively towards Ferzen.
âIf you cannot lust for meâŚâŚIf you arenât resolved to embrace me. Donât say those stupid plans. No! Donât avert your eyes. Look at me! This is the body of the Alfred woman you once rejected.â
âYou bastardâŚâŚDo you even know what it means to accept me as your mistress? Donât make me laughâŚâŚYou will reclaim what you once threw awayâŚâŚBut if your sword canât even stand at the sight of my body thatâs been altered by that stupid fruitâŚâŚâ
Hearing Yurielâs rant, Ferzen sighed as he came over to her and took off the scarf hanging on her neck.
Then, he led her in front of a mirror, grabbed her chin, and lifted it.
âThis is proof that I lust for you.â
âI certainly see you as a woman.â
Yuriel pushed Ferzen out of the room.
âThe house is a little cramped, so make sure to leave it ventilated or buy some perfume or incense.â
âAlso, take care of your health.â
Just as she wished, Ferzen left.
Now alone, Yuriel sat on her bed and looked around.
The interior was a little desolate.
âIâŚ..I wonât listen to you.â
Glancing at the raindrops on her window, Yuriel touched her nape.
Even though she didnât wish to listen to Ferzen, Yuriel stayed in the house he provided.
With the money she now held, she could go anywhere she wished to.
âŚâŚShe could go back to her office.
Beyond the window, she could see the flowers wet from the rain.
But her scent, which gradually filled the room, didnât get dampened by the rain.
YesâŚâŚ.The flowerâs scent may be damped.
TL note: Good days my fellow Yuriel Fanatics, I present it to all of youâŚâŚ.THE BEGINNING OF GREATNESS.