Chapter 01
“My butterfly.”
A warm breath brushed against the back of her neck.
Yuriel flinched at the tingling sensation.
She had nothing on—not a single thread of clothing.
The man who called her his butterfly wrapped her tightly in his strong arms.
‘That dream again…’
Through trembling eyelashes, she saw him.
Golden hair so bright it looked pure, and fiery red eyes like burning embers.
His face, carved like a statue, was more than just beautiful—it had the wild allure of a beast.
His body, made of firm muscles, was just as stunning.
Even when Yuriel cried during their intense nights, scratching his back with her nails and hitting him out of frustration, he didn’t bear a single mark.
Yuriel blushed, recalling the last time she had this dream.
She knew exactly who this man—this impossibly perfect man—was.
‘Archduke Akron Veiharz.’
He was the greatest swordsman in the Spera Empire, the protector of the monster-infested western lands.
Some even said that without the Veiharz family, the empire would have already fallen.
His strength was said to rival the royal family itself.
And… he was also the man who came to her every night in her dreams and made love to her.
“You’re thinking of something else.”
Yuriel let out a small gasp at Akron’s low voice.
He hated it when her thoughts drifted away from him.
‘Oops…’
As soon as she realized her mistake, his red eyes narrowed like a predator about to pounce.
“Ah…!”
He bit her lip lightly—it stung, but even the pain quickly transformed into another kind of sensation.
She knew all too well from experience.
“When you flew into my arms, you should’ve been ready for what came next.”
His voice rumbled low like a beast’s growl.
Yuriel trembled and leaned deeper into his embrace.
There was a scent—fresh yet intense.
It had the same scent from that time.
Just once, she had been in his arms not in a dream, but in reality.
It was a moment she could never forget.
Three months ago, a party had been held at the Imperial Palace to honor Archduke Veiharz.
Even the Emperor had praised his achievements.
Everyone was desperate to gain his attention.
The palace was filled with laughter and joy.
But not for Yuriel.
She stood alone, confused, wrapped in a strange, heavy atmosphere.
That night, her younger sister introduced her fiancé.
To everyone’s shock—including Yuriel’s—the man at her sister’s side was Yuriel’s lover.
Just two days earlier, he had whispered sweet nothings to Yuriel.
‘This can’t be real.’
She tried to deny it, but the truth was in front of her eyes—her sister clinging to his arm.
Yuriel couldn’t take it.
She ran out to the balcony.
“…?!”
To her surprise, she didn’t see the cold night air, but the warmth of someone’s chest.
She hadn’t expected anyone to be out there.
She looked up, flustered—and saw his face.
“Oh my…”
His voice was so deep, that the air around them felt heavier.
When their eyes met, Yuriel forgot to breathe.
“Akron Veiharz…”
She murmured his name without realizing it.
He smiled like he already knew she’d say it.
It felt surreal, like a moving painting.
But her heart beat wildly, proving it was real.
“…I was just about to go back inside.”
He reached out and touched her cheek.
Was she blushing? Could he feel her trembling?
Yuriel lowered her gaze, hoping the darkness would hide her face.
He smiled again, like a predator satisfied with its prey.
“A butterfly flies into my arms.”
He didn’t seem upset by her sudden presence.
He looked pleased.
“Soon… you’ll come again.”
His lips brushed against her ear. Yuriel flinched and covered it in surprise.
She didn’t even catch the end of what he said.
Akron chuckled at her reaction and turned to leave.
“…What just happened?”
Yuriel could only think again once he was gone.
Her heart pounded. The full moon lit up the night sky.
Everything around her felt distant, like a dream.
She had even forgotten why she ran out in the first place.
Then—sparkle.
Something on the balcony floor caught the moonlight.
She bent down and picked it up.
It was a crystal-like object.
“…What is this?”
Holding it up, she saw its color clearly in the moonlight.
It was deep red, with golden light shining from the center.
A garnet? A ruby? No—
She had never seen a gem so beautiful.
“Could it be…”
She thought of the archduke.
He must have dropped it while holding her.
It looked incredibly valuable.
She decided she would return it to him.
But she never saw him again.
The very next day, he returned to his territory due to an emergency.
‘He probably forgot about it.’
That thought made her chest ache.
She felt pathetic.
Falling for him like that… and clinging to dreams.
Still, she couldn’t stop.
“…Please, hold me.”
Yuriel whispered, curling into his arms once more.
Dream or not, she wanted to feel him—his warmth—just a little longer.
Akron sighed deeply, then kissed her neck.
Yuriel bit her lip.
“Even if you won’t tell me your name…”
“…Ah!”
“I’ll find you.”
His red eyes gleamed coldly.
“Ahh…”
She felt like a deer trapped by a predator.
Head to toe, she was completely consumed by him.
Yuriel couldn’t hold on anymore.
She closed her eyes.
“Mmm…”
Sunlight peeked in, making her curl up under the blanket.
Another vivid dream.
Opening her eyes, she saw her hand still clutching the gem.
Its glow reminded her that this was reality.
And with that, the guilt returned.
This gem wasn’t hers.
She sighed and sat up.
‘Why do I feel… strange?’
Her body felt oddly heavy.
Getting out of bed, she walked to the full-length mirror.
There, she saw herself clearly:
Deep violet eyes, pale skin, and flowing silver-violet hair that reached her waist.
Even the capital’s most beautiful ladies admired her hair.
But she knew—she wasn’t as doll-like as her sister.
She turned side to side, checking her body.
‘Did I gain weight?’
No—her arms and legs were still slim.
Maybe she was just tired.
As she was about to walk away—
Bzzz.
“…?”
She froze.
A strange vibration—clear and real—ran through her.
She touched the source with trembling hands—her stomach.
Squirm.
“…?!!!”
Something moved inside her belly.
More clearly than before.
She turned pale, staring at the mirror.
Her reflection showed her clutching her stomach in shock.
Then—thump.
Something inside moved again, enough to make her thin nightgown flutter.
“Aaaaaahhh!!”
Yuriel screamed.
