The Tyrant Won’t Let Me Go

 “Ciel!” 

As soon as I heard the familiar voice, someone’s arm swept around my waist and pulled me toward their side.

 

At the same time, I drew my sword, and a blinding blue spark flew before my eyes.

 

When I came to my senses and opened my eyes, I was far away from my horse.

 

And the horse, which had been struck by the blow from the sword, was foaming at the mouth and slumped to the ground.

 

The coachmen, unable to control their horses, looked back and forth between the horse and me, unsure of what to do.

 “Your Majesty, what are you and the Captain…” “My, my, this horse has been a little out of sorts ever since he was sent out today.” 

At that moment, a familiar voice echoed in his head.

 [Hey, Ciel, are you okay?] 

Caliberne asked in an oddly alarmed whisper.

 [No, I think you freaked out and momentarily lost control of your mana, are you hurt?] “Uh…” 

As Caliberne’s voice echoed in my head, urging me to take a good look at myself to make sure I wasn’t hurt, Cedric looked back at me and asked urgently.

 “Ciel, are you okay? Where did you get hurt?” 

Just then, a trickle of blood trickled from my right hand as I felt the sickly scent of blood.

 

‘I think I cut my hand a little…’ 

 [Hey, I’m sorry, it happened so fast, I guess I couldn’t control it]. 

‘No, it’s okay.’ 

 

I wasn’t thinking about using magic, either. I just instinctively moved the sword, and it turned out to be a stronger blast than I expected.

 

And at that moment, Cedric, startled, seemed to pull me toward him with all his might to protect me.

 “Ciel, let’s get you treated right away.” 

Cedric spoke with concern when he saw the wound on my hand.

 “It looks like you’ve had another burst of magic.” “Are you injured, Your Majesty? Did the blast hit you by mistake or…” “No, I’m not hurt, I’m fine, let’s get this fixed.” 

Cedric said, gently holding my arm.

 

Just then, the attendants, realizing the situation, rushed over and began to gather around us.

 “Your Majesty, Captain, have you been injured?” 

Paul, who was first in the carriage preparing to depart, asked, and Cedric answered.

 “I’m fine, but Ciel—” 

Just then, someone put a hand on my shoulder.

 “What, are you hurt?” 

The sound of Kashuel’s voice behind me stopped Cedric from telling Paul the situation.

 “Duke?” 

Kashuel had meanwhile taken my arm, which Cedric had been holding loosely as he spoke to Paul, and pulled it toward him.

 

As soon as my arm was out of his reach, a cold glint flashed in Cedric’s eyes.

 

Before I could stop him, Kashuel pressed his hand to my wound.

 “Duke, what is this…” “I’ll be done in a moment.” 

And a light green glow emanated from his fingertips.

 “Healing magic? 

Not everyone, even imperial palace mages, could perform healing magic.

 

Healing magic itself was extremely draining, and the number of people who could perform it was limited.

 

It was quite possible for someone who was said to be a master of defense magic to not be able to cast healing magic at all.

 

‘It’s becoming fuller.’ 

 

His hand was getting warmer and warmer in the gentle lime-green light.

 

The bleeding had long since stopped, and the stinging sensation was fading.

 

When the cracked flesh was completely sealed and dry, Kashuel lowered it back down.

 “It’s done, Minerva.” “Wow…” 

After seeing that my wound was completely healed, several of the attendants nodded a few times and left the area, apparently thinking the situation was resolved.

 [Good, it’s completely cleaned up, that bastard is back to being quite useful after being such an absolute brat before.]  

‘Caliberne, how could you be so mean to the Duke…’ 

 [Why, it is true that he has been ill-tempered in the past.] 

And the mischievous person in question looked at me, smiled faintly, and said.

 “Don’t hurt yourself in the future. You’ll hurt yourself.” “What? Oh, yeah.” 

No matter how many times he smiled at me like that, I still couldn’t get used to it, and a sense of dissonance washed over me. 

 “Well, thank you. I’ve heard that healing magic is quite costly and difficult to use…” “Well, that’s true, but you can’t just leave someone bleeding to death. You don’t have to be so grateful.” 

Kashuel said, as if it were no big deal.

 “Still, thank you.” “Just so you know, don’t hurt yourself in the future. Even this magic can’t heal big wounds.” 

Kashuel smirked.

 

Cedric was still staring at Kashuel with a look of displeasure on his face.

 “Your Majesty is not injured in any way.” “… No need. Thanks to the swiftness with which Captain Minerva swung her sword.” 

Cedric added, squinting his red eyes and glancing at my hand.

 “I’m grateful that you healed Captain Minerva.” “No.” “I know. It must have taken a lot of energy, so let’s get you some rest.” “It’s nothing, Your Majesty.” 

Kashuel said, the corner of his mouth twitching upward.

 “I could stand here by your side for hours and nothing would happen to me, so you can worry less about me.” 

Now, wait a minute.

 

‘What’s wrong with you two…?’ 

 

They were both smiling, but the vibe was so murderous.

 

Cedric’s always been like this, but I’ve never seen him like this before, even with Kashuel.

 “Oh, I see.” 

Cedric took a step forward.

 

His eyes glowed with an obsessive, murderous intensity. 

 “Even if you’re joking, that’s a bad idea. Miss Minerva is an extremely busy woman.” 

And he held out his hand to me.

 “If you’ll excuse me, Captain. We have some business to finish, don’t we?” 

His voice rang in my ears, calm and even, but with a hint of obsession.

  “Ow…!” 

The red-haired woman writhed in agony as she wrapped both hands around her fragile neck.

 

But the more she did, the more contempt she saw in the eyes of the maidservant who stood before her.

 “Consider it a punishment from the King.” “Hmph…!” “There are limits to how stupid you can be. Why didn’t you send word that the Emperor was leaving the palace?” 

The woman asked in an ice-cold voice.

 “Even if you didn’t know he was going to the temple, you still didn’t tell me such important news.” “I, I…!” 

Persephine’s voice trailed off in anguish.

 

Tears welled up in her wide violet eyes, and her lips, which no longer formed a speech, mumbled something.

 

The sight of that mouth made Persephine’s maid frown.

 “I’m surprised you didn’t object, you still haven’t come to your senses.” “Please, stop…!” 

Her head snapped back, unable to form words due to the excruciating pain.

 

Seeing this, the Maid reached down and released the spell.

 

Then Persephine’s body, which had been hovering in midair, fell back onto the bed.

 

‘She fainted.’

 

That seemed to say it all.

 

Once she’d fainted like this, she would never again act like a stupid rat in Ackeletta’s path.

 

‘Foolishness. I can figure out the affairs of the imperial court without you.’

 

Persephine had known that Emperor Deamant was going out, but for some reason, she hadn’t told Ackeletta right away.

 

But Ackeletta had already learned of the Emperor’s departure through other sources, and even knew his destination.

 

‘Maybe today’s plan will work.’ 

 

The maid laughed in the darkened room.

 “Come on, Princess.” 

Truly, as a maid treats her master, the maid said as she tucked Persephine into bed and arranged the covers with a gentle touch unlike any other.

 “Don’t do something useless.” 

To all outward appearances, she was supposed to be the princess’s maid.

 

Everything she did to the princess, and the relationship between her and the princess, had to be a well-kept secret.

 

She had to cover her tracks and play it off in front of everyone.

 

Her movements, therefore, were so calculated that she looked like a good-hearted maid who really cared about her master.

 “You might fall asleep and never wake up.” 

A maniacal voice echoed through the room.

 “Like that Emperor, who will return after this day as a flayed corpse.” 

As if cursing, her fingertips twitched, and magic, black as stagnant blood, rose from them.