The Tyrant Won’t Let Me Go

 

The blood rushed to her veins with the most intense anger she had felt in years.

 

The man holding Cedric’s throat collapsed in a single blow. The sharp stone in his hand fell limply and rolled across the floor.

 “Ciel!” 

A trickle of red blood ran down Cedric’s forehead from where the man had hit him.

 

That was all that was left of him. His clothes were a mess of dirt, and his once-plump lips were torn open.

 “Your Majesty, there’s blood…” 

As I moved closer to Cedric to administer first aid, his face contorted, and he yanked my arm away.

 “Behind you!” 

And a huge axe slammed down where I stood.

 “What the hell, isn’t that a knight?” 

The man who pulled the axe from the ground clicked his tongue.

 “But I think it’s one of them?” 

The other man who appeared next to him said with a snake-like grin.

 “Well, it doesn’t matter, all we need is the Emperor.” “Right.” 

The two men smirked as they slowly approached Cedric and me.

 “So the knight will have to die-“ 

But before the man could finish his sentence, a dagger flew out of nowhere and plunged into his chest.

 “Huh…?” 

As the man lurched forward, his eyes widening at the dagger in his chest, Cedric breathed harshly.

 “Touch her, and I’ll tear you limb from limb and kill you.” 

Seeing his colleague collapse helplessly beside him, the man turned red and lunged at the two of them.

 “You bastards!” 

It took less than 10 seconds to stop him in his tracks. I didn’t even have to muster any magic.

 

The man with the axe fell quickly to the ground, and the white smoke slowly began to clear.

 “There’s still one left. He’s hiding somewhere.” 

No sooner had Cedric spoken than I spotted a black-masked man shivering in the corner.

 

I slowly made my way toward him, dragging the tip of my sword across the floor.

 

In the meantime, the man’s shoulder, which had been scratched by Cedric’s dagger, trembled slightly less.

 

The creepy sound of the metal scraping against the floor grew stronger as the rage coursing through my veins intensified.

 “Ah, argh…” “What kind of nerve did you have to attack His Majesty when you were hiding like a rat?” 

As I held the bloody sword to the man’s throat, I asked,

“Say it right.” “…if, if you will spare my life-“ “I don’t think you’re in a position to bargain now.” 

Pushing the sword deeper, the crimson man began to speak as fast as a rapid-fire cannon.

 “We, we were merely under orders. To kidnap the Emperor of Deamant, who is in the temple…!” “Of Deamant?”  “What country are you guys from?”

I asked, thinking that was odd.

 “Ahh—” 

The man opened his mouth with a shudder.

 

I took a step back, startled by the man’s sudden blinking and biting bubbles.

 

‘Is it a curse?’

 

The man grunted in agony, and then went limp and stopped moving.

 

‘They’ve cursed you so you can’t speak.’

 

I hadn’t even gotten a chance to ask him what those balls of energy were that had appeared above the temple.

 

Clicking my tongue, I tore off a piece of the man’s robe and stuffed it into my pocket.

 

Regrettably, I hadn’t gotten around to examining the magic of this piece of clothing.

 “Ciel.” “Your Majesty, let me apply some treatment first.” 

Turning back to Cedric, I tore off a piece of my robe and wrapped it around the wound on his head.

 

My heart sank to find him mangled, unable to open one eye because blood kept getting into it.

 “…Thank you for coming.” “No, I promised you, I’d come no matter what.” “I’m sorry, I didn’t keep my promise.” 

Cedric gave a self-pitying, bitter laugh.

 “I promised you I’d come no matter what…” 

His fading voice sounded wistful.

 “I’m sorry, I have nothing…” 

With those words, Cedric closed his eyes and collapsed into my arms.

  

In the end, I accomplished nothing.

 

I wanted the oracle so desperately that it might help save Ciel.

 

The last verse of the oracle, which seemed to be the key, was not obtained.

 「The true master of the sword can never return to the place where she once was without a price.」

 

I didn’t know what the price was.

 

Nor did I understand what it meant to say that the true master of the sword would never return to where she came from.

 

But given that Ciel was now by his side, it was clear that whatever it meant, it certainly implied that she would not be by his side as she was now.

 「When the sword’s master closes its eyes, the last rays of its light must not be lost, lest it lose its most precious thing.」

 

The oracle ended there.

 

And in that last sentence.

 

‘I thought we might be attacked, but I never thought it would be the oracle itself.’

 

Gritting his teeth, Cedric opened his eyes.

 

The sight of the blue sky was eerily familiar. The smell of fresh grass, the warmth of the sun, and the gentle breeze of the mountains.

 “Your Majesty.” 

The face of a young child appeared before him.

 

Eyes as blue and clear as ever. Silver hair like moonlight. And a gentle smile that looked straight at him.

 

It was twelve-year-old Ciel.

 “You should go inside now, you’ll catch a cold if you keep lying here.” 

Ciel smiles as she takes his hand and gently pulls him to his feet. Her smile was not unlike the one he saw on her face eight years later.

 

Cedric lowered his head and bit his lip as he felt something stirring inside him.

 

And bit his lip.

 “Your Highness?” 

I want to keep that smile, he thought.

 

Even if it cost him everything he had. Cedric wrapped his arm around Ciel’s shoulders and pulled her close.

 

Desperately, as if she would scatter into the air if his arms were released.

 “I’m sorry.” 

Hoping that the sincerity of his words in the dream

 

Cedric hugged the one who meant the most to him even tighter.

  

When he opened his eyes, this time it was real.

 

The familiar ceiling loomed before him, and Cedric quickly realized that he had returned from the temple and arrived at the imperial palace…

 

‘Then I must’ve fainted in the temple…’

 

And then he couldn’t remember.

 

Somewhere along the way, he thought he heard Ciel shout something urgently as she helped him into the carriage, but he couldn’t quite remember.

 

In fact, he wasn’t sure if he had seen it, or if he was imagining it.

 

‘What happened to Paul and the other priests?’

 

A sharp headache hit Cedric as he sat up and raised his upper body.

 “Ugh…” “Ah, Your Majesty, you mustn’t get up yet!” “Ciel?” 

Ciel appeared from the bedside, surprised, and pushed Cedric back down.

 “Doctor Dalton said you must take absolute rest, you must stay in bed for the time being, and take some time off from your duties.” 

Cedric listened to Ciel’s words and obediently complied with her touch.

 “Ciel, where are Paul and the other priests? I didn’t find them when you did-“ “Paul was found collapsed in the next room, and I found him after I carried Your Majesty outside and went back in, but thankfully he’s unharmed.” 

Ciel said, straightening the disheveled quilt to cover him properly.

 “I see, that’s good.” “And the priests escaped with their lives. Three of them are seriously wounded and are being treated, but…”  

Just then, the bell that signaled the stroke of twelve began to echo throughout the castle.

 

The low chime, followed by a ding, made Cedric realize that he was indeed home safe and sound.

 

‘…Ciel saved me again.’

 

I couldn’t do anything again.

 

The self-doubt that had been slowly eating away at Cedric’s heart seemed to swell and consume him in an instant.

 

It was then that he bowed his head, biting the corner of his mouth, his hands gripping the quilt for support.

 “Your Majesty.” 

A warm voice called out to Cedric.

 

Cedric looked up, and the blue eyes were, as always, fixed on him.

 

In her hand, she held a beautiful package.

 “Happy belated birthday.”