The Tyrant Won’t Let Me Go

 

Persephine was uneasy, not knowing what her brother was planning this time, or what he was up to.

 “However, I think it’s highly likely that His Majesty did not accompany them, Princess.” “…Is that so?” “Yes, because Captain Minerva is away on an expedition.”  

Felix said, blinking his obsidian-black eyes.

 “Since the Captain is pretty much in charge of His Majesty’s escort, I don’t think He would have headed out of the palace without her.” “Isn’t that right…?” 

Logically, Felix was right. That should have been reassuring.

 

But Persephine still felt uneasy. 

 

Eventually, she returned to her room and took out the locket around her neck.

 

As soon as she took it out, it began to glow brightly. Her heart skipped a beat as she stared down at the locket.

 “…Yes.” 

She said in a small voice to the glowing locket. Then a familiar voice came from the orb.

 […] 

The locket fell from Persephine’s hand with a clang.

 “Yes?” […]  

Her voice echoed in the darkened room in shock.

 “What…?”  

The moment I realized that he was headed towards me, I swung my sword faster than light.

 

The blinding blue flash stretched out with terrifying momentum.

 

The man with the axe screamed as he was struck by the lightning-like flash, and I slashed at him relentlessly.

 

Behind him, as he collapsed in a heap, a group of men appeared, invisible in the fog.

 “What the hell, she’s fine!” “Gillian! Crap, they’re already here!” 

There must have been twenty of them, and my grip on the hilt of my sword tightened.

 

‘Caliberne.’

 

As if she had been waiting, Caliberne answered immediately.

 [I think your mana is in better shape than I thought, you shouldn’t have to use such a strong attack against those little bastards.] 

Just then, raindrops began to fall.

 

‘I’ll make good use of the rain.’

 

Although, there was a risk that I would get electrocuted if I used too much offensive magic.

 

Still, the rain was better for dealing with such numerous people.

 [I’ll try to keep it under control so it doesn’t burst out.] 

And as soon as Caliberne finished speaking, one of the black-robed men stepped forward and pointed his sword.

 “You can see the condition of the others now, there is no one to help you.” 

It was a thick, low male voice.

 

‘Mercenaries.’

 

It was easy to assume they were mercenaries, given their unidentifiable clothing, weapons, and the group’s general aura.

 

‘We need to get information, so let’s leave one alive.’

 “We are many, and you have no hope, so obey-” 

Ignoring the words of the man who seemed to be their leader, I leaped into the middle of the group, brandishing my sword.

 

Three people fell at once from the sweep of the blade, and the area quickly turned to rubble.

 “That thing is insane!” “I thought you said you cast a wide area slumber spell, but how is that thing still alive!” 

The group shouted in panic at the suddenly narrowed distance.

 “Forget it! That’s not the point now! Kill her at all costs!” 

The leader, who had narrowly dodged my attack, shouted, and the men, presumably mercenaries, drew their weapons from their holsters and charged.

 

The number of mercenaries was certainly intimidating, but the fight itself was not difficult.

 

Most were wielding bladed weapons such as swords and axes, and a few appeared to be magical swordsmen like myself.

 

‘I need to keep them to a distance so they can’t reach those who have fallen.’ 

 

Swinging my sword, I slowly drove the horde that was charging at me behind the collapsed soldiers.

 

Lest they take them hostage or kill them at will.

 “Aahhh!” 

Several more screamed as the blast from the tip of the sword sent them tumbling to the ground.

 “What the hell, is that a monster?” “Why the heck is my magic still not working!” 

The irate man with the dagger snarled at another man standing behind him.

 “Put the spell back on right now! What are you looking at—” 

But he didn’t get to finish his sentence.

 

For he was struck by my blade. When fifteen or so men had fallen, the rest of the group no longer dared to step forward.

 

Pointing the sword at them, I asked,

“…Why did you attack us?” 

There was a deathly silence.

 

No one could speak, and my voice was the only one that rang out.

 “Tell me, or you’ll end up like them.” “Huh.” 

One of them snorted in disbelief.

 “You’ve taken on fifteen of them, you’re probably a little weak right now. You’re a mess, you can barely breathe, and you act like everything’s okay.” 

The man’s voice was shaking as he spoke.

 

I stared at his face, trying to mask the fear as best he could, and held his sword high.

 “Yes, indeed. If you don’t talk, I can’t help it-” 

It was then.

 

‘Huh?’

 

I felt excruciating pain, like someone was ripping my heart out. My head went white, and my blood rushed through my body.

 “Cough…” 

I couldn’t breathe properly.

 

And my vision was blurring.

 [Ciel, wake up! Ciel!] 

Caliberne kept calling to me, but I didn’t have time to answer.

 

‘I can’t see…!’ 

 

With my other hand, the one that wasn’t gripping my sword, I wrapped it around my choking throat, and I heard a chuckle.

 “That’s right. The stingers are finally kicking in. I’m afraid you’re a little behind the rest of us.” 

As I continue to hold my throat, I notice something lodged between my neck and shoulder.

 

I hadn’t realized it was a poisonous stinger because I had been so focused on the constant battle with the lunging jerks.

 “Soon you won’t be able to move at all. That stuff paralyzes.” “You…” 

Through my blurry vision, I see a man approaching, dragging his greatsword across the floor.

 

Although I could barely see him, he was grinning twisted, probably with the intention of killing me.

 

‘Get up. I have to get up.’ 

 

The breath caught in my throat, but I had to get up. It’s poison, I might be able to detoxify it later.

 

In this state, immobility meant death.

 “Goodbye then.” 

The man said, brandishing an enchanted greatsword.

 

No, don’t.

 

Not like this.

 [Ciel!] 

Summoning all the strength I could muster, I pushed myself into motion. Every muscle in my body felt like it was tearing, and my heart screamed.

 

But I had to move.

 

‘There’s still someone waiting for me.’ 

 

After all, I couldn’t leave the person I promised to give a happy ending to.

 

I swung my sword without stopping, even as my vision grew increasingly blurred.

 

Relying only on my instincts and Caliberne’s cries.

 

Not knowing who or how many I’d cut down, I kept striking.

 “That!” 

Just then, something struck me in the stomach.

 

Instantly off-balance, I fell back to the ground.

 

The sword slipped out of my hand from the rain.

 “Stubborn little thing. Now die!” 

It was then.

 “Ciel!” 

The voice was all too familiar, and I opened my eyes. Through my blurred vision, I could see his blood-red eyes clearly.

 

His swift blade sliced through the air, aiming for the man’s throat.

 

The ambushed man dropped his weapon helplessly and collapsed.

 

Reinforcements could be heard overpowering the surviving mercenaries.

 

As soon as the man who had tried to kill me fell, Cedric ran toward me.

 “Ciel…!” 

Barely able to brace myself using my arms, I raised my upper body, but quickly lost strength again.

 

Cedric caught me as I fell forward again and pulled me into his arms.

 “Ciel, my god…” 

The moment I saw his eyes, red as winter camellias, my first thought was,

‘I’m alive.’

 

I had vowed to live for Cedric, and ironically, he had helped me. His eyes darted from me to the poisoned dagger in my neck.

 “The Captain has been poisoned! I need an antidote now—” 

Desperation was evident in his voice as he urgently called for a medic.

 

As the medic approached and removed the dagger, and the Mages prepared the antidote, Cedric never took his eyes off me.

 

His hands cradled my head and back, his lips pressed tightly together as he stared at me, his red eyes burning like flames before the wind.

 “Your Majesty…” 

A clear liquid pooled in the corners of his eyes, then trickled down his cheeks.

 

I wanted to reach out and wipe away the drops, whether it was rain or tears, but my body was paralyzed and I couldn’t lift a finger.

 

When I tried to move my lips to speak, no sound came out.

 

It was all the poison.

 

‘I have to tell him it’s okay.’

 

That was all I could think as my eyelids fell heavily.

 

And then I heard the words of the medic in my ear.

 “I’ve finished the antidote, I’ll give it to her now.” 

With the stinging sensation of a thick needle piercing my flesh, the antidote was injected into my body.

 

As the antidote spread through my body, I found it much easier to breathe than before.

 

However, my eyes kept closing. It felt as if all the strength in my body had been released.

 “Ciel, I’m sorry…” 

Cedric shouldn’t be sorry for anything.

 

If anyone should apologize to me, it’s not Cedric, but the group that attacked me.

 

Summoning what little strength I had left, I moved my arm, barely holding onto Cedric’s sleeve, and spoke up.

 “…Don’t be sorry…” 

I tried to pull the corners of my mouth up into a smile to show that I was okay, but it didn’t work.

 “I’m, I’m fine…” 

That was it. Cedric’s grip on my sleeve fell away, and my vision went black.

 

I could no longer see the pitiful red eyes staring back at me.

 

‘I don’t know how many times I have to tell him that it’s okay, that it’s really okay…’

 

With that last thought, I blacked out completely.