The Tyrant Won’t Let Me Go

⚔️

 

Five years have passed since I started working in the Imperial Palace, after becoming an extra-character in the novel.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

Eyes turned to look at me, those dark red pupils, seeming like they were adorned with red camellia petals.

 

“Yes, Ciel.”

 

﹝ Cedric Deamant. ﹞

 

The present Crown Prince of the Deamant Empire.

 

And around three years later, Cedric would be the one who would ascend to the throne as Emperor.

 

Like ebony, black hair fluttered softly in the sun, and straight eyebrows were beautiful as if drawn with a brush.

 

He didn’t simply have a weak appearance, either.

 

He was rather becoming a mature man after leaving his childhood traces, as seen by the sharp jawline and a stiff frame that appeared to have been chiseled with a knife.

 

‘Okay. Now I have to prepare.’

 

It’s already been five years.

 

The contract period ends in the next three years, and I would retire without extending the contract.

 

“You’ve heard recently that it would be better to choose a marriage partner, haven’t you?” said Ciel.

 

Cedric scratched his head and asked with an awkward smile, “Well, yes I did, why?”

 

“Your Highness, so… Recently, I heard that Princess Persephone of Ackeleta was also looking for a fiancé.” added Ciel.

 

Before he could say anything else, Ciel abruptly slammed Cedric with her remarks.

 ﹝ Princess Persephone Ackeleta. ﹞ 

The first Princess of Ackeleta and the heroine of this novel.

 

According to the original story, Cedric, the sub-male of the novel, would wage a war all over the continent to take Persephone a few years later.

 

Unfortunately, since he was a sub-male, he could not win Persephone’s heart and lost the war.

 

The Deamant Empire was decimated as a result, and the original male lead from the same continent as Persephone executed everyone surrounding Cedric. 

 

The problem was that because I worked for the Crown Prince and at the Imperial Palace, I was very likely to be executed along with those who worked for him.

 

‘I can stop the war itself. This should be fine.’ Ciel thought inwardly.

 

Instead of the male lead, Cedric should be able to connect with the female lead.

 

That way, Cedric’s obsession with the female lead, Persephone, doesn’t have to start a war like in the original.

 

That way, Cedric wouldn’t have to live a life tainted by defeat and despair, and my neck would be safely attached to my body.

 

“I heard Princess Persephone is very lovely and gorgeous.”

 

Firstly, a natural encounter would occur after I mention the female protagonist and pique Cedric’s interest. 

 

Princess Persephone should be selected as Cedric’s bride, according to rumors that have already surfaced. 

 

It would be sufficient, if all went well, to bind Cedric and her.

 

If I sneak up on Persephone in this way, and he starts to wonder about it, Cedric will soon think about Persephone like he’s wet in a drizzle.

 

“If you ignore a lot of the circumstances, I wonder if she’s the ideal fit for your highness, and I want to tell you that—” 

 

“I’m sorry, Ciel. I haven’t made up my mind on a spouse yet.”

 

I stared blankly at Cedric, who gave me no room and cut off my proposal abruptly.

 

‘What?’

 

That’s strange… At seventeen, shouldn’t your interest and curiosity in those of the opposite gender have aroused?

 

‘No. All of this could be done if Cedric captivated Persephone right now, but why…?’

 

In the not-too-distant future, you’re going to sob bitterly, go insane, and perhaps even start a war. 

 

Cedric proceeded to speak in a very calm voice, contrary to me, who felt mortified. 

 

“I appreciate your suggestion, Ciel. You do want me to find a suitable spouse, right? I understand.”

 

Cedric took a sip of tea and continued, “But I think it’s still a little early to find a marriage partner, sorry.”

 

“Ah…”

 

I almost slapped my forehead and retorted in my thoughts.

 

‘Well, no. Yes, it could be.’

 

Rumors alone may not generate interest yet.

 

‘Let’s not be impatient.’

 

Cedric suddenly caught hold of the hem of my dress and said, “That’s right. I still need treatment today, Ciel.”

 

“What?”

 

Really, it was ridiculous!

 

“I gave you 20 minutes before!” cried Ciel.

 

“10 more minutes,” Cedric added.

 

“Don’t joke around, really.”

 

I tried to turn around after saying that, but Cedric was holding the hem, so I was unable to do so.

 

‘Ah, why are you so persistent, this time again?’

 

“I’m not letting go. Until you give me another ten minutes.”

 

His stubbornness eventually made me raise both hands and feet in defeat.

 

“Okay, you could hold it.”

 

At my words, Cedric’s lips curled into a smile.

 

As usual, he clasped my hand and made a cheeky sound.

 

“Your Highness, did you know this was overtime, right?” 

 

If this had happened in my previous life, I would have reported it to the Ministry of Employment and Labor. No, I must have left the company before that.

 

“I’ll give you an allowance, Ciel.”

 

“No, that’s not the problem.”

 

I was already earning an astronomical amount of salary. It wasn’t the kind of problem I was worried about.

 

“I used enormous attack magic today, which is why. Thus, I anticipate holding your hand for a little longer than normal.” 

 

Cedric has recently been extending the duration of our interactions or holding out to keep our hands till the end.

 

‘Three years left until my retirement, but if this gets worse in the future…’

 

I was sighing at the time whilst I was having strangely distant thoughts in my head. 

 

“It appears that your contract will end in three years.”

 

Cedric slowly rolled his red eyes and spoke, “In the next three years, I would become an adult and take over my father’s throne, the Emperor.”

 

“Yes, you will,” I replied with a slight bow toward him, who was staring at me.

 

Cedric replied in a nonchalant voice, “Yes. Then I’ll have to prepare a new contract for Ciel.”

 

I was unable to understand what he was saying for about three seconds. Later, when I understood what the words meant, my head went blank.

 

“What? Wait a minute. What, Your Highness!?”

 

“I have to prepare a new contract. It’s good to have it in advance, right? It would be convenient to set the conditions for renewal in advance,” Cedric continued.

 

“Wait a minute, Your Highness. A renewal, what’s that–”

 

But Cedric interrupted me with a smile on his face.

 

“Oh, when you renew your contract, why don’t you keep the contract term for life?”

 “…” 

“Then we don’t have to make a new contract again after that.”

 

Red eyes glistening with a dangerous light, contained sincerity.

 

“You could spend your entire life at the imperial palace, you wouldn’t even need to retire or look for a place to live. Right?” 

 

I gave it some serious thought as I regarded that mad laughter with cold eyes.

 

‘What was that crazy guy talking about…’

 

When the Empire was about to fall apart, what use was it to get seized in the wrong hands?

 ‘Never renew the contract!’ 

Eventually, I couldn’t stand it and opened my lips and said the words on my mind.

 

Red and transparent eyes rolled along at my call.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

His eyes stayed on our overlapped hands. He grabbed a teacup containing cold tea with the other hand.

 

“I have to retire after 3 years–”

 Crack—! 

When I heard something breaking, I tilted my head to take notice.

 

It appeared as though a large stone was crushing and shattering the glass.

 

The teacup in Cedric’s hand was disastrously broken, unable to withstand the terrifying grip.

 “…” 

My head went blank for a moment at the very unrealistic sight of a glass teacup crumpled like a paper cup.

 

I thought to myself as I looked at Cedric’s right hand with tea flowing down, the dark red tea that was in the teacup and, in other words, similar to blood.

 

‘What did I just see?’

 

I believe the reason I was experiencing shivers was this. It was the sound of his teeth gritting, or was it my imagination?

 

“Yes, Ciel, I’m sorry, but I didn’t hear you.”

 

The person who broke the teacup was smiling at me.

 

However, it was difficult to pretend not to see the angry veins and the cold eyes, as if turning a piece of tea into powder.

 

Likewise, Cedric’s brows, have been particularly furrowed today.

 

“What did you just say?”

 

I concluded as I observed the appealing insane man with his chilly smile and cold air.

 ‘Let’s run.’ 

No matter what happens, I would force this guy to wed the female lead before fleeing as soon as the contract’s term was over.