The Tyrant Won’t Let Me Go

 

Oh, what the hell is this situation?

 

“Cedric, what’s wrong? Why are you mad?”

 

When Kashuel asked him, Cedric frowned once.

 

“I’m not mad.”

 

And he added and felt that the answer wasn’t enough.

 

“I just have to go to class, so I’m in a hurry.”

 

I was silent as I simply glanced up at him. I continued to stare at him, and it was strange each time.

 

‘We don’t have any classes today, though?’

 

Even if teaching the Crown Prince might not be simple, I couldn’t make him attend class till Sunday, right?

 

There exists no opportunity for a good employer who offers a significant wage as a down payment and even housing would permit anyone to work on Sunday.

 

“Anyway, so we’ll go. See you tomorrow, Kashuel.”

 

“Oh, wait, Cedric!”

 

When Cedric yanked my arm, he abruptly ended Kashuel’s rant.

 

He started walking really quickly while dragging me behind him, and I silently followed his lead.

 

His steps slowed only after Kashuel was out of sight.

 

“Well, Your Highness Cedric.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“There’s no class today. It’s your day off.”

 

Cedric might have misinterpreted the lesson schedule, I believe.

 

It was because I worried that he could misunderstand what was being taught while completing the Prince’s hectic schedule.

 

“Yes, I know.”

 

“Yes?”

 

I was at a loss for words for a moment at his reaction, who said so proudly that he knew there was no class.

 

However, unlike me, Cedric didn’t show much agitation.

 

He continued to walk with his arms crossed and at the same speed.

 

“Your Highness, then why would you lie—”

 

Cedric stopped moving when he opened his lips.

 

When I noticed that he was looking at me, I was unable to finish what I was saying.

 

I lost everything I was thinking because of his stunning eyes.

 

However, the problem was that his gaze, which had always twinkled like a star, now looked like that of a sulky child.

 

“Ciel, don’t you know why I’m doing this?”

 

A mournful voice squeezed and flowed through the peach-colored lips that had been tightly closed.

 

Cedric held my hand and muttered wistfully, unable to say anything to his grumbling words.

 

“I haven’t even touched your hair yet…”

 

“Yes?”

 

Not sure what Cedric was saying, I asked him back, but Cedric wouldn’t say it again.

 

“No, it’s nothing.”

 

He therefore wrapped me in his arms without saying a word.

 

I had no comprehension of why he had behaved that way that day until that point.

 

It was eight years later that I fully understood its meaning.

 

⚔️

 

“So, what’s the relationship between you two?”

 

On a languid afternoon with warm sunlight, Kashuel squinted at Cedric with his green eyes.

 

“Are you two like that?”

 

Kashuel mumbled, with a cake in his mouth.

 

Cedric, who was sitting calmly and flipping through the bookshelf without touching the snack, wanted to talk back to Kashuel to wipe his mushy mouth, but he didn’t dare say it.

 

In fact, those green eyes and gold curls were bothering him to death today.

 

No, rather than annoying, it was closer to something he didn’t want to see.

 

It was because of this that Cedric had fewer conversations with Kashuel than usual.

 

However, the original self-centered Kashuel didn’t notice Cedric’s reaction and continued to talk, Cedric was the only one in the palace that would talk to him.

 

“Think what you want.”

 

“Oh, you’re not telling me. Would it kill you if you told me something, even a little?”

 

Kashuel inflated his cheeks and complained.

 

Cedric, who rolled his red eyes and glanced at him, remembered how he secretly complained at Ciel yesterday.

 

He questioned whether he had ever seen Kashuel as hideous as he was at the time, and slightly regretted it.

 

“Cedric, you don’t care about anyone like that.”

 

“Well, I don’t do that to anyone.”

 

Cedric retorted, turning the pages of the book at Kashuel’s words.

 

“So listen. You have to be sure.”

 

“What should I be sure about?” Cedric replied.

 

“The assurance that you would be the only person she sees…”

 

At those words, Cedric paused his hand that was turning the pages.

 

“So when you meet a potential opponent, you have to make her look only at you.”

 

It’s a possibility. Cedric’s head began to spin.

 

He thought faster than when he was counting how many cookies he could eat this evening, or whether he could finish his imperial homework in a few days.

 

“I believe it because my mother said it.”

 

“Did aunt say that?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Cedric’s ears perked up.

 

The younger sister of the reigning Emperor, the Duchess of Alehard, was extremely gorgeous and was known as a ‘master of love.’

 

She had just one man in her heart, Duke Alehard, despite the fact that her love story had been handed down like a legend.

 

Nevertheless, she became famous for the anecdote in which she worked hard to make the Duke fall in love with her at first sight, and when the Duke fell in love with her, she was given the nickname.

 

She ended up marrying the first guy she liked, despite only having one love and being a part of the royal family, so it was worthwhile.

 

‘If it’s my aunt’s words, it’s reliable.’

 

I have to make the other person only look at me.

 

‘Well, I assume he knows how to use his brain sometimes.’

 — ‘Then I’ll grant you a wish.’ 

Ciel’s voice passed through Cedric’s mind.

 

He struck the table with both fists and leaped from his seat after spending a considerable amount of time staring at the crimson ring on his hand.

 

Kashuel screamed in surprise at the sudden movement.

 

“Wha– what, Cedric. What’s wrong?”

 

“I’m leaving.”

 

“What?”

 

It wasn’t feasible right now, but there was still time.

 

Cedric’s heir apparent status would have been many years away.

 

There was a chance, there was success.

 

Cedric threw the book he was reading and stormed out.

 

“Huh? Cedric, where are you going!” yelled Kashuel.

 

“I’m busy.”

 

“No, you don’t have anything to do today! Where are you going?”

 

Looking back at him, Cedric replied indifferently,

“To practice swordsmanship.” 

⚔️

 

As I rushed around the corner of the hallway, I saw a familiar night.

 

“Paul!”

 

“Ciel.”

 

Paul, who heard my voice, looked back. In front of Cedric’s room, several other knights were lined up.

 

‘The imperial palace was shaken when the only prince was sick.’

 

I was astonished to hear about this from Marie when she served my breakfast, so I ate and immediately rushed over to Cedric.

 

“Is he all right? I heard he caught a cold.”

 

‘Oh, Cedric has a fever.’

 

Paul said as he glanced into the room.

 

“He’s not in danger, but I don’t think he’ll be able to go out for a while. The doctor said he’ll get better in a few days, so you don’t have to worry, Ciel.”

 

It wasn’t until I heard Paul’s story that I relaxed.

 

“Oh, I’m glad to hear that, it’s a relief. That’s right, I’ll cancel the swordsmanship class until he gets better.”

 

Then Paul scratched his head and said, “Oh my, he must be very sorry.”

 

“Yes? What?”

 

“The swordsmanship class will be canceled.”

 

Paul added as he crossed his arms and put a finger to his chin.

 

“He’s been practicing swordsmanship outside lately because he’s been making time for himself. You’ve been working so hard… Even if I tried to stop him, he went out at night to practice.”

 

“Huh? Your Highness?”

 

Strange…

Recently, Cedric has been following the class very well, so I thought he wouldn’t need any extra practice.

 

I didn’t even tell him to practice outside class.

 

“He didn’t catch a cold, did he…?”

 

“Uh… unfortunately, he did.”

 

Ciel swallowed a deep sigh.

 

Since he’s sick, I would let him rest for now, but once he gets better, I would nag him not to overdo it.

 

“Well, can I see His Highness now?”

 

He has a cold, but I have to fulfill my duty. I was going to pay off today’s worth.

 

Paul went into the bedroom instead of me, asked Cedric and the doctor, and after getting Cedric’s consent he instructed me to come in.

 

As I stepped into the luxurious bedroom, the sunlight flowing gently through the window tickled my cheeks.

 

In the middle of a huge bed under the canopy lay a familiar black-haired boy.

 

Cedric gazed at me with his red eyes partially open, a damp towel on his forehead, and a heated face while coughing weakly.

 

“You can sit here.”

 

“Thank you, Paul.”

 

Paul assisted me to sit down on the chair that was kindly placed next to the bed as Cedric spun his head helplessly.

 

“Ciel… you shouldn’t come. You’ll catch a cold.”

 

 It’s okay. I’m strong.”

 

“But still…”

 

“You’ll be disappointed if I don’t hold your hand.”

 

And I also have to meet Cedric and hold his hand anyway in order to control this mana. 

 

“Thank you.”

 

Cedric spoke softly as the fever rose and wrapped his warm hands.

 

Despite the fact that she had a red face from the heat, he continued to look at me and grin in the same manner.

 

“Ciel’s hands are cold, so it feels good.”

 

Cedric rubbed my hand against his cheek and smiled.

 

“Uh, uh…”

 

It’s really strange. I’ve seen this smile almost every day.

 

No wonder his face was hot, and he had tears around his eyes.

 

A little sweat was dripping there…

 

‘Something seems a little dangerous.’

 

At that moment, I came to my senses.

 

“Ci- Ciel? What are you doing?”

 

“Oh— no. It’s fine.”

 

Rubbing his swollen cheeks, she replied casually.

 

“Never mind.

‘Cause I deserved this ’

, right?”

 

“What…?”

 

How dare I believe that seeing Cedric’s face at any point when in an official tie or whatever else could be dangerous?

 

‘Calm down, it’s just him.’

 

Just then, a man dressed in a white gown came inside.

 

“Your Highness Cedric, it’s time to take your medicine.”

 

As soon as the doctor spoke those words, Cedric’s face crumpled, and slid into the bed.

 

“No, I don’t want to…”

 

The doctor, who brought hot medicine, was at a loss when he saw Cedric rustling under the blanket.

 

“But, Your Grace, you’ll have to take this medicine to get well.”

 

“No, I don’t like it. It’s too nasty and awful.”

 

Cedric turned his back on the doctor and turned his face toward me, shouting.

 

“I’m not going to drink it!”

 

Looking down at Cedric, I opened my mouth and spoke.

 

“Your Majesty, but you have to take your medicine so that you can have class with me. If you keep lying down like this, I won’t be able to teach you, right?”

 

“That, but…”

 

“If you take the medicine and swallow it at once, you’ll be fine.”

 

Despite being the crown prince, he had a childlike appearance. Currently, lamenting that you have difficulty swallowing the medicine.

 

As soon as I thought that there was a cute side, the nasty smell of the medicine that the doctor brought stuck in my nose.

 

‘What’s this…?’

 

Ciel frowned, but the smell of a mop that had not been washed for three days seemed to have gotten stronger.

 

On top of that, the high mixture of seaweed porridge showed off their terrifying visuals, and even suspicious bubbles were coming up.

 

‘… It’s worth saying you won’t take medicine.’

 

At that time, I promised myself that I would never catch a cold in this world.

 

“However, Your Highness. Nothing works better than this medicine. What if you don’t get over your cold?”

 

“Ugh…”

 

Honestly, it wasn’t that I couldn’t help but sympathize with Cedric, who had to swallow that medicine.

 

Firstly, being an adult.

 

“That’s right, Your Highness. Hang in there and drink it. I’ll be there for you.”

 

“If Ciel does what I say, I promise I’ll drink it.”

 

Suddenly, a light began to shine in Cedric’s red eyes, which had seemed somber.

 

“Ugh…”

 

“Huh? Ciel…”

 

At that moment, I could feel a rather passionate gaze from one corner.

 

A crying doctor holding a medicine bowl was looking at me with a very pitiful gaze as if begging for help.

 

“… Okay. What is it?”

 

When I reluctantly agreed, Cedric’s red eyes bent gently like a crescent moon.

 

“Promise me you’ll hold my hand in the future.”

 

His eyes were oddly sparkling, unlike before.

 

“Never hold someone else’s hand.”

 

‘Oh my…’

 

Anyone could see the obsessed tyrant’s eyes in those.

 

The doctor’s expression, meanwhile, was too frantic to refuse to comply with the request.

 

“Huh, yes. Okay.”

 

The doctor and Cedric’s expressions both lit up when I responded, immediately.

 

“Yes. I’ll definitely take the medicine!” exclaimed Cedric smiling brightly.

 

⚔️

 

In the middle of the darkened room, the boy’s coughing could be heard.

 

“Paul, bring me some medicine.”

 

At the words of the master who croaked and asked to bring the medicine, Paul moved the green medicine from the bowl he had placed in the corner to make it easy to drink at any time.

 

“Here you go, Your Highness.”

 

“Thank you, Paul.”

 

Paul sighed as he saw Cedric take the medicine lightly and without flinching.

 

“You’re drinking it so well, why did you complain so much earlier?”

 

At those words, Cedric’s hand holding the glass stopped.

 

Then, in the twilight, red eyes were fixed on Paul.

 

A low voice flowed through the lips containing a strange smile.

 

“That’s—”