The Tyrant Won’t Let Me Go

When Persephine heard the news from his brother, the king of Akeletta, that day, her eyes turned white.

 [Today, I will kill the Knight Commander who has been so annoying at the Emperor’s side.] 

Persephine was well aware that her flesh and blood wanted to kill the Emperor of Deamant madly.

 

So much so that he would risk the life of his sister to kill the Emperor.

 [If that woman who keeps sticking by the Emperor’s side disappears, even you fool, you’ll have more chances to get to him, be thankful.] 

The moment she heard those words, Persephine remembered Ciel’s face smiling at her.

 

And Cedric’s face as he looked at her wistfully. 

 

She had stood in her room for a long time, unable to reach her brother, until she heard the news of the Emperor’s return and rushed out.

 

And then she saw Ciel, drenched in rain, her face as white as a ghost, being carried into the palace in the Emperor’s arms.

 

Then she felt as if something that had been supporting her had broken down.

 [Persephine.] 

A demonic voice echoed in her ears.

 [If you fail to plunge your sword into the Emperor’s heart, your life is over.] 

Remembering the voice, Persephine’s hands trembled.

 

‘No more, I don’t want to live like this.’

 

She didn’t want to make those two suffer anymore.

 “I’d rather…” 

A dejected voice echoed from the darkness.

  “Yes, come in.” 

Kashuel’s face softened slightly at the gentle voice from inside the door.

 

And just before he saw the owner of the room, he heard what sounded like two people arguing.

 “Oh, wait, why are you suddenly—” 

He turned his head and saw Ciel’s blue eyes, panicked.

 

And his red eyes, calm and collected.

 “Welcome in, Kashuel.” 

Cedric said, his voice dry and unemotional. His right hand squeezed Ciel’s hand tightly.

 

As if he wanted everyone else to see.

 

Kashuel, watching the scene, returned the greeting in his bland voice.

 “…Greetings, His Majesty.” 

There was no other way to hide my displeasure.

 “Why do you always call me by my first name when we’re alone?” “Well, I thought it would be polite to greet you.” 

Kashuel then turned to Ciel, who looked flustered.

 “Captain, are you all right? I was worried when I heard you were attacked.” “Oh, I’m fine, there was little trauma, I was poisoned, but they gave me an antidote, and I’m fine now, and they say I can go back to work tomorrow.” “Oh, good, that’s good to hear

.”

 

Ciel smiled broadly, and Kashuel grinned back. He looked very charming, his green eyes twinkling like stars.

 “Thank you for coming, if you don’t mind standing, here’s a chair—” 

Ciel started to rise to offer Kashuel a chair. But Cedric stopped her.

 “Ah, Ciel. You shouldn’t move too much. You’re still recovering.” “Well, we can’t keep the Duke standing…” “Kashuel’s busy anyway, and he’ll be gone soon enough, so it’s okay.” 

Cedric said, quickly striking before Kashuel could say anything.

 “Right, Kashuel?” 

Cedric asked Kashuel with a fake smile.

 

At the sight of the upturned corners of his mouth, and the eerie eyes, dark with obsession and jealousy, Kashuel couldn’t help but laugh.

  I’m sorry, but I don’t like to put things on hold, I take things as they come. I don’t have anything else on my agenda today.” 

Cedric’s face stiffened at Kashuel’s answer, as if he’d been caught red-handed.

 

Kashuel ignored Cedric and pointed to a chair in the corner of the room.

 “Is it okay if I use that chair?” “Yes, it’s fine.” 

With that, Kashuel took a seat opposite Cedric, next to Ciel.

 

He saw the glint in Cedric’s eyes, but it didn’t bother him.

 

Cedric would think he was doing something very shameless, but he wouldn’t be able to say it out loud.

 

As long as it was Kashuel who was visiting Ciel, it was up to Ciel to decide whether to give him a chair.

 “So, is your magic still a little unstable?” “Yes, it has been for a few days, though it’s more stable now.” 

Ciel glanced at the meter above the head of the bed.

 “That’s why we’ve been holding hands all day. We don’t want the mana to get unstable.” 

Cedric said in a nonchalant tone.

 

As if it was nothing. But the meaning behind it was clear.

 

‘We’ve been holding hands like this all day, and Ciel hasn’t rejected me.’

 

There’s no room for anyone else to come between us.

 

‘I suppose that’s some kind of restraint.’

 

Kashuel narrowed his brow.

 “Your Majesty, you don’t have to tell everyone who comes to see you like that, it makes for strange rumors.” “Well, I’m not sure whether it’s such a strange rumor.” “Really, after teasing that much, you still want to do it?” 

Cedric chuckled at Ciel’s dejected tone and teased her.

 

It was a far cry from when he had been glaring at Kashuel like he was going to kill him earlier.

 “…But you went to the southern border this time, didn’t you?  “Yep. That’s right.” “I heard that the Department of Magical Research made good use of the dragon corpse the expedition brought back, and that it helped them identify the culprit in this whole mess. Thank you for your work.” “I’m so glad to hear you say that.” 

Ciel smiled. As Kashuel watched, he felt as if someone was tickling the back of his mind.

 “The members of the Knights had a hard time with it, too. The Duke, you may not have seen them, but the members of the Mages came to our aid, and thankfully, they were able to make the antidote quickly.” 

‘Well, you didn’t see it, Duke.’

 

Kashuel knew Ciel didn’t mean it. But when she said it, Kashuel felt as if someone had stabbed him in the heart.

 “So if you could tell them that I’m grateful, I’d appreciate it.” “…Yes, I’ll be sure to tell them that.” 

Kashuel had been out on a business trip when the imperial palace learned that a group of people using black magic had planned to assassinate the head of the imperial knights.

 

It wasn’t until reinforcements were on their way and Cedric had brought Ciel back that Kashuel returned to the palace.

 

And when he saw Cedric returning in the pouring rain with a pale Ciel in his arms, he realized he was late again.

 

‘Foolish bastard. Always is.’

 

Kashuel thought to himself.

 

As the carriages were waiting for Cedric to leave for the temple, Kashuel saw an agitated horse in the distance, and he didn’t rush out to stop it.

 

By the time he moved, Cedric had already thrown himself towards her.

 

Even when they reached the temple, he was of little help. He could only stumble in shock at the sight of black magic and follow the instructions of Marquis Lauren.

 

Unable to run out ahead of anyone like Ciel, unable to save someone like she had saved Cedric.

 

And this time, he could do nothing when he heard that someone whom he cared about was in danger.

 “Duke?” “Hmm? Uh, yeah.” “Are you all right? You’re suddenly dazed…” “Oh, I’m fine, it’s nothing.” 

He hadn’t even fully recovered yet.

 

At a time when it was hard enough to pay attention to anyone but himself, Ciel was thankfully paying attention to Kashuel.

 

Kashuel stared into the blue eyes staring back at him, and eventually lowered his head.

 

Then a pair of hands, one on top of the other, came into his field of vision.

 

Ciel looked at Kashuel, but didn’t let go of Cedric’s hand.

 

‘Truly, there is no escape.’

 

Not at the temple, not during this raid. They’ve always been like that.

 

Whenever one of them was in danger, the other would be the first to jump in and protect the other before anyone else could.

 

All Kashuel could see of them was their backs, always in the distance.

 

‘If only I had moved sooner…’

 

If I had helped Ciel before Cedric.

 

Had I known how I felt about her before Cedric did?

 

If only I had reached out to Ciel before Cedric could.

 

‘Then I could have stood beside her, side by side with her.’ 

 

Ciel, would I have taken Cedric’s place beside you, and not the other way around?

 

The thoughts raced through Kashuel’s mind.

 “Really? Is there something bothering you…” “No, it’s nothing, really.” 

Kashuel smiled,

“I’m really fine.” 

He pushed the simmering sincerity to the back of his mind.

  “Well, then, we’ll have to be on our way, Captain.” “Thank you for coming, Princess. And Lord Felix.” “No, of course not, and I wish you a good night’s rest and a speedy recovery.” 

Looking at Felix, who was smiling broadly, I smiled back and waved.

 “Thank you.” 

Persephine gazed down at me and said with a gentle smile.

 “I’ll see you tomorrow, then, Captain Minerva.” “Aye. See you tomorrow, Princess.” 

And with that, the two left the room.

 

As the room fell silent, something felt off. I turned my head to look at the clock and realized it was almost nine o’clock at night.

 [Hey, Ciel.] 

‘Yeah, why?’

 

I replied to Caliberne, who was yawning and talking to me.

 [That Princess Persephine, hasn’t she been a little strange today?] 

‘Yes, she’s been looking a little pale, but she’s been fine for days, and I’m not sure what’s wrong.’

 [Right? But besides that, there was something else… something weird.] 

‘Yeah, what?’

 [No, just—] 

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

 “Yes, come in!” 

I shouted to the person standing outside, and told Caliberne that I would talk to her later, before she went to bed for the night.

 

The man who opened the door was none other than Cedric.

 “Ah, Your Majesty.” “Yes. Work is done.” 

Cedric had left the room just before Persephine and Felix arrived, saying he had some work to do.

 

He had returned, presumably with his urgent business taken care of.

 “And Ciel, I have a message for you, too.” “What?”

I asked startled.