What Became of the Tyrant After the Pregnant Empress Left - Chapter 133
Step. Step.
A long shadow appeared in the cold underground corridor. Initially seen as one due to the flickering light, it split into two as it moved.
Kazhan and Jebiken. The Emperor of Uzephia and the Duke made their presence known in the imperial underground prison.
“Ugh… ugh…”
“Please spare me! I swear I’m innocent! I didn’t do anything wrong!”
“Well, look at this. Such esteemed figures gracing us with their presence. Who’s going to die this time? Heh heh…”
Various sounds echoed from behind the bars as the two men passed. Some recognized them, others didn’t, but each had something to say. The once eerily quiet prison turned noisy in an instant.
“What’s this? What brings the oh-so-noble Emperor down here?”
“Who knows? Maybe he’s looking for a new toy to play with, like the Empress…”
*Clang!*
“Silence.”
Kazhan’s voice was sharp, and his blade was sharper still. In an instant, he drew his sword and slashed it across the bars. His threat bore down heavily on the air around him.
“Since you’re all dead men walking anyway, I can cut your useless necks right now if I hear another sound.”
Leaving behind the sudden silence that fell like a guillotine, the Emperor and the Duke walked deeper into the corridor.
The heavier the crime, the deeper the cell placement. Soon, the noise faded completely, replaced by a suffocating silence. Not because the prisoners there were quieter, but because most of the cells were empty.
The ones who had once occupied them had long since been executed.
*Tap.*
“Here, is it?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Amid the dozens of unlit cells, only one carried a hint of life. Kazhan stopped in front of it, gesturing toward the heavily secured lock with a tilt of his chin.
“Open it.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
*Clink.*
The iron door creaked open with its characteristic sound. Kazhan stepped inside with steady strides. His own strength was immense, and his confidence greater still. The person before him was shackled and chained to the wall; there was no danger in approaching.
Especially when the prisoner was merely a noblewoman raised in luxury.
“Y-Your Majesty…”
“You look better than I expected.”
“No, no… hic… I was wrong. I’ve made a terrible mistake. Please forgive me. Please…”
Despite Kazhan’s observation, the woman, who had clearly endured harsh torture, began babbling for mercy in a panicked, broken state. Her sobs and cries were tinged with terror and agony.
Kazhan, however, remained completely unmoved, his cold gaze sweeping over her. To him, she was a traitor, nothing more. From the moment she was confined to this place for rebels, her fate had been sealed.
“Why did you do it?”
The abrupt question made the woman flinch and shrink back. Her hollow brown eyes flickered between Kazhan and Jebiken before she began trembling violently.
“I-I… I dared to… harbor feelings for Your Majesty…”
“A mere baron’s daughter dared to plot my assassination, execute the plan, and try to force an unlawful relationship with me? Are you truly that capable?”
“Hic… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry! I’ll never… hic… I’ll never do it again. I swear!”
Tyranna Meron, eldest daughter of a lowly barony, had been arrested by Duke Barillio as the mastermind behind the incident. Yet, despite the audacity of her actions, her fragile demeanor made it clear that her spirit had already broken.
Interrogating her was becoming increasingly tiresome.
“What exactly did you do to me?”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I just… I only… loved you—ahh!”
Slash.
Blood sprayed as her thigh was sliced open. The woman let out a shriek, writhing in pain.
To an outsider, the sight might invoke guilt or hesitation, but Kazhan, after flicking the blood from his sword, remained expressionless as he continued his questioning.
“That wasn’t the answer I was asking for.”
“Hic… sob… I only sinned by loving you…”
“You’re impossible to reason with.”
Kazhan raised his sword to strike again, but Jebiken intervened with calm words.
“Your Majesty, there’s no need for you to dirty your hands. Allow someone else to make her talk.”
“I came here myself because we haven’t obtained enough information.”
“The only reason she wasn’t pushed further is to prevent her from dying immediately. Weak nobles like her are prone to death by shock, after all.”
“…Hmm.”
Kazhan lowered his blade and turned away. Ignoring the cries of “Your Majesty! Please!” from behind, he exited the cell with deliberate steps.
“I leave this to you, Duke. If she doesn’t talk by tonight, kill her.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Rest assured, I’ll handle this cleanly.”
“No! Your Majesty, please! Don’t leave me with him—ahhh!”
