What Became of the Tyrant After the Pregnant Empress Left - Chapter 2
The tax rates of the Pyrein Kingdom had returned to normal.
Ysaris breathed a sigh of relief upon receiving the news during her makeup session.
Despite the soreness lingering from the previous night, she could endure such pain if it meant for the sake of her homeland.
In reality, this was not the first time such a thing had happened.
She had kneeled before the Emperor, who played with human lives as if they were ants, countless times from his position of absolute power.
Fortunately, it meant he would heed her request but unfortunately, it had to be her. He was not a noble of the empire or with numerous other women—only Ysaris had to sacrifice herself.
“Is there anything to cover my neck?”
“I will fetch a scarf for you.”
“If possible, in a dark color.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Ysaris frowned and then smoothed her expression as she watched her reflection recede in the mirror. Red marks were vividly engraved on her skin in places that were difficult to cover.
A despicable man.
She resented her husband as she recalled the events of last night.
The Emperor, Kazhan Tennilath, sometimes deliberately implemented misguided policies. And when she approached him, he would mock her freely and grant her requests.
There had been many such occasions, especially concerning matters related to the Uzephia Empire, which had fallen under the empire’s subjugation. In short, they were traps—traps that were clearly intended to torment her.
It was something she couldn’t understand. What was she even thinking.
“Shall I lower your hair?”
“Yes, please.”
Ysaris watched her reflection as platinum strands cascaded behind the mirror and then lowered her eyes.
Even though she had let down her usually neatly arranged hair, the traces of the previous night, which couldn’t be completely concealed, unsettled her thoughts.
This was her medal for saving innocent people. So, there was absolutely no reason to feel ashamed.
If she could save many people with the pain of a single night, she would willingly sacrifice herself countless times. It was the best and proudest thing she could do as a former princess of Pyrein.
However, there were inevitably those she didn’t want to expose this to.
“Your Majesty, the Duke of Kelloden asks when he can see you.”
“Ha.”
This presumptuous man.
Ysaris sighed involuntarily at the man’s repeated urgency for a meeting since early this morning.
If he had come without an appointment, he should have quietly waited, rather than pressuring someone of higher status than himself for time.
But there was no avoiding such behavior when it came to pillars of the homeland visiting the empire.
“There’s no need to respond. I’ll go now.”
Rising from her seat, Ysaris made her way to the reception hall. Despite the screams of her tortured body throughout every step, there was no disarray in her immaculate figure.
Tap, tap.
The steady sound of footsteps echoed through the corridor, mingling with countless artworks. Upon reaching her destination, Ysaris sat opposite the blond man and greeted him.
“It’s been a while, Duke Kelloden.”
“It’s been exactly a year. It’s good to see you still feel loved.”
Ysaris was certain that the man’s smile concealed mockery. The green gaze that glanced down and up at the kiss mark under her chin was unmistakable.
Mikelun Kelloden. One of the two dukes of the Uzephia Empire.
When Ysaris was dragged to the Uzephia Empire last year, Mikelun succeeded to the Kelloden dukedom by default.
He was also the half-brother of Bariteon Kelloden, who had once been Ysaris’s betrothed.
“I’ll only hear the essentials.”
A man like a snake who would never have seen the light if his brother had been alive.
As Ysaris stared at him with cold eyes, Mikelun shrugged his shoulders. Since he hadn’t expected any hospitality in the first place, he casually brought up a light topic.
“I came for a tax matter, but it seems Your Majesty has already intervened. I just visited to express my gratitude.”
“The duke seems unaware of how to express gratitude.”
“I would like to at least serve you, but… Your Majesty perhaps will not like it, so I shall refrain.
Ysaris was taken aback, speechless. Was this truly the demeanor one should have when addressing a former princess and current empress?
His words were subtle, but his gaze blatantly scrutinized her body, as if implying something lascivious, even in jest.
Fueled by indignation, Ysaris clenched her fists and rose from her seat.
Though she couldn’t immediately retaliate, this was crossing a line. Unable to find any further value in engaging, she turned her back without hesitation.
“I don’t even care. “I’ll just head back now.”
“I brought you my brother’s ring.”
Stiffening, Ysaris halted mid-step.
The engagement ring Bariteon had given her had been confiscated by the Emperor. The ring symbolizing the Kelloden family came into possession when Mikelun ascended to the throne.
Then what’s left is…
“The ring my brother truly gave to his lover. You wouldn’t deny knowing about it, would you?”
“How…!”
Caught red-handed. The fact that my engagement to Bariteon was a sham.
As Ysaris turned back with a troubled expression, Mikelun smirked smugly and drove in the wedge.
“Since the owner is deceased, shall I pass on the memento to your fake fiancée, dear Empress?”
