What Became of the Tyrant After the Pregnant Empress Left - Chapter 31
With a stern face, Kazhan entered the reception room, and Temisian greeted him politely.
“I see the sun of the supreme empire.”
“Enough with the pleasantries, just tell me what you talked about.”
Kazhan was displeased. He went to see Ysaris, who had been resting for a week, only to find she was entertaining a guest in the reception room. Thinking there wouldn’t be much trouble with Temisian, he waited, but it took longer than expected.
What kind of interesting conversation were they having that she didn’t come back? When he finally went to see for himself, the first thing he heard was that it was a date. Temisian had offered to pay for Ysaris’s date expenses.
Although Kazhan, known for being devoted to his wife, didn’t think Temisian was making advances on Ysaris, the situation led to an unavoidable misunderstanding.
“You’ve come at the right time. We were just discussing your lunch date…”
“What?”
“Nothing!”
Kazhan looked at Ysaris, who had hurriedly interrupted. Seeing she appeared healthier than when they last met, he was momentarily relieved, but Temisian’s words, which hadn’t quite registered, finally made sense.
“…A date with the empress and me?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“No, it’s not.”
Temisian nodded with a pleased expression, while Ysaris denied it, looking pale. Realizing there was some miscommunication, Kazhan made a plausible guess.
“Did the empress want to dine out? Even if it meant going with me?”
“That’s right. When I recommended a restaurant, she insisted on going with Your Majesty. Such a kind heart!”
Kazhan doubted.
Kazhan shifted his gaze from the laughing Temisian to Ysaris, who had opened her mouth several times before sighing tiredly and adding,
“…I said I would go if I could get Your Majesty’s permission.”
Because it’s about leaving the palace.
Kazhan nodded at the unspoken words he understood.
Of course. Ysaris wouldn’t want to go on a date with him.
Maybe if it were Cain.
…Even though he already knew this, Kazhan felt downcast. Slightly frowning, he coldly spoke to Temisian, who was the cause of all this.
“I have a prior engagement with the chancellor.”
“Oh, what a pity. It would have been a good time, I’m sure.”
“If you’re so disappointed, you take her out, Duke.”
Kazhan, who had sharply retorted, and Ysaris, who heard his words, both hesitated. Especially Ysaris, who looked at Kazhan with an incredulous expression.
He’s allowing her to go out. And he’s suggesting she go with another man?
Under her plainly interpreted gaze, Kazhan ran a hand through his hair irritably. He wanted to take back his words immediately, but the advice from Viscount Lafero held him back.
<The mental issue is more significant than the physical one. She seems quite depressed lately, so staying at a resort for a short while might help as a change of pace.>
He said an open environment would be good. Even if not a resort, touring the capital would be better than being confined to the palace.
Rather than with Kazhan, whom she dislikes, it would be more refreshing to go with the Duke, whom she seems to have gotten close to.
Kazhan abruptly turned away. Rather than shamelessly showing his hurt and twisted expression, he wielded his orders as a tyrant.
“Make sure to return right after lunch. To prevent any unnecessary rumors, it would be wise to also bring your wife, Duke. Fulfill your role as a guard properly.”
* * *
Ysaris left the palace with Duke Blake and his wife. Until the carriage passed through the massive gate, she felt dazed. Only when the scenery of the capital began to unfold through the window did her heart start to beat faster.
Clean streets. Buildings often reaching up to three stories. Geometrically designed clock towers and enormous fountains. Children playing with bright faces.
It was a beautiful city. Despite her hatred, it was clearly more developed than the Kingdom of Pyrein.
“I’m glad you seem to like the capital.”
“…The scenery isn’t bad.”
She couldn’t bring herself to like the country ruled by her enemy. She could only admire the exceptional view.
Whenever she attended other nobles’ banquets with Kazhan, the carriage curtains were drawn, preventing her from seeing outside. She kept reminding herself that her captivation was only because she had never had a proper chance to see the capital’s streets.
“Thanks to Her Majesty, we can dine out comfortably. My husband often says he likes my cooking, so we don’t go out to eat much.”
“Ahem. Who told you to be so skilled?”
“You too, in front of Her Majesty the Empress…”
Penesir Blake, the Duke’s wife, had a straightforward personality like her husband Temisian. Despite being high-ranking nobles, the duke and duchess, who had a love marriage, once openly shared that they had a passionate love affair in Uzephia.
For a family known as the cruel tyrant’s sword, they were unbelievably ordinary people.
