What Became of the Tyrant After the Pregnant Empress Left - Chapter 34
“A resort…”
Kazhan suddenly looked down at the pile of papers on his desk. He remembered seeing that word in one of the documents he had ruthlessly rejected.
It seems he’ll have to go out of his way for a while.
He soon found the desired document. Just as he was about to amend his decision, he hesitated.
He could already envision the Chancellor’s reaction if he took only Ysaris with him. Not long ago, hadn’t he made comments supporting Runellia instead of Ysaris?
<It has been over a year now, Your Majesty. Despite frequent conjugal visits, there has been no news of the Empress’s pregnancy. So at least consider having a night with a consort…>
<I clearly said I would handle matters regarding an heir.>
The problem was that Ysaris had not yet conceived. Many nobles were hastening the process, fearing the precious bloodline of Tennilath might end.
The Chancellor was the most vocal among them. Despite having helped draft a secret agreement ensuring there would be no real intimacy, he occasionally requested that Kazhan spend nights with Runellia.
<I understand that Your Majesty still cares for the Empress. But shouldn’t you at least give the consort a chance?>
<Did the consort ask you to make this request?>
<Surely you don’t think she could sway me.>
He was right. The Chancellor, Duke Zebiken Barilio, was far too authoritative to be manipulated by the false consort.
Thus, his advice was undoubtedly for the sake of the Uzephia Empire…
<It might be better to kill her now than to let her bear an heir.>
Kazhan did not even bother to hide his contempt for Runellia. Her schemes to carry his seed were utterly disgraceful.
He had only granted one of Runellia’s requests.
To pretend to love her in public.
Her proposal was that if he visited her at night, there would be no difference from his relationship with the Empress. One reason for bringing in a consort was to undermine Ysaris’s position further, so he had agreed.
But Runellia had increasingly pushed boundaries.
“Hm.”
It’s better to leave the consort behind.
Kazhan began to write elegantly on the document. Since the trip was for Ysaris’s recovery, bringing Runellia, who would only cause stress, was not appropriate.
Come to think of it, is this the first trip with Ysaris?
The thought made Kazhan pause.
After contemplating for a moment, he slowly added more details. He requested arrangements to make the journey as comfortable and leisurely as possible, unlike a typical state visit.
“A trip…”
Repeating the word, Kazhan looked at the signed document thoughtfully. He still didn’t know the status of his pact with Ysaris or how to treat her, making this decision seem hasty.
But Ysaris needed a retreat, so this was necessary, he reasoned to himself.
Feeling a hint of anticipation was surely just an illusion.
* * *
Ysaris pondered. Lying on the bed, she endlessly worried and worried again.
How could she escape? How could she and her child safely evade Kazhan’s grasp in a way that wouldn’t harm the Kingdom of Pyrein?
It had been days since she started planning her escape. She couldn’t risk writing it down, so she formulated and discarded dozens of plans entirely in her mind.
It was difficult enough to escape the imperial palace unnoticed, and even harder to navigate a capital she had only explored once. Crossing the empire’s borders and getting out of the emperor’s reach was nearly impossible.
If she had even one ally. If there were someone by her side willing to help, she might have had a chance.
The first people who came to mind were the Duke and Duchess Blake. But they were Kazhan’s loyal subjects; if she asked for their help, they would imprison her instead. They had only been kind to her because she bore the Tennilath name.
The maid who stayed by her side all day and Viscount Lafaro were not options either. In fact, she had to deceive them, so she prepared lies for their sake.
Asking anyone from Pyrein, like Mikelun, for help was unthinkable. She would be grateful if they didn’t report her to Kazhan, arguing that Uzephia was the only place that would accept her.
“Truly…”
There’s no one for her.
Ysaris let out a hopeless sigh. She covered her face with one arm, sinking into swamp-like thoughts.
She had spent her life working for others, but it was all in vain.
Tears didn’t come. Her emotions were dry and brittle, leaving her mind numb.
She needed to escape somehow, but no method seemed feasible. Every path seemed to lead to the inevitable fate of death.
“…What should I do?”
What should she do, Ysaris’s child?
All she has left is the child, but she’s so incapable that she can’t even protect you.
Ysaris sank into thoughts of an uncertain future, trembling with anxiety as she clutched her gradually swelling belly.
Then, upon receiving unexpected news from the maid, Ysaris’s eyes widened.
“His Majesty commands that you accompany him on the upcoming journey to the Kingdom of Hertie.”
Ah,
This is her chance.
