What Became of the Tyrant After the Pregnant Empress Left - Chapter 54
The next best option was to take the risk and escape just before things turned dire, but this was far more difficult. If things went wrong, it could lead to the worst possible outcome, so she wanted to avoid this plan if at all possible.
“Phew…”
The only option left was to run away recklessly. Realistically, this was the only path she could take on her own. Since they had some freedom to come and go from their hideout, she could leave at any time and make a run for it.
But that had its own severe issues. As soon as Kazhan returned to Uzephia, wanted posters with her face would be plastered all over the continent.
If only she could escape under better circumstances, it might have been different. But right now, she had nothing of value. She hadn’t bathed in days and looked like a beggar, had lost all her valuables, and her clothes were in tatters…
“Huh?”
A thought suddenly crossed Ysaris’s mind, and she opened her mouth in shock.
‘Why am I undressed? And where are my clothes?’
“You’re awake.”
“Your Majesty.”
Ysaris turned to Kazhan, intending to demand an explanation and her clothes. But as soon as she turned her head, the sight of his red eyes, just inches away, made her breath catch.
His face wasn’t clear in the backlight filtering through the leaves, but his half-closed, sleep-laden eyes filled her vision.
<Can’t I rest just a little longer?>
“Rest a little more.”
Cain—no, Kazhan—rested his face against her shoulder. He made a satisfied sound, gently nuzzling against her, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Cain… No, Kazhan. He was doing it again.
Just like that time in the past, when she had woken up from a nap under a tree.
“Ugh!”
Suddenly, a wave of nausea overwhelmed Ysaris, and she pushed Kazhan away as she shot up. She heard him groan in pain, but she was too distracted to care.
She dashed out of the cave, retching until her stomach was empty, only to realize what she had just done.
“I-I’m sorry. My stomach felt so awful that…”
“Well, you certainly woke me up… with a bang.”
Now.
Now’s the time to escape.
But how? Where to?
“Huff, huff…”
Ysaris staggered, her vision spinning, as she leaned against a tree. Her condition hadn’t fully recovered, making it difficult to go far in one go.
She hadn’t even managed to plan her escape properly, so she kept changing directions aimlessly. First heading toward the river, then turning elsewhere, only to find herself near the river again several times.
Leaning against the tree to catch her breath, she sighed deeply.
This was all Kazhan’s fault. She hadn’t intended to leave so early, but his strange behavior had startled her, causing her to flee in a panic.
Although she had spent countless nights with Kazhan, waking up in his embrace with their bare bodies pressed together was a first. She was used to waking up alone after exhausting herself and falling asleep in his arms.
It was shocking enough that Kazhan had held her through the night, but his sleep-induced actions were downright unsettling.
He was too similar to Cain.
His tone, his intonation, even the little habits—all of it reminded her of her past lover, causing her to push him away instinctively.
If she hadn’t done that, she might have kissed Kazhan’s cheek while calling him Cain.
Just the thought of it was horrifying enough to make her feel nauseous.
“Hah…”
Ysaris let out another deep sigh. She knew she should be moving, taking even just one more step forward, but her body felt unbearably heavy.
Her throbbing headache was another problem. She couldn’t even begin to think of a way to fake an accident, let alone decide on a direction to escape. Everything seemed hazy, making any decision feel impossible.
‘Should I rest a little longer before moving? How far would the Uzephia Empire go to find us? Maybe I should take one more day to rest and leave tomorrow when I feel better.’
As these thoughts swirled in her mind, leaving her in a daze, Ysaris absentmindedly gazed up at the sky—and suddenly noticed something strange.
Flap, flap. Birds from one side took to the sky. And they were getting closer.
Just like the day before.
“…!”
Could it be Beowulf? Or another beast?
Perhaps it was the attackers or the knights from the Uzephia Empire. Whatever it was, it was not a welcome visitor. Ysaris quickly began to move in the opposite direction, her eyes wide with alarm.
Small animals scattered around her, fleeing in all directions, causing a brief commotion. It felt like only seconds had passed, yet the presence of whatever was charging straight at her was already so close.
“Damn it…!”
Thump, thump. She could feel the vibrations in the ground. The speed was unnervingly fast.
And then, thump. The ground right behind her split open.
Ysaris, feeling a chill run down her spine from the looming shadow, turned around.
And then…
