What Became of the Tyrant After the Pregnant Empress Left - Chapter 61
“…Do you know my mother?”
Ysaris was startled by the sudden mention of her mother’s name. She had never expected that name to come from this woman, of all people.
Lillia Chernian. Known as a concubine of the Pyrein Kingdom, she was said to be a commoner from the polar region. The story went that the king fell in love with her at a resort and impulsively married her.
Ysaris, who had heard the tale directly from Lillia, only knew that much. So it was natural that she never imagined her mother had any connection with this mysterious, powerful woman.
“Are you really Lillia’s daughter? Silver hair, blue eyes?”
“Yes, that’s right… but how are you related to my mother?”
“Did she never mention me?”
Ysaris clamped her mouth shut, feeling a wave of confusion. The way the woman spoke suggested a deep connection with her mother, yet Ysaris had never heard anything about it, which made her feel strangely guilty.
“Never mind, I can tell from your expression. Expecting anything from a runaway kid is foolish.”
“Pardon?”
“Get on first. Let’s move somewhere else before we talk. You were in the middle of escaping, weren’t you?”
Having just heard this overwhelming revelation about her mother, Ysaris tried to push the word “runaway” out of her mind. She also suppressed her curiosity about how old this woman, who barely looked twenty, actually was.
Instead, she cautiously returned to the topic that had been on her mind moments ago.
“My… my child…”
“I’m not taking them. I still have some conscience, you know. Ah, but before we go, let’s set up the scene. Let’s start with some blood… Maybe sprinkle some hair around? To make it look like it was really you. Platinum hair is rare, after all.”
Ysaris blinked in confusion, unable to keep up with the rapidly shifting conversation. The woman’s casual attitude made her own frantic efforts to protect her child just minutes ago seem foolish.
The capricious woman with navy hair immediately began to put her words into action. She pulled out an animal from her pack, meant as a snack for the griffin, and stabbed it with a dagger.
As blood spilled out, Ysaris flinched and stepped back, only to be met with the woman’s monotone voice.
“What are you spacing out for? Take off your clothes.”
“What?”
“I’ll lend you my robe, so put it on. Give me your clothes; I’ll tear them up and scatter them around.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Did you run all the way here? Just in case, before we leave, maybe you should scream a bit. Are you good at acting? Should I make it look like Pin is about to eat you?”
“I’ll do it on my own.”
Ysaris’s death was faked in an instant. The blood-soaked footprints of the monster created an ominous atmosphere. Thanks to the griffin tearing apart her clothes and half-destroying the scene, it looked all the more realistic.
And the final touch…
“What, are you hesitating?”
“No.”
Ysaris gripped the wedding ring she had been quietly staring at and swiftly removed it from her left ring finger. Though a mark remained from wearing it for so long, her heart raced with the thrill of finally freeing the finger that had borne the shackle.
“It feels like a dream. Too good to be true.”
Even though the shock of this sudden fortune hadn’t worn off, one thing was clear.
This was a final farewell. To Kazhan Tennilath.
The wedding ring slipped from Ysaris’s hand as she finally smiled.
* * *
A year had passed since the Empress of Uzephia went missing.
Rumors that the Emperor had gone mad had been circulating for exactly six months.
“So, you think the Empress is dead too?”
“N-no, Your Majesty! I was just…!”
Slick.
Before the man could finish his excuse, his head was severed, blood spurting from the neck. His body, which had lost its life unjustly, slumped to the ground, but those around him only squeezed their eyes shut and turned away from the gruesome scene.
In the frozen atmosphere, Kazhan casually shook the blood from his sword. He seemed almost bored as he killed the noble without so much as a blink.
“Foolish. Didn’t I say that doubting me is akin to treason?”
“……”
Neither the dead nor the living said a word. In the silence that filled the room, Kazhan turned and left without hesitation.
“Today’s meeting is adjourned.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
After the Emperor left, Duke Jeviken Barillio took care of the aftermath. It didn’t take long to dismiss the nobles and call a servant to dispose of the body.
The incident had happened so many times now that they no longer bothered to suppress the nobles’ gossip. Instead, they encouraged it to spread, ensuring that no one else would be foolish enough to provoke the Emperor’s temper.
“You’ve had a hard day again.”
“Lord Blake.”
Jeviken turned to the familiar voice and gave a slight nod. Temisian greeted him with a calm expression, as if he hadn’t witnessed the horrific scene that had just occurred.
“I wish Her Majesty the Empress would return soon, but it seems that won’t be the case.”
“…There’s nothing we can do. She must have her reasons for staying away.”
Jeviken responded coolly, though he found the situation utterly absurd.
An emperor who insisted his dead empress was still alive. And Duke Blake, who followed orders precisely because the emperor said so.
As it happened, Jeviken was the only one who could even slightly manage the two, so most of the clean-up and mediation fell to him.
“I’ll handle this situation somehow, but I’m worried. Both inside and outside the palace, the public sentiment is becoming increasingly uneasy.”
“Haha, but with Duke Barillio handling things so well, isn’t that why His Majesty can act so freely?”
“Surely, Lord Blake could assist as well.”
“Oh no, I’m just a powerless middle-aged man who simply follows His Majesty’s orders.”
Jeviken held back a retort to Temisian’s cheeky remark. In truth, if Temisian got involved, the situation was more likely to end in a bloodbath, so it was better not to take such a dangerous gamble.
