What Became of the Tyrant After the Pregnant Empress Left - Chapter 84
A cold wind swept through the clearing, and a heavy silence fell. When the cloudy mist covered the moon, darkness thickened over the landscape before scattering like fog.
Under the moonlight once again, Kazhan’s face was expressionless, as if his emotions had been erased. Whatever thoughts occupied his mind, his bloodshot red eyes were clouded with an eerie stillness.
“What if…”
Ysaris didn’t immediately understand what he meant, and just before she could ask, he continued.
“What if I took Mikael as a hostage and forced you to come with me? What could you do then?”
Step.
Kazhan took a step toward Ysaris. She flinched and adopted a defensive posture, but he didn’t stop.
“You see me as nothing more than a monster or an enemy, don’t you?”
“Don’t come any closer.”
Step.
“No matter how many times I confess my love, you’ll reduce it to mere obsession.”
Step.
“No matter how many promises I keep, no matter what I do for you, you’ll always think of me as nothing but evil.”
“I said, don’t come closer!”
Her threatening voice fell on deaf ears. Kazhan’s strides only grew longer as he followed her retreat.
Step.
“In that case, rather than uselessly trying to please you, wouldn’t it be more reasonable to break your wings…”
Step.
“…and lock you in my own cage, Empress?”
Clang!
The sharp sound of a drawn blade finally stopped Kazhan’s approach. Ysaris had pulled a short dagger from its sheath, hidden and strapped to her thigh beneath her skirt.
“If you take one more step, I’ll cut you.”
The blade, aimed at Kazhan, gleamed under the moonlight. He tilted his head, unphased by the threat from someone who had never swung a blade at another person.
“With the way you’re holding that, you won’t even leave a scratch on me.”
“That’s right. I won’t be able to hurt Your Majesty.”
“…What are you planning?”
An icy sense of foreboding crept up Kazhan’s spine. The moment he took another step, realizing he had to stop whatever Ysaris was about to do, the dagger slashed through the air.
Thud.
“…This…!”
His red eyes, dark with anger, widened in shock. A trembling voice reached his ears as he stood frozen in place.
“I told you… if you take one more step, I’ll cut.”
Drip… drip…
Blood dripped down the dagger’s blade. Though she hadn’t driven it in with full force, the sharp edge had still been enough to pierce her delicate skin.
The sight was more than enough to rip Kazhan from his senses.
“Ysaa… no…”
“I told you… not to call me that… how many times… have I said that…”
It hurt. It was burning.
Yes, this was the feeling of metal cutting through flesh.
Ysaris clenched her eyes shut to keep the tears from falling. She glared fiercely at Kazhan as she deliberately pulled the blade from her abdomen.
Slash!
“No!!”
“The next one… ngh… the next one will be my throat, Your Majesty.”
“I understand… I won’t come any closer. Please, stop the bleeding… Please, Empress. Put down the blade and let me treat you.”
“How… can I trust you…”
“I swear it! I’ll make an oath in Tennilath’s blood. Will that be enough if I promise not to forcefully take you to Uzephia?”
There was no time to wait for her answer. Kazhan couldn’t accept, even in his worst nightmares, the thought of Ysaris dying in front of him.
He quickly drew his sword from his waist and, without hesitation, slashed his own left arm. Blood splattered into the air as a dense red mist began to swirl.
It was the signature magic of the Tennilath family—the Blood Oath.
“Ensure the safety of me and Mikael as well.”
“I, Kazhan Tennilath, swear by my life that I will protect Ysaris Tennilath and Mikael Tennilath to the best of my ability and that I will not force them to return to Uzephia.”
The moment Kazhan’s blood glowed brightly, it shot back into him, sealing the vow. He couldn’t hide his desperation as he quickly turned to Ysaris.
“Is that enough? Please, put the blade down. Where can I treat your wound?”
“…Ha.”
Despite the excruciating pain, Ysaris couldn’t help but laugh. The sight of Kazhan, pale and trembling, unable to approach without her permission, was laughable.
Why hadn’t she realized it before? Why hadn’t she known?
If she had understood sooner that his greatest weakness was her, she would have exploited it long ago.
