The Tyrant Won’t Let Me Go – Chapter 101

Author: Nikss

Since entering the prison, I had naturally never released mana through the sword.

So, if I conserved my mana without using it and then released it all at once in a rampage before Ackeleta launched their attack…

I could stop their assault.

[Ciel, what are you talking about? You never told me about this!]

‘I’m sorry.’

Of course, I couldn’t tell her. If I did, Caliberne would undoubtedly explode in anger and oppose the idea.

‘But I can’t let you fall into the hands of a bad master.’

Caliberne had said this after seeing the maid, who kept trying to attack Cedric with the sword.

If someone used the sword to inflict a fatal wound on Caliberne’s owner, the ownership of Caliberne would transfer to that person.

She explained that when an owner died naturally, she could choose a new owner at her own discretion, but in this case, she would have to accept a new owner regardless of her will.

[Are you insane? How can you say something like that…?]

‘This way, you won’t fall into the hands of those bad people. You wouldn’t want to be with them either, right?’

If I stayed quietly in the prison and Deamant was attacked by Ackeleta, and if they succeeded in taking Caliberne from me…

Those who gained Caliberne would use its power to sweep across the entire continent.

Rather than let that happen, it was better to eliminate the possibility of them ever taking Caliberne.

‘This way, you’ll be able to… choose a new owner as you wish.’

[Hey, no. I don’t care about that, just take back what you said—]

While Caliberne was frantically protesting, Cedric spoke, “I… can never allow that.”

His crimson eyes glowed with a fierce light.

A look that said he would never let me be in danger. I had found so much comfort in that gaze.

Every time I saw those eyes filled with concern for me, a part of me felt soothed.

It pained me that I couldn’t reach out and caress the corners of those loving eyes.

“Your Majesty, but you have to consider the possibility that we might not find a solution in time—”

“Then if we find a way, you won’t have to go that far, right?”

And then, click—, the sound of the key turning in the prison door echoed.

In less than a few seconds, Cedric had opened the door, and I stumbled back in shock.

“Your Majesty, when did you get the key…!”

“I took it from the jailer.”

He said calmly as he closed the door behind him.

“I told you I’d find a way to heal you, no matter what.”

“Your Majesty, you can’t come closer. Like last time, I might—”

“I don’t care.”

Cedric walked toward me without hesitation. Pressed against the wall, I shook my head in panic, but he didn’t stop.

“Your Majesty, please…”

At my words, Cedric paused.

Leaning against the wall with nowhere left to retreat, the distance between us was now just a step away.

“…I’m sorry if I scared you.”

Cedric spoke softly, “But just as you can’t stand still, I can’t stand by and watch you fight this battle alone.”

Then he closed the distance further and reached out his hand.

As his gentle hand, which had held mine countless times, approached, I turned my head away.

“It’s okay…”

Cedric whispered tenderly.

Finally, his hand touched my cheek.

Crackle—

Without fail, blue sparks flew.

Yet Cedric didn’t stop, gently cupping my face with both hands.

‘No, this can’t happen.’

The incessant sparks began to draw blood from Cedric’s hands.

It must have been hot and painful. But he smiled gently, his eyes meeting mine.

And his shimmering red eyes pleaded with me not to look away, to keep my gaze on him.

The moment I saw those eyes, even though I knew I should push him away, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

“People naturally hurt each other a little. But they also heal each other’s wounds.”

“Your Majesty…”

“So this much is okay.”

He smiled brightly as he spoke.

“I’ve received so much from you. It’s okay if you hurt me as much as you want.”

The warm hands that had cupped my cheeks were now a mess.

Yet, Cedric used those hands to pull me into his embrace.

At that moment, tears welled up uncontrollably. Afraid that the sparks might grow stronger, afraid that Cedric might get hurt more, I bit my lip and stayed still.

“Being locked up here alone and then going to Ackeleta to die… honestly, that’s too lonely. I don’t want to leave you like that.”

Why, why are you going this far?

I know I shouldn’t be swayed by these words. If I am, I might not be able to protect Cedric.

And yet, I couldn’t help but feel joy at the warmth in his words.

The words he spoke, and the touch of his hands, were so warm and loving.

“I won’t ask you not to go to Ackeleta, or not to fight.”

Cedric looked at me as I raised my head from his embrace.

“But at the very least, let’s go together.”

His clothes were stained with blood from the sparks flying all over my body.

“I’m fine with dying anytime, as long as I’m with you.”

He smiled brightly, his hand covered in ash and crimson blood resting on my shoulder.

“So until the end, I’ll go with you.”

As he whispered in the gentlest voice in the world, he gradually lowered his head.

Ignoring the pain of his flesh tearing from the electric sparks, he looked only at me.

Before I knew it, his face was right in front of mine. Overwhelmed, I closed my eyes, and the tears I had been holding back streamed down.

Soon, in the darkness, our lips met.

The warmth of Cedric’s lips reached mine, which had grown cold from being in the prison for so long, where even multiple braziers could hardly warm the air.

The kiss, which began softly and carefully, gradually grew deeper and more intense.

“It’s okay…”

Cedric, who kept whispering reassurance between kisses, didn’t stop, breathing hot breaths into me as our lips met.

He kissed me fervently, as if this were the last kiss, with a desperate intensity.

When our lips finally parted, he stared into my eyes for a long time.

“Don’t cry…”

He said, noticing the tears welling up in my eyes.

Instead of wiping away the tears with his battered hands, he pressed his lips to the corners of my eyes.

Then he pulled me tightly into his embrace. His arms, which smelled faintly of blood, were broad and warm.

To be honest, during the days we couldn’t touch, I had felt Cedric’s absence more than I expected.

Though I couldn’t show it outwardly, it had been a bit hard and lonely.

Now, it felt like I was being fully compensated for all that hardship.