The Tyrant Won’t Let Me Go Chapter 103

It was always like this.  

 

Kashuel’s feelings for Ciel were just as genuine as Cedric’s.  

 

Yet, Kashuel felt he hadn’t been able to act for her as selflessly as Cedric had, nor had he been able to help her in the same way.  

 

He was frustrated by his own inadequacy and envious of Cedric, who had thrown himself into danger without hesitation.  

 

Though he found himself petty for feeling this way, he couldn’t let go of those emotions.  

 

‘…I pulled my arm back the moment the spark touched me.’  

 

When Kashuel had used magic to remove Ciel’s chain, he had flinched and withdrawn his hand the moment the blue spark grazed him, unable to bear the pain.  

 

In contrast, Cedric had endured the pain until the very end.  

 

“Well, at that time, I…”  

 

Cedric paused, as if recalling the moment he had shared with Ciel.  

 

“I thought Ciel was in more pain.”  

 

His ruby-like eyes, clear and luminous, conveyed his thoughts.  

 

The moment Kashuel saw that light, it felt like he had been struck hard in the head.  

 

“Because she had hurt the person she wanted to protect, she couldn’t touch anyone and suffered alone.”  

 

“…”  

 

“So I couldn’t just stand by and watch. That’s all.”  

 

Instinctively, Kashuel knew it was time to let go. He could never be Cedric.  

 

And he could never give as much to Ciel as Cedric had.  

 

“I envy you for being able to say that.”  

 

“What?”  

 

Cedric asked, confused, but Kashuel turned away, a bitter smile on his face.  

 

“Never mind.”  

 

Then, he composed himself and, as if nothing had happened, turned back to Cedric and said,  

 

“Take good care of Captain Minerva from now on.”  

 

Cedric said nothing in response.  

 

💫

 

“Captain, how’s your condition?”  

 

Ciel smiled warmly at Kashuel, who was checking the mana measuring device, and replied,  

 

“I’ve fully recovered. I’ve been sleeping well too.”  

 

“That’s good to hear. Your mana seems much more stable than before.”  

 

Ciel, now out of the prison, looked far more stable than before. Her complexion had returned to normal, and her usual vitality seemed fully restored.  

 

“Thank you for all your efforts in treating me. I’ve recovered well thanks to you.”  

 

Kashuel bowed his head slightly at Ciel’s kind words.  

 

“…No. I didn’t really help at all.”  

 

It was Cedric who had made the biggest difference in Ciel’s recovery.  

 

In contrast, most of the methods Kashuel had suggested had ended in failure.  

 

‘All I did was a little examination.’  

 

Compared to Ciel’s own efforts, enduring days alone in the prison while recovering from poisoning, Kashuel felt he had done nothing of significance.  

 

“Oh, don’t say such disheartening things. You kept visiting me during your duties to check on me, didn’t you?”  

 

“Well, I had to, or you’d be in danger…”  

 

He trailed off, realizing how childish it sounded to boast about such things.  

 

But it was too late to take back what he had already said.  

 

“So you were worried about me after all.”  

 

“Well, I mean…”  

 

Kashuel’s face flushed slightly as he stammered, and Ciel, looking at him intently, spoke in a calm voice.  

 

“When I was in prison, just knowing someone cared about me was a great comfort.”  

 

Her eyes, the color of a clear blue sky, sparkled like stars in the night. 

 

Gentle and warm.  

 

“If you hadn’t shown me that concern, I wouldn’t have been able to endure. So please, don’t say such things.”  

 

‘You’re always so kind.’  

 

Just like the only person who had ever called the magic he had been using for years without much thought ‘impressive.’  

 

“…Alright. Thank you.”  

 

“No, I’m the one who should be thanking you.”  

 

Ciel smiled brightly.  

 

It was a smile rarely seen in the prison.  

 

Even in the prison, Ciel had always smiled and said she was fine, but Kashuel knew those smiles weren’t genuine.  

 

The smiles that radiated strength and determination clearly showed the heavy burden she carried in her heart.  

 

Those smiles were beautiful, but they didn’t look as peaceful as they did now.  

 

‘Back then too…’  

 

When Ciel was with Cedric, she had seemed to be crying at first, but later, even through her tears, she had a happy expression.  

 

A look of overwhelming joy, as if she didn’t know what to do with herself.  

 

It was Cedric who had made Ciel wear that expression. Not him.  

 

“…You know, there’s something I want to ask.”  

 

Ciel nodded, quietly waiting for Kashuel to continue.  

 

“Cedric, I mean, His Majesty… what kind of person is he to you?”  

 

For a moment, Kashuel saw a flicker of surprise in Ciel’s eyes. But she soon smiled serenely and answered in a steady voice.  

 

“…He’s someone precious to me.”  

 

As she answered, she shone brightly. 

 

Like the clear light of a star in the sky.  

 

Kashuel knew that for that light to continue shining, it needed to meet the vast, dark night sky that would make it stand out.  

 

“I see. That’s good.”  

 

As he spoke, Kashuel activated his magic.  

 

A soft, greenish light flowed from his fingertips toward Ciel.  

 

“Wow, it’s still so warm.”  

 

Ciel cupped the light in her hands and smiled.  

 

“Your magic is still amazing.”  

 

It was done. That day, Kashuel set free the star he had been holding in his heart.

 

💫

 

“Ciel.”  

 

At the sound of Cedric’s urgent voice, I immediately sat up.  

 

“Your Majesty, what’s wrong…”  

 

He knelt beside me, taking my hands in his, and said,  

 

“Persephine has woken up.”  

 

💫

 

Holding Cedric’s hand, I hurried to the room where Persephine was being treated.  

 

When we opened the door, we saw the medical staff gathered around the bed where Persephone lay.  

 

“Your Majesty.”  

 

The medical staff noticed us and stepped aside, revealing Persephone sitting on the bed.  

 

“Your Majesty, Captain Minerva…”  

 

Persephine called out to us, her expression deeply confused. She looked better than when she had first been poisoned, but her face was still pale.  

 

‘Has she been unconscious for a long time…?’  

 

Persephine had remained unconscious even while I was in prison.  

 

Perhaps because her body had been weakened by the curse, the poison had taken a heavy toll, requiring a long time for her to recover.  

 

“Am… am I really alive? This doesn’t feel like a dream…”  

 

She spoke with a bewildered expression as the medical staff continued their examination.  

 

I met her violet eyes and said, “You are alive, Princess.”  

 

At my words, her trembling violet eyes steadied.  

 

Biting my lip slightly, I took Persephone’s hand and spoke in the most reassuring tone I could muster.  

 

“No one can harm you now.”  

 

Then, a light returned to Persephone’s violet eyes.  

 

“Ah, ah…”  

 

It was the same look she had given me in the original story, the one I had admired, and the one she had shown when she first entered the Deamant palace and began to move forward.  

 

“Is Your Majesty unharmed…? And the Captain…”  

 

Her voice trembled as she asked. Tears welled up in her violet eyes.  

 

“Felix… where is Felix? Is he alright?”  

 

The moment she mentioned Felix’s name, the room fell silent. The medical staff fixed their gazes downward, focusing on their tasks in silence.  

 

Knowing that he was confined in the deepest underground prison of the palace, bound and restrained, I couldn’t immediately answer Persephone’s question.  

 

It was Cedric who broke the deathly silence.  

 

“Princess, you’ve just woken up, so let’s focus on checking your condition first.”  

 

Cedric leaned slightly forward, looking at Persephone as he spoke.  

 

“You’ve been asleep for quite a while, so you’ll need a thorough examination. Let’s take care of your body first, have a meal, and then we can talk.”  

 

“How… how long was I asleep?”  

 

“About a week.”  

 

Persephine nodded, understanding.