The Tyrant Won’t Let Me Go – Chapter 116

Author: Nikss

💫

“Agh.”

Cedric smiled at the golden letters that rose above the faintly glowing green thorny vine pattern.

[Will you offer the price?]

Tears fell from his smiling eyes.

The oracle he hadn’t fully heard in the temple flashed through his mind.

[The true master of the sword will never return to where they once were without paying the price.]

“I’ll offer it. Whatever it is.”

[When the master of the sword closes their eyes, you must not miss their final light—]

“What is the price?”

As if following the oracle, another set of glowing golden letters appeared above Ciel’s left ring finger.

[Five years of the surviving covenant-maker’s lifespan.]

Lifespan?

To Cedric, it was a trivial price.

A life without Ciel was meaningless to him anyway.

Ciel would surely be angry if she found out, but it didn’t matter. If it meant he could see Ciel again, Cedric would gladly endure ten years of her scolding all at once.

“I’ll offer it.”

Holding Ciel’s cold body, Cedric spoke.

“Five years of my life.”

The golden letters crumbled like dust, and light surged from the green pattern.

Then, a red glow flowed from the ruby embedded in Cedric’s mana-infused ring.

When the two powerful beams of light met, the room lit up brightly.

As the light grew stronger, Cedric covered Ciel’s eyes with his hand and held her tightly.

[You will protect—]

Only then did Cedric realize what the final line of the oracle had been.

[What is most precious to you.]

The room filled with pure white light, and Cedric closed his eyes, still holding Ciel.

💫

“Huh…?”

When I opened my eyes, I saw faint beams of light.

‘What? Where am I?’

As I struggled to fully open my eyes, the first thing I saw was Cedric’s crimson eyes.

“Ciel…”

“Your Majesty?”

I was sure I had died, and for some reason, I had been transported to that familiar space where I spoke with Caliberne.

Then, out of nowhere, Caliberne sent me away from her space.

When I opened my eyes, Cedric was there.

Confused and unsure of what was happening, Cedric, who had been quietly watching me, suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace.

“Ciel, you’re back.”

The moment I was in his arms, I realized it.

This wasn’t a dream.

It was real. The warmth from his arms around me was no illusion.

“Your Majesty…? Is it really you…?”

The moment I realized the person in front of me wasn’t a figment of my imagination but the real Cedric, tears streamed down uncontrollably.

“Yes, it’s me…”

“Yes, it’s me… Cedric.”

His voice, as if trying to reassure me, made me bite my lip and wrap my arms around his shoulders.

“I’m really alive, right?”

“Yes.”

Cedric answered in a hoarse voice, holding me even tighter.

At that moment, I felt a sharp sting on my left ring finger.

“Ah.”

I quickly pulled my hand away to check, and the covenant mark was flickering.

“Why is this…”

The mark, which had always been a soft green, now flickered like a flame in the wind.

Gradually, it turned a deep, intense red.

Only after it had completely turned into a burning red did the mark settle, and the tingling sensation in my left ring finger disappeared.

Surprised, I looked at Cedric, who was also staring at the mark, and asked,

“Did you… do something with the covenant?”

“…Yeah.”

“Can a covenant even bring someone back to life?”

Cedric scratched his cheek awkwardly as he answered.

“I’d heard that you could protect someone important with a covenant. But I didn’t know it could work like this.”

“Even so, I don’t think a covenant alone could bring someone back to life.”

I stared into his deep crimson eyes and asked,

“What… did you do?”

“It’s nothing big.”

Cedric replied calmly, “I just gave what it asked for.”

For some reason, his words gave me a bad feeling.

“…What did you give?”

“It really wasn’t a big deal. It wasn’t something I needed anyway.”

As he spoke, Cedric subtly avoided my gaze. It was clear that it wasn’t “nothing.”

“Please, be honest. What did you give up?”

“Well, um…”

Cedric hesitated before answering.

“Five years of my lifespan…”

“What?”

“Wait, Ciel. Listen, don’t get mad—”

“Have you lost your mind, Your Majesty?”

No wonder, not only had I come back from death, but all my wounds were completely healed.

Moreover, Cedric’s bleeding had stopped, and he was moving his injured limbs without issue. I had thought it was strange.

‘Well, it makes sense, considering he gave up something so enormous.’

In the process of offering five years of his lifespan, I was naturally healed, and for some reason, perhaps as part of the exchange, Cedric’s injuries were also completely healed.

“What were you thinking, offering five years of your life without even knowing if I’d come back? Does that even make sense to you?”

“But you died to save me too.”

“That, that’s…”

Well, when you put it that way, I didn’t have much room to argue.

“And even if I lived those five extra years, my life would be meaningless without you.”

“…”

“You knew that, didn’t you?”

To be honest, he was right.

That’s why I kept apologizing when I was dying. Because I couldn’t bear to watch the person I loved most die in front of me.

Because I couldn’t stand by and let that despicable Jayden Ackeleta take the person I loved most from me.

That’s why I made that choice.

“If you’re so upset about me giving up my lifespan, you can stay mad at me today, tomorrow, and forever.”

Cedric cupped my cheek as he spoke, “I don’t care, as long as you stay by my side. That’s all I need.”

“Your Majesty…”

“I gave up five years of my life to save you.”

A single transparent tear fell from Cedric’s brightly smiling eyes.

“You can do that much for me, right?”

I reached out and wiped away his tear.

From now on, I didn’t plan to make him cry like this.

“Of course.”

Cedric smiled as if truly happy and hugged me tightly again.

Then, in a soft voice, he whispered into my ear.

“It’s a promise. Even if you change your mind later, you can’t cancel it.”

“That won’t happen.”

“Right.”

He kissed my forehead and spoke.

“I’ll never let you go, ever.”

💫

The tomorrow that seemed like it would never come arrived.

One day, two days, a week…

My time, which seemed to have stopped at death, continued to flow.

And I spent every moment of it with Cedric.

“Ciel, what are you doing?”

Seeing Cedric, who hugged me from behind as usual and suddenly kissed me, I leaned comfortably against his shoulder.

If I didn’t let him do this, he would keep bothering me, so it was better to just accept it from the start.

[Ugh, they’re at it again. Disgusting, really.]

In my mind, Caliberne expressed her genuine dislike.

After the battle with Jayden, Caliberne safely returned to me. She said that while she was under Jayden Ackeleta’s control, I had poured out an enormous amount of magic from within my body, and thanks to the healing effects of the covenant, my mana surge had almost completely ceased.

‘Now, as long as you stay by that emperor’s side, you’ll be able to live almost like a normal person. Even if you occasionally use lightning magic. You’ll probably be fine without me.’

My physical condition had improved, and since I no longer had to adhere to the rule that only death could change my owner, I asked her if she had any thoughts of going to someone else.

But she decided to stay and watch over me.

‘A mother should see her daughter grow up, right?’

She used to hate being called a mother, but now she even joked about it, indicating she had no intention of changing owners.

[Ugh, seriously. Does he have to kiss you every single day or he’ll die?]

‘Sorry. Please understand, Caliberne. It’s because I died and came back to life not long ago…’

[Alright, I get it. If you don’t like the temple, avoid the monk. I’m going in.]

After the battle, she often retreated whenever Cedric was around. She couldn’t stand Cedric’s affectionate displays.

“Huh? What’s this? Isn’t this the contract we wrote?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“What are you planning to do with this?”

In response to Cedric’s question, I smiled and stroked his hair.

“Don’t worry. I just think we don’t need this anymore.”

But Cedric looked even more shocked.

“Don’t need it…? Why?”

“This contract only lasts for five years.”

I put the contract aside and smiled.

“Don’t you think that’s too short?”

“Hmm, you’re right?”

Cedric nodded casually and replied, “Should we write a new one then?”

“Shall we?”

“How about a marriage vow this time? We might as well fill out a marriage registration form while we’re at it.”

I burst out laughing as Cedric joked with a sly smile.

“What about the contract period?”

“Lifetime, of course.”

Cedric answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Do you think I’d let you run away, Ciel?”

“Hmm, I don’t think you would.”

“After we make a lifetime contract, I’m going to announce to the entire empire that you and I are married. If I ever see you trying to run away, I’ll have you brought back to me.”

Yeah, of course.

I let out a quiet sigh as I listened to Cedric’s joke, unsure how much of it was serious.

“Ah, alright. Fine, let’s make a lifetime contract.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Who else would live with Your Majesty besides me?”

“Right, you’re the only one who truly understands my heart.”

Cedric laughed and nuzzled his face against my cheek.

“I really love you, Ciel.”

It was a phrase he never missed saying every day, but it always carried so much sincerity and affection that it made my chest ache.

And whenever he said it, Cedric’s face always looked like that of the happiest person in the world.

“Your Majesty.”

“Hmm?”