The Tyrant Won’t Let Me Go Chapter 119 - Side Story 3

Cedric seemed to notice my thoughts and shook his head, speaking in a serious tone.

 

“Saving you was entirely my choice. It was my decision.”

 

Then, his red eyes sparkled.

 

“And who knows? Maybe my original lifespan was so long that losing five years doesn’t even matter.”

 

“That could be true, but we can’t be sure…”

 

“It’s not certain, but it’s not impossible either, so you don’t have to take it so heavily.”

 

Cedric smiled as he gently stroked my head.

 

“I’m really happy that you care so much and that you’re looking out for me.”

 

His beautifully curved red eyes shone with affection.

 

“But I want you to feel more at ease.”

 

I think I was lost in his sincere smile for a while.

 

Then, without a word, I placed my hand on his back and hugged him tightly. I wanted to stay like this forever. I wished time would just stop right here.

 

💫

 

It was less than a week after we made the promise to work together to extend Cedric’s lifespan.

 

“Ciel.”

 

Those were the first words he said as soon as he saw me after returning from an unexpected summons to the temple.

 

“That promise… I think we don’t have to keep it anymore.”

 

“Huh? What do you mean all of a sudden?”

 

Cedric, holding my hand tightly, had an unusually lively gleam in his red eyes as he spoke.

 

“I have good news.”

 

The beginning of this “good news” dates back to three days ago.

 

“The temple contacted us again?”

 

Cedric looked puzzled as Paul nodded quietly.

 

‘It hasn’t even been a year since the last oracle.’

 

Usually, it took over a year for the next oracle to come after the previous one. So Cedric had thought he wouldn’t have to return to the temple this year.

 

“The oracle seems to have come unusually early. Was there anything unusual at the temple?”

 

“No, the temple was also surprised by the early signs of the oracle, but aside from the timing, there was nothing unusual.”

 

That was a relief.

 

Sometimes, when a great danger loomed over the country, the cycle of oracles would become irregular.

 

In such cases, the signs heralding the oracle were also unsettling.

 

Fortunately, this time, no such phenomena occurred, so it seemed this oracle wasn’t related to a major disaster.

 

“Alright, that’s good.”

 

Cedric set down his quill as he spoke.

 

“We’ll discuss it with the ministers soon and set a date.”

 

💫

 

[As the frozen snow melt and spring arrives—]

 

Elegant golden letters embroidered themselves across the pure white surface.

 

[If you block the heavy rains and currents as usual, you will gain both the warmth of spring and the fruits of autumn.]

 

Cedric, carefully examining the golden letters to not miss a single word of the oracle, thought to himself.

 

‘It seems there will be heavy rain this summer too. We’ll need to be careful until the rainy season ends.’

 

As Cedric organized his thoughts, new letters appeared.

 

[And though winter will come again, the moment the sun rises between the snowy mountains, heralding the start of a new year, it will be as radiant as ever.]

 

With that, the second sentence ended.

 

‘So far, it seems fine.’

 

Cedric furrowed his brow as he gazed at the slowly rippling surface.

 

There were times when the oracle’s cycle sped up without reason. But usually, in such cases, the oracle contained very important and urgent information.

 

Like warnings of impending disasters or clues to the deep concerns of the Deamant Emperor.

 

For example, the oracle that had foretold Ciel’s arrival in the mana-deficient Crown Prince Cedric had also come at an unexpected time.

 

‘But so far, the content doesn’t seem much different from last year’s.’

 

Cedric thought that the sentence following this one wouldn’t be too serious either.

 

Still, since the oracle wasn’t finished, he couldn’t let his guard down, so he kept his eyes fixed on the letters rising one by one on the surface.

 

And the next moment, he couldn’t believe his eyes.

 

[That radiant moment will be witnessed by the most noble bloodline of Deamant and his companion—]

 

The most noble bloodline of Deamant, of course, referred to Cedric, the Emperor of Deamant.

 

In other words, ‘the most noble bloodline of Deamant and his companion’ clearly pointed to Cedric himself and Ciel.

 

Cedric, who hadn’t even imagined that he and Ciel would be mentioned in the oracle again, froze in place.

 

‘What…’

 

He bit his tightly closed lips, and the taste of blood filled his mouth.

 

Cedric desperately wished for Ciel not to face any more hardships. Ciel had already been through so much, and she deserved to be happier than anyone.

 

For Cedric, who thought this way, nothing could be more heart-wrenching than seeing an oracle that foretold misfortune for her.

 

Yet, he had to look. 

 

If it were true, this oracle might be the only clue to save her.

 

With veins bulging on the back of his hand from the force of his grip, Cedric stared at the pure white surface as new letters appeared.

 

[They will witness it together over eighty times—]

 

And at that moment, a strange light flickered in his red eyes.

 

[Those who were once destined not to return together will ascend to the heavens at the same moment.]

 

The tightly closed lips curved into a faint smile.

 

As the final sentence rose and then completely disappeared, scattering into nothingness, Cedric sat there, his lips curled into a smile, staring blankly at the surface of the well.

 

And as the pure white surface turned transparent again, his soft whisper echoed in the deepest part of the temple.

 

“O God—”

 

Cedric clasped his hands together neatly and spoke with all his heart.

 

“Thank you.”

 

💫

 

“Witnessing the moment the sun rises to herald the start of a new year over eighty times…”

 

I sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Cedric, whose eyes were shining brightly.

 

Cedric looked at me and chuckled before replying, “Doesn’t it sound like we’ll be welcoming the New Year together for over 80 years?”

 

“This might be too optimistic of an interpretation, but… it does sound like that to me, too.”

 

“Right?”

 

His voice was dripping with joy. It was slightly higher than usual, and it sounded almost as if he were floating.

 

“And ascending to the heavens at the same moment means we’ll die on the same day, right?”

 

“Yeah. That’s what it seems like. Maybe we’ll both live to be around 100 years old.”

 

Cedric propped his chin on one hand and tilted his head as he looked at me.

 

“And it looks like my original lifespan really was long after all.”

 

Even though Cedric had jokingly mentioned something like this before, and I had desperately wished it were true, hearing it confirmed through the oracle left me feeling strangely dazed.

 

“That’s right. It seems I was originally supposed to die much earlier. But with Your Majesty’s lifespan shortened by five years, it looks like our lifespans have become similar…”

 

“Exactly. So, no more being sad about my shortened lifespan, okay?”

 

Cedric smiled brightly and clasped my hand.

 

“Because we’ll be able to stay together for a long, long time.”

 

Together. Had that word always resonated so deeply in my heart?

 

“Of course, I do wish you’d live even longer than me.”

 

“No, I don’t want that.”

 

I shook my head firmly.

 

“If Your Majesty were gone, I’d be so sad.”

 

Otherwise, I wouldn’t feel such heart-wrenching pain every time I imagined Cedric dying first and leaving me behind.

 

“Even if it’s 80 years from now.”

 

“Ciel…”

 

I pretended not to hear him calling my name and instead gripped the collar of Cedric’s clothes.

 

“The oracle has never been wrong before, right?”

 

I wanted to confirm if this was something I could truly believe. I wanted to believe it so badly, but I was afraid of holding onto false hope and being disappointed.

 

“Is this really something I can trust? That we’ll really live together for over 80 years?”

 

Cedric, who had been quietly watching me as I asked, carefully bent down.

 

“Yeah, you can trust it.”

 

With a soft sound, Cedric’s lips gently touched my forehead before pulling away.

 

“The oracle has never been wrong before.”

 

Ah, why is it…