The Tyrant Won’t Let Me Go – Chapter 129 – Side Story 13

Author: Nikss

Caspian, who had already been in the baby crib, stretched out his hands and grinned the moment he saw Ciana.

“Here, your beloved Ciana has arrived.”

As soon as Ciana was placed beside him, Caspian squealed with delight and hugged her with his chubby arms.

Ciana, however, showed little interest in her twin brother and instead sucked on her thumb.

“Hey, Ciel, do you think even the way they act is a reflection of us?”

Cedric asked, turning to me as he watched Caspian cheerfully embrace Ciana while she, still ignoring him, stared intently at a frog-shaped plush toy placed beside them in the crib.

“Hmm, I suppose so.”

I was just thinking how incredible genetics could be when—

“Your Majesty.”

Paul’s excited voice came from outside the door.

“The honored guest has arrived.”

“Greetings to the Sun of the Empire.”

As the woman bowed, the olive-colored hem of her dress, symbolic of Ackeleta, shimmered under the light. Her voluminous red hair, poised with both grace and strength, was adorned with the ancestral amethyst crown of the Ackeleta royal family.

“It’s been a while for both of you. Thank you for inviting us.”

I smiled slightly at Persephine’s words of gratitude and shook my head.

“No, if anything, I’ve been longing to see you. I heard you’ve been very busy, so I’m truly grateful you came.”

Then, clasping both of her hands, I conveyed my sincerity.

At that, her cheeks flushed red, and she flashed her signature radiant smile.

“Oh no, every time I come, you welcome me so warmly that I can’t help but want to visit more often.”

Then, Persephine glanced toward Cedric and slightly raised the corner of her lips.

“Hmm, though I worry that if I come any more frequently, I might upset His Majesty the Emperor’s mood.”

At her words, Cedric narrowed his brows. His gaze was fixed on our clasped hands.

“Is Her Majesty the Empress’s attention being drawn to me that disappointing for you?”

Then, Cedric, who had been silent, shot Persephine a sidelong glance as if struck where it hurt.

“Honestly, yes, it is disappointing.”

I was taken aback by how bluntly Cedric admitted that he disliked Persephine diverting my attention.

‘What? We’ve been together all this time—why is he acting like this?’

It wasn’t like Persephine’s arrival would separate us.

Unable to hold back, I spoke, “Your Majesty, you shouldn’t say such things to a guest who came all this way. They’ve graced us with their presence.”

“True.”

“Yes, so—wait, what?”

I was caught off guard when Cedric nodded so readily.

“If you come, I can’t monopolize the Empress as usual, so yes, it’s a little disappointing.”

“My goodness…”

At Cedric’s words, Persephine covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

“But regardless of that, I truly am grateful that you came to visit our empire this time.”

Her calmly composed crimson eyes held a clear, untarnished light. Though weighty, they carried a deep sincerity without a hint of falsehood.

“And as Her Majesty said, you came despite being so busy.”

“No, it was only natural,” Persephine replied, shaking her head.

Cedric looked at her and spoke, “Welcome once again to Deamant. I hope you have a comfortable stay.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The jewels in the crown resting atop her brightly smiling head sparkled transparently.

‘He really has become a proper king now.’

After Jayden Ackeleta’s death, as the sole heir to the throne, she naturally succeeded as the ruler of Ackeleta. When the previously sound king vanished without a trace in an instant, Ackeleta was thrown into chaos for a while.

But Persephine, now the new queen, quelled the turmoil far more swiftly than expected, and Ackeleta gradually stabilized.

‘She’s changed so much since the first time I saw her.’

Unlike the past, when she would stare at the ground with a weary expression, she now stood straight-backed, looking ahead with a bright face.

Persephine was no longer a pitiable young princess. She was the queen of a nation, standing firm after overcoming all her trials.

“Ah, is there something on my face?”

“Huh? Oh, no. It’s just…”

Realizing I had been staring at Persephine too intently, I quickly averted my gaze.

And as expected, when I glanced to the side, Cedric was looking at me with a displeased expression.

“My, are you jealous again, Your Majesty? That Her Majesty the Empress was looking at me?”

Instead of answering Persephine’s playful question, Cedric turned his head away and subtly pulled me closer to him.

“Your Majesty, you’ve been with me all this time. Why are you acting like this? Do you really have to go this far?”

Unable to hold back, I spoke up, and Cedric released my arm—though he couldn’t hide the faintly sulky expression on his face.

“Honestly, the two of you are as stubborn as ever.”

Persephine watched Cedric with a smile as she spoke. She seemed to find the situation quite amusing.

Somehow, Cedric’s reaction was entertaining, and it almost felt like she was teasing him.

“When I first came to Deamant, I could never have imagined seeing him like this.”

Even though Cedric denied it, the two seemed to consider each other friends in their own way.

At the very least, that was how Persephine saw it.

“By the way, where’s your husband? Didn’t you say he was coming with you?”

When Cedric asked, Persephine turned her head to glance at the door behind her.

“He did come with me, but he insisted on staying outside, saying he wasn’t sure if he should enter.”

Persephine sighed as she answered, “Just tell him to come in. If you order him, he’ll have no choice but to obey.”

At Cedric’s words, Persephine raised her voice toward the door as if telling Felix to listen.

“You heard him, right? So stop being stubborn and come in already.”

Soon, the door opened, and a plainly dressed man cautiously stepped inside.

“I greet the Sun of the Empire.”

Felix knelt on one knee and bowed to Cedric.

“You should’ve come in earlier.”

When I expressed my disappointment, Felix scratched his cheek awkwardly and lowered his head further.

“My apologies. I didn’t think it was my place to intrude…”

Felix still hadn’t forgotten the incident where, due to falling for Jayden Ackeleta’s schemes, he had put Cedric in danger.

Though it hadn’t been his will, he had attacked Cedric while under Jayden’s temporary control, which landed him on Deamant’s list of dangerous individuals for some time.

Fortunately, after considerable time had passed since the incident—and considering that he had fought on Deamant’s side against Jayden Ackeleta—his name was eventually removed from the list.

“Weren’t you still serving as a guard knight?”

Cedric asked Felix.

“Yes, though it hasn’t been officially announced…”

“A guard knight should always remain by his lord’s side, no matter the time or place.”

At Cedric’s words, Felix lifted his head. His eyes widened slightly, as if he were genuinely surprised.

“Besides, you’re her husband now.”

“Your Majesty…”

“You’re not going to say here that you’re not officially recognized as the royal consort, so you have no right to be in this room, are you?”

Persephine and Felix had confirmed their feelings for each other, but due to various circumstances, they hadn’t been able to publicly announce their marriage.

Still, there was no doubt that the two were each other’s spouses.

“Whether it’s been announced or not, you are King Persephine’s husband. So from now on, walk in with confidence.”

“…Understood.”

Felix’s voice trembled slightly as he spoke.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

His voice as he answered had brightened just a little.