The Tyrant Won’t Let Me Go Chapter 55

⚔️

 

Time passed quickly and the day of Persephine’s visit arrived.

 

I was stationed with Marquis Lauren at the entrance, close to the main palace.

 

Kashuel was stationed not far behind.

 

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been part of an escort mission of this scale, Master.”

 

“Ah, indeed, it has been a long time since most of the Knights have been mobilized, and the Mages as well, hasn’t it?”

 

“Yes, Captain. I think it will be a good opportunity for the recruits,” Marquis Lauren replied with a friendly smile.

 

Just then, a trumpet sounded from the entrance of the palace.

 

The surrounding atmosphere calmed down.

 

The trumpets signaled the arrival of the princess’s carriage.

 

Knights and mages alike stood at attention, ready for the official start of their mission.

 

In the distance, a carriage decorated with flowers slowly approached.

 

The carriage looked beautiful, but it also looked a bit sloppy.

 

It was followed by a knight in helmet and armor and a maid in a cloak.

 

In the center of the carriage, which was open to the public, like a parade horse at an amusement park, was a small figure.

 

‘Here they come.’

 

Please, let this go without incident.

 

I hope Cedric would listen to me.

 

[I’m sure he will, he listens to you] Caliberne replied in a light voice.

 

‘I know that, but I’m still a little uneasy.’

 

I was nervous about finally meeting the original character, whom I hadn’t seen in eight years.

 

‘Furthermore, Persephine is the main character of the novel.’

 

According to the original story, the world would center around her in the future.

 

For her to have a happy ending.

 

[Don’t get too anxious, the Emperor is a bit of a character, but he doesn’t piss anyone off first.]

 

‘Oh, is that so?’

 

I reassured myself and watched the carriage.

 

The young knights glanced at the carriage, trying to focus on the task at hand.

 

When their eyes met Persephine’s, some of them looked dazed for a moment, then shook their heads as if trying to regain their senses.

 

In the back, commoners who had come to watch the procession could be heard whispering.

 

“Wow, she’s really as beautiful as the rumors say…”

 

As expected, the beauty of the original heroine.

 

‘Even though she was the main character and appeared in the illustrations the most, wasn’t every single shot a masterpiece?’

 

I was one of the people who bought the original novel because I was drawn to Persephine’s beauty.

 

After reading the novel, I fell in love with the Persephine’s character.

 

Not in a heroic way, but I liked her throughout the novel.

 

‘She’s got a pretty face, and she’s good at swords, that’s it.’

 

There’s nothing cooler than a beautiful person wielding a gorgeous sword.

 

Of course, looks weren’t the only reason I liked Persephine.

 

I also liked that she was a character with a strong connection to the sword, and I liked how she grew towards the end.

 

She gets really strong at the end.

 

‘Come on, let’s see the beauty I’ve only seen in two dimensions.’

 

I thought, looking up as the carriage drew near.

 

Just then, goosebumps sprang up from head to toe.

 

‘Huh?’

 

The moment I saw Persephine, I felt the cold blood pierce my heart.

 

‘What, why…?’

 

I felt like something was deeply amiss.

 

An instantaneous feeling of anxiety seemed to weigh down my heart. But I couldn’t figure out what was wrong.

 

“Captain?”

 

“…”

 

I didn’t hear his voice, even when Marquis Lauren called out to me from the side, sensing something was wrong.

 

“Captain?”

 

“Ah, yes. Marquis.”

 

“Are you all right, you don’t look well…”

 

Ahh.

 

So that was it.

 

Now I understood why I had felt uneasy at the sight of Persephine.

 

Looking up again, my eyes locked with the woman sitting motionless in the carriage.

 

Dead, purple eyes, devoid of light.

 

‘Does this look like…?’

 

Not a living person, but a doll.

 

Dressed in a white dress and surrounded by pink and white flowers, she was certainly mesmerizing and beautiful.

 

Her pure white skin was like snow as if she had never seen the sun in her life, and her lustrous red hair danced in a flowing motion.

 

But she didn’t move an inch.

 

The flailing hand clutching the flower was lifeless, and its large, unblinking eyes stared straight ahead as if its soul had been sucked out of it.

 

‘Why is she like that…?’

 

The original Persephine was, in a word, radiant.

 

She was a person who never lost hope, even in desperate situations, and her violet eyes sparkled like stars.

 

‘Maybe that’s part of her, but…’

 

I wonder why. I have a feeling that I shouldn’t stay like this.

 

‘…Caliberne, don’t you feel something when you look at her?’

 

I calmed myself and asked Caliberne.

 

[Hmm… not much different than before].

 

‘Magic, does it feel the same as when you saw it before?’

 

[Yes. Why?]

 

‘No, just…’

 

[And why did I choose you and not her? Again, you had a lot more mana, and you were in worse shape].

 

‘Okay, fine, I get it, but it’s been eight years, I was just wondering if anything would have changed.’

 

I frowned slightly and said to Caliberne.

 

[No. I don’t think anything’s changed. She still hasn’t learned to handle a sword].

 

‘What, still?’

 

I really didn’t expect this.

 

A character who excelled at swordplay in the original has never held a sword.

 

‘Eight years ago, I thought it was just a little late in the original.’

 

It turns out she didn’t wield a sword until she was 20 years old.

 

‘And that means…?’

 

When I asked Caliberne what the criteria were for choosing someone, she explained that she simply picked the best person to absorb the sword.

 

She also said that, by nature, she has to choose people who have some experience with swords.

 

In other words, even if I hadn’t possessed this body in this world, Persephine would not have become the master of Caliberne as I knew the original storyline.

 

‘I wonder how this works.’

 

Biting my lip, I watched the carriage enter the palace.

 

⚔️

 

“Welcome to the Empire, Princess Persephine.”

 

Cedric said, turning to Persephine with a subtle smile.

 

Looking blankly at the floor, Persephine lifted the hem of her dress slightly, as was customary, and bowed to Cedric.

 

“…I am honored to meet the Sun of the Empire.”

 

As she finished and bent to straighten her back, she coughed uncontrollably.

 

A maid rushed to her aid as she began to stumble.

 

A look of bewilderment passed over the faces of Marquis Laurence, the Chancellor, and Paul as they watched Persephine in such a state.

 

Even Cedric, who was not often embarrassed, looked at Persephine with some surprise.

 

“Cough, So— I’m sorry, Your Majesty…”

 

Cedric shook his head as Persephine paled.

 

“It’s all right, princess. You’ve traveled a long way today, and I think you’d better get some rest afterward.”

 

“Yes, thank you.”

 

Barely able to stop coughing, Persephine replied in a weak voice.

 

Her escort, who had hardly ceased her coughing, draped his cloak over her shoulders.

 

After the escort knight had given the cloak to her, and she had quietly retreated to a corner, Cedric began to introduce us to Persephine.

 

“You will see these men often in the palace, so let me introduce them to the princess. They are some of the most trusted individuals in the empire.”

 

And with that, one by one, Cedric introduced me, the last of the group.

 

“This is Count Ciel Minerva, head of the Imperial Knights. Highly trusted and—”

 

Cedric smiled slightly at me and continued, “Strong, the best knight in the Empire.”

 

“You are flattering me, Your Majesty.”

 

With that, I walked over to Persephine and bowed.

 

“I wish you well in the future,” Persephine replied in a weak voice.

 

“It is my pleasure, Princess.”

 

That was the end of the introduction.

 

Cedric, realizing that Persephine was in worse shape than he’d expected, quickly tidied up and sent her on her way.

 

She was escorted by her maid, and Paul led the way to the west wing of the palace.

 

“Well, you’ve done a good job today. Now that the princess is gone, everyone, go about your duties.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

“Ah, except for Minerva’s dress.”

 

Cedric chuckled.

 

“This one?”

 

We were supposed to meet this evening.

 

“I have training.”

 

I said, keeping my face as stoic as I could, and Cedric winced and sat back down.

 

“Really? Well, I guess I can’t help it then, get yourself dressed.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

And with that, I made it safely out of the altered reality.

 

Just then, I saw a huge person-shaped shadow in the hallway.

 

“Huh?”

 

It wasn’t until I saw that he was covered from head to toe in armor that I realized he was Persephine’s bodyguard.

 

He took off his helmet for a moment in the mundane setting and stared down, then put it back on.

 

“Hey, over there!”

 

“What?”

 

What the hell, are you calling me?

 

The armored man rushed over and stood in front of me.

 

“Captain Minerva, I’ve been meaning to meet you for a while now.”

 

“Um, you mean me?”

 

“Yes. I’ve always wanted to meet the head of the Imperial Knights…”

 

The escort knight spoke in a hushed manner. He then bowed to me and spoke in a deep voice.

 

“I am Felix Flithia of the Royal Knights of Ackeletta, who has been assigned to escort Princess Persephine this time.”

 

“Oh, I see, I hope you enjoy—”

 

At that moment, I stopped talking.

 

“Felix Flithia?”

 

Wait, no. As I froze, unable to find my words again, the knight spoke up.

 

“Ah, you’ll have to take off your helmet.”

 

A man with sweaty, copper-colored skin and dark hair removed his helmet and smiled awkwardly.

 

“It’s an honor to meet you, Captain Minerva.”

 

Seeing him say that, I couldn’t help but smile.

 

‘Why would you come out of there and…’

 

Because, according to the original story, he was supposed to be the Male Lead who would slit my throat in a fit of rage.