The Tyrant Won’t Let Me Go Chapter 63

 

“Yes, is there something I should pass on to them?”

 

Paul nodded and listened, and a chilling voice echoed in his ear.

 

“Tell them that I will execute him myself, but be sure to take him alive.”

 

A blaze of fire burned beyond the red eyes.

 

“As quickly as possible.”

 

🗡️

 

A room bathed in bright moonlight.

 

The petite woman curled up on the bed and groaned.

 

“Ugh…”

 

Until her red hair was matted and sweat began to trickle down her forehead, Persephine couldn’t even think of lifting herself out of bed.

 

The horrible pain continued, like a fire-heated pick stabbing her limbs.

 

‘It hurts so much.’

 

She had suffered this pain almost every day since she was a child.

 

But today, the pain was worse than usual.

 

‘It seems to be getting worse.’

 

The doctors all diagnosed her with a disease of unknown origin.

 

Naturally, there was no cure.

 

She wanted to find a way to reduce the hellish pain, but she was resistant to most medications.

 

A mage of the healing lineage was able to cast a spell to alleviate the pain, but it wasn’t enough to completely erase her suffering.

 

As she squeezed her eyes tightly shut and breathed heavily, Persephine watched the small locket she kept on her bedside cabinet glow gradually.

 

“If ever there was a time…”

 

Even as she said that, she reached for the locket.

 

She knew what would happen if she didn’t reach it.

 

So she reached out with a trembling hand and tugged on the string.

 

Then she heard the sound of glass breaking.

 

“…!”

 

Looking at the shattered vase, Persephine’s complexion instantly turned white.

 

At the same time, a sharp headache struck her, as if the pain in her limbs had traveled to her head.

 

As she pressed her hand to her burning forehead, she gasped for breath.

 

“Princess, is something wrong?”

 

It was Felix’s voice.

 

Meanwhile, the light from the locket had grown more powerful, as if it were demanding immediate attention.

 

“Felix.”

 

Persephine steadied her voice as best she could and pretended nothing had happened.

 

“It’s okay, it’s nothing.”

 

“I just heard the sound of something breaking…”

 

The voice from the other side of the door interrupted her.

 

“I just spilled something, don’t worry, nothing’s broken.”

 

“But… are you all right? You sounded like you were rested, Princess-“

 

“I’m perfectly fine, you can go.”

 

She said urgently, taking the glowing locket in her hand.

 

Felix left, leaving her with a note to call him whenever she needed him.

 

His voice sounded as if he hadn’t cleared up his doubts by the end, but he stepped aside anyway.

 

Only when the armor had completely muffled the dull sound of his feet did Persephine put her index finger on the locket.

 

[Why are you taking so long to get back to me?]

 

‘I knew it.’

 

The voice was tinged with irritation, and Persephine shuddered and spoke cautiously.

 

“There was someone outside the door.”

 

[Really?]

 

“I’m suddenly not feeling well, ugh!”

 

Another wave of pain hit, and Persephine dropped the locket and curled up in a ball.

 

She felt lightheaded and short of breath.

 

[Your physical condition? That’s your excuse again, that’s why you’re being told you’re less than a lump of rock].

 

The despicable voice from the locket taunted her, but Persephine didn’t even have the strength to speak back.

 

[See the Emperor at least one more time in that excused time, okay?]

 

“Ugh, yes…”

 

[Make it happen.]

 

The creepy voice rang in Persephine’s ears.

 

The word ‘must’ made her heart sink heavily.

 

Because Persephine didn’t trust herself to do what the voice in the locket told her to do.

 

So she couldn’t say, ‘Yes, I will.’

 

[What, why don’t you answer?]

 

The voice demanded an immediate answer, a mixture of anger and irritation, and Persephine managed to reply.

 

“I, His Majesty, already have someone else in mind—”

 

[Persephine].

 

Persephine froze in place as a low voice called her name.

 

The voice’s owner was very far away.

 

Unable to reach her, unable to see her face.

 

Still, she knew he could harm her at any moment.

 

She shuddered slightly at the sight of his face, which she could clearly picture before her eyes.

 

[I guess your life is not worth living.]

 

At the same time, a fainting spasm of pain struck her body.

 

Unable to hold on, she screamed and fell back against the bed.

 

[Feel free, let’s see how long you can hold out.]

 

“Okay, I’ll do it, stop, please stop…!”

 

She struggled, reaching for the air, and then collapsed.

 

As her vision grew dimmer, the voice from the locket echoed faintly in her ears.

 

[You should have done that a long time ago.]

 

Tears streamed from between her closed eyes.

 

But no one was there to wipe them away.

 

[One last warning.]

 

An icy voice spoke, [Failure will cost you your life].

 

The transmission was cut off, and the locket lost its light.

 

And the purple eyes that gazed at it slowly lost their light as well.

 

🗡️

 

“Okay, everybody, get up. Break’s over.”

 

At my words, ten of the new knights, including Mika and Henry, scrambled to their feet.

 

Normally, they’d be the first ones up before I said anything, but today was different.

 

It was a day of intensive training for new recruits.

 

“Okay, everybody, buckle up.”

 

Henry’s eyes half-lidded, and he shook his head repeatedly, trying to wake up.

 

Smacking her cheek a few times, Mika straightened up.

 

“Chief, I’m really sorry, but can you just fire one shot at me, I think I’d enjoy the thrill of getting hit by you, and it might wake me up.”

 

Judging by the bullshit, Mika hasn’t woken up yet.

 

“Mika, I told you, a magical swordsman shouldn’t attack casually.”

 

“Oh, I’m sorry…”

 

I felt sorry for the new recruits, but I couldn’t help it.

 

The Imperial Knights were often called upon to travel long distances on expeditions, escorting the Emperor on his travels to other countries or provinces.

 

And in wartime, they would fight for months on end.

 

Although we hadn’t seen any full-scale warfare since I became commander, that didn’t mean we could neglect training.

 

After this training, the new knights would be able to maintain their stamina for long periods and reliably use magic to attack.

 

“Let’s see…”

 

I took off my gloves and looked over the training schedule I had already organized.

 

Circling where you just finished, and crossing out the next part of the progression.

 

‘Now we take it from here.’

 

I tucked the notebook with the training schedule away and was about to sheathe my sword again when my eyes met Mika’s, who was staring at me blankly.

 

“Mika, what’s wrong?”

 

“What? Oh, no…”

 

Mika, who had just been glaring at me, quickly turned her head away and added, 

 

“It’s nothing, Captain.”

 

I hadn’t realized it until then.

 

What the hell was going through Mika’s mind when she saw me?

 

🗡️

 

Sitting in the pouring sun, it was warm.

 

‘It’s just a moment, but it’s therapeutic.’

 

If only I didn’t have a class with Cedric smirking behind me.

 

It was a shame, but I couldn’t help it.

 

“Ah, the water tastes good under the blue sky.”

 

Holding the water bottle in my hand, I admired it.

 

[Drinking it like that makes you look like an old man].

 

‘If I don’t do it like that, I won’t get that feeling.’

 

[Okay. Just don’t do it in front of other people.]

 

‘Mom, don’t you think you’re being too concerned about what people think of me?’

 

[Hey! I told you not to call me mom!]

 

Caliberne’s immediate reaction made me want to tease her a little more.

 

‘Oh, that’s because you take care of me like a mom. That’s why I call you that.’

 

[Because you can’t take care of yourself well enough, sheesh.]

 

‘Yeah, thanks, mom!’

 

[Hey!]

 

As I was teasing Caliberne, someone called out to me.

 

“Uh, Captain?”

 

At the sound of the familiar voice, she looked up to see the Knights.

 

“You’re teaching here today?”

 

“Yep. I thought it would be good to have my lessons somewhere with a little sunlight.” 

 

“Has His Majesty arrived yet?” 

 

Hillac said, glancing around.

 

“Oh, he’s running a little late. He should be here soon.”

 

“Ah, I see.”

 

Sera nodded. But for some reason, her gaze was on James, not me.

 

James exchanged a glance with her, then looked at Mika, who nodded meaningfully.

 

It was as if they were talking amongst themselves with their eyes about something I couldn’t understand.

 

“His Majesty is running late, so I suppose now would be a good time?”

 

“Yes, I think so.”

 

“I think so too.”

 

What the hell was going on?

 

I scratched my head at the nonsensical conversation, and then James cleared his throat with an empty gulp.

 

“Ahem, Captain.”

 

James’s demeanor was like he wanted to ask me something important.

 

“What is it?”

 

For some reason, I felt uneasy.

 

A topic that my junior knights share, but that I’m afraid to mention.

 

“There’s something we’d like to ask you…”

 

The topics were fairly limited.

 

“Are there any problems within the Knights?”

 

Bullying or faction fights? I didn’t think there were any, but maybe I wasn’t paying attention.

 

Or maybe they were frustrated that I had neglected their training.

 

‘I should have realized that and taken care of it without inconvenience…’

 

Chewing on my lip, I hid my reaction and turned to James. 

 

“Yeah, tell me.”

 

James kept looking around to make sure no one was around, as if it was a difficult thing to talk about.

 

Seeing him like that made my throat burn even more.

 

They say no leader ever was perfect, but I should have been a better leader.

 

I’m sure they’ve been stewing in their thoughts.

 

So I drank some water and leaned up quickly when James motioned for me to lend him my ear.

 

“Do you think…”

 

I nodded at James, who opened his mouth cautiously, indicating that it was safe to say anything.

 

Then, taking a deep breath, he spoke into my ear.

 

“Are you engaged to His Majesty?”