The Tyrant Won’t Let Me Go – Chapter 98

Author: Nikss

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It was undoubtedly the first time I had been this angry since possessing this body, except for when I had shot a lightning bolt at Persephine’s maid.

The aftermath of the lightning strike, which I had unleashed by channeling all my surging magical power into my sword, caused my body’s mana to fluctuate incessantly.

I could feel mana continuously generating within my body.

The moment I saw the sparks flying from my hands, I realized I couldn’t move Cedric myself for treatment.

In the end, I forced my immobile body to move and went outside to call for help.

Fortunately, the illusion cast on the maid had dissipated, and I could easily summon the guards who had been stationed at the corridor entrance in preparation for an attack.

The personnel to move and treat Cedric arrived at the ruined bedroom, and Felix, who had been bound and collapsed in the corner, was also taken away.

Even during this time, sparks continued to fly incessantly from my body.

Seeing this, the terrified members of the magic research department and the remaining medical staff approached, but I stopped them from getting closer.

To ensure no one could reach me, I entered an empty underground prison and locked myself in.

Everyone tried to stop me, but at my earnest request, the jailer locked the door of my cell.

I also received the antidote for the poison mist from the magic research department and detoxified myself inside the cell, disinfecting and treating my wounds on my own.

Several days had passed since I had been alone in the prison, but there was still no news of Cedric waking up.

Every night, I fell asleep, hoping he would wake up without any issues.

Last night, I had also fallen asleep after making that wish.

“Huh…?”

When I opened my eyes, I heard movement outside.

‘Is it Rukia?’

Or perhaps it was Master Dalton.

Those two had been coming regularly to check on my condition while I was in prison. They had probably come today to see if there were any delayed side effects from the poison, and if my unstable mana had improved at all.

“Just a moment, I’ll come out now…”

But the face peeking through the bars was neither Rukia’s nor Master Dalton’s.

Disheveled but still beautiful black hair and fiery, flickering red eyes.

“Your Majesty…?”

“Ciel!”

Cedric, who had met my eyes, urgently shook the bars of the prison cell and called my name. I wanted to hold his hand and tell him everything was fine.

That I was okay. But I couldn’t…

“Your Majesty, are you alright? Has the poison been completely detoxified…?”

“I’m fine. More importantly—”

Cedric answered without a second’s hesitation.

“Ciel, why are you in there? Wait, I’ll—”

“Your Majesty.”

I stood still, not taking a single step toward the door, and spoke.

Cedric still looked at me with an expression of incomprehension. His red eyes were moist.

“I chose to be here. I need to stay here.”

“Why…?”

His voice was desperate.

Behind Cedric, beyond the bars, I could see Paul standing in silence. His face also looked utterly devastated.

Seeing the two of them like this made something well up inside me.

“My mana is very unstable right now. If I come into contact with others, they could get hurt. That’s why I came here, to this secluded place, as isolated as possible.”

I tried to speak as if it were nothing, to reassure Cedric.

But deep down, I knew. No matter how much I pretended to be fine, Cedric wouldn’t accept it.

“But it’s okay. This place, even though it’s a prison for nobles, has everything I need except for being a bit cold. It’s also convenient because the entire room has mana-suppressing properties, unlike the usual palace spaces.”

“But, Ciel. You can’t stay alone in such a harsh place for days, especially when your body hasn’t fully recovered.”

Cedric’s voice trembled slightly.

“You were poisoned by the mist, and now your mana is unstable…”

“No, I’m really fine. The medical staff and Rukia regularly check on me through these bars and help me in various ways. Your Majesty, you’ve been unconscious for days, so you wouldn’t know…”

“What?”

Cedric asked in surprise.

“Did you say days?”

Then, with a shocked expression, he turned to Paul and asked, “Paul, how long was I unconscious?”

“…You were unconscious for four days, Your Majesty.”

Hearing Paul’s answer, Cedric reached his hand through the bars and shouted,

“Ciel, come here. Quickly. You haven’t been in contact with me for four days. If this continues, your body won’t hold up.”

“…”

“Ciel, please.”

I couldn’t bear to look at Cedric’s face and turned my head away.

As I turned my back to the barred door, the sound of the mana-suppressing shackles I had put on myself clanked.

“…I can’t right now, Your Majesty.”

“Ciel.”

“Your Majesty, the wound on your arm… I caused it.”

“What?”

Cedric, with a startled expression, rolled up his sleeve to check his arm.

It seemed he had only just noticed the bandage wrapped around it.

“When Persephine’s maid released the poison mist and attacked you, I couldn’t hold back and used a lightning strike.”

To be honest, I don’t remember it clearly. I was so consumed by rage that I swung my sword without thinking.

“Later, when I woke up and checked, it seemed the aftermath had grazed your arm.”

“Ciel, but that was because you used a lightning strike back then. If you don’t control your mana now, your condition might worsen.”

“I’m sorry.”

I lowered my gaze and removed the gloves I had been wearing.

As soon as the black gloves came off, blue sparks flew.

“See? If things stay like this, the moment I touch you, I might hurt you again. Just like how I caused that wound on your arm with the lightning strike.”

“Ciel, I don’t care if I get hurt. If this continues, it’s your body that will break down.”

“Your Majesty, you know how much I want to protect you, right?”

I took a step forward and met Cedric’s eyes as I spoke. I was relieved and happy to see his face after so many days.

But seeing him make such a sad expression because of me hurt my heart.

“That’s why it’s so painful for me to see you get hurt because of me…”

I had thought I would create a happy ending for Cedric.

But it wasn’t until I heard Felix and the maid say that I had to take the sword away from Cedric that I realized.

All the attacks on Cedric so far had happened because of Caliberne, and for some reason, those who mistakenly thought Cedric had Caliberne instead of me had planned all of this.

But I couldn’t stop them, and I ended up hurting Cedric instead.

That fact weighed heavily on my heart.

“I never want to see that again.”

“Ciel…”

I knew it was selfish.

Right now, I was probably the person Cedric needed the most. I hated myself for having to act like this despite knowing that.

I raised my head to look at him and opened my mouth to apologize.

“…No. Don’t say you’re sorry.”

Cedric spoke as if he already knew what I was going to say.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. If anything, I’m the one who owes you so much…”

He trailed off and wiped his eyes, the moisture that had been gathering in his red eyes disappeared.

“I understand how you feel right now. Honestly, I would have done the same in your position.”