I’m the Only One Who Can Put the Tyrant To Sleep Chapter 110

“So what? Does the Duke already have someone in mind for your marriage?”

At Evelyn’s words, Caesar’s face stiffened. But completely unaware, Evelyn continued to speak.

“It would probably be better if it were one of the emperor’s faction nobles, right? Maybe the daughter of a duke’s or marquis’s house…”

She even went so far as to seriously ponder who would make a good bride for Caesar.

Caesar couldn’t hide his disbelief.

Of course, he had long known that Evelyn didn’t feel the same way he did.

As she grew older and came to understand reality, he knew all too well that her helping him had only been out of sympathy and pity.

But that day, he thought he had confessed his feelings to Evelyn, at least to some extent…

Caesar recalled, with great embarrassment, the memory he had been too ashamed to revisit. The day Evelyn caught him lying, when he locked himself away pathetically, and when he was saved by her yet again.

‘I wanted to hold on to you. I didn’t want to leave your side.’

Caesar thought those words weren’t any different from a confession. Evelyn had answered that she wouldn’t leave.

It hadn’t been a proper confession, and so Evelyn’s reply must have been completely different from his intent…

Caesar stared at Evelyn. She furrowed her brows as if deep in thought, completely absorbed in whatever she was considering.

Her furrowed brows, the long finger resting against her chin, a strand of hair fallen across the bridge of her nose, and her lower lip caught between her teeth.

As Caesar gazed at her, taking in every detail as though trying to imprint her in his eyes, he was overcome with a heavy, helpless feeling.

‘What does Eve really think of me? Does she even think about me at all?’

At that moment, Evelyn, lost in thoughts utterly different from Caesar’s, opened her mouth.

“Your Majesty, what if you publicly recruit candidates for marriage?”

“…What?”

Caesar, who had been staring blankly at Evelyn, snapped back to his senses.

“For the sake of your reputation. Instead of determining it by rank or title, you could announce that the opportunity is open to everyone, fairly.”

“…Eve, sorry, but I have no intention of marrying anytime soon.”

‘Not unless the bride is you.’

Caesar swallowed back the unspoken words with a sigh.

“Of course, I’m not saying you should marry right now! Just that we could make use of the idea of marriage a little. There are still all those nasty rumors about you being a tyrant, but this could help soften them.”

Evelyn spoke passionately, even clenching her fist for emphasis.

“Like when you move your mother’s grave. For that, it’s important for Your Majesty’s reputation to be favorable.”

Your Majesty has many outstanding abilities, but surely you don’t want a reign of terror, and in preparation for Ian’s invasion, strengthening imperial power is crucial, and since you’ll have to marry anyway, it’s better to use it while you can…

Evelyn continued listing reasons why Caesar should seek out a bride.

They were all reasonable, which made Caesar feel even more conflicted. He knew she meant well, but the way she got so fired up talking about his marriage and bride made her feel almost annoying.

‘Does Eve really not care if I marry someone else?’

Caesar thought back to all the countless days he had spent with her. Days so warm and close that no one would ever believe they were just an emperor and his maid.

‘On not a single one of those days, did Eve ever think of me differently? Is that possible? After treating me that way?’

Caesar felt a sudden surge of emotion. A selfish thought came to him—that perhaps Evelyn bore some responsibility for making him feel this way.

“So, what do you think? Publicly recruiting a bride. Isn’t it a great idea?”

So, when Evelyn asked brightly, eyes sparkling, Caesar nodded impulsively.

“Yeah, fine.”

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

 

 

Clang—clang— The sound of clashing swords rang out in the training grounds. The ones raising dust with each strike were Caesar and Alvin.

Even though it was a cold winter day with breath visible in the air, sweat beaded on both Caesar’s and Alvin’s foreheads.

When Alvin turned his head to avoid a strike, Caesar’s sword sliced through the air and touched his neck. Instantly, both froze in place.

“Haa…”

Caesar lowered his sword and took a deep breath. Bowing his head, Alvin caught his breath and asked,

“Shall we go again?”

Caesar hesitated, then shook his head. His mind was too tangled, and though he wanted to shake it off with sword training, he couldn’t justify working Alvin to exhaustion just for his own sake.

Alvin let out an unnoticed sigh of relief and signaled to the waiting attendants. The training grounds were quickly tidied up.

Caesar and Alvin sat down on the chairs the attendants had prepared, taking a short rest.

“Your Majesty will need to find another sparring partner besides me now.”

Alvin said wryly.

“You’re good enough.”

“There must be plenty of people more skilled than me.”

Caesar shook his head in response.

In swordsmanship, technique alone wasn’t what mattered most. Often, someone who excelled in training couldn’t shine on an actual battlefield.

Though Alvin lagged behind Caesar in training, no one could know how he’d fare in real combat.

What mattered in battle was the nerve to kill a living, breathing opponent right in front of you.

For Caesar, what he needed wasn’t more technique, but real combat experience.

It had been the same in his duel with Ian Bryden. Ian created, Caesar destroyed. On the surface, the match seemed in Caesar’s favor, but he still lost to Ian.

Strictly speaking, Ian had run away, but since Caesar hadn’t caught him, it felt no different than defeat.

Ian had nerves of steel. He had no hesitation in killing.

‘No… to be exact, he was indifferent.’

That kind of indifference, as if it didn’t matter even if someone died right before his eyes. While crushing knights with his power, Ian’s expression hadn’t flickered in the slightest.

‘If I face him again…’

Caesar went over Ian’s ability in his mind. Whatever attack Ian used, Caesar would have to counter it with even greater destructive force.

He could never afford to lose again. Not for Evelyn’s sake.

As he thought of Evelyn’s wrist, once marred by burn scars, Caesar clenched his fist tightly under the table.

Just then, Alvin, who was catching his breath, suddenly asked,

“Come to think of it, Your Majesty, is it true you’re looking for a bride?”

“…Yeah, somehow.”

So the rumor had already spread. Caesar frowned, displeased at the unwanted subject.

“But…”

Alvin glanced around, making sure no one was nearby, then lowered his voice.

“What about Lady Evelyn? Weren’t you planning to marry her?”

“…Yeah, exactly.”

While Evelyn was busy trying to find a marriage partner for herself, here he was making vows to protect her alone.

The strength drained out of Caesar’s body. All of this suddenly felt meaningless.

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

 

Bang, bang— At the rough knocking on the door, I jumped in surprise from where I was sitting.

The one who burst through the door was Katana.

“Katana? What are you doing here?”

It was already late at night. Since we hadn’t made any plans, I looked at her in confusion. Katana planted her hands on her hips and asked,

“Evelyn! Is it true that Caesar’s getting married?”

“Huh? Ah…”

So that’s what this was about.

Earlier today, news was officially announced that the emperor was looking for a bride. Katana must have been so shocked by it that she came running here.

“He’s not getting married right away. It’s just that since he’ll have to someday, they’re starting to look now, that’s all.”

“But… wasn’t Caesar supposed to marry you, Evelyn?!”

“I told you, no.”

I chuckled softly and sat Katana down at the table. After I made her some sweet hot chocolate, she finally calmed down a little before continuing.

“Phew… but still, still—it’s weird for Caesar to marry someone else! No one but Evelyn suits him at his side.”

“I told you, we’re not like that.”

Katana plunked her hot chocolate down on the table and glared at me in dissatisfaction.

“And even if we were like that, marriage isn’t something so simple.”

“Why not? If you love someone, you marry them!”

At Katana’s innocent words, I shook my head.

Like noble marriages, royal marriages were nothing more than business. Depending on which family the union was tied to, the entire balance of politics could shift—a very big business indeed.

And Caesar’s marriage even more so. With the imperial power still unstable, depending on whose hand he took, the whole situation could be overturned.

‘If he were to marry me…’

It was a ridiculous thought, but if that ever happened, the imperial palace would be thrown into chaos for sure. The emperor marrying the daughter of a border baron?

I slowly began explaining to Katana, who still looked as if she couldn’t understand.

“Think of the late emperor.”

“The late emperor? Why?”

“Because he’s the one who ruined imperial authority by marrying the woman he loved.”