I’m the Only One Who Can Put the Tyrant To Sleep Chapter 123

Caesar did not imprison Ian in the underground dungeon, but instead locked him in the emperor’s palace reception room.

“What are you planning to do?”

As soon as we arrived in the room next to the reception hall, I asked Caesar.

“As I said, I plan to speak with him directly.”

I looked at Caesar with worried eyes.

“He’s not someone you can reason with. You know that.”

“But if not now, I don’t think there’ll ever be another chance for the two of us to talk.”

“What? Why? He was caught red-handed, so he’ll soon be locked in the underground dungeon. After that, he’ll be executed.”

“Well… will that really happen?”

Only then did I realize what Caesar was worried about.

It was undeniable that Ian had invaded the palace without permission. He had even declared with his own mouth that he was aiming for the throne.

But it was also true that he possessed enough power to attempt killing the emperor all by himself. Word of this had already spread to all the servants trapped inside the wall, and soon the entire empire would hear about it.

‘A man with the power to kill the emperor has appeared… The noble faction could exploit this.’

Viscount Krause had already joined hands with Ian and learned his true identity, but countless other nobles still remained in the faction.

If even one of them sought to use Ian, it could easily spiral into a political struggle. Many would seize the chance to drag Caesar down from the throne.

And if such schemes unfolded, Ian’s execution could be delayed—and perhaps even…

“Your Majesty, what do you intend to do?”

I asked nervously, but Caesar only smiled without answering. He was already on his feet, as if preparing to leave.

“I—I’ll go with you! Let’s talk together, the three of us.”

“No, Eve. I want it to be just the two of us.”

Caesar gently but firmly stopped me.

“But—”

“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen.”

Caesar gave my hand a firm squeeze before leaving the room.

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

 

When Caesar stepped into the reception room, Ian was on his knees on the carpet. A single chair had been placed before him.

“Leave us.”

“I’ll guard the front.”

At Alvin’s bow and exit, a suffocating silence filled the room.

Caesar sat down in the prepared chair, positioned to look down directly at Ian.

Ian’s torso was still tightly bound. Perhaps it wounded his pride to look up, but he glared at Caesar with murderous eyes.

With a crooked smile at his lips, he spoke.

“Have you come to bask in the victor’s leisure?”

His tone sounded calmer than before. Caesar didn’t answer; he simply stared at him in silence.

“If not, then have you come to kill me?”

Ian scoffed and turned his head. Again, Caesar gave no answer. But in his gaze as he looked down at Ian, there was a killing intent that could not be hidden.

From the beginning, Caesar had resolved to kill him.

Ian was a terrifying man. He would do anything to achieve his goals. And because of him, how many innocent lives had already been lost?

‘I can’t just sit and wait for his execution.’

Before an execution could be carried out, the palace would need time to deliberate. During that time, the nobles would no doubt try to use Ian’s life as a political tool.

Which meant now was the only chance to kill him. Before word of his power spread across the empire, Ian had to die.

It was simple. All Caesar had to do was use his ability to erase Ian’s life force.

Caesar clenched his fist. Ian was bound right where Caesar’s gaze fell. One thought, one moment of will—that was all it would take.

“Why are you hesitating? Why not kill me?”

As though sensing Caesar’s hesitation, Ian spoke.

“If you don’t kill me now, I will crawl up from hell itself to drag you down.”

Though his words sounded like a curse, his tone was flat.

“Why? Can’t do it? Don’t want to dirty your hands?”

Ian pressed on, provoking.

“Is His Most Noble Majesty so lofty that he can’t do anything without borrowing another’s hand? Or… are you simply afraid of killing someone?”

It was a blatant provocation. Caesar realized Ian’s words weren’t just empty bluff.

He truly wanted to die.

All of Ian’s plans had failed. If he survived like this, he would only be used by the noble faction. Ian could never endure such a fate.

He was a man who couldn’t tolerate situations outside his control—someone who wanted everything to lie within his grasp.

‘Even if that included his own death.’

So Ian was urging Caesar to kill him.

If Caesar did, he would simply be granting Ian his wish.

“How many have you killed up until now?”

Caesar muttered low.

“When you crush ants, do you bother to count them?”

“And yet you dare to ask for a peaceful death? Without paying for your crimes?”

“If that displeases you, then torture me. Tear my flesh and cause me pain. Though I doubt a high-born emperor like you could bring yourself to do such things.”

Ian sneered.

“Or, keep me alive. Tremble in fear, waiting for the day I return.”

His face brimmed with confidence. He looked as though he had no doubt Caesar would not kill him.

“…Fine.”

At last, Caesar nodded. Ian’s lips curved into a satisfied smile, and he closed his eyes, as if sensing his death approaching.

Caesar stared at his face and clenched his fist tight. The ability activated in an instant.

A fleeting moment passed.

“You—surely not…!”

Ian’s eyes snapped open wide. He began thrashing.

“You erased it? My power—did you dare erase my power?!”

He tried to hurl himself at Caesar, but with his torso bound, he lost his balance and crashed to the floor.

“You… how dare the likes of you…!”

“Losing your power is a pain worse than death, isn’t it?”

What Caesar had erased was not Ian’s life force, but his ability itself—the power to create anything.

It was the only way to strip away the danger without granting Ian what he desired. Without that power, no one could use him politically.

‘And it’s also the most painful fate I can give him.’

“Uaaaaghhh!”

Ian, unable to move as he wished, began slamming his head against the floor.

“Kill me! Kill me now!”

Blood pooled on the ground. Caesar watched his deranged figure with cold indifference.

“Your Majesty!”

At Ian’s screams, the door burst open. Alvin rushed in, sword drawn, but froze at the sight before him.

“What in the world…?”

Caesar gave him an order.

“Take him to the palace dungeon.”

“…Yes, Your Majesty!”

Alvin hauled Ian to his feet.

“Let me go!”

Ian resisted with even more force than when he’d first been caught. Blood from his forehead ran down, soaking his white hair.

“Keep him bound at all times, and guard him at the highest level.”

“Understood.”

Dragging Ian away, Alvin left the room. For a long while, Ian’s roars echoed through the corridors into the chamber.

In the now-empty reception room, Caesar sat listening in silence.

‘Is it really over?’

He clenched and unclenched his fist. Even after capturing Ian and delivering him agony, his heart felt unsettled.

‘What is this ability, truly?’

Why had Ian treasured it even more than his life?

To Caesar, the ability had only ever meant one thing.

A way to be bound by fate to Evelyn.

That was the sole blessing the ability had ever granted him.

‘But… is it really necessary anymore?’

Now that Ian’s power was gone, Caesar’s own ability seemed useless. Worse, it might even throw the empire into greater turmoil.

‘An unknown power can only drive people into fear.’

At that moment, through the open door, Evelyn cautiously approached.

“Um… are you alright, Your Majesty?”

“…Eve.”

Caesar looked into her light-green eyes, then held out his hand. She came closer and took it.

The moment their hands joined, Caesar felt the turmoil inside him settle into calm.

It had nothing to do with his ability. It was simply because he was with Evelyn. Not because she was a Guide, but because she was Evelyn.

Why had it been the power of erasure, of all things? Perhaps it had been destined from the very start.

Caesar looked down at his hand, firmly clasped with hers.

A moment passed. He felt a strange sensation of something vanishing from within his own body.

“…Your Majesty, this is…”

Ivelyn looked at him in shock, as if she felt it too.

Caesar had erased his own ability.