I’m the Only One Who Can Put the Tyrant To Sleep – Chapter 50

Author: Asternkm

Chapter 50

A maid who committed suicide as if on cue, leaving behind a letter instead of concrete evidence.

It was eerily similar to the incident with Duke Spiegel. This, too, was undoubtedly a murder intended to silence someone.

Had the Empress not intervened, the name written as the mastermind in that note could very well have been Caesar.

“This was planned in advance.”

There was someone behind the scenes. Someone far more ruthless and cunning than Duke Spiegel, someone who wouldn’t hesitate to take lives to achieve their goals.

For now, the Empress’s cooperation had allowed us to navigate through this crisis safely, but there was no telling what this shadowy figure would attempt next.

****

“Phew…”

Caesar let out a long breath. It was closer to deep breathing than a sigh.

Standing in front of him, adjusting his uniform, I smiled silently.

“Nervous?”

“…A little.”

His honest answer made me chuckle.

“You’ll do great.”

It was only natural to be nervous. Today was the day Caesar would ascend to the throne in the succession ceremony.

It had been a year since the poisoning incident involving Floria. It had also been several months since the Emperor passed away.

The reason the succession ceremony had been delayed for months was, of course, due to the Duke’s faction.

Since the fall of Duke Spiegel, their power had waned significantly. But that didn’t mean they would simply stand by and watch Caesar ascend to the throne.

They came up with all sorts of excuses to delay the ceremony. They said they needed to mourn the late Emperor, who had tragically passed due to illness, or that Caesar was too young to rule…

If it weren’t for Duke Bryden’s help, the ceremony might have been delayed even further. It was truly fortunate that things had progressed smoothly in the end.

“How do I look?”

Caesar, who had been staring at the mirror, turned to me and asked.

“What do you mean?”

“My appearance.”

At his words, I instinctively looked him up and down. He had grown taller, so much so that I had to crane my neck to meet his gaze. His once lighter hair had darkened into a deep gray, almost black, and his features had become more pronounced.

Moreover, his body, honed through continuous sword training, exuded strength even beneath his fully covered uniform.

The gold epaulets and jeweled buttons contrasted beautifully with Caesar’s stoic face, making him look all the more radiant. In many ways, he was completely different from his younger self.

Even though I wasn’t the one who raised him, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. Before I knew it, I gave him a thumbs-up.

“You look absolutely amazing!”

“…Really?”

Turning back to the mirror, Caesar’s neck seemed to flush slightly. His unchanged innocence brought a fond smile to my face.

“Have you finished packing?”

Caesar checked the time before asking.

“Once the succession ceremony is over, you’ll move to the imperial palace, so they should have told you to prepare.”

“Well, most of my belongings are at the dormitory. Moving workplaces doesn’t mean my dorm changes.”

“They’ve said they’d prepare a room for you in the imperial palace.”

“And let people spread all kinds of rumors about us?”

I gave him a playful smile. It was the same back-and-forth we’d been having every day since the ceremony date was set.

Caesar had insisted on keeping me as his personal attendant even after moving to the imperial palace. For me, it was a welcome decision.

Though I had achieved my initial goal of making Caesar the Emperor, he still hadn’t awakened. Since I had somehow become Caesar’s guide, I had to stay by his side until he awakened.

Because of that, my workplace had changed to the imperial palace, and Caesar had been stubbornly insisting on giving me the room next to his.

“The maid you used to share a room with turned out to be a spy. Can you guarantee that won’t happen again?”

“I’m in a private room now, so it’s fine.”

“What if something happens to me? Are you planning to put me in danger?”

“It’s been over a year, and nothing like that has happened.”

I skillfully deflected Caesar’s various excuses.

It was almost hard to believe he’d had his first outburst; Caesar had been steadily progressing toward awakening. Maybe it was because I hadn’t missed a single day of holding his hand.

“Well…”

“Don’t worry. Everything will be fine from now on, too.”

Though his expression was displeased, Caesar didn’t argue further and instead grabbed my hand.

“When we move to the imperial palace, no one will be allowed into my room.”

“Sorry?”

Caught off guard, I blinked at his sudden remark as Caesar lowered his voice, setting the mood.

“Of course, I mean no one but you, Evelyn.”

“…You’re not suggesting I clean that enormous room, are you?”

“What?”

“To clean, you’d need maids and attendants, and you’d also need aides for bathing or changing clothes.”

Though I was stating the obvious, Caesar’s expression grew darker. He seemed about to say something but instead sighed and shook his head.

“…Forget it.”

Knock, knock—Alvin’s voice came through the door.

“Your Highness, it’s time to leave.”

“Oh, and we need Alvin!”

I added belatedly, and Caesar abruptly let go of my hand.

“We have a long way to go.”

Without a goodbye, he strode out of the room. Where exactly was the ceremony being held that he’d call it a long way? Left alone, I blinked absentmindedly.

*****

The coronation ceremony was held in the Great Hall of the main palace. It wasn’t the grand, extravagant event one might typically imagine, nor was there a massive crowd in attendance. In fact, it was even more modest than Caesar’s birthday banquet.

The only attendees were high-ranking nobles. Most of the duke’s faction didn’t even bother to attend, citing excuses like illness.

“This is all because the royal authority is weak.”

If the royal power had been stronger, the nobles wouldn’t have dared to skip the ceremony with such flimsy excuses. The decorations would have been far more opulent, too.

“They could’ve used the occasion to host a grand festival or, at the very least, held a procession through the streets.”

The duke’s faction was openly showing their disregard for Caesar. While they couldn’t prevent his ascension due to a lack of justification, their absence made it clear they refused to acknowledge him. It was as if they believed Caesar would soon step down from the throne.

Regardless of their attitude, it didn’t change the fact that Caesar had won.

Since the palace maids were attending to Caesar during the coronation, I stood quietly in a corner of the Great Hall with other palace staff, observing the event.

“Starting tomorrow, you’ll be working in the imperial palace, huh?”

Erinne, standing beside me, struck up a conversation.

“Seems so. I imagine it’s a familiar place for you?”

“Well…”

Erinne gave a faint smile instead of a direct answer. After the emperor’s death, Erinne had chosen to remain in the crown prince’s palace. Now, she was set to move to the imperial palace with me to continue serving Caesar.

The same went for Mamid and Hannah. Only one person, David, had returned to the empress’s palace.

Even after discovering that David had been a spy for the empress, Caesar hadn’t punished him harshly. He simply removed him from his position as a personal attendant.

This, too, was due to an agreement with the empress.

As I had predicted, the empress had bargained for her life and status. Her condition was that she wouldn’t interfere with Caesar’s ascension.

What surprised me was her additional request: not only protection for herself and Floria but also for her loyal followers. She promised to vouch for their loyalty in return for their safety.

Since Caesar neither had the intent nor the power to harm anyone, it wasn’t a difficult request to grant.

The empress seemed to overestimate Caesar’s influence. She probably misunderstood the incident where I had pretended to exchange secret notes to lure David into a trap, believing I was colluding with one of the emperor’s nobles.

In truth, the only trustworthy ally we had was Duke Bryden, whose presence felt disproportionately significant.

“If she wants to misunderstand, that’s fine by me.”

The more allies—or even the appearance of allies—we had, the better. Numbers mattered in palace politics.

Someday, I’d need to bring the empress’s followers to our side, too.

“But to think someone so loyal to her people would abandon Marriott like that… She must’ve really crossed the line.”

“Looks like it’s finally starting,” Erinne murmured as I shook my head.

Grand music began to play, and a few people, presumably palace staff, walked up to the platform. I quickly collected my thoughts and focused on the ceremony.

Soon, a crown, orb, scepter, and sword were placed at the center of the platform.

It was a ceremony meant to formalize an already decided succession, so I thought it would feel meaningless. But as I looked at the items that had been by the side of past emperors, a strange feeling washed over me.

“It feels… solemn, somehow.”

I wasn’t the only one who felt it. The people in the hall straightened their posture, standing tall and staring ahead. No one spoke a word.

Then, the crimson curtains that covered the back of the platform parted, and Caesar emerged. His presence was almost radiant, as if he was glowing.

His towering height, broad shoulders, and long legs perfectly complemented the jet-black uniform and crimson cape he wore.

Without hesitation, Caesar strode to the center of the platform. With no emperor alive to crown him, he belted the sword around his waist, placed the crown on his head, and held the orb and scepter in his hands.

Then, he raised his head and gazed down at everyone. Without uttering a single word, he commanded the room with an overwhelming presence.

I found myself staring at him in a daze when, all of a sudden, Caesar looked directly at me.

Even from a distance, our eyes unmistakably met.

For a fleeting moment, it felt as though the countless people between us had vanished. It was as if Caesar and I were the only ones in the massive Great Hall. Just like the very first time I’d seen him.

Even without a telepathic stone, I instinctively felt that Caesar was thinking the same thing.

My heart pounded. A rush of emotion filled my chest, and a wave of exhilaration spread through me.

The reality I hadn’t fully grasped—despite persuading the imperial faction, bringing the empress to our side, and even as the coronation date was set—finally sank in.

Caesar had become Emperor.