I Grabbed the Tyrant’s Heart - Chapter 109

“What the hell is this dress… no way.”

Why does Tess have several dresses that fit me? I kept my mouth shut rather than asking why because I thought my head would hurt.

“That’s what I made in anticipation of the day Euseniel will spend in my bedroom.”

Of course, Tess just said everything he wanted to say. He seemed to be in a great mood. It was kind of silly.

“Don’t send me off.”

“No.”

“Don’t come out.”

I flicked his forehead, and Tess pouted as he lowered his eyes.

“Everyday don’t do this, don’t do that. Euseniel always says no.”

My conscience was stung, but I ignored it.

“Why do you keep making me say no?”

“Euseniel, when will you come again?”

Pretending not to hear anything that is unfavorable to him, Tess hugged me tightly and asked while nuzzling the nape of my neck.

“I don’t know.”

“What kind of answer is that!”

“Here, ah.”

As Tess tightened his arm, my chest was crushed against him. I hurriedly pushed him away, but Tess was still pouting.

“Alright.”

He gave a curt answer and straightened my hair.

“I don’t like being caught by the Duke either. He will definitely try to set up a bill to ban access to Euseniel.”

“You know that.”

“Still, if the rumors spread, the Duke will eventually lose to me, right?”

“Tess.”

“I won’t.”

Tess hesitated for a moment before asking cautiously.

“Does Euseniel hate me that much?”

“It’s not like that.”

This time, I was relieved that I managed to give a quick answer.

“Then? It’s not that you don’t like me, but it’s not liking me either, right?”

“… If I think I don’t like you, would I be staying with you?”

“No.”

The quick answer hit me again. No matter what I answer, it won’t change a thing, so why does he keep asking me?

“Euseniel, are you still not coming to spar?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not coming to see the flowers too?”

“Tess.”

As we were talking about it, I wanted to get it. I walked outside the Hill Palace and towards the back garden. It was already dark outside, and luminous stones were illuminating the path.

It seemed like this was the first time I had been around the imperial palace at such a late hour, so I walked while looking around.

“Can I take a few radiatas?”

“You’re not coming here to see it, but you’re going to take it with you?”

“Yes, I want to try growing it at home. Everything I grew has withered.”

Tess looked at me with a look of wonder.

“Euseniel, this flower was planted for you to come here.”

“In return for not being able to come here, I will think of you while looking at the flowers.”

The white face, which flared up in an instant, had an unfamiliar expression. How can I describe this face that looks surprised but also liked it at the same time.

Even in the dark, I could see Tess’ delicate eyelashes quivering. He cleared his throat as he was unusually flustered.

“But isn’t it useless if you don’t come home? Are you trying to take it to the lab?”

“No matter how busy I am, I never sleep out.”

“You see, Euseniel.”

Tess, with earlobes red, asked me while holding my fingers. His eyes were glinting faintly in the light.

“Is it because of me that you always go home no matter what?”

This time my face heats up.

“Do you always sleep at home because you don’t like being alone with him in the lab?”

Why is he so quick-witted?

“You’ll send me the flowers, right?”

Ignoring his words, I just hurriedly answered. He gave me a low laugh. The black eyes must be twinkling.

“How can I beat Euseniel? Don’t you think so?”

Contrary to what he said, Tess rubbed his nose on my head, showing his good mood.

“I will send it to Hardland. I’m not going there myself, I’m going to have someone send it to you, right?”

“Yes.”

“I did well, kiss me.”

I pretended not to hear him again, and Tess took the prize he wanted on his own.

“Euseniel.”

“What?”

“I like you. I love you.”

The casual words creeped into me and settled down.

To this day, I still haven’t been able to answer this. I practiced it several times, but it was not easy to say it out loud.

Tess didn’t look sad at me like this and just hugged me.

“See you next time, Euseniel.”

With a friendly whisper.

* * *

Unexpectedly, people often encounter times when they have to weigh equally important things.

“Gael wants to go with Sister.”

My cute younger sister insisted that she wants to go with me, not my parents, to the academy’s parent visit day.

“Oh no, Gael. Let’s go with Mom. Sister is busy.”

“But…….”

My younger sister, who doesn’t ask too much, held my hand with wet blue eyes. When Mother told her to stop again, Gael forlornly let go of my hand and wiped away the tears with her sleeve.

“Mother, I will go. The academy is right around the corner from the Concium anyway, so I can go quickly.”

When I hugged her, Gael hugged my neck and smiled.

“Sister is the best.”

Sometimes it hurts me when Gael makes a lonely expression as if she knows the difference between our parents’ affection. Like now.

I think I have to fill that lack of affection, so I put my work aside for a while.

On the day of the visit, I went to the Concium dressed in fancy clothes unlike usual. Weathering’s eyes widened as he saw it. I spoke first before he could say anything.

“Today is the academy class visit day, so I will be away for a while.”

“Really? Shall I go with you too?”

“No.”

“Really?”

The quick and resolute refusal seemed to have surprised Weathering. His eyebrows raised slightly.

“Gael is very shy, and Weathering is an unfamiliar face. And there is a high probability that I will go home right away.”

In fact, I refused him fearing that Tess might not like it.

My God, Euseniel Hardland.

I just refused because I feared that Tessvalun would not like it.

Still he often acts up and is unruly, but he’s trying not to do anything I don’t like. He doesn’t show up out of the blue, and he only sends flowers by having people send them.

The flowers were really pretty.

It seems that he sent all the flowers in the greenhouse, looking at the huge amount of radiata and soil bags sent with it.

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