I Grabbed the Tyrant’s Heart - Chapter 127

Obviously I didn’t ask my parents about the Emperor’s current status. Because I still had Tess’ heart in my arms and the entry plaque in my hand.

Ah, Tess.

How have you changed?

The palace gate opened easily and I got off my horse and headed to the stables. The horse, which Father had lent me when I went to Guana Mountain, returned home safely and was doing well.

“Shh, stay here.”

I stroked the purring horse and walked towards Hill Palace.

The imperial palace was still dark and the flowers were fading in the cool wind, but to me, it was shining brighter than ever. The palace was quiet and there was no one, so I walked a little faster.

The hood kept trying to come off, but I held it with my hand and didn’t slow down.

It doesn’t matter if people know that I’m Euseniel Hardland and that me and the Emperor have a special relationship, right?

Hill Palace began to appear in the distance, and a figure dressed in black also appeared. The man running was still tall and beautiful as ever.

His waving black hair, pure white face, and red lips caught my eye.

“Euseniel.”

There was a hint of urgency as his voice called for me.

The closer I got, the more I could see that Tess hadn’t changed at all, but it didn’t matter.

“Tess.”

To me, it just seems like my daily life continues. But for him, this will be his first time seeing me in three years. I have made no promise of when I would return, so he must be anxious every day.

I have to tell him today.

I love you. Let’s be together for the rest of our lives.

“Tess.”

I stretched out my arms.

“Euseniel.”

Tess also stretched out his hand. All that’s left is just to embrace each other,

“Eu, seniel…… ?”

Tess, who was approaching me, hesitated and took a step back.

“Tess?”

When I took one step closer, he took four or five steps back.

“Tess, what’s going on?”

“Euseniel, why…….”

It wasn’t long before the vivid doubts turned to shock in his pale, distorted face.

“How, why…….”

He shook his head in disbelief, then turned around and started running.

“Tess!”

Despite me calling out to him, he ignored my call and increased the distance between us. He soon disappeared into Hill Palace. I couldn’t follow when he gave me that obvious gesture of rejection.

I stood at the entrance to Hill Palace and stared at the empty garden in despair. Even after a while, there was no sign of him coming out, so I trudged towards the stable.

“What, is this…….”

Tess turned away from me.

* * *

“What the hell is this!”

I couldn’t believe it. I went to the imperial palace again and again, but each time I got the same answer.

– His Majesty is currently out.

– His Majesty has not returned from the meeting yet.

– His Majesty is now……

The chief attendant announced the Emperor’s absence in regret, but this only shows one thing.

Tess is avoiding me.

The same guy who shows up incredibly quickly as soon as I come to the imperial palace and clings to me so tenaciously is avoiding me?

I asked Father, and he said His Majesty was no different from usual.

“What on earth is he up to?”

I never imagined Tess would make that kind of reaction, so I was at a loss of what to do. In the past, I would have given up long ago, but now things were different.

He is the person who always waits for me and holds onto me, and…….

He is the person I love.

“Oh my God, someone I love.”

I can say this word with ease now.

Still, I felt better and got up to go to the imperial palace again.

I’m coming to you like how I’m trying to go to another world, Tess.

I even have a lot of time now.

Concium’s leave of absence is possible for up to 2 years, but since 3 years had passed, I should have been automatically expelled. The better thing is that my parents decided to drop me out after two years.

However, even after several days, I could not even see Tess’ shadow. While I was contemplating his unexpected behavior, a guest came.

“Euel.”

“Aurin?”

“It’s really Euel.”

The woman with sunset-colored hair hugged me as soon as she saw me.

“Welcome back, Euel.”

“Thank you.”

I could tell that Father, who was standing behind Aurin, wanted to take her away from me, but Mother took his hand and led him inside.

The precarious feelings I had felt over the past few days faded away as I received a warm welcome from my friend, who rarely showed her emotions.

“Let’s go in and talk, Aurin. You’re on your way back from the palace, right?”

“Yes.”

Aurin and I decided to have a small dinner in my study.

“I should have told you that I had arrived, but I was out of my mind. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.”

My friend, who had become more mature, generously accepted my apology.

“I could tell after seeing His Excellency. His face, which had been dark for the past three years, started to shine. I know that you are back.”

What an unstoppable father.

“By the way, Euel, have you seen His Majesty?”

“Uh… Um.”

Can I say that I met him?

Aurin nodded her head as if she understood my expression and spoke.

“A strange rumor has been going around the palace recently.”

“What rumor?”

Aurin put down her fork and an ominous hunch began to creep in on me.

“Tell me.”

Aurin, who hesitated despite my urging, got straight to the point contrary to her lukewarm attitude.

“They say that His Majesty has forgotten Euseniel Hardland.”

“I haven’t been in Alin for three years.”

“…….”

“And there were no rumors that His Majesty and I were in a relationship, and we didn’t promise anything.”

No, we did make a promise.

We decided to get married when I came back.

So I remained silent.

“Oh, Euel.”

Aurin lightly touched her forehead and shook her head from side to side, causing the earrings in her ears to jingle.

“You’re not pretending, are you? Even if nothing was officially announced, everyone knew that the relationship between you and His Majesty was unusual.”

Funny enough, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut and had to admit that I couldn’t rationalize it any more.

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