I Grabbed the Tyrant’s Heart - Chapter 136

1. Rampage and Truth (1)

“Miss, what should we do with this? Shall we leave it here?”

Laura pointed to the corner of the bedroom where the sword and the pouch containing the heart had been for several days.

“Yes, just treat it like it’s not there.”

It was an incomprehensible story, but Laura silently accepted it, though if it was May, she probably would have asked, ‘What is this, a gift from His Majesty?’

Suddenly, an odd feeling washed over me as memories of the past resurfaced.

Those days were incredibly happy.

There was no news of Tess, who had come to my room a few days ago with a troubled face. Father’s dark complexion and the late hour of his return indicated that something was amiss.

Tess had betrayed me.

Because of this, the members of our family had to go through turmoil once again. While Louise Hitty didn’t openly confront me like before, her clique had spread rumors.

My small circle of acquaintances had heard the story, so Gael must have heard something too. It didn’t seem to hurt as deeply as before, but I hated it.

Myself.

– Euseniel, I need to correct something I said before. His Majesty didn’t go for a walk with Louise Hitty.

In the midst of this, Aurin’s visit and the story she brought created confusion.

– Unlike before, I saw His Majesty and Louise Hitty up close. But the atmosphere was….

Aurin’s composed face was filled with tension and fear.

– Louise Hitty seemed to be clinging to His Majesty one-sidedly. It felt like His Majesty was repulsed by her.

She whispered in a hushed voice.

– His Majesty’s demeanor was precisely what he looked like before giving an order to execute someone.

Aurin had been attending the assembly for the past two years, so she must have witnessed Tess attempting to kill someone. She mentioned that Tess had killed those who had brought up the Empress’ matter.

He had been waiting for me, so why did he avoid me now?

If Aurin had told me about this earlier, I could have asked Tess for an explanation when he came.

But the fact that Tess had avoided me, that he was involved with another woman, was shocking in itself.

Tess, I thought you would always be looking at me.

That’s why I could leave this place without hesitation, why I decided to get married despite saying I would never do it.

No matter what the reason, if he was going to leave me, he shouldn’t have given me false hope.

“Ah…..”

My chest stings. I no longer have nightmares tied to memories of the past, but they still hurt in a different way.

It hurts, it hurts, it hurts…..

Sometimes, an uncontrollable anger would come over me, and when I was alone in the room, I would throw books on the floor. Afterward, I would cry at my own pitifulness.

What makes me even angrier is that I kept trying to excuse Tess.

Could it have anything to do with the devil? Could his weakness have been discovered?

I wish I could have cut off my feelings for Tess in one fell swoop, but I couldn’t do that. In the midst of it all, another banquet was held at the palace.

Damn these banquets.

I didn’t want to go to the imperial palace, but since all debutantes were required to attend, I sighed and made my way to the Middle Palace.

Unlike the Central Hall, the ballroom of the Middle Palace was charming and delicate, located on the fifth floor. It had a unique structure where you used the magic circle in the lobby on the first floor to ascend. It was only open once a year, during the second half of the social season, so many people had gathered.

“You’re here? Euel, Gael too, come.”

Father welcomed us, and our family took their seats around the terrace near the hall’s entrance.

Since we arrived late, the Emperor soon made his entrance at the ball.

After delivering the usual words encouraging everyone to enjoy the ball, the Emperor descended immediately from the throne. Despite my efforts to act as if I didn’t notice, his gaze was locked onto one person, and he strode forward without hesitation.

“Euseniel.”

Almost simultaneously with the mention of my name, there were screams and gasps that erupted in the hall.

“Gasp!”

“What?”

The majestic Emperor knelt in front of me.

“I was wrong, Euseniel.”

I wanted to make a snide comment about how light his knees must be, but I restrained myself.

In his younger years, although a bit of a crybaby, Tess was not one to recklessly abandon the dignity of the nobility. He was fully aware of his position as the Crown Prince.

For him to throw away everything in front of everyone meant that it was something only I could make him do. A mix of exaltation and betrayal swirled within me.

“Stand up, Your Majesty.”

“Please forgive me.”

“If I don’t forgive you, you won’t get up from there for the rest of your life?”

“Yes.”

Tess’s stubbornness was something I knew well, so I decided not to push the matter any further. Instead, I opened the terrace door wide and stepped outside.

In the end, what won were the feelings of betrayal and anger, which led to an impulsive decision.

I ignored my parents, friends, and all the curious onlookers. What I needed to do right now was to relinquish the will of a man who always behaved as he pleased.

I confidently took a few steps back and stood on the railing. It wouldn’t be difficult to jump from this height, but I purposely stood in a way that allowed me to see inside the terrace.

If I were to fall backward like this, I’d surely crack my head open.

“Euseniel.”

Seeing the black irises quiver, I spoke.

“Your Majesty, please stay there.”

Because I’m about to fall.

I’m exhausted.

I thought I’d be happy once the difficult situation was over.

I let my body go limp, and before my upper body could tilt backward, I was already in the familiar embrace.

“Euseniel.”

My body relaxed momentarily in the comforting scent, but I quickly straightened up.

“You’ve gotten up, Your Majesty.”

If Tess hadn’t held me, I could have used magic. Tess was aware of my ability to use magic, but he must have expected me to do something like this.