I Grabbed the Tyrant’s Heart - Chapter 208
When my father spent nights at the palace, Tess couldn’t visit, and on the days my father returned home, Tess would come.
Although I visited the palace, I didn’t participate directly in the affairs of state, so it was difficult to see Tess often.
It might have been only a few days physically apart, but perhaps because we were usually inseparable, it felt like a long time since we’d been this close face to face.
Tess smiled gently, lifted me in his arms, and carried me to the bed.
His touch was softer as he caressed my face and body, and whispered love differently than usual.
He seemed both subdued and more careful than ever before, and after bringing me to the peak twice, he finally released his own tension and lay down beside me.
I pressed my ear against his chest but couldn’t hear his heartbeat. Since the heart was with me, wouldn’t Tess not die even if this place were pierced?
“I’ll die.”
When I asked, his answer was straightforward.
“Like I said, my body doesn’t know it doesn’t have a heart anymore. So if this part where the heart used to be is pierced, I’d naturally die.”
That just doubles the danger.
Either the exposed heart or the place where the heart used to be—if either is pierced, he’d die.
Sensing my displeasure, Tess chuckled.
“I’m kidding. I won’t die if you stab here.”
“You, really! There are other things to joke about.”
It wasn’t until I had pinched his white cheek red that I felt a bit appeased.
His face was still smooth and radiant, but the dark circles under his eyes and his gaunt cheeks showed how much he had suffered recently.
“So, Euseniel, you need to keep my heart safe, okay?”
Tess’s narrow-eyed smile made it impossible for me to stay angry. Then, he dropped a bombshell.
“I’ll give you the seal to keep.”
“Tess!”
I was shocked by the sudden appearance of a large, heavy seal.
“I have no ties with the imperial family. We’re strangers.”
I lamented the regrettable fact, but Tess remained unmoved. His gaze lingered momentarily on my stomach and then returned to my eyes.
“Is there no hint of anything?”
“Uh, what?”
“It’s been a while since we didn’t use protection, hasn’t it?”
How did you know that?
“Any news?”
“None.”
I had just finished my monthly cycle, so I was certain.
“Ah, that’s unfortunate.”
“Why say that? You don’t even want a child. And Tess, plan on coming back alive.”
“I will.”
“If you die, I’ll die too. Is that what you want?”
Until now, Tess had been lighthearted, but suddenly his expression hardened. He bit his lip so hard it seemed he might draw blood, then let go.
“I won’t die.”
The Emperor of the Southern Empire is coming with the intention of killing my lover, to eradicate the devil’s contractor.
“I won’t die, Euseniel.”
For Tess, there are only two options: live or die. There’s no middle ground like negotiation.
“So, you’re not coming out tomorrow? Really?”
Tess tickled my cheek with a playful smile.
“You’re my fiance.”
“…”
“The Emperor’s fiance.”
He was asking me to see him off at the deployment ceremony.
With such a direct request, I couldn’t turn him away. In fact, I had already prepared my outfit.
I licked the droplets of blood that had formed on Tess’s lips, and surprisingly, they tasted sweet, like his own scent.
His wounds had already healed, and I felt a strange relief knowing his fast recovery meant he could quickly heal from injuries.
No, don’t get injured.
My eyes warmed, but I kept my tone cool.
“I won’t give you a handkerchief.”
There’s an old tradition of giving a hand-sewn handkerchief to a lover going off to war. It’s not a weapon. I wondered why a handkerchief, but never found a satisfying answer.
“Instead, take this.”
I handed him a pouch containing the heart of a Kirapt, where I had somehow managed to infuse my magic.
“I’ve put my magic into it. Keep it safe.”
“I’ll always carry it.”
Tess carefully inspected the pouch he hung around his neck.
“It smells like Euseniel. Sweet and delicious.”
“What is that?”
“Since I won’t be able to taste this soft skin or savor your scent for a while.”
Tess’s mood darkened momentarily as he lazily smiled and teasingly ran his finger along my neck.
* * *
Unusually, Tess was up and ready to leave before dawn today. I approached him by the window and wrapped my arms around his waist.
“Don’t worry, Euseniel.”
Although we’ll see each other again later today, this moment felt like a real farewell.
“Tess.”
“Yes?”
“You know I love you, right? I really love you.”
A soft laughter followed, and I felt the gentle touch of his lips, a feeling I cherished.
“It’s no joke. I’ve loved you for a very long time.”
Just the thought of not having Tess by my side sent shivers down my spine. Fearing he might disappear any moment, I gripped his arm tightly.
Tess, perhaps unaware of my turmoil, curved his lips into a smile. I clung to him and whined.
“Come back. You must come back alive, no matter what.”
“Of course.”
He gently removed the hand I was holding and brushed my hair behind my ear, not giving me a chance to savor the moment before I threatened him.
“If you don’t come back, I’ll marry someone else.”
I found myself repeating what Aurin had said to Ethyl.
“I wouldn’t like that, Euseniel.”
“…”
“Don’t worry. I’ve sworn, haven’t I? We’ll live together forever.”
The golden oath means nothing if you die.
“I’ll be by your side ‘forever’, my Euseniel.”
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