The Tyrant Won’t Let Me Go

 

The first thing I felt upon opening my eyes was pain.

 

‘What the hell, why does my cheek hurt like it’s on fire-‘

 

Just then, someone slapped my cheek with such force that it felt like they were going to snap my neck.

 

The pain was so intense that I could see stars in my eyes.

 

And I saw the face of the culprit who had hit me in the cheek with a full swing.

 “Hey, hey, Ciel, wake up!” 

Thick, long black hair, eyes as blue as sapphires.

 

Pale skin, a prominent nose, and red lips that looked as if they were dripping with juice.

 “Are you awake now? I did a lot of work to wake you up, I swear.” 

And a tone of voice that didn’t seem to match those luxurious features.

 “Caliberne, I’m definitely awake now, so can you stop hitting me…?” “Okay. You’re awake anyway, so no more beating.” 

Caliberne, dressed in a light blue dress embroidered with gold thread, scratched her ear and replied.

 

As she sat with her legs spread wide, completely out of character with her dress, I stroked my tingling cheeks.

 “Hey, do you think you hit me hard enough? I think it’s swollen.” “Aww, don’t fuss. I didn’t hit you that hard.” “How long did you beat me?” “About five minutes without stopping?” “What?” “What,”

Caliberne replied smugly, as if it mattered.

 “It’s not like I hit you in real life anyway, and it’s not actually swollen, so don’t get all upset.” “No, maybe wake me up in a more subtle way.” 

I grunted in frustration and sat up stiffly, looking around.

 

It was the same space I’d seen before. No land, just an endless expanse of night sky, adorned with the Milky Way.

 “Uh, how did I get here?” “Well, I called you, you fell.” “Oh, right…” 

It was only after Caliberne’s words that I remembered everything that happened before I collapsed.

 

‘Wow, what am I going to do?’

 

It was my turn to report to the meeting and I collapsed.

 

‘There’s no one there to report in my place.’

 

 

And I was thinking, how crazy it could be. It’s a very important meeting, discussing the emperor’s abduction.

 “I must be crazy, really…” “Well, don’t worry too much if it’s because you collapsed in the middle of the meeting. Everyone was just a little freaked out, and they didn’t say anything about it.” “But why did I collapse? I remember being dizzy and having a nosebleed when I stood up to report…” 

Suddenly, I remembered the last time Caliberne had called me to this space.

 “Is something wrong with my magic again?” 

That time, I had been transported to this space after I collapsed due to a surge of magic from using the Thunderbolt.

 

Was it the magic again that had suddenly made me feel unwell?

 “Uh, it’s a little unstable right now, but it’s not like there’s anything wrong.” “Huh? Then why did I pass out?” “No, it’s your body, and you don’t realize it?” 

Caliberne said with an astonished look on her face, holding her sword in the air and pointing it at me.

 “You have a cold, you stupid fool.” “Oh, really?” “Yeah.” 

Come to think of it, the way I felt when I collapsed might have been similar to a cold.

 

‘So the nosebleed was just from a sudden fever. No wonder.’ 

 

The tension of the temple raid had taken its toll, and yesterday’s celebration of Cedric’s birthday had worn her down.

 “How many times have I told you to take care of yourself, Ciel?” “Oh, no, wait, talk to me, please, don’t hit me, yikes!” “Oh, come on, I told you that if your body gets out of shape, your magic becomes unstable, didn’t I?” 

I cried out as the smacking got harder and harder.

 “I’m sorry, Mother, please stop, ouch!” “Shut up, I don’t want another daughter like you!” 

She’s doing a pretty good job of being a mom, considering.

 

Who else in the world would nag me and slap me on the back?

 “Just rest for now. Lie down and don’t move. Call up that idle Emperor and tell him some jokes.” “All right, I’ll do that.” “And if you can, give him your cold.” “No, not really.” “He’ll be glad to get a cold from you anyway.” 

And she leaned against the upright sword and continued,

“Anyway, my little sister, don’t go anywhere, just lie down and rest. If you don’t rest, I’ll slap you on the back for the number of days you’ve been sick, multiplied by 100.” 

Her murderous glare, which seemed to mean it, made me decide.

 

I’m going to rest this time, just to save my back.

  “Ciel.” 

Cedric’s worried face was the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes.

 “Your Majesty…” 

My voice was hoarse, as if my throat had been riddled with lumps.

 

For some reason, I could taste blood in my mouth.

 “My gosh, your face is disfigured.” 

No, that didn’t look right.

 “…You don’t have to worry too much, cough!” 

A well-timed coughing fit broke out.

 “Ugh, cough!” “Ciel…!” 

Cedric hurriedly filled a glass with water and handed it to me. It wasn’t until I drank all the water that my coughing finally subsided.

 

And as I drank, Cedric continued to look at me with even more concern than before.

 

‘No, not like he’s looking at me like I’m dying.’

 

The way he looks at me, it’s like I’m about to die.

 “You’re not drinking enough water. You’re coughing so badly…” “Oh, no. I think I’m fine now, cough, I- I’m fine.” “No, you’re coughing, and it won’t stop.” 

I wanted to say something like,

‘It’s no wonder I can’t stop coughing, I got a cold,’

but I held my tongue because I felt like I was about to cough again.

 “I guess not.” 

Cedric said, standing up. His expression was grave, like a general about to go to battle.

 “Ciel, wait a moment. I’ll be right back.” 

Sick and weak, I didn’t call after him as he quickly left the room.

 

Hours later, I regretted through tears that I hadn’t stopped him then.

  

When he returned to Ciel’s chambers, her bed was surrounded by Knights who had come to visit her.

 “The Emperor wants to see you.” 

By now, the knights were used to Cedric’s visits to Ciel, and they all greeted him calmly, unperturbed by the sight of him.

 “Ciel, are you feeling better?” 

Ciel, who had lost weight overnight and looked as if she could be blown away, nodded slowly as she lay in bed.

 “Yes, I feel better now that I’m up.” 

Still, Cedric was not at all reassured.

 

The image of her staggering and collapsing without warning in the meeting hall still haunted him.

 “But, Your Majesty, what is that…?” “Ah, this.” 

Cedric replied, placing the bowl he carried on the bedside cabinet.

 “It’s medicine.” 

As soon as he pulled back the cloth covering the bowl, a foul odor stung my nose.

 “Ugh. No, seriously, why does it smell so bad?” 

James gasped, quickly covering his nose and mouth.

 

He wasn’t the only one covering his nose. Most of the Knights covered their mouths and swallowed hard.

 

Only Sir Turka and Cedric, who were relatively mature compared to the others, remained unaffected.

 “Ah, good choice, Your Majesty. This will cure even the worst of colds.” 

Sir Turka put on his trademark manly expression and chuckled.

 “Now, wait a minute, Your Majesty.” 

Ciel’s expression, on the other hand, looked urgent.

 “I, I think this medicine is a little—” “You said earlier you wanted to get well.” 

Cedric said, shoving a spoonful of medicine at Ciel without mercy.

 “Here, ah.” “Your, Your Majesty, I’m so sorry, but this is the least I can do…” “Ciel, didn’t you help me eat this when we were younger, and you told me to take it, saying that medicines were the only way to get better?” “Well, that was a long time ago and…” 

Cedric pushed the spoon closer, and Ciel gulped and pulled back.

 “Now, ah.” 

Her tightly pressed lips trembled slightly. Head down, Ciel bit her lip for a long moment before she finally made up her mind and looked up at Cedric.

 “Yeah, I’ve been thinking-“ “No, please, don’t!” 

With those words, Ciel flung herself off the bed with superhuman strength and sprinted out of the room.

 

Leaping at the speed of light, she disappeared beyond the doorway in an instant, leaving only silence in the room.

 “…Knights.” 

The voice was soft, yet somehow eerie, and the men exchanged meaningful glances.

 

Cedric smiled chillingly, his eerie red eyes glowing, and commanded them.

 “Get her.” 

With that, the entire group sprang to their feet and began chasing after the escaped knight.