What Became of the Tyrant After the Pregnant Empress Left - Chapter 147

“Are you really going to be alright?”

“Yes, I’ll be fine. It’s not like I absolutely have to go out.”

The next afternoon. Kazhan, who had been busy lately and only showed up at night, came to ask Ysaris for her opinion once more. She expressed her decision to decline going out. Rather than causing inconvenience to the people by going out without a special reason or event, she chose to endure her own restlessness.

It was exactly as Kazhan had expected.

“I see. If you change your mind, let me know. I’ll accommodate you anytime.”

“Thank you, Cain. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Ysaris didn’t notice the flicker of satisfaction in Kazhan’s eyes. She simply thought it was a relief that he wasn’t pushing himself too hard, given how cheerful he looked.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“Nothing comes to mind right now. You’ve already provided everything.”

“What about Mikael?”

“He’s been so preoccupied playing with Ppiu lately that he hasn’t been asking for more. It seems he’ll be fine for a while.”

“That’s good to hear. It’s also a relief that I won’t have to run around and have my hair pulled out by him anymore.”

Ysaris burst into laughter at his words, unsure if they were a joke or serious. She couldn’t help but recall the handful of hair Mikael had yanked from Kazhan’s head the last time he was carried.

‘…Was this really something to laugh about?’

Ysaris glanced subtly at Kazhan’s hair. His jet-black locks, which absorbed light perfectly, showed no signs of thinning, but if incidents like that repeated a few more times, who knew what might happen.

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t look at me like that.”

“Ah, sorry. I was just worried…”

“…Right.”

Kazhan swept his hair back awkwardly as he replied. He was contemplating how to change the subject when Ysaris beat him to it.

“Did you manage to catch all the people who were scheming against you? Last time, you said you only caught the ringleader.”

“Unfortunately, they slipped away. We confirmed the existence of accomplices, but they’ve vanished as if they’ve been swallowed by the earth.”

Kazhan clicked his tongue in annoyance. He had managed to track down the mysterious group in robes and figure out how they had left the capital, but that was where the trail ended. The carriage they had used was found half-destroyed by a river a day’s journey away, and their whereabouts after that were unknown.

There were no footprints leading elsewhere, no traces of magic—nothing. They had simply vanished into thin air, leaving him with a headache.

“And yet you suggested I go out? Do you know what those people might do?”

“If you had wanted to, I would have gone out of my way to accommodate you. If we controlled the entire route, it wouldn’t be dangerous.”

In fact, if the opponents were truly dark mages, the capital streets might have been safer. After investigating thoroughly over the past few days, Kazhan had learned that, unlike ordinary magic, dark magic required specific conditions and preparation, making it impossible to use on the spot.

So, Kazhan’s suggestion for Ysaris to go out had been closer to a trap. Whether she accepted or declined, he was confident the outcome would be in his favor.

Whichever she chose, in the end, Ysaris would prefer to stay in the palace voluntarily. Because she was a selfless person.

“There’s no need to go that far. Still, I appreciate the thought, dear.”

Kazhan hid his satisfaction at the predictable response and pulled Ysaris’s left hand to his lips, kissing her wedding ring. It was a gesture of reverence, expressed through action rather than words.

Tickled by the gesture, Ysaris fidgeted with her hand before voicing her concern.

“But this is serious. Rebels being this active…”

“It seems so. It’ll likely take a long time to clean up, so bear with me, Ysaa.”

Kazhan deliberately avoided disclosing the details about dark magic. Not only was it unwise to spread news of the resurgence of a power that had been dormant for centuries, but it was also to avoid revealing the palace’s vulnerabilities before the barrier was fully restored. After all, the prestige of the Empire of Uzephia was at stake.

Instead, he had executed the Meuron barony under the charge of treason. Since they had actually attempted to harm the emperor, it was the most convenient and clean solution.

“I don’t mind how long it takes, but please take care of yourself. Those who targeted you directly in the palace won’t stop at just one attempt.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Since you’re so worried about me, I absolutely can’t get hurt.”

“Were you planning to get hurt if I didn’t worry?”

“Well, if I thought you’d personally nurse me back to health, I might consider it…”

“Cain!”

Kazhan raised his arms in a gesture of surrender before abruptly pulling Ysaris into a tight embrace. The fragrance of her beautiful platinum hair, her warm body temperature, and her soft form softened his voice completely.