What Became of the Tyrant After the Pregnant Empress Left - Chapter 191

……To put it simply, Ysaris’ proposal was accepted.

Thanks to this, she gained the additional benefit of having her hands freed. While Trienne was away, she took the opportunity to thoroughly inspect every corner of the room.

A bed, a desk, a chair, a bookshelf—the rectangular space was furnished sparsely, with only the bare necessities. Though not luxurious, nothing looked worn or old; most items seemed almost new.

‘Did they prepare this for me? No—they said kidnapping me wasn’t part of the original plan.’

Her fingertips brushed over the wooden desk. Not a speck of dust. It must have been cleaned recently.

“I doubt they tidied up just for me.”

Concluding that someone else had been using this room until recently, she glanced sideways at the door. If this were a guest room, the lock would likely be managed from the inside, not the outside.

Sure enough, she found a latch—and froze in disbelief.

Did they get careless because they restrained my hands at first? Or are they just idiots?

Either way, when she gingerly turned the handle, it moved smoothly. She swallowed hard. The urge to fling the door open and scout an escape route surged through her, but she resisted. Acting recklessly now would only land her in an actual cell instead of this comfortable prison.

Besides, she couldn’t leave Mikael behind.

After a moment’s hesitation, she sighed and stepped back from the door, abandoning the idea for now. The opportunity wouldn’t vanish—for the time being, she’d play docile and lull them into complacency.

Next, she investigated the adjoining bathroom, pressing her ear against every wall for sounds. But whether due to soundproofing or empty corridors, she heard nothing.

“A window would’ve been nice…”

She muttered in frustration. A glimpse of the outside would’ve made planning an escape far easier. But the lack of even a small window suggested this room was deliberately chosen to cage her.

Makes sense.

Resigned, she fiddled with the enchanted bathroom fixtures before returning to the main room. Experimenting with the lighting—trying to replicate how she’d controlled lamps in the palace with a clap—she was interrupted by a knock.

Tap. Tap.

“I’ve brought the young prince. You didn’t cause trouble while I was gone, did you?”

Trienne’s voice came through before he opened the door, the knock clearly just a formality. He’d promised to bring Mikael once the boy woke, but the quick return meant her room inspection had taken longer than she’d realized.

“Where is Mikael—?”

“Mama?”

“Mikael!”

A small face peeked out from behind Trienne’s voluminous robes, lighting up at Ysaris’ voice. The moment the boy spotted her, he lunged forward, crashing into her arms with a wail.

“Mamaaa!”

“Sweetheart, are you okay? Did you miss me? Does anything hurt?”

“Waaah, I mi-missed youuu…”

She cradled him tightly, patting his back as he sniffled and clung to her. Her voice was soft, soothing—but the glare she shot Trienne over Mikael’s shoulder could’ve flayed skin.

“I didn’t make him cry, just so you know…”

Ignoring Trienne’s defensive mumble, Ysaris carried Mikael to the bed, wiping his tear-streaked cheeks while scanning him for injuries. Her hands trembled with barely restrained fury.

“Good boy, my love. It’s okay now. Mama’s here. I’ll make the bad men pay.”

“Wuuuh… okay.”

“‘Make me pay’? Should I be looking forward to that?”

“Were you scared alone? You’ll stay with Mama from now on.”

“Sniff… yeah.”

“For the record, we didn’t leave him alone—”

Trienne’s attempts to interject were met with utter disregard. After several failed interruptions, he clicked his tongue and shrugged.

“Well, I’ll take my leave. Busy schedule, you understand. Someone will bring food soon—though I’m afraid we can’t cater to imperial tastes.”

“I never expected you to. Now leave.”

Only after the door shut did Ysaris finally exhale. Alone with Mikael at last, she stripped off his clothes to check for hidden wounds. Aside from a tiny red mark on his fingertip—evidence of blood drawn—he seemed unharmed.

They really took blood from a child this small. Monsters.

Her jaw clenched as she cursed them silently. Pulling Mikael into a fierce hug, she felt his familiar warmth seep into her, melting the ice in her veins. Her vision blurred.

“I’m sorry, my love. I’m so sorry.”

I’ll protect you. No matter what it takes.

Guilt, love, and resolve stained her blue eyes dark—just like the day she’d first reunited with Kazhan after fleeing him.