What Became of the Tyrant After the Pregnant Empress Left - Chapter 267

Clink. Clink.

Ysaris couldn’t hide her restlessness, picking up the teacup only to set it down again.

She wasn’t drinking. Though she’d ordered tea to calm herself, her throat was too tight with anxiety to swallow anything. She merely fidgeted with the cup, needing something to hold.

She knew she ought to maintain the dignity of an empress now that she’d returned to the palace—but right now, she had no energy for such concerns.

An hour had passed since Kazhan disappeared with Casilia. If the forced awakening had failed, her daughter might already be dead. No matter how hard she tried to steady herself, her nerves refused to settle.

“Haa…”

She exhaled deeply, closing her eyes. As she dragged a hand down her face, her fingers brushed the dried tear tracks on her cheeks—proof she hadn’t moved from this spot since Kazhan left, hadn’t even washed her face.

“…Casilia.”

Her chapped lips trembled as she whispered her daughter’s name. Just remembering the sight of her injured child made her hands shake.

The peaceful, ordinary day had shattered in an instant. She’d only closed her eyes for a moment while the children played, only to wake to Mikael’s terrified screams.

The sight of her two-year-old daughter collapsed on the ground, blood streaming from her head, had stopped her heart. From what she could piece together, Casilia had somehow climbed a tree—how?—only to fall and strike her head on a jagged rock.

Though Tennilath blood accelerated growth, Casilia was still just a toddler. Ysaris had never imagined she could climb so high. Her carelessness had cost too much.

But that same Tennilath blood was her only hope. In her panic, she’d remembered.

‘Kazhan threw himself off a cliff to save me.’

She’d seen the impossible resilience of his body when they reunited, unblemished despite injuries that should have killed him. If he could survive that, surely he could heal Casilia.

“…”

Clink. Clink.

Her fingers tapped the teacup restlessly. Thinking of the times Kazhan had saved her life left her unsettled. From his days as Cain to now, he’d rescued her more times than she could count. The weight of that debt pressed on her.

Had she ever even thanked him for pulling her from the black mage’s lair? Lost in the whirlwind of regained memories and emotions, she hadn’t. If he saved Casilia now, she’d owe him more than she could ever repay.

Not that she had a choice. She’d already promised Lena Kazhan’s blood—and now, with this added debt, she was in no position to refuse any terms he set.

But first, the most pressing question: Could he really save her?

“Miss Liz, you’ll spill the tea at this rate. Wouldn’t it be better to take a sip?”

“Ah—Tebi. I’m sorry. Did I worry you?”

Startled, Ysaris steadied herself at the elderly man’s voice. She’d almost forgotten he was there—Tebi the Gatekeeper, whose presence was so faint it was easy to overlook.

She’d only been able to reach Uzephia so quickly thanks to Lena. Last month, Lena had given her a magical tool, joking, “If you’re going to collect the Emperor’s blood, you’ll need to leave the village at least once.” That tool had connected her to Tebi—the only teleporter who could freely traverse the continent.

“I’ve been so distraught, I haven’t even thanked you properly. I’m grateful for your help.”

With Lena absent, she wouldn’t have dared bring Casilia to Uzephia without Tebi.

The white-haired old man smiled, his wrinkled eyes crinkling at her sincerity.

“No need for thanks. I’m glad to be of help. Though I’d like to stay with you longer… I left in the middle of cooking, and I’m starting to worry if my house has burned down. May I step out briefly?”

“Of course. I’ll contact you again if needed. Please rest at home.”

“I’ll handle the urgent matters, then look after Mikael at your place. Call me anytime.”

“Ah, thank you. Really.”

Ysaris sighed in relief, realizing she’d completely forgotten about Mikael in the chaos. With her mind in shambles, she hadn’t been able to care for her other child—but Tebi’s offer to watch over him was a blessing.