What Became of the Tyrant After the Pregnant Empress Left - Chapter 276

‘I had thought Kazhan with his black hair held only bad memories for me, but looking back, there had been times when I’d helplessly fallen for him too.’

‘Hadn’t that led to Casillia’s birth? Those nights I didn’t refuse him, when I was endlessly loved by him—’

“……”

‘Unconsciously touching my face, I realized my lips were twisted. Not just that—my brows had been furrowed for so long my forehead ached.’

‘Finally, I buried my face in my hands and bowed my head. Not knowing what expression to make before Kazhan’s corpse, I chose instead to hide from it all.’

‘It would have been simpler if I could have just resented him. If I hadn’t known Kazhan was Cain, if it were still those early days of marriage when I hated him endlessly—’

Then tears wouldn’t be falling for this detestable man’s death.

Hic.

‘I choked back a sob. Trying to steady my chaotic emotions, I focused on my breath—but all that surfaced were memories of happier times with Kazhan.’

‘Cain with his brown hair overlapped with black-haired Kazhan. That perpetually cold expression that would soften so warmly when he looked at me—how I’d loved that smile.’

‘How did we end up like this? Why did you give up your life so easily, without even a proper farewell?’

‘Why did you—’

‘—make me so wretched?’

Hic… sob…

‘I wept silently, then collapsed over his body, crying uncontrollably.’

Just as I’d broken down before Cain Jenut’s false death.

* * *

The Emperor of Uzephia was dead.

An event that should have shaken the continent—yet astonishingly, different rumors spread.

“His Majesty still hasn’t left his chambers today.”

“Truly. It’s been days now…”

“After working without rest all this time, perhaps he’s taking a long holiday now that Her Majesty has returned. They say the two of them are holed up in there, not even stepping out.”

“To rekindle so quickly after years apart—we might hear good news soon.”

“Oh? Haven’t you heard? Her Highness the Princess is already born.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“I haven’t seen her myself, but they say Her Majesty was already with child when she left Uzephia…”

Instead of news of the Emperor’s death, word of the Empress’s return spread through the capital. Though her long absence could have drawn criticism, the prevailing mood was relief that she’d come back at all—thanks largely to the newly appointed officials and rising nobles favoring the imperial family.

Had the truth about the Emperor been known, things might have differed. But for now, with his death kept secret, no major unrest emerged.

“This won’t last forever. We must establish order as quickly as possible.”

“I know. I’m trying.”

As rumors claimed, Ysaris had indeed taken up residence in the Emperor’s chambers. The only difference was that at her side stood not Kazhan, but Duke Blake, instructing her on imperial affairs.

Technically, the claim that the Emperor hadn’t left his room wasn’t false. His body lay peacefully in the bed right beside her.

At a glance, one might think him merely asleep. Bizarrely, though days had passed since his death, his skin hadn’t stiffened—remaining exactly as it was.