What Became of the Tyrant After the Pregnant Empress Left - Chapter 292

Just moments ago, she had been in the emperor’s chambers. Now, as she opened her tightly shut eyes, a fractured world filled her vision.

This wasn’t just an earthquake. The sky, the ground, the buildings—everything was split apart like shattered glass.

Even the ruined world’s backdrop was strange. The architecture looked as though Pyrein and Uzephia had been haphazardly blended together, clashing in dissonance.

The colors were monochrome.

There were no living beings.

“……Kazhan.”

This was his world. Realizing it instinctively, Ysaris turned her steps toward the imperial palace in her line of sight.

She didn’t know why she had entered instead of Mukeon, but since this was undeniably Kazhan’s dream, she had to find him and speak with him.

Click. Click.

The sound of her heels pierced the silent space. As she wandered in search of Kazhan, an odd impression seized her.

A ruined world. The phrase surfaced in her mind.

It wasn’t just the spiderweb-like cracks. Nor was it the absence of living, moving beings.

The buildings stood, but nowhere was there a trace that anyone had ever lived here. Room after room held nothing—no daily necessities, no food, no clothes. Just hollow emptiness.

As if no one had ever existed here to begin with.

“…….”

When she confirmed Kazhan’s chambers were just as empty, Ysaris turned toward the empress’s palace. As she crossed the desolate space, her tightly sealed lips finally parted in a soft gasp.

“Ah.”

Light flickered at the path leading to the garden. It was the first color she had seen in Kazhan’s psyche.

There. You’re in my garden.

For some reason, she hesitated briefly before clenching her fists and moving forward. The closer she got to her destination, the more the world regained its hues—a mesmerizing sight.

Yellow, green, orange, blue, pink…

Spring. Spring was there.

Butterflies flitted over flowerbeds exuding sweet fragrances. Petals danced on the breeze, and a chorus of birdsong wove a peaceful harmony.

The vast sky here, at least, remained uncracked. It was the only place in Kazhan’s world that retained its wholeness.

A garden from the Pyrein royal palace, sprawled in the heart of Uzephia’s imperial grounds.

And there lay Kazhan.

……Half-embracing a sleeping Ysaris.

“…….”

For a moment, she was speechless. Kazhan, using her likeness as a pillow and sleeping beside her, looked so serene that she couldn’t bring herself to approach.

It was like a scene from a painting. The thought that her intrusion might shatter it filled her with reluctant sorrow.

And so, Ysaris couldn’t help but wonder—

‘……Was waking him truly the right thing to do?’

“You’ve finally come.”

“Kazhan.”

His voice snapped her out of her thoughts, her fingertips gone cold. Only after calling out to her did he slowly open his eyes, then gestured faintly toward the figure nestled against him.

“Forgive me for not rising to greet you. I’m in no state to move at the moment.”

He meant the other Ysaris sleeping in his arms. The way he carefully covered her ears before speaking was tender.

Watching this from a third-person perspective left Ysaris both exasperated and hollow. A flicker of irritation rose in her.

‘I’m the real one.’

……She suppressed the strange emotion surging within her. Now wasn’t the time for this.

“There’s much to say, but… you don’t seem surprised to see me. Did you know I’d come?”

“Ah, if anything, you’re late. I never doubted you’d come for me.”

“Me?”

The words felt incongruous coming from someone who had left him for years. Whether he didn’t notice her bewilderment or chose to ignore it, Kazhan replied casually.

“Who else would disrupt my rest, if not you?”

Ysaris’ lips parted, but her mind blanked, leaving her silent. Confused by his words and weighed by inexplicable guilt, she stood frozen until he spoke again.

“So then, how do you plan to kill me this time? Ysaa.”