The Tyrant's Happy Ending - Chapter 16.6
And the biggest problem was… he didn’t entirely dislike this wild behavior.
Not that he’d listen if I said anything, anyway.
Lyle Baltimore had always been as stubborn as a mule.
Resigned, Yernen opened his mouth and accepted the meat like a fledgling being fed.
Lyle’s face brightened with satisfaction as he ordered the servants to bring over the smoked salmon set far down the table. He cut it leisurely and placed a piece in Yernen’s mouth.
Yernen, with a look of mild annoyance, chewed the salmon without complaint.
How long did their meal last?
Yernen looked at the fork holding a piece of freshly prepared lobster meat and, after a brief pause, took it before leaning back in his chair with a shake of his head.
“I’m full.”
“Why stop? You used to eat everything served.”
Yernen glanced at Lyle incredulously.
“Do you see how much food is on this table? It’s bigger than I am. Are you expecting me to eat it all?”
“…Is that so?”
Lyle rubbed his chin, a strange expression on his face. Yernen, uninterested in what bizarre thought Lyle might be having, rested his chin on his hand and looked nonchalant.
“If you’re so concerned about the leftovers, why not eat them yourself? You only took a bite at the start and haven’t touched a thing since.”
“That’s true.”
Despite saying so, Lyle began preparing dessert. He poured the hot chocolate over the cold ice cream, and with a large hand, scooped up a delicate spoonful topped with cookie bits. The contrast was striking.
Yernen, watching Lyle’s antics, decided it was time to broach a topic that didn’t fit the cheerful atmosphere.
“What did you do with Eden Petra?”
He’d debated whether to ask, but he knew. He knew Lyle had seen him last night.
Lyle hadn’t bathed last night. He’d only washed Yernen. But that morning, Lyle had been in a bathrobe, damp hair clinging to his neck.
It might have been nothing if he hadn’t woken later in the morning. But the scent clinging to Lyle’s tired subordinates—the sharp, metallic tang of bl00d—told him otherwise.
It was clear that Lyle had taken Eden, brought to the palace earlier, and handled him accordingly.
So Yernen had to know. If he had, indeed, turned Eden into a man ready to say anything, he had a question to ask—about Eden’s twin, Eldin.
It seemed that in his past life, the one he killed was not the guilty one but the innocent twin.
In his previous life, Yernen believed Eldin Petra had wronged him and killed him. But… after all that had happened, it didn’t seem to be the case. The one who hadn’t died then was likely Eldin pretending to be Eden, while the real Eldin Petra…
Something had always felt off.
The bishop had acted like a different person after Eldin’s death. Back then, Yernen thought it was just shock from losing his brother. But now it seemed as though they’d switched places. The real Eldin must have shown himself only after Yernen left the island and returned to the palace for healing…
‘Your Majesty…’
‘Is there anything else you wish to say?’
‘I know how great the sins of my house are. When an heir is born, I will surrender all rights to raise them and leave the child to the crown.’
That must have been the last.
Surrendering his heir wasn’t an act of offering a hostage but a desperate attempt to protect his child from Eden.
So Yernen wanted confirmation. He needed to hear it from Eden’s lips.
If it was true, then he would ensure Eldin’s child—the current head of the Petra House—was properly rewarded and respected.
“Hmm.”
But Lyle, rather than answering, merely dragged out the silence. Yernen stared, urging him to speak.
“……”
But Lyle continued his unbothered act, causing Yernen’s expression to darken.
“Don’t even try saying you don’t know. I already know you went to him last night.”
At Yernen’s words, Lyle shrugged and offered another spoonful of slightly melted ice cream. Yernen took it without protest but kept his eyes fixed on Lyle.
Realizing Yernen wouldn’t relent, Lyle exhaled deeply and finally spoke.
“I made sure he’ll never come near you again.”
“……”
Yernen loosened the hand supporting his chin and leaned back in his chair. It was a declaration not to expect any further encounters.
Decisions were always Yernen’s to make. Others were to follow. But Lyle had made this one alone.
The presumption annoyed him, yet he couldn’t say he didn’t understand. If their roles were reversed, Yernen would have done the same. He’d proven that long ago when he severed the heads of those who dared harm Lyle. So, perhaps, for this once, he’d let Lyle take the lead. After all, he had no desire to face Eden again.
“In that case, find out what he did with Eldin Petra and the marquisate while you’re at it.”
“Eldin Petra…?”
“Yes.”
Lyle, as if lost in thought, flashed a smile and nodded.
“As you command.”
Then, with the spoon in hand, he fed Yernen another bite of sweet ice cream. Yernen accepted it without a word.
“But you know…”
“…?”
As Lyle placed the last spoonful of ice cream into Yernen’s mouth, he spoke casually, almost offhandedly.
“We’re getting rid of that damned prenuptial agreement, right?”
“Prenuptial agreement?”
“Yeah, that contract.”
Yernen’s eyes narrowed as he studied Lyle’s face. The man spoke with a nonchalant air, but there was a subtle tightness in his features that betrayed his nervousness.
Yernen’s lips quirked into a smirk as he met Lyle’s gaze.
“No.”
“…”
The look of shock that froze Lyle’s expression was priceless, and Yernen couldn’t help but chuckle. The man tried to keep his composure, but the cracks in his smug demeanor were impossible to hide.
Yernen remembered that contract all too well. He’d tried to drive Lyle away more than once by wielding it.
It was an odd feeling. When they drafted that contract, he had never imagined things would turn out this way.
Watching Lyle’s face darken with each passing second was amusing, but he decided he’d teased him enough. There was no need to be a cruel master tormenting a loyal pet.
“Does it even matter?”
“…?”
“The contract holds no power.”
Lyle’s face shifted, confusion giving way to a mix of understanding and disbelief. Yernen clicked his tongue.
“Can’t remember what happened a few months ago, can you? After practically living in the Empress’s quarters? If the contract had any effect, would you even be alive right now? You’d have died a hundred times over by now.”
Lyle’s expression turned vacant, almost stupidly so. It was the same pitiful look he had worn the first day they met. Yernen couldn’t help but acknowledge, reluctantly, that he was just as hopeless as Lyle.
Because unlike before, that foolish look only made him endearing.
“Unbelievable.”
Lyle let out a sigh, followed by a shaky laugh, running a hand through his hair as relief washed over his features. Yernen could tell he’d been worried about that ridiculous contract, afraid Yernen would leave once an heir was born.
Watching Lyle finally relax and focus on his meal, Yernen sipped his water and waited for him to finish.
When Lyle set down his utensils, Yernen dabbed his mouth with a napkin and stood. There was somewhere he needed to go.
Lyle noticed immediately, his voice following Yernen as he prepared to leave.
“Where are you going?”
Yernen paused, looking down at Lyle, who was watching him with intent.
“Why does it matter where I go?”
“It matters because I can come with you.”
“…”
The sheer absurdity of the response made Yernen scowl. The Emperor sounded like a petulant child. Yernen sighed and said,
“I’ve been wondering for a while…”
Lyle leaned back in his chair, his expression inviting Yernen to continue.
“When exactly do you work, Emperor?”
Even Yernen’s earnest question only earned a shrug from Lyle.
“I can’t help it. It’s separation anxiety.”
“Hah!”
Yernen let out a disbelieving laugh. Was he even serious? The man was truly unhinged.
Ignoring him, Yernen left the hall. Lyle followed closely, but Yernen didn’t bother to stop him.
As their carriage rolled through familiar streets, Lyle’s eyes took in the sights outside before turning to Yernen.
“I was wondering where we were going. The papal palace, huh?”
“Where else would we go?”
“I didn’t think that far ahead.”
When the carriage stopped, Lyle effortlessly lifted Yernen, carrying him down the two short steps as though they were a perilous descent. Yernen huffed, shooing Lyle away as they reached the marble floor.
But just as he managed to free himself from Lyle’s grasp, Yernen was tackled by a small figure.
“Yernen!”
Rudy, having spotted him from a distance, ran into his arms.
“I missed you so much!”