The Tyrant's Happy Ending - Chapter 16.7

Yernen ruffled the boy’s hair as Rudy clung to him. Both Lyle and Rudy were equally obstructive when it came to walking, but pushing Rudy away wasn’t an option.

“I wanted to ask last night but couldn’t. Have you been well?”

“Yes! Everyone’s been so kind!”

Rudy’s enthusiastic nod and beaming smile reassured Yernen. It seemed the boy had managed well in his absence.

But there was one person who didn’t seem pleased with the reunion.

“So you came to pray, did you? Or was it to see this little one?” Lyle muttered, eyes narrowing as he looked at Rudy.

Yernen shot him a disdainful glance before turning back to Rudy.
“I came to ask some questions.”

“I know! The Lord told me you would come! He said you’d be here, Yernen!” Rudy’s eyes sparkled as he spoke.

Yernen nodded slowly.

“That makes things easier. This isn’t the best place for a conversation. Let’s go up.”

The crowded entrance to the papal palace wasn’t ideal for what Yernen needed to discuss. Taking Rudy’s hand, he led the way to the private prayer room reserved for the imperial family.

“So, what did the Lord say?”

The first question, spoken after a long pause as Yernen settled into a cushioned seat, was heavy with unasked questions.

He wanted to know so much. Why had the divine done nothing when Harriet, not his descendant, took the throne? Why had he received no help during his suffering? Why had he been placed in this body? And where had the true soul of the Portnam heir gone?
But above all, Yernen wanted to know how long he would remain in this body.

Would he only stay until a child was born, as he once suspected? Or would he remain beyond that?

If he couldn’t stay long, he needed to prepare himself. Lyle knew the truth now, and unlike before, Yernen found himself… worried. Attached, even.

Rudy nodded at his question, eyes bright as he recounted,
“Actually, when the Lord told me you’d come, He did say something, but I didn’t really understand. He said, ‘Don’t worry. That body belongs to you. And the hard times are over. Only happiness lies ahead.’”

The boy spread his arms wide as if to show just how much happiness awaited.

Yernen stared at Rudy, stunned.

This body… mine?

The words felt unreal.

Suddenly, Lyle’s arms wrapped around him, drawing him close. His head rested against Yernen’s neck as he spoke.

“Were you worried?”

Holding the still-disbelieving Yernen in his embrace, Lyle whispered,
“Now that I think about it, the church once said the late Emperor’s soul had entered the cycle of rebirth. That’s why they never noticed you, the real heir, inside the Portnam body.

Normally, it wouldn’t be called reincarnation if a soul entered another body.”

“…”

Reincarnation…

The pieces clicked together in Yernen’s mind. The timing. When he was young, he had once been close to death. After that, Cecil had become pregnant, but the child she bore had never cried.
The timing had been perfect.

Perhaps that explained why they shared the same name and identical features. The gods must have intervened.

There wasn’t enough to know the full story, but Yernen felt this was enough. Knowing he didn’t have to count down the days meant he could stay. It meant staying with Lyle.

Slowly, he nodded.

“I see.”

For the first time, it felt like the weight crushing his chest had lifted.

Seeing Yernen’s relieved expression, Lyle took his hand and squeezed it tightly.

“I don’t always trust divine prophecy… but this one feels true. Only happiness awaits us now.”

He looked into Yernen’s dark eyes and spoke.

“Because I’ll be by your side. Always.”

Lyle’s eyes gleamed with a vivid blue, the color Yernen loved most.

Lost in thought, Yernen gazed out the carriage window. The scenery hadn’t changed, yet everything seemed different. Maybe it was just his perspective.

“…”

Even with the reassurance of prophecy, the reality hadn’t fully sunk in. But knowing he would remain in this body meant there was work to do.

He turned to Lyle and asked,
“Where are Tenes and Justin?”

Lyle’s hand, which had been smoothing his hair, stilled.

Yernen’s eyes narrowed at the subtle pause.

It was strange. Yurice’s absence could be explained by unfinished business in the eastern territories, but Tenes and Justin hadn’t appeared since their arrival last night. Not unless someone had deliberately detained them.

“It would be better if everyone got along. You’ll be seeing each other often from now on,” Yernen said, voice laced with warning.
Lyle smirked and replied,

“Endangering the Empress warrants punishment, don’t you think?”
Yernen let out a scoff, disbelief coloring his features. They both knew the pretext was just that—a flimsy excuse.

“You know they didn’t do anything wrong.”

“…”

Lyle turned his gaze out the window, the confident mask slipping enough to reveal a fleeting hint of his true feelings.
“Are you really planning to call them all back?”

Yernen knew exactly who he meant—his knights.

“I am.”

Most of them already knew he had returned.

Until now, the uncertainty of the situation and the fear that one of them might react uncontrollably had kept him silent. But the time had come to speak. Even if one of them did cause a scene, he felt confident he could handle it now. It was inevitable, after all.

Lyle’s lips curved into a tight, controlled smile. But the coldness in his eyes spoke volumes—it was an expression of thinly veiled disapproval.

“Fine.”

The calm acceptance in Lyle’s response was unexpected. Yernen leaned back in his seat, watching him with an expression that was almost fond, as if he were observing a mischievous pet planning its next act of defiance.

“How obedient.”

It wasn’t the reaction he anticipated. Lyle still openly seethed with jealousy whenever Yernen interacted with his knights, especially Tenes. Yernen had expected more pushback, a battle of words and stubborn defiance. Lyle’s easy agreement felt almost unnatural.

Sensing Yernen’s surprise, Lyle leaned in, pressing his face into the curve of Yernen’s neck.

“I don’t like them. I probably never will. But… you care about them.”

Yernen’s eyes widened slightly.

“I promised to make you happy, didn’t I? Happier than anyone else in this world.”

“…”

“Fill your life with those you love. Those who serve you with loyalty. That’s who you are—the Yernen Helio I know. Just promise me one thing: love me the most. Hold me as the most special.”

It was a foolish request.

But Yernen, despite the absurdity, found himself smiling faintly as he closed his eyes, his fingers entwining with Lyle’s possessive hold.

Sunlight streamed through the window, bathing them in its warmth.

It hadn’t taken long to arrange the meeting. The knights, upon receiving word, responded with promises to reach the capital as quickly as possible.

And so, Yernen waited for them in the Empress’s drawing room.
The room was already occupied by Lyle, those who knew Yernen’s true identity, and Denver, who had been informed due to Rudy’s matter. Denver, usually so stoic, had cried himself out earlier and now sat with eyes still tinged red.

Yernen passed him a fresh handkerchief, glancing at the clock. It had been some time since he’d heard from the papal palace that the knights were on their way. They should be here by now.
True to the saying, speak of the devil and he shall appear, the sound of hurried footsteps reached them. The steps grew louder, then stopped abruptly as the door to the drawing room flew open with a crash.

Standing in the doorway was a large knight with tousled red hair, drenched in sweat.

“Your Majesty…!”

Aaron’s eyes locked onto Yernen, wide with disbelief.
Stumbling forward, Aaron approached with shaky steps.

“Is it truly you, Your Majesty…?”

Yernen met Aaron’s eyes. They were rimmed red, brimming with grief, confusion, and overwhelming joy. The man hadn’t changed at all.

“Yes.”

At that, Aaron fell to his knees with a thud, clinging to Yernen’s legs as he wept like a general who had lost his kingdom.

The room echoed with his heart-wrenching sobs.

Normally, Yernen might have felt burdened and sidestepped such a display. But today, he didn’t want to.

He looked toward the door, where more knights had gathered, their eyes glistening with emotion.

These were his men, those he had longed for.

Surrounded by them, Yernen’s gaze drifted out to the wide window behind them.

The clear sky, with its branches just starting to bud, hinted at the turn of seasons. Spring had come in full, unnoticed until now.

Watching the tender green of new leaves, Yernen felt, for the first time in a long while, that something had ended—a seemingly endless winter.

He knew he could never return to being the carefree boy he was before his fourteenth birthday. Life had scarred him, changed him irrevocably.

Time could not be reversed, rebirth could not undo those wounds. That was an unchangeable truth.

But somehow, it didn’t seem to matter. Even if he couldn’t go back.

Because this Yernen Helio was still himself.

There would still be days when the pain of old wounds gnawed at him. Some scars would remain, haunting him for the rest of his life.

New ones might even form as he continued to live.

But now, surrounded by these people… with Lyle Baltimore by his side… he felt as though he could endure anything.

The Tyrant’s Happy Ending, fin.