The Tyrant's Happy Ending - Chapter 2.5

Yernen was resting his chin on the windowsill of the carriage, looking at Lyle with a bored expression. The midday sunlight cast a warm glow on Yernen’s features, making him look almost like a painting.

“……”

Lyle found himself staring at Yernen as if entranced, until the sharp sound of Yernen clicking his tongue brought him back to his senses.

“I’m coming. I was just talking to the Crown Prince,” Lyle replied as he climbed into the carriage.

“Good. Soon we’ll all be family, so you might as well treat him like an older brother,” Yernen said nonchalantly.

Lyle chuckled softly as he settled into the carriage, pushing the odd expression he had seen on Harriet’s face to the back of his mind.
‘He’s probably just tired,’ Lyle thought. Surely, someone like Harriet, who cared for Yernen, wouldn’t have had such a cold expression. Still, the uneasy feeling lingered, like a bitter taste on his tongue.

Despite the empress’s many worries, the journey to the South went surprisingly well. One of the reasons the Empire had been able to dominate the continent was its well-maintained roads.

The South and East, with their long histories, were particularly famous for their clean, well-paved routes. As a result, the large entourage carrying Yernen made swift progress toward the South.

Surprisingly, Yernen didn’t complain much during the journey.

The empress, concerned for her son’s comfort, had made sure his favorite toys and games were packed, along with a plush bed squeezed into the carriage. As a result, Yernen spent his days playing with Lyle, studying, reading, and occasionally riding horses outside under the guise of “learning equestrian skills.”

Whenever the convoy stopped, Yernen would practice swordplay with Lyle or wander around, watching the busy attendants at work.
Having lived his entire life under the emperor’s protection, confined mostly to the palace, everything outside felt new and exciting to Yernen. Every experience was fresh, and each day was filled with wonder.

The royal chef, who accompanied them, ensured that every meal matched the quality Yernen was accustomed to in the palace. Spirit mages also traveled with them, ensuring Yernen remained clean and comfortable at all times. His daily routine, though now on the road, mirrored the luxurious life he led in the palace, and Yernen couldn’t have been more pleased.

Throughout the journey, Yernen was unusually cheerful, often falling asleep beside Lyle while gazing at the twinkling stars through the carriage window. The cooler early winter weather had settled in, and despite the brazier burning near their feet, the chill was still noticeable. Seeking warmth, Yernen often snuggled into Lyle’s arms as he drifted off to sleep.

Lyle, always keeping a watchful eye on his fiancé, gently patted Yernen before quietly looking outside the carriage.

‘Just as I thought,’ Lyle mused.

The caravan, carrying the emperor’s youngest and most beloved prince, was guarded by an elite group of soldiers. Even though Lyle was still young, the knights outside were far more skilled, making the journey seemingly secure.

The night was incredibly quiet.

All lights had been extinguished to avoid detection, and the remaining embers were buried under sand to prevent any stray smoke.

Following his father’s teachings, Lyle signaled the nearest guard using military hand gestures.

What’s happening?

The guard responded in kind.

Sensed danger.

Magical beasts nearby.

Lyle nodded, then silently closed the window and reached for his sword. His instincts had been right. Though he was still young and just beginning to master his family’s sword techniques, Lyle’s natural combat instincts were already sharp.

He had accompanied his father, the Duke of Baltimore, on hunts and even taken down small magical beasts himself. But this was different. In an actual danger zone, even small creatures could pose a serious threat.

‘Using a bow would be safer, but we don’t have one.’

Lyle regretted leaving his personal crossbow behind. He doubted that anything could breach the elite guard’s defenses, but caution was crucial. His priority was protecting Yernen, no matter what.

‘Still, something’s off.’

They weren’t in the North, where magical beasts were common. Though such creatures could appear anywhere, it was unusual for them to be near a city in the South, unless someone had deliberately released them. The southern regions had regular culls, and magical beasts were generally scarce here. Moreover, attacks typically occurred during winter when food was scarce, but now was the harvest season, when food was abundant. It made no sense.

“What’s happening?” Yernen murmured, rubbing his eyes groggily.

“Shh.”

Lyle quickly covered Yernen’s mouth to keep him from making noise.

“Mmph…”

Yernen blinked in confusion, wondering why Lyle was acting so strangely, but he quickly grasped that something serious was going on. He lightly tapped Lyle’s hand, signaling him to release his grip.

Yernen then reached for the book and pen he had left beside him and scribbled a message for Lyle.

Is it a magical beast attack?

Yernen frowned as he read the reply. Magical beasts were something he had only ever read about in books or heard in stories—he had never seen one in person.

With Lyle’s help, Yernen quickly slipped on his coat over his nightclothes and put on his shoes, ready in case they needed to flee. They sat in tense silence for a while inside the dimly lit carriage. Finally, the window slid open quietly, and one of the guards—a squire of Count Aynis—appeared.

“Your Highness, we’ll be moving soon.”

“Are we safe to continue? I heard there are magical beasts pursuing us,” Yernen asked, keeping his voice calm despite his unease.
“There are many of them, and we’re likely to be surrounded if we stay here. We’ve sent for reinforcements from the nearby Villeroy Duchy. Please don’t worry.”

“…Very well. Proceed,” Yernen replied, his face pale but composed.

“Whatever happens, do not leave the carriage,” the squire warned.

“I understand.”

With a final nod, the squire closed the window, and the carriage slowly began to move again.
Lyle, noticing Yernen’s unease, placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “It’ll be alright.”

Lyle, still on high alert, wrapped Yernen in a blanket as he spoke.

“Of course everything will be fine. Who could possibly harm me?” Yernen said, trying to sound confident, but despite his bravado, he reached out from under the blanket and tightly grasped Lyle’s hand. Not long after, the sounds of battle erupted outside.

The neighing of horses, the clash of weapons, and the terrifying howls of some unknown creature filled the night.

“Push them back!”

“Ignore it and keep moving!”

The sounds of chaos drew closer.

“Block them!”

“Hold the line!”

Lyle and Yernen listened intently, realizing that the danger was drawing nearer to their carriage. The once distant commotion was suddenly right on top of them.

Bang!

“…!”

Something massive struck the side of the carriage, causing it to lurch violently.
“W-What’s happening?!” Yernen stammered.

The carriage jerked in a completely different direction from before.

“Damn it! What is that thing?!”

“Get it off!”

“Protect the carriage!”

They heard the distant voice of Count Aynis, but it was quickly fading.

Yernen and Lyle exchanged worried glances, both realizing at once that something had gone terribly wrong.

Bang! Bang!

The carriage continued to be battered by something, but the speed wasn’t slowing. In fact, it seemed to be increasing, and the ride became rougher, as if they were climbing uphill. Lyle grabbed onto a handle fixed to the wall of the carriage with one hand while securing Yernen with the other.

“We need to figure out what’s happening,” Lyle said urgently.

“But we can’t open the window…” Yernen whispered back, equally tense.

“We have to. Listen, the soldiers’ voices are gone now. We’re being separated from the convoy and taken somewhere up a mountain. This isn’t the work of people—it’s a magical beast. Can you think of any creature capable of dragging a carriage this size up a mountain at this speed?” Lyle asked, trying to make sense of the situation.

He racked his brain, thinking back to all the knowledge he had gathered about magical beasts growing up. His home was filled with bestiaries, and he had learned about various creatures through stories and hunts. But in this situation, knowing more could mean life or death.
“Think faster!” Yernen urged.

But nothing specific came to Lyle’s mind.

“I… I have no idea,” Lyle admitted, frustration clear in his voice.

“Damn it.”

“If I could see it, I might have a better idea.”
“You could recognize it just by seeing it?”
“Maybe. I’ve studied a lot of drawings and heard stories from my father’s retainers during hunts.”
“Then we need to open the window,” Yernen said firmly.

“Yernen!” Lyle hissed. It was a reckless idea.

They had no clue what was out there, and opening the window could expose them to immediate danger.
“We’re moving fast, and we have no idea where we’re headed. The soldiers can’t hear us, and we’re likely being dragged into the treacherous Villeroy Mountains. If we go any further, we’ll be in serious trouble. We’re talking about a place known for being a den of magical beasts. If we get lost there, the knights won’t be able to find us,” Yernen argued.

His reasoning was sound, and Lyle couldn’t deny that the situation was dire.

“Open the window now, before I lose my patience,” Yernen demanded, his tone firm.

“…Fine.” Lyle sighed, reluctantly agreeing.
“But I’ll look. There’s no point in you looking—you won’t recognize it,” Lyle added.

“Just hurry up,” Yernen urged.

Lyle, with no other option, reached for the window and cautiously began to open it, but—
Bang!

The window slammed shut with a force that shook the entire carriage.

The carriage window, unable to withstand the sheer speed at which they were being dragged, swung wide open and smashed against a passing tree, flying off into the night.

‘We’re doomed,’ thought both Yernen and Lyle simultaneously as they exchanged looks. There was no going back now. Lyle cautiously leaned out of the now open window, his dark hair whipping wildly in the wind.

“…!”

“What the hell is that?” Yernen’s shocked voice came from right beside him, mirroring Lyle’s disbelief.

“Yernen!” Lyle yelled, panicking. “I told you to stay down!”

“The window’s already gone, so what’s the point? Do you know what that thing is?” Yernen demanded, staring out in shock.

Lyle rubbed his forehead in frustration. “No idea, but I can guess what category it belongs to.”

Lyle crouched down again, and Yernen followed suit, both of them still keeping an eye on the creature outside.

“So, what is it?” Yernen asked.

Lyle recalled a book he’d read about the magical creatures of the East.

“I read something similar about an Eastern magical beast once.”

He pictured the grotesque form he’d glimpsed earlier. Two massive legs wrapped around the carriage, with numerous smaller legs skittering along the ground. Its skin, cracked and rough like a desert, seemed to be made of some strange combination of slime and mud. Across its body were mouths—endless, gaping mouths—filled with sharp, jagged teeth.