The Tyrant's Happy Ending - Chapter 4.4

After drinking the leftover water, which had absorbed some of the carrot’s essence, Yernen felt a small, fleeting sense of fullness. Not much, but just enough to slightly dull the gnawing hunger in his stomach.

“Of course, I drank enough water to feel full.”

Grumbling, Yernen pulled out every piece of clothing he could find, bundling himself up in the threadbare garments before slipping into an old pair of oversized shoes. Though his disheveled appearance was pitiful, there was an air of mystery about him, as if each threadbare layer told a story.

Just as he was about to leave the hut, Yernen hesitated by the door. After a moment, he reached for the locket around his neck and opened it. Inside was a small portrait of someone—a person he once called his fiancé.

The locket was the only thing Yernen had been able to keep when he was dragged out of the palace that fateful night.

“…Maybe I’ll try drawing today.”

Since being confined to the island, Yernen’s life had been busy in a very different way. He had to make fires, cook meals, heat water for bathing, clean the perpetually dirty hut, do laundry, and forage for food. But after all that, before night fell, he often had a bit of free time.

During those moments, Yernen would pull out a piece of parchment he’d found tucked away in the corner of the hut, along with some charcoal, and sketch. The parchment was a relic of the past, much like the hut itself, and now nearly used up, so he’d been rationing his drawings as carefully as his food. Today, though, he felt like drawing Lyle.

“It’s fun to imagine what he looks like now,” Yernen thought to himself.

In his mind, Lyle was still a boy, but Yernen knew that wasn’t true. Just as Yernen had grown, so had Lyle. Whenever Yernen missed him, he would imagine what Lyle might look like now and sketch his guesses.

Lost in thought, Yernen snapped the locket shut and tucked it deep inside his clothing.

“I wonder if he’s doing well.”

It was common for noble families in the Helio Empire to arrange marriages early, often before either partner had reached adulthood. By now, Lyle would be an adult, and it was likely he had already married.

“I shouldn’t have run away that day.”

If Yernen had known it would be the last time they’d meet, he wouldn’t have fled. Now, looking back, he wished he had swallowed his pride. If he’d just admitted he hadn’t manifested as an Omega and properly said goodbye, maybe things would’ve turned out differently.

“…But it’s all in the past.”

With a resigned sigh, Yernen opened the door and stepped into the biting wind of the forest, walking with determination despite the cold. Even though he knew no one could hear him, he quietly whispered Lyle’s name in his heart.

‘Lyle… how are you? Have you forgotten me, just like everyone else has?’

The winter mornings at the hut were always eerily quiet, save for the howling wind sweeping across the lake. On rare occasions, Yernen would find embers still burning from the night before, but more often than not, the fire had long since died out, leaving only the cold to greet him.

But today felt different. Today, Yernen awoke to the warmth of a fire still burning in the hearth and a strange sense of comfort in the air. And then… there was a touch. Gentle fingers, stroking his hair.

“Your Highness.”

A woman’s voice.

‘What…?’

Yernen’s body went rigid, as if ice water had been poured over him. It had been six years since he’d heard another human voice.
He snapped his eyes open and saw someone sitting on the edge of his bed, looking down at him. Although she had changed, Yernen instinctively knew who she was.

“R-Rigi…?”

It was Rigi Merion, the wife of Yernen’s eldest brother, Harriet.

“This must be a dream….”

Even as a dream, it was aggravating. Why of all people was Rigi in his dream? He’d rather see Lyle, or Cecil, or even his late father or mother.

“Oh my, does that mean you occasionally dream of me, Your Highness?” Rigi said with a bright smile, leaning in closer to him.

“…?”

Yernen grimaced and pushed her face away with his hand.

“What are you babbling about?”

In the six years he’d been on the island, he hadn’t thought about Rigi once. Not even once—until now.

“Wait a second…”

‘Does that mean… this isn’t a dream?’

Yernen looked around the room.

“Ainz…?”

His familiar knight was standing nearby, accompanied by three others Yernen had never seen before.

“What’s going on?” Yernen looked at the armored knights, and then at Rigi, who was dressed in a dazzling gown and adorned with jewelry, making Yernen feel even more aware of his own ragged, dirty state. Embarrassed, he tugged the thin blanket around himself tighter.

Then it dawned on him.

‘Could it be that Harriet has finally decided to release me?’
On that wretched island.

Yernen’s mind felt overwhelmed. If he was truly leaving the island, it could only mean one thing: he would be cast out of the imperial palace. He would have nowhere to go, forced to wander the streets. If he ran into anyone who knew him, the humiliation would be unbearable. He hated the thought of it.
But on the other hand, if he could escape the maddening silence and isolation of this forsaken island, maybe he could finally speak to someone. At the very least, he wouldn’t have to stare helplessly across the lake, waiting for the next food supply.
However, the attitude Rigi displayed was entirely different from what Yernen had expected. Instead of delivering news of his banishment, Rigi began to undress him.

Snap.

Several buttons, held together by fraying threads, popped off as Rigi yanked at his clothes with rough hands.

“What are you doing?!” Yernen exclaimed, panicked, and pushed Rigi away. She stumbled back, yielding to his resistance, but then she laughed—though it wasn’t the same laugh as before.
Yernen recognized that laughter. It was the same smile Rigi had worn when she would touch him inappropriately.

Cecil had once told Yernen that Rigi behaved that way out of fondness for him, but every time Yernen saw that smile, it made him feel like insects were crawling over his skin.

“Your Highness,” Rigi said.

“…What?” Yernen, clutching his disheveled clothes and blanket tightly, looked at Rigi as if he were a defenseless Omega in front of an Alpha, terrified of what might come next.

“Did you know?” Rigi asked.

With a simple gesture, the knights stepped forward and grabbed Yernen’s arms roughly.

Thud.

Yernen’s heart began to race like a frightened animal sensing danger.

“What do you think you’re doing?! Let go of me!”

The knights ignored his desperate struggles, forcing him to his knees and restraining his legs and arms.

Taking advantage of his helpless state, Rigi slowly pulled Yernen’s clothes off, exposing his pale, delicate body.

“It was hard to convince His Majesty,” Rigi said casually.
“What?!”

Yernen’s shock turned to fury, and he spat out his words, his face contorted in disbelief.

“Are you telling me that Harriet—Harriet approved of this madness?!”

“Of course.”

With those words, Rigi’s hand slipped down toward Yernen’s waistline.

“…!”

Yernen twisted his body violently, trying to resist.

“Let go!”

The knights tightened their grip, and Yernen, despite his efforts, was overpowered.

“We made sure you were starved for four days, yet you still have so much energy,” Rigi remarked with a smirk.

“What?!”

Yernen stared at her, confused and horrified.

It was true that this month’s food rations had been delayed again, but only by two days. However, it was true that Yernen had barely survived on water for four days.

“How do you know that?” Yernen demanded.

Rigi smiled slyly and pointed toward the distant palace.

“That’s because the palace over there belongs to me, Your Highness.”

“…?”

Yernen couldn’t comprehend it. The empress’s palace was supposed to be far from this desolate lake. The northern part of the imperial city, where the lake was located, was remote and isolated, far from where people usually traveled. How could there be a palace for the empress right next to the lake?
Chills ran down Yernen’s spine.

“I asked His Majesty for that palace so I could always watch over you, Your Highness.”

“…What?”

Rigi gestured for the knights to hold Yernen more firmly.
“Hold him still. Our dear prince still has too much strength,” she ordered.

“You…! Ugh…!”

Yernen tried to shout, but another knight stepped in, adding more force. He was completely overpowered.

Soon, his clothes were completely ripped off, and Yernen found himself naked, his limbs bound. Rigi looked at him with satisfaction as she touched him inappropriately.

“Stop! Don’t touch me!” Yernen cried out, his voice filled with desperation and humiliation. He was the only one stripped bare, surrounded by fully clothed people, and the sense of disgrace made him feel like he was drowning in shame.

“Your Highness, if you look at me like that, it gives me chills,” Rigi teased, her voice dripping with derision.
Yernen had always known, but now it was undeniable—Rigi Merion was completely deranged.

“You’re insane…! Don’t… touch me!”

Rigi’s breath grew heavier as she continued, “To think that you, who once carried yourself so proudly like you were above it all, are now reduced to this. You’re about to cry, looking at me with those pitiful eyes. I’ve dreamed of this moment for so long, Your Highness. Ever since I was a child, I’ve fantasized about it. But you wouldn’t know that, would you?”

“…!”

Yernen glared at her, but she only smiled sweetly at his helplessness. She ran her hand across his body and turned to Ainz.

“Sir Ainz,” she called.

Yernen flinched as if he were being crawled upon by insects when he saw Ainz retrieve something from his belt.

“What is that?!”

“Aah,” Rigi purred, shaking a vial of liquid in front of Yernen’s face.

“You don’t know, do you? This is a little something to help us with our… interactions, Your Highness. Since it’s your first time, I thought you might need some assistance.”

With that, Rigi gestured to the knights, and Ainz forcefully grabbed Yernen’s jaw, holding it tightly.

“Mmmpf…!”

Yernen’s eyes filled with a deep sense of betrayal as he stared up at Ainz, trembling. Ainz had once been his protector. But now Yernen understood—Ainz had been nothing more than Harriet’s pawn all along. All the loyalty, all the obedience—it had all been a lie.

“Now, drink up, Your Highness,” Rigi said as she poured the liquid into Yernen’s forcibly opened mouth. He tried to resist, but Rigi clamped his mouth and nose shut, forcing him to swallow.

“Cough! Cough!” Yernen choked, gagging as some of the liquid entered his windpipe. He felt a small part of him shamefully relish the slight sweetness and the relief of his hunger. But the thought only made him feel even more wretched.

Then Rigi poured another vial into his mouth. Yernen fought even harder this time, and some of the thick, milky liquid dribbled out of his mouth, running down his chin.

It was a deeply degrading sight, and it marked the beginning of a long nightmare.

Rigi left after what felt like an eternity, leaving behind a thick set of clothes, a basket of food—rare items like white bread and Yernen’s favorite chocolate. It felt like a twisted sort of charity. For a while, Yernen sat curled up in a corner of the bed, unable to process what had just happened. When he came to his senses, he rushed outside, scrubbing his body in the freezing water.

“Haa, haa.”

After frantically washing the filth off, Yernen returned to the cabin and threw the thick clothes Rigi had left into the fireplace. He did the same with his torn garments, the ones Rigi had touched. He even considered burning his blanket, holding it up as his eyes flickered in the firelight.

“Ugh…”