The Tyrant's Happy Ending - Chapter 8.1

The sun had barely risen, but Yernen struggled to even open his eyes. His fingers gingerly brushed his swollen eyelids, his arms heavy as if drained of all strength.

“Lyle…Baltimore… that damned lunatic…”

In his relentless grip, he had sobbed like a child, pleading until he had nothing left, begging to be let go. Yet that madman had kept him captive till dawn. There were no words for a man as heartless as that.

Groaning, Yernen pushed himself up, his back aching. He called softly, “Melissa…”

“Oh, Your Majesty!”

Before anything else, he needed a bath.

He spent a long time soaking in hot water, but even after washing and drying with the attendants’ help, his body still felt weak. His attendants finally settled him into bed, though he found himself seething again.

“Just thinking about it makes my bl00d boil.”

Lyle seemed to have no sense of restraint. Every time Yernen thought he could recover, Lyle would be back, as relentless as a beast. By the time he regained any sense of normalcy, a whole month had passed.

Yes, a full month, spent doing only that.

At least now, he could sleep for a few hours without being entirely exhausted. Before, he would sleep an entire day to recover. The concept of a “normal” day felt like a distant memory.

But Yernen understood all too well the reason behind Lyle’s persistence. It was to keep him away from Tenes.

“What does he expect to accomplish, rendering a person helpless like this?”

Lyle wouldn’t understand, but Yernen had his own plans, ones that required his strength. Chief among them was to leave the imperial palace once he bore Lyle’s child. Being held captive, unable to do anything, was beyond frustrating.

Yet, as their encounters continued, another irritation began to gnaw at him: Lyle’s inability to resist his body—Yernen’s current body, that is. Despite himself, Yernen couldn’t ignore the sense of wrongness.

Of course, Yernen hadn’t thought Lyle would live without companionship during those ten years of absence. He knew Lyle had been on the battlefield, where such matters were likely handled without hesitation.

Still, this was different.

Seeing Lyle enthralled with someone other than him—even if it was technically still him—left a bad taste in his mouth. Yernen couldn’t shake the feeling.

“Ha…”

In the past, he had fervently wished Lyle would find happiness, that he would regain everything he’d lost. Now, seeing Lyle’s life flourishing, he felt… slighted.

“Everyone out,” he ordered softly.

The servants, all attuned to Yernen’s moods, took in his displeasure and quickly left the room. In their absence, a calm settled over the space.

“So quiet…”

Yernen gazed absentmindedly at the vast windows. It was hard to remember the last time he had experienced such stillness. There was a time he had found silence excruciating; years in isolation, without another human voice, would do that to anyone. But perhaps, with time, he had grown accustomed to it.

At that moment, a pale blue butterfly flitted in.

Despite the closed windows and the barren trees outside, somehow this butterfly had found its way in. Yernen wasn’t surprised; he knew this wasn’t an ordinary butterfly.

With a light touch, he brushed its wings, and the creature’s form dissolved, shifting into shimmering blue text.

I wish to see you.

Yernen hesitated. Although he had dismissed the servants, anyone could return unexpectedly. Lyle himself could appear at any moment, and his chambers would be compromised.

“No, not here.”

Sliding his feet into soft slippers, Yernen rose and made his way to the glass conservatory.

Outside, the landscape lay in the bleak grip of winter, but the conservatory held onto the warmth of early summer. Yernen crossed the summer garden, opening a window. A cold winter breeze swept in, and then—

“Winter air is cold, Your Majesty.”

A cloak, lined with white fur, draped over his shoulders.

Yernen looked up to see a familiar face, brimming with emotion.

“It’s been a while, Eurice.”

Eurice Chamelion—his loyal knight from so long ago.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Eurice replied, her voice strained as she fought back tears.

“You’re not the only one here, Your Majesty!” came another voice, cheerful as ever.

Yernen let out a small chuckle. Some things, it seemed, never changed.

“It’s been a while, too, Justin.”

Next to Justin, the stoic Tenes gave a respectful bow as they all entered the conservatory. Finally, Tenes closed the window, shutting out the winter chill.

“Your Majesty…”

Yernen looked up at Eurice’s voice, finding her watching him with concern.

“What…what troubles you?”

What could he possibly say? That he was exhausted from Lyle’s demands the previous night? That he hadn’t been able to sleep because of it? He could never admit to that.

“Just… tired, that’s all. Where were we?”

After their brief reunion, Yernen and his knights quickly began discussing the current situation. This meeting had been difficult enough to arrange; they couldn’t be sure when they’d meet again, so it was essential to address the pressing issues immediately.

And chief among them was Yernen’s future residence.

“We discussed revealing Your Majesty’s return only to Duke Fleur.”

“Yes, that’s wise. If Aaron found out, it would be chaos.”

The Fleur region lay in the southwestern empire, close to the Faynon Kingdom. Though nominally a border territory, it had long since become a renowned retreat. It was also the territory of Iryan Fleur, one of Yernen’s knights, known for his calm and reserved nature. Even if he learned of Yernen’s return, he would not make a fuss. Therefore, Fleur had been chosen as Yernen’s retreat for after the child’s birth.

Yet, there was someone who must never learn of Yernen’s return—Aaron. Though all Yernen’s knights were deeply loyal, Aaron Partash’s devotion bordered on fanaticism.

The western frontier’s commander, with forces rivaling those of both the Baltimore and Portnum duchies, Aaron had spent every day by Yernen’s side, ensuring his protection. He would undoubtedly raise an uproar if he discovered Yernen’s return, pushing to restore him as emperor.

“If that lunatic found out, the entire empire would be in turmoil.”

“Yes, under no circumstances must he find out.”

Justin continued, his words flowing eagerly, as if he were a fish finally back in water. “Honestly, the things that lunatic has done… I could go on forever. Did you know Aaron erected a statue of you right in the heart of his territory? Not only that—he had a life-sized version made out of solid gold. He spends his nights polishing it, sobbing his heart out until his eyes are swollen.”

“That’s not even all. He’s set on preserving your wisdom for future generations and is obsessively compiling a book of your sayings.”

Yernen looked at his knights, a peaceful smile softening his features. He’d never imagined this moment would come—neither in his past life as Yernen Helio nor after he’d awoken in this body. The warmth of time spent with friends was as comforting as a summer garden.

“We’ll take care of the preparations you mentioned,” Eurice said firmly.

“Good,” Yernen replied with a nod. Lyle might be away, but he could return at any time. Meeting his knights here was risky, practically akin to shouting from the rooftops, I am Yernen Helio. Letting them go was the prudent choice.

Just as he was about to stand to see them off, Tenes, who had been silently watching, finally spoke up.

“Your Majesty… one moment.”

“…?”

“There’s something I wish to discuss privately.”

Yernen glanced at Tenes, then turned to Eurice and Justin. “You two may go.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Once they were gone, Tenes, looking more serious than Yernen had ever seen, spoke in a low voice.

“I have a question. I believe the others wonder about it too.”
“What is it?” Yernen asked.

Tenes hesitated, then squared his shoulders. “How did you return, Your Majesty?”

Yernen couldn’t answer. He didn’t know himself.

“Are you… back for good?”

Once he started, Tenes seemed unable to stop, as if some long-held restraint had finally broken.

“How long can you stay in this body? Will you… will you stay with us?”

They were questions Yernen could not answer.

“I don’t know,” he said honestly.

Tenes didn’t respond, but he continued to look at Yernen, unblinking. He had the unwavering expression of a dog gazing up at its master, full of silent loyalty. The intensity made Yernen’s head ache.

“I really don’t know.”

“Your Majesty…” Tenes pressed again, as if he couldn’t accept the answer. But Yernen had no choice but to speak his best guess.

“Whatever the gods have planned, I don’t think they’ll take me from this body before Lyle’s child is born. So don’t worry, Tenes. Find us a place where we can live together.”

“It’s true, then? You’ll truly stay with us?”

Yernen sighed. This was the same question Eurice and Justin had already asked, over and over.

“Tenes Trigia, how many times must I tell you before you believe it?”

“Apologies, Your Majesty,” Tenes said, his face breaking into an awkward smile.

“It’s just… hard to believe. I’ve always wished for more time with you, for you to stay a little longer. Even when it seemed impossible…”

Yernen’s irritation softened. He knew what this meant to Tenes.
More than two years had already passed, but to his knights—who hadn’t known he was alive—those years must have felt like an eternity. Consumed by his own struggle to survive, he had hardly considered what it had been like for them.

Yet, even after all this time, Tenes had waited for him.

And Yernen knew with quiet certainty that Tenes would have waited indefinitely, even if Yernen had never returned. Tenes Trigia was just that loyal.

“It’s been so long,” Yernen said quietly. “Since that day…”

The words cast a shadow over Tenes’s eyes, and Yernen knew that Tenes understood exactly which day he meant.