The Tyrant's Happy Ending - Chapter 9.4

The Divine Bl00d Knights were entrusted with border lands, mainly in the west and north—regions devastated by Harriet’s rule.

“I believe none were truly loyal to Harriet.”

“Good. Arrange a meeting with them before the coronation.”

Yernene was confident. They would all respond.

He was unmarried, unanchored to any power base—a figure they could easily influence and manipulate.

Even if they didn’t know yet that he would be anything but easy to control.

Back in his quarters, Yernenescanned his surroundings. The number of attendants in the room had noticeably increased. They had caught the scent of power.

Yernen looked over each of them and spoke.

“Leave.”

“Y-yes…?”

A startled voice replied.

“Didn’t you hear me? Leave!”

His voice was sharp and impatient. None of the faces were familiar to him, which meant any one of them could be a spy.
“Unless you’re willing to never return home, don’t step foot in this room again.”

At each word, the attendants’ faces grew paler.

Yernene’s long absence from court had made him almost a forgotten figure, but his reputation had lingered. People still remembered that he was quick-tempered, even in his youth, striking anyone who displeased him, noble or not. Now, they could only imagine how much worse he’d become. Afraid, they hurriedly left the room.

As soon as they were gone, Yernen collapsed onto a nearby chair, the fierce resolve he’d shown earlier vanishing. His face was ghostly pale, drenched in cold sweat.

Tenes immediately moved to support him.

“Your Highness.”

“I… need to lie down.”

The pain in his stomach had become unbearable, but he couldn’t allow himself to show weakness. He had to appear strong.

Everyone was an enemy. Any sign of vulnerability could quickly reach dangerous ears.

As he settled onto the bed and finally allowed himself a moment of rest, the pain surged, blurring his senses. Just then, he felt someone undoing his cravat.

“…!”

Slap!

Yernene smacked away the hand near his collar and lifted his head, looking sharply at the person touching him. Tenes was there, gazing at him with concern.

“No, it’s… it’s fine,” Yernene muttered, raising his arm to cover his face.

“It’s just…”

But he couldn’t even finish his sentence. Clumsily, he gripped the cravat himself, pulling it loose.

He knew he was overly sensitive. There was no reason to be so defensive with Tenes.

But the sudden change in his environment made it hard for him to control his emotions.

“I can handle it. Don’t touch my clothes.”

Tenes watched him, his concern evident. Yernene’s complexion was so pale it was surprising that no one else had noticed his condition.

“Is your stomach still hurting?”

As he loosened the choking fabric, Yernene curled up protectively, like a wounded animal, and nodded slightly.

“You won’t allow a physician to be called, will you?”

“Is that even a question?”

It had only been two days since Harriet’s death, and the royal physician was still Lorenze—that despicable excuse of a doctor.
“But Your Highness, we can’t leave you like this.”

“…”

Yet, Tenes had a point.

Since that day, he hadn’t received any proper treatment. Yernene knew his condition was serious. He had to find out what was happening to his body.

“…Summon a priest.”

Though Tenes spoke as if it were a final warning, Yernene hesitated.

Could he truly trust them?

But he didn’t have long to think. This time, a pain so intense it felt like his insides were tearing hit him.

“Ah…”

Unable to bear it, Yernene gripped the bed sheets tightly, his fingers trembling and turning white from the pressure.

“…!”

He suddenly felt something wet, as if something had leaked out from him.

“Agh…”

But Yernene, unable to even confirm what was happening, buried his face in the bed sheets, stifling his groans for fear of anyone hearing them.

In that moment, Tenes placed a firm hand on his waistband, trying to pull down his trousers. Yernene’s eyes widened, and he grabbed Tenes’s hand in shock.

“What… what are you doing?”

Yernene growled, his voice filled with anger and threat.

But Tenes, unfazed, replied in a grave tone.

“Your Highness…”

Tenes’s gaze was fixed downward, directly at the bed sheets.