tyrant chapter 12

Even as her mind settled on this course, she hesitated, questioning whether she was truly ready to face death. One sudden demise was enough. Yet, leaving without regrets felt preferable to the lingering remorse of her previous life. With newfound resolve, she threw herself towards the inevitable.

“Hmm?” A sleepy, rough voice responded. Even that gruff sound stirred something within her. She had never encountered such a captivating man in her life. Moreover, having never been in a relationship, sharing a bed with a man was a novel experience. She recalled hearing that men were instinctively drawn to physical intimacy, yet Karta had never overstepped those boundaries. In a way, that was the most suspicious aspect of all.

Suddenly, everything about Karta seemed perplexing. In the original story, he was a tyrant. Even before ascending to that role, he lived like one, shirking his princely duties and leaving them to the Crown Prince. The Karta of the novel was portrayed as indolent, preoccupied only with frivolous pursuits.

Having devoured the novel in stolen moments from her busy life, Fiogen had envied Karta’s seemingly carefree existence. That enviable life didn’t seem entirely fabricated, but witnessing Karta’s demanding schedule made her question the novel’s portrayal.

“Why do you work so hard?” Fiogen’s question prompted Karta to turn, lying flat on his back, gazing at the ceiling. She found herself increasingly captivated by him. Lately, any fondness she developed for something in this world was immediately met with fear. She was meant to leave soon, and accumulating attachments would only make it harder.

He slowly opened his eyes and sighed. It was a question he had never been asked, and he found it strangely difficult to answer.

“Fiogen.”

Fiogen looked at him with a playful smile. The feared tyrant was far more gentle than she had anticipated, accepting every facet of her being. Sometimes, it felt as if he was helping her shed the regrets she carried from her previous life. The childish whims she never indulged in under her busy, working-class parents. The hunger she endured, either forgoing food she couldn’t afford or forcing herself to eat even when full. The online shopping carts filled with desired items, only to be abandoned with a click of the cancel button. Karta had erased all those memories.

“Yes?”

“Why do I find you so difficult to understand?” Fiogen yawned. She could have asked him the same question. Why was the tyrannical Karta so tender towards her? Why hadn’t he killed her yet? She, too, was baffled.

“If you’re asking why I’m asking, it’s to keep you awake.”

“There are plenty of other ways to keep me awake.” Fiogen nodded. The pre-dawn hours were always a time of restless wakefulness for her. If she were to be honest, a nagging worry plagued her: what if Karta met the same regrettable end as she had in her previous life?

A life lived diligently leaves room for regret, and regret breeds resentment. In the season of cherry blossoms, she buried herself in books. When snow blanketed the ground, she meticulously planned for the year ahead, striving to live according to her carefully crafted schedule. She believed this was the only way to escape the monotony of her existence, even though it never truly changed anything.

“I wish you would get tired. If you were tired, you wouldn’t live such a relentlessly disciplined life. Even Karta can’t change certain things, you know. Some futures are fixed.”

“…Fixed futures?”

“Fate might be real. If you’re truly exhausted and need to sleep, you can kill me and then rest.” She deliberately changed the subject, assuming he wouldn’t believe her even if she explained everything. Karta laughed at her words. The upward tilt of his eyes made him even more alluring. His red eyes were strangely clear, and when he smiled, a childlike innocence filled his face. How could anyone have portrayed such a man as a tyrant?

“That’s a matter of willpower. I would never harm you, no matter how tired I am.” He turned and embraced her. Fiogen shifted, but he held her firmly. Trapped in his strong arms, she pouted. She vaguely remembered being held in her parents’ embrace as a very young child. As she grew older, such comfort became a distant memory. Her few friends sought solace in the arms of their lovers, but Fiogen, lacking both time and money, had never experienced such comfort. Perhaps that was why she found herself anticipating Karta’s nightly embraces.

“You still haven’t answered me. Why do you work so hard?”

Karta began to pat her back, gently, as if soothing a baby. She didn’t entirely dislike the gesture.

“I’ve never considered that question before.”

“I suppose not. I never used to either.” It was a casual, almost indifferent remark. Karta found the tone of her voice strangely unsettling.

“And now?” There was a hint of concern in his voice, or so Fiogen thought.

“Why do you want to die?” Karta’s question made Fiogen hesitate. Confessing that she longed for death because she was trapped in a fictional world felt too cruel, given Karta’s tragic fate. Simply saying she wanted to die seemed too strange…

“I have nothing to do.” That was the best answer she could muster. As a princess, her life was one of idle boredom. Her head maid insisted on lessons in etiquette and decorum, but what was the point of learning such things when she was destined to die soon?

“Nothing to do?” Karta sat up.

“Do you want to work?” Fiogen remained silent. She had experienced enough of work in her previous life and had no desire for more.

“No. I want to laze around and do nothing.” Twenty-seven years of relentless studying and part-time jobs were enough.

“Then laze around. From now on, your only task is to relax by my side.”

“By your side? How boring.” Disappointment laced her voice.

“What would you find entertaining?” Karta’s question made Fiogen’s eyes dart around. Come to think of it, she always found his questions difficult to answer.

“Nothing has ever been particularly entertaining.” No matter how hard she tried, nothing came to mind. She had never harbored childhood dreams or lost herself in the pure joy of play. She had only one regret.

“A romantic relationship?” Fiogen’s unexpected words made Karta flinch.

“You… want a romantic relationship?”

“Yes. Preferably with a tall, well-built, handsome, kind, and wealthy man.”

“Ah, so you want a romantic relationship.” Karta let out a deep sigh and stood up.

“Where are you going?”

“To find one. A romantic partner for Fiogen.”