tyrant chapter 9

At Karta’s words, Fiogen rose with a bright smile. “Well, then, it’s settled. Kill me and take these eyes.”

“Don’t be absurd.” Even Karta, known as the tyrannical emperor, found it difficult to best Fiogen. He frowned, her words clearly repulsive to him.

“You said you wanted them because they resemble his eyes. You don’t need my life, you need these eyes.” Fiogen, in that gentle voice, was tempting him to kill her. Just as Duke Delcart had said, she seemed utterly mad. Perhaps ordinary people, upon seeing Fiogen, would think the same…

“Fiogen, I want to watch your eyes, as they are now, grow old.”

“Why so many excuses?” Fiogen grumbled, frowning. Karta watched her silently for a moment, then chuckled. Fiogen’s eyes were the same as his deceased mother’s. The mother he remembered had always lacked the will to live. She’d sought death at every opportunity, and as a child, he’d frantically tried to prevent it. In the end, he’d failed.

“Fiogen.”

“What?” Her disgruntled tone was impertinent. Even this made Karta smile. The fact that he’d saved the life of someone so desperate to die gave him a strange sense of satisfaction.

“You can torment me like this every day.”

“What?” Fiogen, bewildered, frowned at him. “I just attempted to murder you. By the old laws of this kingdom, I should be in prison.”

“That flimsy kingdom is gone from the map. It’s Imperial territory now.”

“Even so, you’re the Emperor’s son. I’ll go to him in the morning and confess. I’ll gladly accept my punishment.”

“Go ahead. There are plenty of others who will die in your place. As long as you live, I’m content with anything.” Karta’s deranged confession darkened Fiogen’s expression further.

***

“What kind of person is Karta, anyway?” At Fiogen’s question, the maids tilted their heads. They’d served Karta for a while, but it was the first time they’d seen him so frequently.

“He’s a valiant man,” one of the older maids replied. Fiogen shook her head.

“He didn’t seem very valiant last night.”

“Ahem. It’s a matter between a man and a woman, so we wouldn’t know.” At the words “last night,” the maids blushed and turned away. Fiogen was puzzled by their behavior.

“If Karta isn’t valiant, why are you blushing?”

“Word of last night has spread through the Imperial Palace…” Watching the maids’ flustered reactions, Fiogen tilted her head.

“Spread? But why hasn’t the Emperor arrested me?” It was astonishing. She’d choked Karta; it was clearly attempted murder, yet she’d slept peacefully, eaten, and had tea. Furthermore, Karta hadn’t even made a sound. How could it have spread?

“Well… it’s said His Highness told the Emperor he wanted to protect you, Princess.” Fiogen, incredulous, pointed to herself.

“Protect me? Karta?” This plot twist was unbelievable. If the author knew, they’d be furious.

“I don’t understand… No, how did the rumors even start?” Fiogen muttered, looking around. There couldn’t possibly be cameras in this world. Suspicion gnawed at her; was everything secretly being filmed?

“Ahem. Actually, the knights said they heard something last night.” One maid confessed, her eyes darting nervously. Fiogen nodded.

“I see. The soundproofing is the problem.”

“Yes. The Imperial Palace has many ears, especially when it comes to sounds from the bedchamber…”

“Sounds from the bedchamber?” Realization dawned on Fiogen, and she lifted her head. The maid, seeing her expression, whispered, “The rumor that His Highness is deeply infatuated with you, Princess, is spreading rapidly throughout the Empire.”

“Ah.” Fiogen nodded. “Deeply infatuated with me?”

“Yes.”

Fiogen was silent for a long moment. Then, she gestured for the maid to come closer. “About what you said earlier…”

“Yes?”

“That ‘deeply infatuated’ part…” The maid nodded. Fiogen narrowed her eyes, muttering softly, “Do you think so, too?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking if you think it’s true, that Karta is deeply infatuated with me.” Not some delusion, like her mother’s visions. Could it be that Karta was so enamored with her that he couldn’t kill her? The thought felt too much like the correct answer, and Fiogen frowned. “How can someone fall in love at first sight? It’s pathetic, really.” With things like this, her next plan was pure extravagance.

***

Fiogen’s cheeks were smeared with white cream. The main courses were finished, and dessert had been served. The Imperial chefs, who had presented every dish imaginable since morning, were exhausted. They felt they’d prepared more food than for the Emperor’s birthday, the grandest event in the Empire.

“Clear it.” The most irritating thing was that Fiogen would take only a single bite of each dish, or sometimes none at all, before dismissing it. Yet, she showed no remorse. The Imperial chefs agreed that, throughout the Empire’s history, few women within the palace walls had been as wicked as Princess Fiogen.

“Princess, there are truly no more dishes left.”

Looking at the tearful maids, Fiogen leaned back arrogantly. She clicked her tongue, as if truly disappointed there was nothing left to eat. “This is it? I’m still not full.”

As she’d claimed, her stomach wasn’t distended at all. In fact, she looked as if she hadn’t eaten in days. Desserts and dishes of every kind had been brought, but it was all for naught.

Of course, Fiogen had a reason for this. If Karta didn’t want to kill her, she would simply force the situation.

“His Highness will surely hear about this soon…” the maids replied, their voices filled with fear. The Imperial family didn’t have a set budget for food. They considered it insignificant, as the Empire was the center of the economy. Even so, spending as much on one person’s meal as they would for the Emperor’s birthday was excessive. Of course, Fiogen didn’t care.

“That’s a shame.” Fiogen sighed, her expression devoid of any sympathy. Her utter lack of guilt made the maids blanch. Believing her death was imminent, Fiogen took a deep breath.

“His Highness has arrived.” At the sound from outside, the maids bowed. It was their customary greeting. Instead of bowing, Fiogen ran towards the prince and threw her arms around him. Inwardly, she laughed. She was certain this would finally break the tyrant’s shallow patience.

“What took you so long? I was dying of boredom.” She deliberately pushed him playfully, her voice dripping with feigned affection. However, Karta didn’t react as she expected. Instead, he chuckled, looking at her bright, smiling face. He even reached out and wiped the cream from her cheek.