Seducing the Tyrant Instead of My Favorite - Chapter 58

The path to the main palace was dauntingly far.

The stench of the netherworld flower numbed the senses.

At this moment, he desperately longed for one woman.

‘Elizabeth…’

He wanted to hold her in his arms and breathe in her intoxicating scent.

He wanted to bury his nose in her crimson hair that rippled like a sunset sea, and restrain her until she moaned.

But now Elizabeth was falsely accused of being a villainess because of Nikolai.

“Everything happened because of Elizabeth. We must banish her immediately.”

“A commoner woman as the educational officer for His Highness the Crown Prince. It was an unthinkable thing from the start.”

“I hear the Crown Prince’s sword training has all but stopped. Wasn’t it Elizabeth’s scheme to drive out Sir Simon?”

“The kidnapping incident was also bizarre. It might have been staged.”

It was Nikolai who killed Simon.

He threw the dagger himself, and Simon died instantly.

If anyone was to be punished, it should have been Nikolai.

But no one mentioned Nikolai.

They only repeated like parrots that it was all because of Elizabeth.

‘I’m the coward. Because I can’t reveal the truth.’

Nikolai clenched his fist.

His pale nails dug into his palm.

The anger towards himself hadn’t dulled one bit.

What if he revealed the fact of the netherworld flower outbreak?

Before the question could take hold, the wolf sneered.

“Do you want to see the whole empire turned upside down?”

“Don’t interfere, wolf.”

“You’d risk danger to protect that one woman. If your father knew, he’d rise from his grave.”

“Don’t sully Father with your filthy mouth.”

“Your father loved the empire more than himself. He didn’t hesitate to sacrifice. He wasn’t swayed by emotions like you.”

“…”

“A son should take after his father at least halfway. Do you want to render all your efforts so far futile?”

He wanted to crush the wolf’s muzzle.

But there was no way.

As long as Nikolai lived and breathed, the wolf would prattle on as it pleased, demanding responsibility and duty.

“Get a grip, Nicky. This situation is very dangerous. I checked again… that Simon fellow didn’t have any netherworld flower seeds.”

“The netherworld flower is a disease that starts from seeds.”

“This is my first time seeing a case like this too. It’s completely outside the norm.”

Until now, the progression of the netherworld flower epidemic had always been the same.

For unknown reasons, netherworld flower seeds are planted in the body.

The seeds germinate.

Red petal-shaped rashes appear and a low fever begins.

At this point, it becomes contagious.

Seeds are spread to others.

After that, symptoms like coughing, high fever, hemoptysis, and convulsions rapidly worsen.

Contagiousness also peaks.

When red rashes cover the entire body, death follows.

“If he had seeds, I wouldn’t have missed them.”

“You mean the disease progressed without seed germination?”

“What’s stranger is that he wasn’t contagious either. That woman who was in close combat with him is clean.”

Claudia was staying somewhere in the imperial palace.

She was essentially confined, as going out or moving around was prohibited.

“Simon changed unlike himself and cornered Claudia. It’s impossible with his usual skills.”

“It could be a symptom of the netherworld flower, Nicky.”

“Explain in detail.”

“The netherworld flower extremely heightens all nerves and senses in the body. If it suddenly broke out in a healthy state, physical abilities could be extremely enhanced.”

“Are you saying the netherworld flower was intentionally triggered?”

Nikolai’s voice trembled faintly.

It was a hypothesis he neither wanted to believe nor accept.

“How could anyone do such a thing?”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t know either. But nothing else explains it.”

“Didn’t you hear anything from the goddess of Morasyncia?”

“Do you think I’m some kind of priest? I was born by divine will, but I’ve never received an oracle. I just moved from your father to you according to divine command.”

“So you’re no different from an epidemic yourself.”

Nikolai spat out the words.

The wolf retorted in an amused tone.

“Maybe so. As long as I exist, you and your clan will never be free.”

“…”

“Nicky. I hate the netherworld flower outbreak too. But I’ve gotten used to the scent just like you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know who planted the netherworld flower in that Simon fellow… but if we hadn’t been intoxicated by Elizabeth’s scent, we would have noticed sooner.”

“Don’t blame Elizabeth. That woman is innocent.”

“Is that really so? Have you forgotten why your father distanced himself from Laila?”

The wolf whispered in a gentle voice, as if soothing a sulking child.

Nikolai’s beautiful face darkened even more.

“She’s a dangerous woman. You’re also dangerous to her. The closer you get, the more you’ll plunge each other into despair and misfortune.”

“Shut up, wolf.”

“How unfortunate. I can’t cheer for my friend’s first love.”

First love.

That word pierced Nikolai’s heart like a red-hot iron skewer.

She was the first woman he had ever held in his heart.

Just being with her made him feel as if he had everything in the world.

Her smile was like a dream.

He wanted to hover around her and dream sweet dreams.

He never wanted to wake up.

The possessiveness that awakened with his senses became an obsession.

He wanted to know everything about her.

He wanted to monopolize her from head to toe.

But Elizabeth was suffering because of that.

It was also the first time Nikolai and the wolf had missed the netherworld flower.

‘Is it really a fate that can never be united? Was my wish to stay by her side just a futile dream?’

Nikolai propped his elbow against the stone wall.

His body slid down like a tree cut at the base.

Even as his knees got wet in the damp soil, he didn’t budge.

If he stood up, he would go to find Elizabeth.

He would want to abandon everything – the empire, the people – and run away with her.

And he would end up showing her his ugly self, crumbling under the guilt of loving her.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Did His Majesty not say anything?”

Franz asked cautiously after finishing the day’s homework.

He raised the corner of his mouth while tidying up the scattered writing tools.

“He must be busy. I haven’t seen him for days.”

“That’s too much. To think he wouldn’t even meet Elizabeth.”

Franz muttered, looking dejected.

I stroked Franz’s disheveled blonde hair.

“Wait just a little longer. I’ll somehow bring Lord Owen here.”

“You think that’s what I’m worried about?”

“Then what?”

“Sigh. Elizabeth doesn’t know her only disciple at all. How thoughtful the disciple is. How much he worries about his teacher. I can’t sleep at night because of Elizabeth.”

“Staying up late is just a bad habit, isn’t it? Didn’t you eat snacks late last night too? What if your teeth rot?”

“Stop nagging!”

Franz covered his ears with both hands.

“Won’t you stop nagging for once?”

As I tried to pinch his cheek, Franz flared up.

“I was pondering ways to save Elizabeth. I was just supplying nutrients to my brain for a moment while concentrating!”

“Yeah, right.”

“The professors, except for Marquis Nettleton, are also in an uproar saying Elizabeth should be driven out. Should I just sit still?”

“…”

“They say Elizabeth is ruining me. That they should appoint a proper educational officer from high nobility. For my future.”

“Don’t get involved.”

I replied in a more subdued voice.

A dark cloud settled over Franz’s lovely face.

“Because I’m just a useless child?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Elizabeth is the only teacher I’ve acknowledged. If I, her disciple, don’t worry about her, who will? Even His Majesty is turning a blind eye!”

“Franz.”

“I want to protect Elizabeth too. I don’t want to be separated from her.”

Moisture seeped into Franz’s lime-green eyes.

His tightly clenched fists looked lonely and forlorn.

‘Nikolai is too busy, and Franz is too young. He must be afraid of growing apart from the first person he came to rely on. The feeling of helplessness, of not being able to help me, must be added to that…’

I thought he was just a brat who spewed venom at every opportunity.

When did he grow up enough to worry about me?

“Thank you, Franz. But I don’t want you to get caught in the crossfire.”

“What? Are you thinking of resigning from the educational officer position?”

And a sharp ten-year-old at that.

“Anonymous letters are flying into the Crown Prince’s palace too. The House of Nobles is also planning large-scale protests. If I keep this position, it’ll be a burden to both you and His Majesty.”

“So you’re running away? Wasn’t Elizabeth someone who bites back when cornered?”

“This isn’t a situation that can be resolved that way. I need to consider various options.”

I tried to soothe Franz with an awkward smile.

Franz’s gaze sharpened.

“Are you scared?”

“Yes, I’m scared.”

I admitted frankly.

Franz’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected answer.

“Did you eat something bad for lunch?”

“I’m afraid His Majesty will be pointed at because of me. I’m afraid you’ll lose the nobles’ support because of me.”

“I never had their support to begin with.”

“You said it yourself. A country can’t be ruled alone. Even if you don’t like the nobles, you have to placate them.”

“…”

“It’s painful for me to stay in the palace too. I can’t fire everyone like servants.”

“But… but…”

Unable to find a suitable retort, Franz lowered his head.

His drooping shoulders looked more pitiful than ever.

Franz was a clever child.

He knew better than anyone that now was the time to step back, even if it felt unfair.

That’s why he couldn’t throw a tantrum like a child.

‘I want to protect Franz, but stubbornly staying in the palace isn’t the answer. Nikolai is keeping his distance from me too… I should leave the palace and look for a solution.’

I’ll step down from Franz’s educational officer position.

The decision was made, but my chest felt tight, as if I’d swallowed a misty fog.

After that, Nikolai didn’t come to see me.

He wouldn’t meet me either.

I asked through Careth, but the only answer that came back was that he was in seclusion.

Why did he kill Simon?

Why did he have to use such a method?

If I only knew the reason, it wouldn’t be this painful.

Even if it was for my sake, there was no need to kill.

Above all, I wasn’t someone special enough for that.

Was that why he didn’t even feel the need to explain?

“His Majesty won’t allow it.”

Franz tried to change my mind until the end.

A pain like an electric current swept through my chest.

“Even His Majesty can’t break my will.”

“Can’t you wait just a little longer? His Majesty will surely step in soon.”

“I don’t want to rely on His Majesty.”

“Elizabeth.”

“I’m not saying I’ll leave forever, I’m just preparing to strike back. I’m going to bite back like the red wolf!”

I bared my teeth playfully and raised my nails.

Leaving Franz behind was harder than I expected.

As I tried to persuade him once more, a thin voice was heard from behind.