I Grabbed the Tyrant’s Heart

Arden’s story, which I had half laughed off until now, began to feel serious to me.
I already knew he had a crush on me.
However, I didn’t know that I was big enough for him to be this courageous and to consider me important.

“Isn’t Arden, Gilber’s successor?”

“That’s right, but the more important thing to me is Euel.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off those genuine brown eyes.
It had been a long time since I saw clear eyes that I could see through.

“I know I am lacking a lot.
Still, if you accept it, I want to live for Euel for the rest of my life.”

The tips of Arden’s fingers, which were slightly clasped together, were trembling.
Looking closely, the nape of his neck was also red.

“Arden.”

“You don’t have to give me an answer right now.”

I bit my lips lightly.
My mind was made up from the start, but I struggled on how to convey it.

Sweat began to form on Arden’s forehead and I opened my mouth.

“Thank you, Arden.”

His dark brown eyebrows twitched.

“I know Arden is a good man.”

There was a little hope in his brown eyes, but I didn’t stop talking.

“But that doesn’t mean I like Arden in that way.”

In an instant, his eyebrows drooped.

“Yes, it could be.”

But Arden did not give up and tried to convince me.

 

“But I think that a couple doesn’t have to be passionately in love.
We can try to get to know each other-”

“-Arden.”

The tip of the man’s nose twitched as he closed his mouth.
He looked like a dead puppy, but I continued to speak.

“Right now I have no intention to get married.”

“What?”

“My parents are alive and well, and I have a younger sister, so I don’t feel obligated to inherit the family.”

Arden, who slowly blinked his eyes in realization.

“So you study…….”

“That’s right.”

I nodded my head to the hesitantly questioning young man.

“I will one day see with my own eyes what I have studied.
It might be a long trip.”

It was right, as I had to visit the world where I lived in my previous life.

“It’s a journey where I don’t know yet where it will end, and all my attention is on it.”

I tried to maintain a friendly tone, not wanting to hurt the other person as much as possible.

“I will not give up.”

“… what?”

“I will wait until Euel wants to settle somewhere while doing research.”

Arden’s face was shining with hope as he jumped up from his seat.

“Arden?”

“I was rejected today, but I will wait.”

“Don’t wait.”

“It’s up to me to wait, so Euel can do what you want to do.”

After saying goodbye, Arden left me in Hardland.

According to the butler who saw Arden off instead of me, he left like someone who had succeeded in proposing- the butler did not know that he had proposed to me.

Rumble, bang!

After Arden left, the ground shook shortly after.

“Miss!”

“Laura.”

The handmaid hurriedly tried to protect me, and fortunately the shaking stopped right away.
There was no aftermath to call it an earthquake, but I think I heard something collapse in the distance.

Fortunately, the house was not damaged and no one was injured.

“Oh, Euel.
My daughter, you are safe.”

“Mother, Gael.”

Mother and Gael, who returned soon after, were also unharmed, and we received word that Father was also safe.
However, the imperial palace was not as safe.

“The eastern tower has collapsed.”

“Then the shaking from earlier must have been caused by the collapse of the tower.”

The real problem happened two days later.

The haggard-looking Father came home late, and he hurriedly said that he had to change his clothes and go out.

“What is it, Millen? Your complexion is bad.”

“Your Majesty has asked us to investigate Marquis Gilber.”

I listened to the familiar name.

“He said to focus on treason, but the moment it came out of His Majesty’s mouth, it felt like it was already over.”

“What about Millen? What do you think?”

“Between us, I don’t believe he would.
Of course, there are many people who put on good faces and do bad things behind, so you have to be careful.”

I had to work hard not to show the trembling that seemed like my heart would jump out.

“Have a safe trip.”

 

“Yes.
Take care, Euel.
You too, Ciel.”

Gael was sleeping so me and Mother saw Father off.

As soon as Father left, I ran up to my room.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

The beating of my heart was so loud that I groped my chest to see if my heart was beating out without me realizing it.
Fortunately, it was still placed in my body.

Gilber.

Arden’s face, who had visited me a few days ago, came to mind.

This is absolutely no coincidence.

“Miss!”

I went down the hallway again hearing the maid calling me.
The somewhat surprised Mother, the butler, and the handmaid were looking at no one other than Marquis Gilber.

“Lady!”

The Marquis, who looked thinner than the last time I saw him, knelt down.

“Save me, Lady.
It’s my fault.”

“What?”

“I was too greedy.
Please save my son.
Please save our family.”

The Marquis holding my hem and begging, reminded me of the former Marquis Xuen.
The man who begged me to save his daughter.

“Please, Lady.
I’ll do anything please!”

Goosebumps went up in my arms at the sound.

“Master!”

The gatekeeper hurriedly ran from afar, and behind him I saw those holding fire.

Those who got closer were members of the Imperial Knights.

“Oh my God.”

The knights grabbed the frightened Marquis by the arms and forced him to stand up.
A person who appeared to be the captain took a step forward and asked for our understanding.

“We are the Imperial Knights.
The Marquis has left without permission and must be transferred by force.”

“Please forgive our rudeness.”

Among the knights, there was the one who had escorted Gael before.
The knights ruthlessly pushed the marquis into the carriage.

“Lady!”

The desperate screams of Marquis Gilber grew farther and farther away.

I can’t stay still.

“Eul, where are you going?”

Mother, who was walking around the parlor, was surprised to see me putting on my cloak and leaving.