Eaten by the Tyrant I Raised – Chapter 31 – Secrets – Hades House

6-8 minutes 20.06.2023

“Would you like someone else by your side?”

Her gaze sank a little.
Lorna recalled the depths she had once read about in a book.

It was said that even though the surface may be calm, one could never predict what might happen in the depths.

Nabel’s eyes reflected that sentiment.
His gaze was serene, but only Nabel knew what thoughts were simmering in his mind.

“Tell me you only want me.”

He had been drawing me for ten years.

Thinking about how I had grown, I hoped to find you like this, thinking of myself.

Please say it like that.

Intense eyes stared at her.

“That’s enough for me.”

Please don’t leave.
Nabel pleaded earnestly.

“Still, as the master of the divine creature, I will be by your side.”

No matter how dangerous it may be, I couldn’t bear to give in.
Lorna said.

“…It could be dangerous.”

Nabel closed his eyes.
He didn’t want to think about the name of Lord Goun, the unpleasant one, in this bed.

“I don’t want to just be by your side without doing anything.
You tried to protect my sanctuary too.”

She distinctly remembered the time when young Nabel had vomited on her body.

The day he cleared the vines in front of her room with his small hands.

“I will do the same.
I want to be your ornament.”

“That’s not possible.”

Nabel buried his face in her embrace.

“I told you.
I want you to hold my secrets, to control me with my leash.”

“Then, let me be the master of the divine creature.”

In the end, Nabel was the person Lorna could not defeat.

“…I will prepare myself to take the test.”

And when you become the owner of the divine being, when you stand by my side, I will turn this place into the coziest sanctuary.

Promise me.

Nabel tightly held her hand.

***

On that morning, the imperial palace buzzed with the rumours of Nabel.

“A woman from the Eastern Continent?”

“Hush now.
She is said to be the guest of His Majesty.”

“But still, a woman from the Eastern Continent…”

“…Did they spend the night together?”

Whispered discreetly, the rumours spread little by little, eventually circling back to the palace.

Naturally, the rumours reached even the Imperial Guard of Nabel.

The Imperial Palace of the Serene Empire was divided into the Outer Court and the Inner Court.

Among them, Nisha of the Zeroth Knights, responsible for the Inner Court’s security, found herself entangled in a perplexing debate from morning till night.

“Did she spend the night?”

“Surely, she must have.”

“I mean, did she sleep soundly, or…”

[Thwack!]

Nisha swiftly struck her comrade’s back before he could make a slip of the tongue.
The audacious ones who dared to inquire about the nocturnal activities of their lord were none other than the Emperor’s personal guards.

They were loyal to the House of Eber, the former ruling family, and had fought alongside Nabel for nearly a decade.

It was quite a transformation for those of noble lineage.

The Imperial Knights adhered to strict rules as they were closely associated with the imperial family.

However, the Zeroth Knights, to which Nisha belonged, were slightly different.
Their tasks were more akin to those of intelligence agents than knights.

A trusted group upon whom Emperor Nabel Eber could rely.

That was the most accurate description for them.
As a result, they had to lend their ears even to the rumours within the palace.

“…In the end.”

It seemed that the rumours were becoming clearer as they approached Lone Mansion.
Nisha furrowed her brow at the increasingly distinct speculations.

Undoubtedly, Duke Lound would admonish not to neglect the other fine young ladies of the Serene Empire while an uncertain woman of unknown origin was making such fuss.

Simultaneously, he would subtly introduce his own daughter, a twenty-year-old duchess-in-waiting.

“How did he sedate her?”

Contemplating such matters was part of the Zeroth Knights’ mission.
After spending a decade on the battlefield, their noble dignity had eroded considerably, but their esteemed background was still helpful in times like these.

There were few who were as well-versed in politics as they were.

“Nisha, my lady!”

Someone called out to her from afar.
Approaching swiftly was Archmage Lucel, one of those who had fought alongside Nabel on the battlefield and had become a member of the Mastaba due to his prowess in magic.

“What is the matter?”

In response to Nisha’s question, Lucel rushed over, his face filled with concern.

“His Majesty is preparing for the Tower’s trial!”

“What did you say?”

Nisha felt as if her mind were aflame, silenced by the wise judgement of her lord that had rendered the Marquis of Lowe speechless.

The Marquis of Lowe no longer dared to question the origins of Lady Lorna.

Yet, the Marquis of Lowe remained a man bound by the strictures of tradition.

He had merely escaped execution due to the lack of evidence.

In light of this, he had no reason to welcome the return of Lord Iver to the House of Huang.

Thus, there was only one answer.

He would undoubtedly resort to any means necessary to hinder their progress!

Nisha, her mind entangled with plans to escort Lorna, tore at her own hair in frustration.

***

“Your Majesty, the situation remains tumultuous.
Particularly concerning are those remnants of the opposition still lingering.”

Nabel sat perched high, his chin resting on his hand, enduring the hours-long discussion.

He had never attended the council with such indifference before.

Despite resolutely ousting the dissenting faction, he retained loyal followers because he was an emperor who pondered the future of the empire.

Those who had endured the relentless onslaught of opposition in recent years could only welcome his reign.
As soon as the dynasty transitioned, internal strife broke out among them.

They were not interested in the empire’s future.

They pursued only personal gain.

Had it not been for Nabel, the empire would have fractured into four or five pieces due to the opposition’s dynamite.

“Therefore, I implore Your Majesty to pay attention to the rumours.
We mustn’t give them a chance to disrespect you.”

However, as he continued to listen to such discussions for two hours, Nabel found himself adopting a slightly disengaged posture.