Eaten By The Tyrant I Raised

[Thump, thump]

The sound of a dawn knock awakened Lorna from her thoughts.
Lost in contemplation, she hadn’t even noticed the window being obscured by shadows.

“My goodness.”

Lorna swiftly ushered Nabel, who was perched by the window, back into the room.

“Always taking risks.”

As she spoke those words, she couldn’t help but anticipate the sweet moments they would share.

Nabel chuckled in response to her remark.

“I’ll be careful coming down.”

Yet he refrained from making any promises about not coming down.
He couldn’t bear the thought of Lorna being subjected to baseless rumours.

“By the way, what were you thinking?”

Nabel gestured toward the window.

“I had no idea you were coming.”

“….”

Lorna chuckled awkwardly.
She didn’t think it would please Nabel to hear what was on her mind.

“Who were you thinking about?”

Nabel leaned slightly toward her, his shadow cast by the moonlight enveloping Lorna deeply.

With a mischievous tone, he tilted his head and asked again.

“Not me, but someone else?”

His narrowed eyes made Lorna burst into laughter.

“No, it was you I was thinking about.”

In truth, it wasn’t Nabel she had in mind.
She couldn’t help but think of Lady Diya, the Countess of Nabel.

Though she detested the thought, it kept creeping into her mind.

Lady Diya was no less than a tyrant, the wife of the Count of Nabel.

Even in this imperial territory, she couldn’t help but be concerned.

Just as Nabel had said, even with the Emperor of the Empire by her side, she couldn’t help but be reminded of her childhood.
Lady Diya would attack her multiple times a day when her cruelty reached its peak.
Despite knowing that magic was ineffective against her, Lorna was startled every time, as if her heart were about to leap out of her chest.

In the rare occurrence that, by some twist of fate, magic befalls us, I never knew what would become of it.

“Oh, dear!”

Lorna witnessed the demise of the maid who stood right beside her, struck by a bolt of lightning magic.

The haunting scream still lingered in her mind.

“….”

Unbeknownst to herself, Lorna clenched her fist tightly.

It was terrifying.

The fear from that moment resurfaced once again.

Knowing that she couldn’t use magic in the heart of the Empire.

“While I was lost in thought.”

At that moment, Nabel unexpectedly entered her field of vision.
Stealthily approaching her, he brought his face closer and gently traced Lorna’s lips with his fingertips.

“In such a sorrowful countenance, I see.”

Tensely, Nabel observed her trembling hand and reached out to cup her face.

“Perhaps I am causing you distress?”

“…No.”

Eventually, Lorna nodded, lowering her head.

Nabel enveloped her face with both hands.

“Because of Lady Nabel, isn’t it?”

Even without confirming her thoughts, he could discern it to that extent.
His piercing words reached Lorna.

“Yes, it’s just… I find it difficult to face her again.”

Out of fear.

Her words were barely a whisper.
However, they reached Nabel’s ears loud and clear.

Nabel brushed her cheek once.

“Shall I kill her?”

Due to his usual calm tone, she couldn’t comprehend his intentions.

“…Pardon?”

After a moment of silence, Lorna widened her eyes and looked up at him.

“I hope Lady Nabel will no longer cause you discomfort.”

With a furrowed brow.

Nabel’s hand gently brushed across her forehead, wiping away the tears at the corner of her eye.
Gradually, his hand descended down her face.

Feeling her pulse, the thumping of her heart, he whispered.

“Look, your heart is racing.”

Out of fear and tension, that must be the cause.

Nabel said with a tinge of sympathy.

“I wish it were not because of me.”

Not because other things make you uncomfortable, but because I make your heart flutter.

Nabel bowed his head to her.

His face, illuminated by the light from the window, was tinted with the shadows of backlight.

“You know, my lady.”

Their foreheads touched.

“I will do anything you ask of me.
So, please.”

Tilting his head slightly, he nibbled on Lorna’s lower lip.
The meeting of their soft lips produced a moist sound.

“—Try asking me to kill.
Request that I erase her from this world, tell me you dislike Lady Nabel, and see what happens.”

He tempted her in a low voice.