The Tyrant’s Beloved Doll - Chapter 45

“You’re going to die anyway,” the man said quietly.

Only then did Baron Aintz recognize the man’s identity.

“Raytan… the cursed prince,” he muttered weakly.

But the realization came too late.

“Gah…!”

The sharp blade plunged straight into his heart. Baron Aintz thrashed about like a drowning insect, then went limp as life left his body.

Raytan slowly withdrew his sword. The blade slid out with a sickening sound, carrying with it the grim sensation of flesh yielding.

A large, vein-streaked hand wiped the blood splattered across his face with little care. The thick, metallic scent of blood filled his nostrils. Despite this being his third kill, that smell never became any less revolting.

“Ha…”

Raytan let out a faint sigh and looked down at Baron Aintz’s lifeless body.

One of the names listed on Liza’s hit list. The Aintz family had served the Emperor loyally for generations. Even now, they were no different.

In other words, they were obstacles—people who stood in the way of Liza’s plans.

“Yes, the cursed prince…”

That was why you all despised, ignored, and tried to kill me.

“This didn’t start with me,” Raytan muttered softly. “You started this. Not me.” His voice carried a hint of bitter justification as he stared at the dead body of Baron Aintz.

[……, Sir.]

Suddenly, he heard an odd voice.

[His Majesty trusts you, Sir. Just as he always has. So, to further solidify that trust…]

Raytan narrowed his eyes, bewildered. There was no way that Baron Aintz’s lifeless lips could be moving.

[Seal the power…]

“What…?”

A sudden sharp pain shot through Raytan’s head, as if it were being split open. He staggered slightly, struggling to stay on his feet.

As he regained his balance, the strange voice abruptly ceased.

Confusion swirled in Raytan’s crimson eyes as he stared down at Baron Aintz’s corpse.

***

The sound of splashing water echoed through the bathroom.

Raytan was absentmindedly washing his hands. The blood that had stained them bright red gradually faded, and soon it was as if it had never been there at all, washed away completely.

“……”

Raytan suddenly looked into the mirror. His reflection showed nothing unusual. No one would have guessed that he had just killed someone.

“Yeah. Nothing’s different at all….”

Then why did he hear that strange voice? All of a sudden.

Staring blankly at the mirror, Raytan began to wash his face with cold water.

He must have misheard it.

At that moment, there were only Baron Ain and himself in that space. Besides, there was no way that the dead Baron Ain could speak.

It’s nothing.

Turning off the faucet, Raytan ran a hand through his hair, muttering to himself.

[Seal the… power…]

He tried to ignore the words that seemed to echo in his ears, their meaning elusive.

The empty hallway was deserted. It looked the same as always.

But Raytan quickly started walking. Setz would be waiting for him.

It had already been a few days since he had invited Setz to his palace. The fact that someone was in his palace, waiting for him, was still something he wasn’t quite used to.

Unfamiliar, but not unpleasant, Raytan thought.

The palace, which had always been so quiet and empty, now strangely felt warm.

This was how it always was before he went to meet Setz. He would wash his hands and check to see if the scent of blood lingered. Today was no different.

After thoroughly checking himself, Raytan slowly opened the door.

“Brother.”

Setz, who was sitting at the desk, stood up with a bright smile.

“Isn’t it a lovely night? The weather is nice and cool.”

“Yes, it is.”

Raytan answered with a faint smile of his own, then took a seat on the long chair.

“What should we start with today? Homework review? Or solving some problems?”

“Do as you please.”

“As I please?”

“You’ll just fall asleep anyway. So does the order really matter?”

That’s not true. Not today, really.

Setz grumbled in protest. Raytan let out a small chuckle.

The mysterious voice was no longer heard.

***

“Sir, please spare some change. Just a little… I beg of you… please show mercy…”

The child couldn’t have been more than six or seven years old.

His face and clothes were filthy, and he had been begging for a while now. Unfortunately, it seemed he wasn’t having much luck.

“You dirty little brat! How dare you grab onto me!”

Instead of getting any money, the child started getting beaten like a stray dog. A middle-aged man, who appeared excessively well-dressed, threw the child to the ground with force.

“I-I’m sorry…”

“Because of you, my clothes are dirty! You worthless beggar!”

“Priest…”

A companion standing beside the man tried to calm him down. A priest? A priest, really? It was absurd.

The Empire of Eont had really fallen far.

Eaton let out a dry chuckle.

“Please, sir… I beg you…”

Still seething with anger, the man kicked the child. Once, twice…

And just before he could kick the child a third time, he found himself sprawled on the ground, just like the child he had been about to strike.

“Are you okay, kid?”

Eaton gently helped the fallen child to his feet. The child, seemingly too frightened to respond, just stared at Eaton in silence.

“Y-You insolent fool—do you even know who I am—”

Eaton looked irritated. He turned to face the man who was now approaching him.

“A priest, huh? That’s what the kid next to you called you earlier.”

“For you to know that—seize him at once!”

At the man’s command, the group surrounded Eaton. But they couldn’t touch him as they intended. Flames suddenly ignited on their clothes.

“Aaagh!”

The street quickly descended into chaos. The man seemed unable to comprehend what was happening right before his eyes. Eaton briefly glared at the man, then slapped him across the face with all his might.

Exactly three times.

“You kicked that child three times, so it’s only fair you get hit three times as well.”

“Hic… Th-this….”

The man, his lip split open, couldn’t even speak properly. Maybe Eaton had hit him a bit too hard.

“I-I was only kicked twice…”

“What?”

“It wasn’t three times…” the child mumbled awkwardly. Eaton let out a small laugh.

“You’re such a kind child. Even in this situation, you’re worrying about that guy.”

“T-that’s not it, but…”

“Well then, let’s just say that last hit was for my own personal satisfaction. I wasn’t in the best mood anyway.”

Muttering words that seemed to make little sense, Eaton began to rummage through the clothes of the man who was still sprawled on the ground.

He soon pulled out a few gold coins.

“Here. This should be enough to keep you from having to beg for a while, right?”

“B-but…”

“Go on, take it. Then head home. Don’t worry about what happens next.”

Eaton pressed the gold coins into the child’s hand. The child hesitated for a moment but eventually turned and walked away.

After watching the child leave, Eaton bent down and grabbed the man’s wrist with a fierce grip.

“Aaagh!”

“Feels hot, doesn’t it? If I don’t let go soon, your bones will be cooked through.”

He wasn’t lying. The man’s wrist was turning redder by the second, and soon, ugly blisters began to form. It was a burn.

“Y-you… let go of me!”

“You should say, ‘Please, let go of me.'”

“Nngh…”

“Well? Not saying it?”

Eaton tightened his grip. The man let out a squeal like a pig being slaughtered, then finally started begging in a tearful voice.

“Please… please let go of me… I’m begging you…”

“If you pull a stunt like this again, I won’t go easy on you next time. Understand?”

Y-yes… The man whimpered. Eaton released his grip on the man’s wrist, then shook his hand off as if he’d touched something filthy, before calmly walking away.

…This place is just as messed up as everywhere else. Eaton shook his head.

“A priest, of all things. What on earth is this guy even doing…”

Well, I was planning to see him anyway, so I might as well have a word while I’m at it. Tch. Clicking his tongue, Eaton started walking briskly.