The Tyrant’s Beloved Doll - Chapter 59

[“Your Highness! You’ve left the window open again.”]

She could almost see Luna, her face showing that familiar look of gentle exasperation. She would always shake her head and start scolding her, just like she used to.

[“You’re already in poor health, and if you keep this up, you’ll catch another cold. Remember how much you suffered last winter?”]

“…Yeah.”

Tears welled up in Setz’s eyes.

“Yeah… you did say that.”

[“I told you so many times to keep the window closed! Honestly, I worry so much. What will you do without me, Your Highness…?”]

Right.

What am I supposed to do, Luna?

The tears that had been pooling in her eyes finally spilled over, rolling down her cheeks.

“……”

Setz squinted slightly, her vision blurred by the tears. Through that hazy view, she saw a shadowy figure. Someone was closing the window.

Just like Luna would have done.

Luna appeared, looking slightly annoyed. She began to scold Setz, shaking her head as she always did.

[“You’re already in poor health, and if you keep this up, you’ll catch another cold. Remember how much you suffered last winter?”]

“…Yeah.”

Tears welled up in Setz’s eyes.

“Yeah… you did say that.”

[“I told you so many times to keep the window closed! Honestly, I worry so much. What will you do without me, Your Highness…?”]

Right.

What am I supposed to do, Luna?

The tears that had been pooling in her eyes finally spilled over, rolling down her cheeks.

“……”

Setz squinted slightly, her vision blurred by the tears. Through that hazy view, she saw a shadowy figure. Someone was closing the window.

Just like Luna would have done.

“Leaving the window open again,” Raytan said, looking at Setz.

“It’s winter. You should keep it closed, especially at night.”

“I just felt… suffocated,” Setz muttered softly.

“…So I left it open.”

Raytan paused for a moment, then reluctantly opened the window just a crack once more. He then moved closer to Setz.

“Shall we go outside, then?” he suggested, his words unexpected.

“Maybe some fresh air will help. Tell me where you want to go. Anywhere.”

Setz looked at Raytan, her gaze fixed on him.

In the past few days, Raytan had shown Setz an unfamiliar gentleness that seemed completely out of character. It was ironic. Once again, it seemed that the only person truly concerned about Setz’s sorrow was Raytan.

Setz’s lips moved slightly, her voice barely a whisper.

“Brother… thank you.”

“For what?”

“For worrying about me.”

“Don’t be silly.”

“I know how much you’ve been looking out for me. I’m really grateful for it.”

She meant it. Without Raytan’s support, Setz would have sunk even deeper into her grief.

The sadness wasn’t gone, but Raytan was doing everything he could to dilute its intensity.

“If you’re grateful to me, then at least eat this properly,” Raytan said, picking up the tray that Kaen had left on the table. It held a bowl of thin soup, untouched.

“But I’m not hungry…”

“You haven’t eaten anything all day. Do you think I wouldn’t notice?”

When Setz didn’t respond, Raytan let out a soft sigh. Then, surprisingly, he picked up the spoon.

“Open your mouth.”

“……”

“Hurry.”

Unable to resist his urging, Setz slowly opened her mouth.

The lukewarm soup entered her mouth, and Setz swallowed it weakly.

Raytan continued to feed her, spoonful by spoonful, until the bowl was nearly empty, as if he were caring for a child. Setz couldn’t help but let out a faint, helpless smile at the sight.

“What’s so funny?” Raytan asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

“You remind me of Luna, Brother,” Setz replied.

“…….”

“Luna used to feed me like this too, you know. She would worry as if it were a disaster if I skipped even a single meal.”

“She always acted that way when it came to you.”

“…Yes.”

Raytan’s lips curled into a small smile as he recalled Luna’s flustered expression whenever she fretted over even the tiniest scratch on Setz.

“And I’m no different…” Raytan whispered to himself, his voice so low that Setz couldn’t catch the words.

“…Just the same,” Raytan murmured.

His voice was so quiet that it didn’t reach Setz’s ears.

Raytan placed the empty bowl down on the floor and turned his gaze back to Setz.

“You look exhausted. Have you been sleeping at all?” he asked.

Setz shook her head.

“I keep having nightmares,” she replied.

“What kind of nightmares?” Raytan asked gently.

“Nightmares where I see Luna… getting hit by a carriage right in front of me,” Setz said, her voice trembling. “I try to stop it, but I always fail. And then, I’m left holding her lifeless body, crying my heart out.”

Raytan said nothing, his eyes fixed on Setz as he listened intently.

“I want to remember her smiling face… but it’s not easy. I’m scared that I’ll only be able to remember her final moments,” Setz said, her voice cracking as she lowered her head, overwhelmed by fear and sadness.

She was terrified. She knew she would keep thinking of Luna, over and over again. Even if not right now, she feared that someday, the last image she had of Luna would be her blood-stained face.

“Setz,” Raytan called her name softly.

“I wanted to come earlier… I’m sorry I was late,” he said, his voice sincere.

“……”

“And happy birthday. Truly,” he added.

Then, to Setz’s surprise, Raytan reached into his coat and pulled something out.

“I was late because I was preparing this. I’m not sure if you’ll like it… but I thought it looked pretty good.”

Setz slowly looked down at what Raytan held out to her. Then, her face quickly shifted to an expression as if she was about to cry.

“Take it. It’s yours,” Raytan said as he handed the item to Setz.

It was a painting—a portrait of Luna.

“Where did you…?”

Setz’s frail shoulders trembled weakly. Her pale, hollow cheeks were streaked with tears, and a faint sob escaped from between her tightly pressed lips.

“Where did you get this…?”

“I commissioned it from an artist. I described every detail of her appearance,” Raytan explained.

He had gone out as soon as dawn broke. He scoured the city until he found an artist, paying them a hefty sum to create this painting.

Since the artist had never seen Luna in person, Raytan had to carefully describe every feature of her face.

“It looks as if they saw her in person. And… she’s smiling,” Setz said with a trembling voice. In the painting, Luna was smiling brightly, with that radiant smile that she cherished so much.

“In my memories, Luna was always smiling like that.”

“……”

“Always, whenever she looked at you.”

During all the years he knew her, Luna’s eyes constantly followed Setz, her lips adorned with a warm smile.

Raytan wanted Setz to know that.

Luna had been truly happy every moment she was with her.

“Now, you can remember her like this, right? Luna’s smiling face.”

“…Yes,” Setz replied.

Her hands trembled slightly as she touched the painting. Afraid it might crumple, she couldn’t hold it too tightly.

Raytan watched Setz in silence for a moment, then sat down beside her.

Over the past few days, Raytan hadn’t known what to say to Setz. He had never received comfort from anyone, nor had he ever given it.

And even now, he still didn’t know what the right thing to do was. But he wished, at least, that Setz’s pain would lessen, even if just a little.

Hesitating for a moment, Raytan reached out and placed his hand on Setz’s head.

He gently straightened her messy hair, softly stroking it. He wiped away the tears that drenched her face. He was careful not to let his large, rough hands scrape her delicate skin, worried he might accidentally hurt her.

“It’s a small gift for a birthday, I know,” Raytan said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

“If there’s anything else you want, just tell me. Whatever it is, I’ll—”

“No,” Setz said, shaking her head firmly.

“This is enough for me.”

She wasn’t lying. It was the best birthday present she could have received, and also the greatest comfort. Even if Raytan had offered her the most precious jewels, they wouldn’t have held as much value as this. Setz was genuinely grateful to Raytan.

“Thank you so much, Brother,” she said.

“…You’re welcome,” Raytan replied softly.

“That’s enough for me,” Setz said softly.

She wasn’t lying. It was the best birthday present she could have received, and also the greatest comfort. Even if Raytan had offered her the most precious jewels, they wouldn’t have held as much value as this. Setz was genuinely grateful to Raytan.

“Thank you so much, Brother,” she said.

“…You’re welcome,” Raytan replied quietly. He looked down at Setz for a moment, then gently pulled her frail body toward him, resting her small head on his lap.

“You should get some rest, Setz,” he said softly.

“What about you, Brother…?” Setz asked hesitantly.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay by your side until you fall asleep.”

Instead of responding with words, Setz clutched the hem of Raytan’s shirt tightly.

The fabric wrinkled under her grip, but Raytan didn’t care about the creases. His focus was solely on the small, trembling hand that still shook slightly.

If only I were a warmer person, he thought.

Maybe then, I could truly comfort you.

But no words came to mind. Instead of offering awkward comfort, Raytan gently patted Setz’s back.

[Even if you’re lonely, even if you become lonelier… it’s still the better choice.]

He heard his own voice, calm and resigned. He knew he had to draw a line. No matter what the outcome, he was aware that the more time they spent together, the more it would hurt them both.

But back then, you stayed by my side too.

You comforted me with clumsy words and eased my trembling with your awkward touch.

Even if there was nothing else he could do for her, he wanted to stay by Setz’s side. At least for this moment.

When the sun rises, and the moon sets, and when tomorrow finally comes… Raytan would have to do what he had been postponing for too long.

He would have to kill Johann Franz.