The Tyrant’s Beloved Doll - Chapter 6

Setz hurried toward the western library, her steps as quick as could be.

They hadn’t set an exact meeting time, but she remembered seeing him there early in the morning the last time. Now it was nearly noon. She worried that Raytan, who already seemed reluctant to tutor her in Khazakian, might use her tardiness as an excuse to cancel their lessons altogether.

“Huff, huff…”

Setz panted heavily as she walked quickly. It was her first time being beaten so badly, and her head was still throbbing. Usually, she only got slapped a few times at most. And her nosebleed still hadn’t stopped. The fabric she’d stuffed in her nostrils was already soaked with blood and had long since ceased to be useful.

With a sigh, Setz tore off another piece of her dress hem and stuffed it into her nose. How crude, she thought. She could have just asked Luna to bring her some cloth. But she had been in too much of a rush to think that far ahead.

“….”

Setz stumbled slightly as she opened the door to the library. Once again, the western library was empty. She passed through the entrance and moved past row after row of bookshelves. Finally, she reached the large window at the far end of the library and let out a sigh of relief when she saw someone’s silhouette there. It was, of course, Raytan.

Setz walked up to Raytan and stood in front of him.

“Brother,” she said, forcing a cheerful tone into her voice.

“I’m here now.”

Raytan, who had been staring at his book, frowned instantly. He muttered something under his breath—whether it was “damn it” or “hell,” she couldn’t quite tell—before he finally looked up at her.

And then… he made a strange expression.

“I’m sorry for being late on the first day. I really tried not to be late….”

Setz trailed off for a moment. She felt like she needed to come up with some kind of excuse, but nothing appropriate came to mind. She couldn’t very well say, “I got beaten by my mother.” After some awkward hesitation, she settled on the most common excuse.

“Um… I overslept.”

“Overslept?”

Raytan let out a short, bitter laugh, his expression filled with disbelief.

“You must have some awful sleeping habits if oversleeping left you looking like that.”

Only then did Setz realize she’d run out without checking her appearance in a mirror. But surely, it was just a little swelling on her cheek and a nosebleed, right? Even though she’d been hit harder than usual, it couldn’t look that bad… could it? Her eyes wandered to the window nearby.

The clean glass reflected her face like a mirror, and what she saw was almost monstrous. Her cheek was swollen, her nose was puffy, and her whole face looked battered.

On top of that, the smeared blood had stained the corners of her mouth, and there was a large, bluish bruise on her forehead from where she’d hit the bedpost. Anyone could tell she had just taken a severe beating. Even Setz herself seemed a bit shocked by the state of her face.

“Ah, but I can still study,” she stammered, worried that Raytan might tell her to leave again like last time.

“It’s not like I hit my head that hard, and it doesn’t hurt that much either! So, you don’t have to worry….”

“Worry?”

Raytan sneered.

“Who said I was worried about you?”

Setz pouted slightly. Then why even bring it up? If he didn’t care, he could have just ignored it. There was no need to embarrass her. She thought that, but she didn’t let it show on her face.

As she shifted her gaze around the room, her eyes landed on the books stacked by the window. The intimidating books from last time were gone, replaced by different ones.

Introduction to Khazakian

Understanding Khazakian

Khazakian for Beginners

It seemed that even Raytan couldn’t completely defy Lize’s orders after all.

“….”

Raytan shot a brief glance at Setz, who was nervously watching him, then grabbed a book and stood up. He began walking down the corridor toward the desks. Setz hurried to keep up with his long strides on her shorter legs.

When Raytan sat down at the desk, Setz carefully pulled a chair closer to him. Is it okay if I sit next to him? Thankfully, Raytan didn’t tell her to leave. Relieved, Setz tried to climb up onto the chair—quite literally. Unfortunately, the chair was quite high, and Setz was rather small for a twelve-year-old.

“Ouch!”

Just as Setz was trying to sit on the chair, her foot slipped, and she ended up sprawled awkwardly on the floor. Being small was exhausting in so many ways. This place wasn’t designed with a child in mind at all. Setz thought about that as she struggled to get herself back onto the chair, unaware that Raytan was watching her with a look that suggested he thought she was completely hopeless.

“Brother… what, um, what should we start with?”

Setz asked with a forced smile, clutching her pen awkwardly. Raytan responded with nothing but the most irritated expression in the world.

***

Raytan really did give Setz a lesson, though it seemed like Lize had firmly instructed him to do so. Honestly, even if he had gone through the motions half-heartedly, treating it as “this is this, and that is that,” Setz wouldn’t have been surprised… but calling him kind would still be far from accurate. He was simply tutoring her, no more, no less.

It was the most haphazard and uncooperative tutoring session Setz had ever experienced. Without even bothering to teach her the basics of consonants and vowels, Raytan handed her problems that seemed at least intermediate level. It was obvious he was trying to stump her with difficult questions, hoping to later say, “Teaching a girl like you Khazakian is a waste of time,” and use that as an excuse to stop the lessons.

The only bit of luck was that Setz actually knew a fair amount of Khazakian. Of course, Raytan didn’t know that. He seemed a little surprised that Setz was managing to keep up with the lesson. In the end, his plan fell apart. Who would’ve thought that the Khazakian she learned to survive outside the palace would come in handy like this? Life is full of surprises—or rather, it was her second chance at life that was.

Even though reviewing Khazakian wasn’t all that bad, her real goal was to get closer to Raytan, maybe even win his favor. So, while she was solving the problems, she kept sneaking glances at Raytan. He was reading a book again today. He really seems to like reading, she thought, and her gaze drifted to the title of the book in his hand.

The Magicians of the Denhelder Empire

The book he was reading today was at least somewhat ordinary. But still, the topic of magicians seemed a bit odd. He didn’t seem like someone who’d be interested in magic. And those political treatises he was reading before—like that book on monarchy—was that just a coincidence? Setz tilted her head slightly in confusion and then openly stared at Raytan.

This was the first time she’d gotten a good look at Raytan’s face up close. The first thought that crossed her mind was that he was handsome. Raytan was undeniably good-looking, like the statues she’d once seen Yerna secretly collecting when she was obsessed with art a few years back.

The curious thing was that he didn’t resemble the Emperor at all. Nor did he look much like Lize. There was a hint of Lize’s aura, but his face was far too cold and severe to resemble the angelic Lize.

Still, he was undeniably handsome. If not for his black hair and red eyes—if not for the fact that he was tied to the royal bloodline—Raytan might have lived a much better life than he did.

He was tall, clearly intelligent (considering how fluently he spoke Khazakian), and had excellent physical skills, as evidenced by his previous coup attempt. Without that cursed prophecy hanging over him, Raytan might have lived a life that broke the hearts of many noblewomen.

Setz’s gaze drifted back to the book in Raytan’s hands. Who was that person who supposedly predicted the prophecy? She recalled hearing that it was a renowned magician…

“What are you staring at?”

Raytan’s sudden question startled Setz.

“If you’re not here to learn, then get out and go back to your quarters. It’s not like I’m teaching you because I want to.”

“No, it’s nothing. I’m sorry.”

Handsome face, but his personality is the worst. So scary that I can’t even respond properly… Setz thought as she bit her lip and gripped her pen tightly.

But my goal isn’t just to learn Khazakian… Learning Khazakian is just an excuse… When does he expect me to finish these problems anyway? This isn’t much different from studying alone in my quarters, is it? And really, all I did was look at him, did he have to react like that?

Setz silently sulked, swallowing down her complaints that she couldn’t voice aloud. Just then, Raytan’s gaze fixed on her with an irritated expression, and he said something completely unexpected.

“I’m just a stupid princess who can’t do anything.”

“…What?”

“Write it down. In Khazakian.”

Setz gave him a look that clearly said, What on earth is this nonsense? She couldn’t help it; the expression appeared before she could even think to hide it. Raytan ignored her reaction and continued sarcastically.

“I’ve been teaching you for hours, so you should at least be able to write that much by now, right?”

“But I’m not very good at writing…”

“If you can’t even do that, then you might as well quit learning altogether. If you can’t manage it, just go back to your quarters and stick to reading books quietly.”

This was a disaster. While Setz wasn’t completely unfamiliar with Khazakian, her writing skills were weak. Being suddenly asked to compose a sentence in it left her flustered. And did he really say “stupid princess”?

…What an awful person he is. I never imagined Raytan could be so twisted. Winning over someone like this might be even harder than sneaking out of the palace on my own.

“Didn’t you hear me?!”

Raytan snapped impatiently. What should I do now? Setz’s pen trembled, a drop of ink falling onto the page.

And then, in that very moment, a voice broke the tension.

“So, the Western library really is as desolate as they say.”

Setz, who had her head down on the desk, turned around in surprise.

“Seems like it’s not entirely a lie after all. Just look at the two pieces of junk sitting here.”

It was the group of half-siblings Setz loathed the most. Among them was Lillian, the one who had once slapped Setz just for making eye contact with her. And the person who’d just made that rude comment was… none other than Bern, who was always at the forefront of tormenting Raytan.

They glared at Raytan and Setz with disgust on their faces. Without realizing it, Setz glanced over at Raytan. His expression had turned to stone.

“Khazakian, is it?” Bern sneered.

Bern had moved closer and was now looking at the books on the desk, letting out a derisive laugh.

He picked up one of the books and threw it straight at Raytan.

There wasn’t even time to intervene. The thick book flew through the air as if it had sprouted wings and hit Raytan square on the forehead. Setz instinctively covered her mouth with her hands.

“Planning to run away? They say you can’t hide your filthy blood. Looks like you inherited your mother’s wanderlust, huh?”

Drip, drip… Red blood started to trickle down Raytan’s forehead from where the sharp corner of the book had cut him.

Setz was certain of one thing: that Bern would someday deeply regret what he did today. Honestly, if she were Raytan, she’d probably kill Bern first. But Bern had no idea what Raytan would do five years from now, so he kept taunting.

“Why don’t you take your mother with you when you go? She can go back to her cheap dancing, and you can beg on the streets beside her.”

Bern’s group all laughed together, snickering at their cruel joke.

“You’ve made the right choice, Raytan. Staying in the palace won’t do you any good anyway.”

No, it will do him good… He’s going to kill all of you, including the Emperor, and stay in the palace to enjoy all the benefits… At least I won’t die, Setz thought, her small mind racing quickly. As she processed her thoughts, Bern continued his nonsensical insults, trying to provoke Raytan, who stood there with blood dripping down his face, silently clenching his lips in rage. But that wasn’t what mattered right now.

If Setz were truly twelve years old, she’d have reacted in one of two ways: either run away in fear or burst into tears. But inside her twelve-year-old shell was the mind of her seventeen-year-old self. She thought of only one thing:

I have to win over Brother Raytan! I need to turn this situation into an opportunity!

“How about we start practicing right now, then?”

“….”

“Kneel and beg. Maybe I’ll take pity on you. I’m quite generous, you know.”

Bern gave Raytan’s chest a shove. Raytan’s red eyes burned with fury, but Setz knew that no matter how much he was bullied, Raytan rarely fought back. He’d just take the hits, fall into the lake if he was pushed, and stay silent when insulted. He was always like a lifeless doll.

Setz suddenly wondered if the coup later on was a result of all this. Maybe Lize’s death was the final trigger that unleashed all the rage he’d been holding back. Watching the situation closely, Setz quickly made a decision.

There won’t be a big fight today, she thought. Raytan will hold back like always. It’s all going to end quietly.

If I step in right now and stand up for him, it’ll be a win for me. Setz figured this wouldn’t escalate into a real fight, just like the other times. If she could defuse the situation and earn a bit of Raytan’s favor in the process, it would be worth it.

“Be-Bern, please stop,” Setz said, stepping between Bern and Raytan.

“What’s this now?”

Bern sneered in disbelief, then grabbed a handful of Setz’s long hair. What a jerk, she thought. It wasn’t a new revelation, but Bern’s habit of using his hands was as bad as ever. He always had a cruel streak, not just toward Raytan but also toward Setz. Today it was her turn, tomorrow someone else’s. He always took the lead in bullying and ostracizing the “leftovers” and the “outcasts.”

“Let me go! Please let me go!” Setz shouted desperately. But Bern only smirked, ignoring her pleas. Her eyes flicked toward Raytan. He didn’t seem inclined to intervene either. He just stood there, glaring at Bern with his blood-red eyes, not moving a muscle.

Well… it wasn’t exactly an unexpected reaction, but still, she felt a little hurt. I’m in this mess because of him, after all! She thought, frustrated, but kept it to herself.

“You miserable brat. I was wondering why I hadn’t seen you lately…,” Bern said, cutting himself off as he narrowed his eyes.

“…Looks like a fool got beaten up by another fool, huh?”

Bern pointed at Setz’s face and burst into mocking laughter. All eyes turned to Setz, and only then did she remember how terrible she looked. Her face was swollen and bruised from Yerna’s beating, and her nose was still bleeding.

Feeling a surge of embarrassment, Setz lowered her head slightly. Maybe I shouldn’t have stepped in after all. There were bound to be other opportunities. Her plan to gain favor by defending Raytan seemed to turn into quick regret.

“Hey, where and how did they hit you? Do it again,” Bern sneered, grabbing a fistful of Setz’s hair with one hand and tapping Raytan’s forehead with the other. Raytan still didn’t move a muscle. He just stood there, fists clenched and lips pressed tightly together.

“Can’t you hear your brother? He told you to do it again, you idiot,” Lillian chimed in from behind. She was the half-sister who once slapped Setz just for making eye contact. Lillian, who looked just like her older brother, seemed to take delight in tormenting both Raytan and Setz. She enjoyed this even more when she could bully them both at the same time. Truly, they were a detestable bunch.

Setz mustered all her strength to shake off Bern’s hand.

“Pl-please stop. Stop bullying Brother Raytan, and stop doing this to me, too—!”