The Tyrant’s Beloved Doll - Chapter 72

“[You’re nothing, just nuisances clinging to each other, and even that caught our attention. The fact that you’re still alive, still hanging around the palace without dying or fleeing, is your fault.]”

“[Leave us alone! We don’t care about being treated as royals or anything like that! We’re not asking for special treatment, just let us breathe! Why is that too much to ask?!]”

“[When I sit on the throne, the first thing I’ll do is personally chop off the heads of you lot.]”

And then… Setz remembered Raytan’s scar from long ago.

The scar on his abdomen, caused by an arrow Bern had shot at him during archery practice.

“I’m… afraid of you, Brother,” Setz whispered, her lips trembling.

“But…”

Even if all of this had been planned, even if there were more things she didn’t know…

“I understand.”

Setz understood.

She, too, had lived her entire life under oppression.

Even breathing had been something she did cautiously, always aware of how others would react.

She couldn’t justify Raytan’s actions, but she understood them.

“……”

Raytan’s crimson eyes wavered slightly. With trembling hands, much like Setz’s, he gently cupped her cheek.

[You must never give your heart to Princess Setz. Always remember, Raytan, that she’s no different from them.]

“…Setz,” he said softly.

[So, when the time comes and her usefulness runs out, you’ll need to eliminate her along with the others.]

“I will never…”

[Kill them all. Every one of those with blonde hair and blue eyes. Every last one.]

“I will never kill you.”

[Don’t disappoint me.]

“Not you… never.”

[I mean it!]

I’ve fulfilled your wishes, so just once…

Just once, at least once, let me have my way.

“No matter what happens, I won’t kill you,” Raytan said firmly, as if he were casting aside Lize’s words, which echoed like a curse in his ears.

Setz stared at him, unable to even breathe, shocked by what he had said.

“You said you would leave. Because you thought you were unnecessary here.”

“T-That’s—”

“I asked you, if you became someone who was needed here, would you stay? And you said… that no such person existed.”

Setz froze.

“I need you,” he said, his voice low but resolute.

“I’ll be your reason to stay. So…”

“B-Brother…?”

“Don’t leave, Setz.”

“……”

“Stay by my side.”

What had she just heard? Setz’s face was filled with confusion.

“Answer me,” Raytan demanded.

His hand tightened around her face, holding her firmly in place so she couldn’t turn away.

It was ironic.

The words coming from his mouth sounded almost like a plea.

Setz couldn’t understand.

“Hurry.”

Countless memories flashed through her mind. The first time they met after her return, when he coldly pushed her away. The time they fought together in the library. The day Yuria humiliated her because of him. The brilliant scenery they watched together during the founding festival, the warmth of his hand as he held hers tightly at the debutante ball…

And then…

Setz.

That warm voice that softly called her name.

“Setz.”

Raytan, drenched in blood, called her name again, his voice insistent. The warmth and the desperation alternated in his tone.

Setz…

She slowly nodded.

“…Yes.”

“……”

“I won’t leave… I’ll stay by your side, Brother.”

Her heart pounded in her chest. Had she made the right choice? Was this a reckless decision?

Would she come to regret this moment… deeply, someday?

But it was already too late to turn back.

Raytan pulled her into his arms, leaving no space between them. It was as though he feared that if he didn’t hold her tightly enough, she would slip away.

“……”

The warm blood that had soaked his shirt stained her pale face, but Setz didn’t move. She simply rested her head against Raytan’s chest.

She could hear the rapid, erratic beating of his heart, along with the overwhelming stench of blood.

Setz squeezed her eyes shut.

***

The hill was as barren as ever.

Perched atop a tree, Eaton gazed out at the distant imperial palace.

The wind that brushed against him carried with it the thick scent of blood.

“Eaton.”

At the sound of a familiar voice, Eaton turned around. It was Belkiel.

“You knew, didn’t you? That this was going to happen. Right?”

Eaton nodded slightly.

“Why didn’t you stop it?”

“You going to rage about it? I thought you didn’t care if humans killed or saved each other.”

“If it were anything else, I wouldn’t care. But not this. You’re involved in this mess.”

Eaton remained silent.

“Tell me why. You could’ve stopped it, but you didn’t.”

“Because I didn’t have a reason to stop it.”

“Is this why you came back? To witness this disaster, Eaton?”

“I told you, I just wanted to confirm something.”

“What?”

“And I also told you… it’s already too late to undo it. I meant it.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“They’ve been preparing for a long, long time, meticulously. They even sacrificed their own lives.”

“You’re talking about that girl’s mother?”

“Yes. The only surviving descendant of mine. How could I stop it? Now, of all times, how could I dare?”

“……”

“Since they came into this world, I haven’t done a single thing for them. How could I even face them now?” Eaton scoffed, though the mockery was directed at himself.

“I didn’t want to stop it. I wanted to leave it be. I wanted to see what choice my descendants would make. And still, I feel the same. I just want to watch and see it through. To see how my child’s story ends. And…”

“And what?”

“I wonder… if everything will repeat itself exactly as before.”

Belkiel clenched his lips in frustration.

So what do you gain from this? In the end, you’ll lose all your power and disappear.

No matter how their story ends, what does it matter to you? How does this help you?

But he couldn’t voice those questions.

“Make it snow, Belkiel,” Eaton said with a faint smile.

“You can do that. You have control over water, don’t you?”

“Why would I do that, you idiot?”

“Then think of it this way—can’t you grant me this one small thing? For my sake?”

“……”

“Please.”

“…Damn it.”

Belkiel cursed under his breath as he stretched out his hand. Before long, delicate snowflakes began to fall from the dark, cloudless sky.

It was the snow Eaton had wished for.

Snow to cover the stench of blood, to bury the corpses.

The first snow of the year.

“Thank you, Belkiel.”

Eaton’s red eyes turned back toward the distant imperial palace. With eyes full of regret, he watched as the snow piled up and dawn slowly approached. He stood still, unmoving, for a long time.