The Tyrant Wants To Live Honestly

“Shall we go?”

 

Ethan asked, holding out his arm, and Dorothea graciously took it.

 

Late in the evening, after the ceremony of light, the real festival began.

 

Founding Day is a day where day and night are of equal length, and there is a custom of waking up and enjoying the night in honor of the spirits of light and darkness, the roots of Ubera.

 

The streets were open all night with shops, and the squares were lit up and brought to life by people who enjoyed singing and dancing all night long.

 

Dorothea and Ethan headed to the downtown area near Episteme.

 

Even though it was quite late, the streets were full of people, and the nearby high-end restaurants and bars were already full with reservations.

 

The two headed to Caro, the restaurant they had reserved.

 

It was the first time for the two to visit Caro since the day Dorothea visited Caro with Theon and Ethan with Monica.

 

Caro is still very popular with lovers, so they had to make a reservation three months in advance to make a reservation for the founding Day’ Night.

 

Fortunately, thanks to the diligent Ethan’s reservation, the two were able to spend Founding Day night in Caro.

 

“It’s still a little strange here.”

 

Dorothea whispered, noticing the heart-shaped doorknob.

 

“It’s definitely not the princess’s taste.”

 

“But sometimes it’s fun to come to a place like this.”

 

“That’s why I brought you here, Princess.”

 

Ethan opened the door of the Caro himself and graciously welcomed her.

 

Dorothea burst out laughing at his attitude as if he had become a servant.

 

Upon entering, the waitress led them to the room.

 

The two of them sat down and talked while waiting for the food they had ordered in advance.

 

“By the way, didn’t you say you didn’t like caro food before, Ethan?”

 

When Dorothea asked, Ethan’s eyes widened and he smiled.

 

“Do you remember that?”

 

‘It wasn’t even the time we started dating, but you still remember my words.’

 

Ethan’s heart fluttered as she remembered every detail of him.

 

“No, I just thought you came here for me…”

 

As Dorothea spoke in embarrassment, Ethan shook his head.

 

“At that time, I ate without knowing whether the food went into my mouth or nose.”

 

Ethan couldn’t remember how much Dorothea and Theon bothered him or if the food tasted bad. Did he even eat it?

 

Then Dorothea looked into his eyes.

 

“That’s why, I’ve always wanted to visit Caro with the princess. If I visit Caro again, I hope I will be with the princess.”

 

Ethan reached out and grabbed her hand, which was on the table.

 

“That wish has come true today.”

 

He smiled.

 

‘Why are you talking like that? It makes my heart flutter.’

 

Dorothea felt like she was only getting excitement from Ethan every time, but couldn’t give it to him.

 

“Hey, Ethan…Shall we officially announce that we are dating now?” Dorothea asked.

 

“Everyone knows we are dating.”

 

“But it wasn’t officially announced.”

 

To the imperial family, and the Bronte family.

 

The reason people don’t talk more even though they know that the two are dating is because the relationship between the two is not recognized by the family.

 

For the imperial family and nobles, a lover was meaningful only when the relationship was recognized by the family.

 

“I’m sure my family is happy about it even though Jonathan may not like it, but……it won’t be easy in the imperial family.”

 

That’s why Ethan hadn’t dared ask Dorothea to officially announce their relationship until now and the reason why he wanted a secret love affair.

 

The imperial family, which put honor and reputation first, didn’t accept this relationship.

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Historically, there have been instances of royal families marrying adopted children, but no marriages with illegitimate children.

 

Especially, if he was labeled as the son of a bar woman, it would be even more unacceptable.

 

“But Ethan, I want to marry you.”

 

Ethan stiffened at Dorothea’s words.

 

‘Now….did you say you want to marry me? Is that a proposal? No, it’s not a proposal, it’s just a statement, but….’

 

A million thoughts raced through Ethan’s mind.

 

“The more time goes by, the more I like you.”

 

‘At first, I thought it was because he loved me, but now it is not.’

 

Now Dorothea loved him as much as Ethan loved her.

 

Ethan had now become her life and permeated all of her time and space.

 

‘It was hard to imagine what life would be like without Ethan.’

 

“I want to make you officially mine.”

 

Dorothea only confessed her sincerity, but it was a strong confession of love to Ethan.

 

‘It’s funny, but I still like these words as if I’m going to cry.’

 

“Anyway, I have no intention of succeeding the throne, and I have no reason to find a better political mate. So I’ll try to get you permission somehow. No, If you don’t give me permission, I’ll take off Milanaire’s name.”

 

Dorothea pondered this issue for quite some time and came to that conclusion.

 

Ethan smiled at the look of determination in Dorothea’s eyes.

 

“Thank you, Princess. Thank you for thinking so much of me.”

 

“You don’t like my decision?”

 

“I like it, but I am worried that the princess will suffer. Besides, you like what you are doing now.” Ethan said.

 

Even threatening to take off Milanaire’s name, Dorothea was a good fit for the position of a princess.

 

Ethan feared that his lack would extinguish Dorothea’s light.

 

“It’s my problem, and I’ll take care of it. It’s harder for me not to be recognized for my relationship with you now.”

 

Then Ethan covered his face with one hand and lowered his head.

 

‘It’s driving me crazy. Because it’s lovely. How can I say no when you say that with those eyes.’

 

Ethan resented the fact that the night of the founding day was too bright.

 

Soon the food they ordered came out.

 

The special dinner commemorating the founding day was decorated with black and white dishes that must be eaten on the founding day.

 

“Enjoy your meal this time, Ethan.”

 

Ethan would ate all the food he couldn’t eat last time.

 

Dorothea put the creamy pasta on his plate.

 

“Well, I’m not sure I’ll be able to enjoy it, I need to be able to focus on eating because I can only see the princess.”

 

Even as he joked, his hand repositioned the bowl so that Dorothea’s favorite food was on her side.

 

“Of course, if I eat with the princess, it would be delicious to eat even a piece of cold potato on the cold street.”

 

Ethan smiled and put the pasta Dorothea had given him into his mouth.

 

White cream marks were left on his red lips.

 

“Ethan.”

 

As Dorothea pointed to his lips, Ethan raised his eyebrows slightly and tilted his head.

 

“There is cream.”

 

“Where?”

 

“There.”

 

Ethan’s eyes narrowed as Dorothea pointed to his upper lip.

 

“Here?”

 

Ethan slowly licked his lower lip with the tip of his tongue.

 

“No, above.”

 

“Above?”

 

Ethan stared intently at her with his golden eyes and bit his bottom lip inward.

 

The cream that had narrowly escaped remained white on his red lips.

 

His mischievous eyes looked at Dorothea as if they were teasing her.

 

Dorothea knew what he wanted.

 

“Here, Ethan.”

 

So Dorothea pretended not to know and wiped the cream off his lips with her fingertips.

 

Ethan’s eyes narrowed somewhat dissatisfied. Dorothea smiled and brought the cream from her fingertip to her lips, sucking it in.

 

Then Ethan dabbed at the cream on the edge of his plate and placed it on her lips.

 

“Ethan!”

 

“It’s a punishment for pretending not to know.”

 

His head moved closer in an instant, and his tongue licked the cream off her lips.

 

His hot tongue and lips brushed against her lips, and Dorothea felt a tingling shiver all over her body.

 

Ethan parted his lips slightly and made eye contact with her.

 

In the end, Dorothea succumbed to his temptation.

 

Their lips overlapped deeply, and their breath slipped between slightly parted lips.

 

Ethan’s scent stimulated the tip of her nose, and the creamy soft texture was intertwined.

 

The light of the scented candle trembled finely as they breathed.

 

Dorothea grabbed Ethan’s white collar tightly. 

 

The night of Founding Day was as long as the day and as short as the day.

 

* * *

 

Raymond picked up the letter on the table. It was from Dorothea.

 

Her letter, a thick stack of papers, summarized her thoughts on what to discuss at the next meeting.

 

“I can’t believe she keeps her mouth shut in meetings.”

 

Raymond muttered as he read her letter

 

Theon also nodded quietly, agreeing with Raymond.

 

Raymond and Theon have recalled Dorothea’s suggestion over the past few years.

 

They thought that Dorothea was the one who cared for the Empire more than anyone else.

 

She was very broad-minded, and she always gave Raymond important advice when he was deciding on something.

 

“If it weren’t for Dorothea, I wouldn’t have done anything,” Raymond added an exaggeration.

 

For many years, he had always wondered if Dorothea was the real emperor.

 

But still, Dorothea just shut her mouth and stepped back behind the stage.

 

Raymond didn’t know why. He just assumed it was because it was hard and Dorothea wanted to avoid it.

 

But a few years ago, he found out.

 

“Sometimes I wish I could stand in the position of the emperor and do these things….”

 

He saw Dorothea muttering to herself at her birthday banquet.

 

He was looking for her to leave a message that he would go in and find her alone with Ethan.

 

“There were so many things I wanted to say at the meeting, but I couldn’t….”

 

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to talk, it was that she was trying not to talk.

 

‘Why…?’

 

Raymond was shocked by her words and had to think for a while.

 

‘Maybe for me? for political reasons?’

 

“I guess I still haven’t given up all my desire to become an emperor in this life.”

 

It wasn’t until he heard Dorothea’s drunken words that Raymond realized her sincerity.

 

At the same time, his mind flashed back to Dorothea, who had once wiped away her tears in front of him.

 

“I really hated you, Ray.”

 

Dorothea said that she was jealous of him and hated him.

 

At the time, Raymond thought she was just jealous of him who ate well and got along well in the imperial family.

 

Raymond thought perhaps she was jealous of him who could have attended Episteme.

 

But…He belatedly realized that it might have been because of the throne.

 

Therefore, Dorothea has lived in silence as a princess to ensure the stability of Raymond’s position as crown prince.

 

After that, Raymond thought of Dorothea again and again.

 

And he saw.

 

The way her eyes lit up when she spoke of Ubera’s affairs. The way she debated policy with Ethan.

 

The moments when Raymond stood unabashedly in front of the nobles and Dorothea kept Raymond straight when he was struggling.

 

“I wish I had been born later than Dorothea.”

 

Raymond smiled and looked back at Theon.

 

“Then you had feel free to take me to Friedia, and I would get a field of my own and help you with your purification, and you could succeed Grand Duke Fried as ruler of Friedia.”

 

There was sincerity in Raymond’s light jokes.

 

* * *