The Tyrant Wants To Live Honestly

“Sorry, I just love my life now…I have a lot of money and a field like this…”

 

Having said that, Raymond hurriedly looked at Ethan and asked for help.

 

Then Ethan nodded and opened his mouth.

 

“People are generally more interested in the enjoyment of rights than obligations.”

 

The freedom and the right to run freely in the fields would be more fascinating than the duties that the Crown Prince owed.

 

At Ethan’s words, Dorothea nodded without asking further questions.

 

Raymond secretly sighed in relief.

 

“And I heard. Dorothy, you are doing a great job.”

 

Raymond laughed again.

 

It wasn’t just a compliment. Dorothea did a really good job of acting as Crown Prince, and she was even recognized by the nobles.

 

Some even said that the transition from Raymond to Dorothea was so natural that there was almost no disruption to work.

 

There were also jokes that ‘only the crown prince’s gender had changed.’

 

This could be because Dorothea and Raymond often had political discussions together.

 

Instead, they know everything about meetings and important agendas.

 

But that was the problem.

 

Dorothea became a little afraid that she was adjusting too quickly to the role of crown prince.

 

The nobles, whom she had expected to be scary and hostile, were surprisingly friendly.

 

Is it because of the spirit of light? Or is it because she’s a ‘just’ a Crown prince with Carnan’s permission?

 

It could be, because she doesn’t seem to be nasty like she used to or trying to get her hands on it right now.

 

In any case, Dorothea didn’t like how smooth it was for her to take on Raymond’s job.

 

But even so, she couldn’t handle her work as a prince recklessly.

 

Because she can’t ruin Ubera with her own hands again.

 

Not because she wanted to look good to Carnan or the nobles but because she didn’t want to disappoint herself, so she had no choice but to do her best.

 

“From what I’ve heard, it sounds like you’re a much better fit for the throne than me like this?”

 

Raymond said, taking care of Basil.

 

Then Dorothea looked at Raymond with a slightly angry look on her face.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

In private, she called Raymond by his name as she liked, but she called him politely now.

 

“I am just a representative of Your Highness.”

 

“But in my current state, I have no idea when I’ll be able to properly act as the Crown Prince…”

 

“You can learn and practice. You’ve done well so far, so I’m sure you can do it.”

 

“Dorothy, Ubera will need an Emperor as competent as you.”

 

“I am not competent, Your Highness.”

 

“Please, don’t say you are not competent, and If you call me Your Highness, who will call me by my first name?”

 

As he grew up, people started to call him ‘Your Majesty’ instead of his first name, changing their relationship.

 

After Theon became his aide, he became less and less called Ray, so he only called him ‘Your Highness’ unless he had a very personal conversation.

 

Julia had gotten used to calling Raymond by his title now. It’s been years since he was called by His first name.

 

The difference between being called Ray and Your Highness is heaven and earth.

 

At the moment, called the Highness, there is an inaccessible distance between Raymond and the other person.

 

Raymond was always uncomfortable with that distance.

 

He wanted to laugh kindly, joke around, and talk about useless things, but that kind of everyday life gradually disappeared.

 

Only Dorothea had been calling Raymond by his first name. But even she is trying to draw a line by calling him like that.

 

As Raymond begged Dorothea, she glanced at Raymond and licked her lips.

 

“Your name was given to record, not to call.”

 

The name of the crown prince and the one who becomes emperor will be used after death when the history books are written.

 

He will be called by His First name more times after his death than in his lifetime.

 

‘So there’s no need to get attached to a name…’

 

“I want a relationship where we can affectionately call each other by our first names, Dorothy. Not people who don’t know my face and will judge my dead name by this or that.”

 

Dorothea’s eyes widened at him.

 

She knows what Raymond’s wishes are.

 

Where he sat, even a light meal with a close friend could be read as political favoritism and personal greetings could be overheard.

 

And he who loves free spirits hated those things very much.

 

However.

 

“You can’t always have what you want, Your Highness.”

 

Dorothea made him face reality. 

 

‘This is not a place where we can listen to childish complaints.’

 

Then Raymond’s eyes trembled as if they had been hurt.

 

“But we can live by trying to get what we want.”

 

Raymond hated a life where he was chosen as the crown prince from birth and not given a chance to choose anything else.

 

Some may call it complete, but unfortunately, humans are designed to desire other things when they are full.

 

“There are things that you can’t have. Just like the poor outside the city want to be crown prince but they can’t.”

 

A farmer’s child becomes a farmer, a hunter’s child becomes a hunter, and the emperor’s child becomes an emperor.

 

If the day comes when a farmer’s child can become a prince, the prince will also become a farmer.

 

“So you intend to remain only a princess, Dorothy?”

 

Raymond’s blue eyes stared at her.

 

At his question, Dorothea hesitated for a moment before answering.

 

‘Not just ‘only’, I thought, but ‘I must’. The princess is my place.’

 

“I had no choice but to remain a princess, Your Highness. Just as a Crown prince has no choice but to be a Crown prince.”

 

It’s not that she wants to stay. It’s just that she has to.

 

Then Raymond’s brow wrinkled slightly.

 

“Then what would you do if you could become a Crown prince?”

 

“Your Highness… Please don’t talk like that.”

 

Dorothea shook her head and turned her back.

 

“I’ll go now.”

 

Dorothea strode out of the basil field and headed back into the palace.

 

Ethan stared at Dorothea’s back, then turned his gaze to meet Raymond’s.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

At Ethan’s call, Raymond nodded like a sinner.

 

As soon as permission was granted, Ethan ran after Dorothea.

 

* * *

 

“Princess! Princess Dorothea…!”

 

Ethan caught up to Dorothea and grabbed her.

 

Dorothea’s face, looking back at him, was holding back the fact that she was about to cry.

 

“Ethan.”

 

“Are you okay…?”

 

“Ethan, we can’t leave the house to the robber again. right?”

 

Dorothea asked, clenching her hand.

 

Ethan noticed what she was thinking.

 

“A robber…”

 

‘She is also a member of that family. And yet she couldn’t get a position there.’

 

Ethan wanted to say that but knew that nothing would comfort her.

 

Because he didn’t want to make her suffer again, questioning and worrying about which was better, robbery or murder of her brother.

 

“Even if the robber repents, how can I entrust the house to him? No, if the robber tries to take over the house again in the first place, he’s not remorseful. right?”

 

“Princess.”

 

“Raymond has no idea that I am a robber.”

 

Finally, a tear fell from the corner of Dorothea’s eyes.

 

Ethan’s heart also fell as tears fell to the floor.

 

He couldn’t help but hug Dorothea.

 

He reached out and took her in his arms, and Dorothea buried her head in his chest.

 

Holding Dorothea, who felt smaller than ever, Ethan clenched his teeth.

 

“Ethan, if only this was our first life…So, if I had lived happily without knowing anything, there would have been no need for conflict.”

 

If it was like this, he would definitely refuse Raymond’s temptation.

 

Dorothea must have passed the rightful Crown Prince position, and maybe Raymond had put down a crown that didn’t suit him.

 

However, an indelible history was engraved in her memory and heart.

 

Unbeknownst to others, the guilt engraved on her conscience.

 

No matter how hard she tried to think of this as a second chance, she could not cast off her shackles.

 

Ethan knew Dorothea’s heart better than anyone. Because he also regretted his past life and suffered from the wrong choice.

 

His dogmatism, jealousy, and pride alone led to Dorothea’s death, and even the appearance of her suffering now was his fault.

 

TL: Dogmatism is a tendency to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true, without consideration of evidence or the opinions of others.

 

“But it’s the second time, so we can live like this.”

 

Ethan hugged Dorothea tightly and whispered.

 

If it was their first life, Dorothea wouldn’t have been detached from Carnan’s discrimination. Ethan would have suffered helplessly at Jonathan’s bullying.

 

Dorothea must have rebelled by screaming because she did not know how to live under the charge of being a princess who could not handle spirits.

 

‘So we can live this way because it is our second life.’

 

“If you’re tired, you can stop, Princess.”

 

Whether Raymond has lost his memory or not, she can leave everything to him and run away.

 

There are many people who can teach and advise if there is something he doesn’t know. 

 

So, there is no need to bring out the agony of the past and drink it again.

 

“It’s enough for us to live happily together.”

 

Ethan regretted the choice he had made to fit Raymond’s silly plans.

 

While watching her suffer over the years, she had been drunk with happiness and forgot again.

 

As Raymond said, Dorothea is a strong person, so she might be able to overcome this.

 

However, it was difficult for him to watch the process, so he thought it would be better to give up.

 

He admits that pain can lead to personal growth, but Ethan would rather his loved ones not feel that pain.

 

And maybe he’s afraid. Once again, Dorothea was suffering like that…Just like before the return, he feared that she would throw away the weight of life that was too heavy and leave him alone.

 

If that happens, he cannot bring her back to life or turn back time.

 

He will have to live alone for the rest of his life, cursed. That was the scariest thing for Ethan.

 

So whenever Dorothea is in danger, he hesitates instead of being bold.

 

“Please do what the princess wants to do.”

 

* * *

 

“Ethan Bronte.”

 

Ethan leaves Dorothea, and Joy calls him.

 

Ethan turned to look at her, and Joy glared at him with a sullen face.

 

“What’s going on?”

 

Why would Joy stop him to argue with him when she needed to catch up with the Princess quickly?

 

As Ethan stared coldly, she hesitated and spoke.

 

“The Princess… she seems to be having a hard time these days.”

 

“What?”

 

“So…I want you to give the princess some strength.”

 

* * *