The Tyrant Wants To Live Honestly

Because the expression on Dorothea’s face when she returned to the room didn’t look good.

 

He sneaks out while Karnan and the Duke are engrossed in conversation. 

 

“Theon, Julia!”

 

He called out to two people who were playing together on one side.

 

“Bored? Do you want to go play with Dorothy?”

 

The two people made eye contact for a moment and nodded. 

 

Raymond ran with the two people to Dorothea’s palace, avoiding the eyes of adults.

 

It was a long way, but it was still a distance worth going.

 

As Raymond left the banquet hall and ran outside in the fresh air, he felt a sense of liberation. As he expected, he doesn’t like places like that.

 

‘Dorothy must be lonely with all that hustle and bustle.’

 

‘She must have been very disappointed in our father.’

 

As her older brother, he must protect her. He’ll comfort her if she’s upset.

 

“Prince Ray…., no, His Highness the Crown Prince!”

 

“Dorothy is here, right?”

 

After confirming Dorothea’s location with the nanny, Raymond immediately went up to Dorothea’s room.

 

He was about to knock on the door when he suddenly remembered what had happened last time.

 

‘Dorothy always avoided other people!’

 

“Theon, Julie. Wait here for now. in case she’s shy, I’ll get Dorothy’s permission to call for you.” 

 

The two nodded at Raymond’s words and retreated to one side of the hallway.

 

And he knocked politely on the door.

 

“Dorothy, are you okay?”

 

But there is no answer from inside.

 

‘The nanny says she goes into her room alone and doesn’t come out. As expected she pretends to be fine, but she’s obviously upset.’

 

“I came because I was worried. You know—”

 

“Leave me alone. ray!”

 

Raymond spoke carefully, but Dorothea’s angry response came from inside the room.

 

‘It looks like she hurts a lot. I couldn’t leave Dorothy alone.’

 

“Party is no fun. So Dorothy, shall we play together?”

 

Raymond asked, raising his voice a little. He thought it would be better to shake off her depression. 

 

At that moment, the sound of someone walking in stride was heard, and the door burst open. 

 

“That is not a place where you can leave like this just because it’s not fun! If you are the crown prince, act like one! Don’t just think about having fun, do what you have to do properly!”

 

Dorothea glared at him and shouted. 

 

Raymond’s heart sank. He never thought Dorothea would say that.

 

“I mean… Dorothy…you must be upset—”

 

“You don’t need to worry about me!” 

 

Raymond took a deep breath. The sharp words almost brought tears to his eyes.

 

“Princess…” 

 

Theon and Julia, who were far away, also looked at Dorothea with surprised eyes. 

 

Dorothea’s eyes shook as she spotted the two people.

 

“Theon and Julia came to play with us too.…”

 

Raymond just wanted to make her feel better But Dorothea shook her head, stepped back, and closed the door.

 

Raymond stood awkwardly in front of the tightly closed door.

 

“Your Highness….”

 

“Dorothy seems to be in a very bad mood.”

 

Raymond trudged on without saying a word.

 

‘Dorothea must be very upset that she did not want to talk to anyone.’

 

But when Raymond reached the entrance, the tears he had been holding back burst out.

 

“Well, I… I’m worried about Dorothy…”

 

The reason he cries is because Dorothea’s words hit him straight to the point.

 

“It’s not a place you can just leave because it’s not fun, so act like a crown prince.”

 

‘Dorothy is right. I shouldn’t do that.…’

 

He still wasn’t used to being a crown prince.

 

* * * 

 

After that, he had to spend his days as a real crown prince.

 

In particular, his schedule became more rigorous ahead of his entrance into Episteme.

 

“You must not bring shame to the imperial family in the Episteme, Raymond.”

 

“yes…”

 

The pressure weighed down on him.

 

At first, he thought he’d just have to get into Episteme and be done with it, but now he had to be first in his class at Episteme.

 

When he finished memorizing royal lineage, studying foreign languages, and even trained in horseback riding, swordsmanship, and archery, it was already dark outside.

 

And before the fatigue goes away, the work begins again. 

 

When dawn came, he was back to studying, training, sometimes attending to the duties of a crown prince, and dealing with other noble families.

 

Fortunately, if there was one thing that gave him energy, it was tending to his garden.

 

“I guess he likes moving his body.”

 

The swordsman teacher spoke to Minerva as he watched Raymond sweating in the garden.

 

Certainly, Raymond was also talented in swordsmanship and horseback riding. 

 

Minerva nodded her head.

 

When he sit at his desk, Minerva can’t help but think, 

 

‘You’re smart, but… you hate studying so much.’ 

 

The biggest problem was that Raymond had no confidence in studying. He looks like he’s not satisfied even though he’s doing well.

 

‘It’s probably because of Princess Dorothea.’

 

‘Crown prince Raymond was a gifted child, perhaps a genius, but Princess Dorothea was more than that, a historical genius.’

 

So Raymond cannot accept his genius. He knows that no matter what he does, he can’t catch up with Dorothea, so he becomes more and more interested in other things. 

 

‘I’m not stopping him because he has a healthy interest..’

 

‘Raymond’s attachment to His garden is genuine, and not just the kind of attachment that children have when they follow their parents out to the farm to help out.’

 

Raymond had already read all kinds of agricultural books, selected crops, grown them, and studied them himself. 

 

On nights when heavy rain poured down, even while he was sleeping, he would run out and take care of the garden. He also enjoyed talking with agricultural scholars.

 

‘The only problem is that he is a crown prince. It would be difficult for the future emperor to be attached to the garden.’

 

“Your Highness, let’s go in and study now. You should review what you learned today so you won’t have any trouble when taking the exam.”

 

“Okay, let’s stop here.… ” 

 

Raymond put the tomatoes in the basket with a sour face.

 

* * * 

 

‘It’s already been two months since I haven’t seen Dorothy.’ 

 

Ever since Dorothea got angry, he was afraid to go see her.

 

Dorothea seemed very angry that day. Raymond was afraid that Dorothea would not forgive him.

 

‘Still, she might have forgotten what happened that day by now…. No, there’s no way smart Dorothy would forget.’

 

‘But it’s been a while, so wouldn’t it be okay?’

 

‘Even though Dorothea was rude, she is not a bad person.’

 

‘Will she welcome me?’

 

Raymond, who was pondering, took a quick look at the tomatoes he had harvested.

 

‘Wouldn’t she like it if I brought tomatoes as a gift?’

 

Moreover, since these are his first tomatoes he harvested, he really wants to give them to Dorothea so she can try them.

 

Raymond got courage and took some tomatoes.

 

And, taking advantage of the little time he had during work, he went to see Dorothea.

 

When he went to Converta palace, the nanny welcomed him.

 

“You’re here, Your Highness!”

 

Since Raymond was the only one visiting Dorothea, the nanny was worried that he would never come.

 

The nanny’s smile gave Raymond more courage.

 

Dorothea’s door was open for ventilation.

 

He looked through the door and saw Dorothea sitting on the bed.

 

The moment he saw her, the courage that had been burning just a moment ago subsided, and his body went limp.

 

“Dorothy….”

 

When he timidly called her name, Dorothea looked at him.

 

“I brought you a gift.”

 

When he speaks again, Dorothea looks at him in silence.

 

‘Seeing as she didn’t kick me out, it looks like she doesn’t hate it.’

 

Raymond gathered his courage again and approached her.

 

Dorothea sits quietly and tolerates his approach.

 

At her reaction, his nervous mind eased and he burst into laughter.

 

“These are the first tomatoes I grew myself!”

 

Raymond lifted the basket filled with tomatoes.

 

Dorothea looked at his tomatoes with surprised eyes.

 

‘The tomatoes I grew are amazing! Other children were also very surprised and interested when I said I was growing the fields. They liked it more when I said that it was harvested by myself. Perhaps Dorothy would do the same…’

 

‘I’ll be happy if we pick tomatoes or strawberries together. Because Dorothy is always at Converta Palace. It would be fun to have her over for a visit, and it would be something new.’ 

 

Raymond grinned at Dorothea.

 

“Growing tomatoes is fun. I also planted pumpkins and eggplants!”

 

Raymond picked up a tomato and wiped it diligently with his sleeve.

 

And the moment he was about to give it to Dorothea.

 

“Could it be that you grow this without studying?”

 

Dorothea’s cold voice stopped his actions.

 

Raymond was taken aback and quietly put down the tomato again.

 

“I studied whenever I could.”

 

‘Because all my free time was studying. That’s why I didn’t have time to come see Dorothy.’

 

But Dorothea didn’t seem to be satisfied with that.

 

“You can’t be a good emperor if you do that, Ray.”

 

The smile disappeared from Raymond’s face at Dorothea’s words.

 

“ah…hmm, you are right…”

 

He lowered his head.

 

He worked hard, but he doesn’t think Dorothea will be satisfied with it.

 

‘Can I become an emperor who can satisfy you?’

 

‘It would be better if you were the crown prince….’

 

* * *