The Tyrant Wants To Live Honestly

“You’re doing great, Ray.”

 

“Yes.”

 

He worked really hard. He stayed up all night crying, studying and training.

 

But all he got back was an embarrassing grade, near the bottom of the class.

 

“Grades aren’t everything, Ray. We all know you’re usually good.”

 

Julia comforted him.

 

When Raymond sat down at his desk to take the test, his heart pounded and his head turned blank.

 

He could barely remember anything he knew, even the sum of his words, when he picked up his pen to take the test.

 

What he got back was a test result that was far below his best effort.

 

It would have been better if he hadn’t tried at all.

 

Some, like Nereus, would look at his grades and sarcastically remark, “The crown prince got the lowest score.”

 

‘I want to run away.’ 

 

At times like that, Raymond thought of Dorothea, who had left the imperial palace and was recuperating far away.

 

‘What is she doing there, alone?

Is she happy? Or is she feeling lonely? Wouldn’t it be difficult to adapt to an unfamiliar place?’

 

Every time that happened, he decided to write a letter and send it.

 

Late at night, alone, with the lights on, he poured out his true feelings in the letter.

 

He’d ask her how she was doing, recalled his memories, selected and wrote down pleasant news one by one, and said he hoped she was doing well.

 

And he promised to visit her someday and to play with her at a detached palace.

 

He doesn’t think he wrote more than a few words, but the letters always seem to be long.

 

Thick letters were put into envelopes, and sometimes fragrant dried herbs or flowers were sealed together.

 

He hopes Dorothea gets it and likes it.

 

He hopes Dorothea doesn’t feel lonely far away.

 

He wants Dorothea to know that there is someone thinking about her.

 

He hopes she remembers that he misses her.

 

Once or twice a month, his letters were sent to a detached palace.

 

He waited excitedly for a reply day after day.

 

But as the seasons passed and a new season passed, there was no reply.

 

At first, he wondered if the letter had never arrived, if it had gotten lost in the mail.

 

But as time passed, the excitement slowly turned into a festering wound.

 

Dorothea never replies to his letters. In fact, she may not even open his letters. 

 

Dorothea does not look at the flower petals or the dried lavender he has sealed.

 

“Are you going to send another letter to Anastas Palace?”

 

“Yes.”

 

The servants pitied him for sending letters for years that never received a response.

 

But Raymond didn’t stop.

 

He felt like if He stopped doing that, he would become completely distant from Dorothea.

 

‘I felt like my connection with her would be lost and I would become someone else.’

 

So he kept writing that he remembered her.

 

It was a stupid and pathetic thing to do, but that’s just the way he is.

 

* * * 

 

“His Majesty has given permission to go down to Ceritian this vacation!”

 

Summer vacation when Raymond turned thirteen.

 

He finally received permission from Carnan to go to the Ceritian.

 

He had spoken to Carnan every vacation, but his grades or imperial schedules had kept him from getting permission.

 

‘I finally got my chance!’

 

“That’s great, Ray.”

 

“Theon, do you want to come with me?”

 

“me too?”

 

“Yes! It’s vacation. There’s a sandy beach at the detached Palace! We can swim and play at the beach.”

 

“I will ask permission first.”

 

“Oh! I have to write a letter today. I’m so excited!”

 

Raymond was excited and wrote a letter to Dorothea.

 

[I can go to Ceritian this vacation. Please let me know if there is anything you need from the imperial palace. I will gladly take it for you.]

 

“What should I bring as a gift?”

 

From that day on, Raymond’s troubles began.

 

It had been two years since he had seen Dorothea, and he had no idea how much she had grown.

 

In those two years, Raymond grew taller 15 centimeters.

 

“In the past, Dorothea was always reading books. Does she still like books? What kind of books does she like?”

 

Raymond carefully chose the book and wrapped it in pretty wrapping paper.

 

He also included some dried meats and homemade jams that Dorothea and he could eat in Ceritian.

 

Of course there was no reply to the letter he sent, but that was okay.

 

‘I was used to not getting a reply by now, and I was going to be able to meet Dorothy in person soon anyway.’

 

“Ray, I think I can go too.”

 

Theon also received permission from Grand Duke Fried to go together.

 

It is an opportunity to strengthen the relationship with the crown prince.

 

The beaches of Seritian were well known as a vacation spot for the nobility.

 

So the two headed to Ceritian as soon as the vacation came.

 

“Your Highness the Crown Prince!”

 

Clara was surprised and greeted Raymond and Theon.

 

Shortly after Dorothea left, they heard that the imperial carriage would arrive soon, and Raymond arrived before Dorothea returned.

 

“Where Dorothy?”

 

Raymond jumped out of the carriage and asked urgently.

 

“The princess went out into the town for a while.”

 

“ah…..”

 

‘As expected, she hasn’t seen any letters at all.’

 

Raymond nodded and smiled.

 

“It’s all right. Let’s get our luggage inside first. I’ve also brought a gift.”

 

The servants first unloaded the luggage from the carriage and carried it inside.

 

When the luggage was somewhat organized, Raymond found a horse running from afar.

 

Dorothea, dressed modestly and riding skillfully.

 

She was not like her sister, who looked so young and weak.

 

The sight of her riding a horse with her hair tied together was no different from that of any other knight.

 

‘You’ve become cooler.’ 

 

Dorothea was so beautiful that it made no sense to worry about whether she was suffering alone or whether she was lonely and having a hard time.

 

His younger sister never disappoints him even for a single moment.

 

Raymond was thrilled to be reunited with his younger sister.

 

“Dorothy!”

 

As soon as Dorothea came in and got off her horse, he ran to her.

 

“Ray…?”

 

Dorothea also recognized him at a glance.

 

That alone is enough for him.

 

“I missed you, Dorothy!”

 

Unable to control his excitement, he hugged Dorothea and spun her around.

 

“Didn’t Dorothy miss me?”

 

“Let go of me.”

 

‘The bluntness still remains. Still, she didn’t get angry or hit me for hugging her, so I guess that’s a good thing.’

 

“I missed you so much. I wanted to escape from Episteme and run to see you. You’re pretty. My sister looks even prettier up close.”

 

at that time.

 

“Princess Dorothea.” 

 

Theon approached.

 

Raymond was so excited about Dorothea that he forgot to introduce her to Theon.

 

“Long time no see.”

 

“Theon?”

 

“I’m glad you remember me.”

 

Raymond also did not expect Dorothea to remember Theon.

 

They’d only met a few times when she was young.

 

‘As expected, Dorothy is smart.’ 

 

Raymond was impressed again.

 

“Why is Theon here…?”

 

“I asked him to come with me. Episteme on vacation, so we’re going to go play.”

 

Raymond was glad that Dorothea remembered Theon.

 

‘It’s better than someone who doesn’t remember at all.’

 

‘Moreover, after becoming friends with Theon for several years, Theon was a very good friend enough to introduce him to Dorothea!’

 

However, contrary to his expectations, Dorothea’s jaw dropped.

 

Then She grabbed him roughly by the wrist and yanked him into the room.

 

“Oh, Dorothy! Wait a minute!”

 

Raymond was taken aback by Dorothea’s sudden behavior.

 

The way she walks, her expressions, her touch.

 

‘Is she mad…?”

 

Dorothea took him to her room and let go of his wrist as if to throw it.

 

“Dorothy.”

 

“Why on earth did you come!”

 

‘Why did I come…?’

 

“I want to see you, Dorothy.”

 

‘I’m her brother. Dorothy came down here to recuperate from a serious illness after being kidnapped. It’s natural for me to want to know if she is okay and how she is doing.’

 

But Dorothea didn’t seem to know his feelings at all.

 

“Why? Because I’m stuck living in a corner of the countryside?”

 

“Dorothy…”

 

That can’t be possible. He never thought of it that way.

 

“Why did you bring Theon here?”

 

“Theon knows you too, so I wanted him to go to Ceritian with me. Theon said yes, and Grand duke Fried also told him to go.”

 

“Me? What about me? What about my permission? What about my feeling?”

 

Raymond’s eyes fluttered.

 

“I’m sure you’ll like it too.…”

 

“Why do you always do whatever you want?”

 

‘whatever I want…?’

 

Her words pierce like a dagger.

 

“Don’t you even consider my position?”

 

Dorothea’s position. He hadn’t thought about it and that’s why he came.

 

Dorothea came here to recuperate alone because she was sick.

 

If he had done that, Raymond think he would have been very lonely and had a hard time.

 

“Is it okay as long as you are happy and having fun?”

 

“No, I just wanted to make you happy so I gave you a surprise—”

 

“This is not a surprise, it’s a disaster!” Dorothea shouted.

 

* * *

 

Hello everyone, I want to inform you that the next Chapter is the final chapter for the second side story, “Raymond’s memory”. And it will be continued with the third side story, “Our Happy Ending”.

 

That’s all from me, Thank you all who are still reading this novel. Stay healthy everyone 🙂