The Tyrant Wants To Live Honestly

“I didn’t know you cared about that.”

 

Dorothea was surprised to find that Raymond had surprisingly deep thoughts.

 

“I’m not the only one who gets in trouble.”

 

Raymond shrugged his shoulders.

 

Knowing how the former crown prince’s visit to the Imperial palace would be viewed in the eyes of people, he also paid more attention to people’s opinions when he came.

 

He dressed modestly and refrained from doing anything that might make him appear indolent.

 

“I don’t want to embarrass you.”

 

Dorothea’s mouth drew a faint line at Raymond’s muttering.

 

“Come often, Ray. Don’t worry about that.”

 

Raymond’s eyes widened at her indifferent words.

 

“Doesn’t it bother you that I’m coming?”

 

When he opened his eyes and blinked, Dorothea, who was embarrassed, hurriedly spoke up.

 

“Hezen loves you so much. You show him a flower and an insect in the garden, so you teach him and play with him well.”

 

She made an excuse.

 

Raymond also burst out laughing.

 

“Okay, okay, if Hezen wants to see me, I should come!”

 

Raymond’s voice had a different liveliness than before.

 

“So, how is Hezen doing these days? He must have grown a lot since the last time I saw him.”

 

“He gets bigger every day. Even if you forget the passage of time, you will know the passage of time when you see Hezen.”

 

Dorothea smiled motherly at the story of Hezen.

 

“He still likes the violin and piano. He likes it so much that he has to play it.…His nanny has a hard time because he tries to skip meals to play his instruments.”

 

Hezen’s love of music was so strong that he learned sheet music before he learned words.

 

In that way, he seems to resemble Ethan.

 

As Raymond listened to Hazen’s story, he glanced at Dorothea.

 

“Are you going to send him to Episteme?”

 

Raymond’s question contained quite a lot of emotion and meaning.

 

Hezen Milanaire, the emperor’s firstborn child with a high probability of becoming the crown prince.

 

However, like Raymond, hezen was more interested in other things than studying.

 

Although Episteme taught music as a liberal arts subject, it was never a place to train musicians.

 

Dorothea realized the intent of the question and shook her head.

 

“well…he needs to have basic knowledge, but I wouldn’t force him to go to Episteme. I am not from Episteme either.”

 

Dorothea laughed.

 

Raymond looked relieved at that.

 

“That’s good for Hazen. when I was little, I felt like I was going to die studying, so I could understand Hezen.”

 

“I learned it thanks to you. I know no matter how much you teach someone, if they don’t want to do something, they won’t do it.”

 

If it weren’t for Raymond, Dorothea would have sent Hazen to Episteme anyway.

 

A child with musical talent may have been taught to memorize lore and astronomical calculations until he could make no mistake.

 

But fortunately, she realized one thing after going through two lives.

 

Just as much as it was painful for her not to be able to go to the Episteme, it may be painful for someone else to have to go to the Episteme.

 

That Episteme is not life’s answer.

 

“Do you want to go see Hezen? Actually, he has been asking since this morning when uncle Ray will come.”

 

After finishing organizing, Dorothea let go of the documents from her hands.

 

Then Raymond nodded vigorously and smiled, showing his white teeth.

 

“Yes, I missed my niece so much!”

 

* * * 

 

Hezen and Ceres were playing at the back.

 

Ethan, Theon, and Julia also enjoyed a light tea time while watching the children.

 

When Dorothea and Raymond reached the entrance to the back garden, Hezen was the first to find the two and ran out.

 

“Your Majesty! Uncle Ray!”

 

Hezen, who ran through the flowers in full bloom, hugged Dorothea’s legs.

 

As Hezen ran, those inside also came out to meet them.

 

“Hezen, you must say hello to Prince Raymond.”

 

“I missed you, uncle!”

 

The small child, who was only about knee height, bent his knees awkwardly.

 

“It’s been a while, Hezen!”

 

Raymond couldn’t resist his cuteness and hugged Hezen.

 

He offered one cheek, and Hezen kissed that side.

 

“Uncle, me too!”

 

Ceres, who ran after him, also opened her arms as if asking for a hug.

 

In the end, Raymond had one child in each arm and ran across the back garden to where Theon and Julia were.

 

The children were excited and screamed loudly.

 

“You are late, Your Majesty.”

 

Ethan, who followed, approached Dorothea and held her hand.

 

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

 

Theon and Julia, who were taking care of their child, also belatedly congratulated Dorothea.

 

“Thank you, Grand Duke Fried and Duchess Fried.”

 

“Your Majesty, this is Ceres’ younger sister! Gemma, Gemma! A cute girl!”

 

Hezen, who was in Raymond’s arms, pointed to Gemma, who was in Julia’s arms.

 

It was Gemma’s first time visiting the imperial palace, as she had just passed her first birthday.

 

Although she was still young, she looked exactly like Theon and Julia.

 

“Hello, Gemma?”

 

Gemma smiled brightly at Dorothea’s greeting.

 

The chubby cheeks looked like white bread.

 

“I have a younger sister too! Right?”

 

Hezen looked at Gemma and asked with round eyes to his parents.

 

Dorothea and Ethan smiled and nodded.

 

After Raymond and Julia put the children down, Hezen and Ceres ran to Gemma.

 

Gemma stood tall, holding onto Theon’s pants and keeping her balance.

 

Gemma was so cute that Hezen, who had no idea what to do, started acting funny in front of her, and Gemma burst into laughter.

 

“Mppa!”

 

“You called me oppa! Right?”

 

[TL: Oppa = Brother]

 

Hezen, who was excitedly at one babble, held Gemma’s small hand.

 

Raymond laughed at Hazen’s uncontrollable delight at seeing a baby smaller than him.

 

“The baby loves the baby.”

 

Soon Hezen and Ceres ran out to the grass to play in the back garden again.

 

Gemma, who was trying to follow them, toddled after them and fell.

 

Gemma, who had fallen, lay down for a moment as if trying to understand the situation and then cried.

 

“Gemma!”

 

Ceres and Hezen ran back to help Gemma up and wiped her muddy knees.

 

Gemma held their hand without crying due to their good attitude.

 

“The baby isn’t walking well, so I will carry her.”

 

Hezen lifted Gemma as if showing off his strength.

 

The little child tried hard to hold the smaller baby, but it seemed like it was too much for him.

 

Theon eventually followed due to his uncomfortable and clumsy posture.

 

“Hezen, I will carry Gemma.”

 

Ethan lightly kissed Dorothea’s cheek.

 

“Please take a moment to talk, Your Majesty. I will take a look at Hezen for a moment and then come back.”

 

He smiled and followed Hezen.

 

Theon and Ethan took the children and came out to the large open space in the back garden.

 

The children had fun playing among themselves without bothering adults.

 

Gemma knocked down the tower that Hezen had built with tree branches, but Hezen smiled and built a tower for Gemma to knock down again.

 

Not long ago, He’d just been told he was going to have a younger sister, and now he is trying to be like a big brother.

 

Ethan and Theon stood side by side and watched the children.

 

Between the two silent people, only the sound of children’s laughter flowed.

 

Ethan broke the silence and opened his mouth.

 

“The relationship between Hezen and Ceres looks really good.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The two stared at the children who were clinging tightly to each other.

 

“My child and your child are running around and playing together.…It’s amazing.”

 

“Is it?”

 

“It is, at least to me.”

 

‘It’s a scene I’ve never imagined in my two lives.’

 

‘My child with Dorothea is surprising, but my child playing with Theon’s child is even more surprising.’

 

Ethan looked at the unfamiliar future, overwhelmed with emotion.

 

“Prince Hezen already knows how to use the spirits.”

 

Theon said as he watched Hezen light up the area around Ceres with his spirit in the distance.

 

Hezen knew how to summon spirits from a very early age.

 

This is probably because he inherited strong spirit power due to Ethan’s influence.

 

“Her Majesty is already paying a lot of attention to Hezen’s spirit education.”

 

Dorothea was always worried about how to treat Hezen’s powers and how to teach him.

 

Dorothea hoped that Hezen would not regard the spirits as a privilege.

 

Every time that happened, Ethan worried that it would stress Dorothea out.

 

However, Dorothea’s love for Hezen was much greater than her complex about the spirit, and that is why she also loved Hezen’s spirit.

 

Instead of Dorothea, Ethan taught Hezen how to properly handle spirits.

 

Not to harm them, not to fear them, but to befriend them.

 

Theon looked at Hazen’s skillful handling of the spirits and spoke up.

 

“I am always grateful to you.”

 

Ethan looked at Theon.

 

“It is thanks to you that Ceres and Gemma can be together like this.”

 

If it weren’t for Ethan, he wouldn’t have even thought about having children.

 

Because he couldn’t control his own strength, he didn’t have the confidence to take responsibility for his children.

 

Furthermore, he didn’t want to pass the curse on to his children.

 

However, thanks to Ethan, he was able to properly handle spirits and teach his children how to handle spirits as well.

 

* * *