The Tyrant Wants To Live Honestly

“What’s wrong, Ethan?”

 

Dorothea asked Ethan, who was staring at her with his mouth shut.

 

In contrast to his cold, closed lips, the tips of his fingers that caressed her skin were quite vicious.

 

The hands that were usually gentle touched her a little more roughly today.

 

“I guess today is the day I feel like throwing a tantrum, Your Majesty.”

 

Ethan buried his head in Dorothea’s white nape.

 

As his hot breath fell on her skin, Dorothea felt hot for a moment.

 

Ethan found comfort in her arms.

 

‘If it was before the return, I would have poisoned that bastard’s glass right away.’

 

‘Or, I would have poisoned my glass and blamed that bastard.’

 

‘But not now. Because Dorothea is here…because the seat next to her is mine.’

 

Ethan pressed his lips to her white skin as if to confirm it.

 

Then Dorothea flinched and grabbed his shoulder.

 

“Ethan…”

 

Today, Ethan was hugging her so persistently that Dorothea gently cupped his cheeks with both hands.

 

Ethan raised his head at her touch and met her eyes.

 

His golden eyes were shining with an unusual passion.

 

‘Was it because of the alcohol he had at the banquet?’ 

 

Dorothea’s heart began to beat a little faster.

 

“Your majesty.”

 

A hot whisper brushed past her ear, and soon his lips were pressed against hers.

 

The sensation that was initially gentle and caressing soon penetrated deep into Dorothea and wrapped around the tip of her tongue.

 

Dorothea’s eyelids fluttered open.

 

“Huh, Ethan…”

 

Dorothea’s gasping breath, which escaped through her lips, was soon swallowed by Ethan.

 

He was always affectionate after marriage.

 

But tonight, he was unleashing his emotions on her, hard and wild.

 

Dorothea, unable to bear his heat, was pushed further and further back.

 

Finally, her body touched the bed behind her.

 

Ethan wrapped his arms around Dorothea’s waist and laid her down on the bed.

 

Dorothea’s eyes looked confused. Ethan bit his lip.

 

‘Yeah, I know how childish this behavior is, but that doesn’t stop me.’

 

‘Because I don’t think I can get rid of this jealousy unless I confirm her love…’

 

“I love you, Dorothy.”

 

As Ethan buried his head in her chest, her chest rose and fell with every breath she took.

 

“I love you…”

 

Ethan whispered into her chest with his hot lips. 

 

He hoped Dorothea told him that she loved him too. 

 

He already knew it, but he needed to hear it out loud.

 

When he raised his eyes and stared into Dorothea’s blue eyes insistently, Dorothea nodded. 

 

“I love you too, Ethan.”

 

At her single word, one side of his heart that had been tightly clenched instantly melted away.

 

Ethan wrapped his arms around her thighs and hugged her.

 

Dorothea trembled as his fingertips ran over her secret insides.

 

With her disheveled blond hair and wet eyes, Ethan forgot all about Luheit.

 

All he could think about was Dorothea. As always.

 

* * * 

 

A few days later, Ethan met Luheit in an unexpected place.

 

‘Why is this person here?!’

 

The palace where Hezen resides.

 

Luheit was walking around that place, where outsiders were not allowed to enter as if it were his own palace.

 

“Prince Luheit.”

 

Ethan stopped Luhait, who was leisurely strolling in the garden. Then Luheit suddenly turned his head.

 

“Ah, the Duke of Bronte.”

 

“Why are you here?”

 

Ethan asked Luheit without even a smile.

 

“What’s wrong with being here?”

 

“This is a place where outsiders are not allowed without imperial permission.”

 

Ethan said with a thorn in his eyes.

 

Dorothea is Dorothea, but over the years, Ethan has found someone else who is just as precious to him as Dorothea.

 

Hezen and Helen, were born to him and Dorothea.

 

Those children were his jewels that no one could touch.

 

That’s why Ethan couldn’t even give a polite smile to Luheit, who entered Hezen’s palace without permission.

 

“Please get out of here right now.”

 

Luheit had come to Ubera to maintain their alliance, but he was a stranger. He was also from a foreign royal family.

 

No one knows why such a person came to Hezen’s palace.

 

Just then, he was about to call the palace guards.

 

“Father!”

 

Hezen’s voice was heard from afar.

 

Hezen ran towards Ethan, holding an unfamiliar object in his hand.

 

“Hezen.”

 

“Father, the prince gave me a present!”

 

Hezen ran quickly towards Ethan and shouted excitedly, pointing at Luheit.

 

Ethan furrowed his brow.

 

“A gift?”

 

“It’s an instrument called a sarangi!”

 

Hezen said, lifting up the large object he was holding.

 

It was an exotic stringed instrument, large and barrel-shaped.

 

When Ethan raised his eyes and looked at Luheit, Luheit smiled.

 

“I gave it to Prince Hezen as a gift because he said he liked music.”

 

Luheit said with a good-natured smile as if showing off his good intentions.

 

Ethan narrowed his eyes.

 

‘Hah, you’re going to reach out to Hezen?’

 

It was obvious that he had an impure intention to score points with Hezen and approach Dorothea.

 

“Hezen. What did you have to do when accepting something given to you by someone else or inviting guests?”

 

“I need permission from my father or Her Majesty the Emperor.…”

 

Ethan had warned Hezen early on in case something unexpected happened.

 

Because there are few adults who approach the prince with a pure heart.

 

Most of the gifts people gave to Hezen were bribes for the innocent prince. Or, there may be people who sent dangerous gifts to harm the prince.

 

That’s why Ethan always told Hazen to be careful when receiving gifts and to always ask permission from Dorothea or himself.

 

“But he is the prince of Mulkybel. I saw him with Her Majesty the Emperor, and he seemed friendly…so he’s not a dangerous person, right?”

 

Hezen looked at Luheit as if asking for agreement.

 

Then Luheit bowed slightly and smiled. 

 

“That’s right, Your Highness. How could I be dangerous? I consider you very precious and cherished like my own son.”

 

Luheit’s eyes, who had been looking affectionately at Hezen, glanced at Ethan.

 

Ethan could barely keep the corners of his mouth from twitching.

 

“So you approached Hezen?”

 

“Approach? We just happened to meet by chance while I was playing the sarangi. The prince personally invited me here.”

 

‘They ran into each other by chance? That’s ridiculous.’

 

Ethan balled his fists under his sleeves.

 

The chances of Luheit and Hezen meeting in the palace are small.

 

This is because Luheit was staying in the outer building of the palace for the delegation, and Hezen was staying in the inner building of the palace.

 

It would be the same even if they met in a central garden where everyone could come and go.

 

It is highly unlikely that Luheit would be playing the sarangi out of the blue during Hezen’s walking time or on Hezen’s walking track.

 

If he wants to play the sarangi, he can do so in the palace where the delegation is staying.

 

There was no need to come all the way to the inner palace where even Ubera’s officials were rarely passing by to show off his skills.

 

“Hezen. I think I need to talk with the prince.”

 

Ethan smiled and spoke affectionately to Hezen. Hezen looked back and forth between Ethan and Luheit and nodded.

 

“Are you coming in later? I’ll show you how to play this.”

 

After boasting that he had learned how to play the sarangi, Hezen went inside with his nanny.

 

At that moment, Ethan was watching Hezen’s back as he disappeared.

 

“Prince Hezen really resembles Her Majesty the Emperor.”

 

Luheit opened his mouth again.

 

When Ethan turned his head, Luheit was looking at him with his arms crossed.

 

“Your Majesty the Emperor is truly magnificent. She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”

 

Ethan’s eyes narrowed at that.

 

‘How dare he show his interest in Dorothea…’

 

Ethan hid his clenched fists and suppressed his expression.

 

“Of course you’re right. But… she’s not just beautiful.”

 

As Ethan adjusted his posture and gently raised his lips, Luheit’s thick eyebrows twitched slightly. 

 

However, he soon softened his expression.

 

“As she is the Emperor of the Empire, I suppose that is to be expected…”

 

Ethan was extremely uncomfortable with the look in Luheit’s eyes, as if he was thinking of a lover.

 

“That’s a good thing. I had something I wanted to talk to Duke Bronte about, too.”

 

Luheit smiled, saying that it was fortunate that the two of them could meet one another.

 

Then he turned his gaze to the roses blooming in the garden.

 

“Have you ever heard this saying? A single fragrant flower can make a breeze in the garden…”

 

“Well, this is the first time I’ve heard of it.”

 

“It’s a famous saying in Mulkybel. It means that flowers with excellent fragrance attract many butterflies and bees, and the flapping of their wings creates the wind.”

 

Luheit picked a particularly large rose that stood out.

 

* * *