I Grabbed the Tyrant’s Heart

My grown-up friend didn’t have to ask for anything in return for my request.
Because he was going to do everything that was needed to join me at the tea party!

“…… I will come to the palace.”

I grabbed the man’s sharp nose and shook it.

Then Tess grabbed my wrist, and he stuck out his red tongue.
He licked my palm for a long time so I tried to make a fist, but the long fingers holding my wrist came up in an instant and interfered.

The large hand covered the back of my hand and interlocked the fingers.

What thrilled me more than anything was the crescent-shaped eyes that could be seen between my fingers.

Black eyes like the night were holding me and watching me in rapture.

It was embarrassing.

I hadn’t been able to afford to pay attention to others.
In particular, adult men of my age were out of my interest.

It was the first time I had ever seen a man’s eyes so thick and full of deep emotions.

* * *

“Greetings, Gael.
It’s the Emperor.”

“Gasp, Your Majesty!”

Gael opened her eyes wide and bowed her head.

“Hello, I am Ganiel Hardland.”

“Yes, Euseniel’s younger sister.
Let’s go, Euseniel.”

“Wait a minute.”

After putting Ganiel in the carriage, I took Tess’ hand and climbed into the carriage too.

Gael and I came to the Imperial Palace from Hardland, and from here we plan to go to Lantia with Tess.
This gathering, hosted by Duchess Lantia, is a gathering of all ages with no age limit for participants as long as there is a guardian.

I’ve heard rumors that Duchess Lantia likes children, so is that the reason for such a rare gathering?

“What’s wrong, Gael?”

“What? No! Nothing!”

Gael, who was sitting next to me, looked at me curiously, probably because she was seeing the Emperor for the first time.
It would be nice if Tess responded to this, but he was pouting his mouth because he couldn’t sit next to me.

“Does it have to be like this even when we go to the Lantia family? Will Euseniel walk in with your sister?”

“You can escort me, and Gael can be escorted by an imperial knight outside.”

He glanced at the imperial knight outside the carriage.

“Of course, if you allow it.”

“Sure.
I can go in while holding Euseniel’s waist.”

“This punk’s mouth!”

I pulled my lips tight as Tess grabbed my wrist.
However, it seems that he has no intention of letting it go.
But he doesn’t give it any strength, and he seems to be smiling strangely.

…… I’m very worried that I may have developed a strange taste.

“Wow.”

Tess let go of his lips at Gael’s exclamation.
So how do I explain this? This is unbeknownst for the Emperor.

“Wow, I heard that Your Majesty and Sister are very close, but it’s true!”

“You know that.
Who did you hear that from?”

Tess asked Gael with an ahem face, and Gael’s eyes twinkled as if she was cheered up by the Emperor’s interest.

“Aurin, the first daughter of the Xuen family.”

“She said it correctly, Euseniel is my woman.”

As the conversation started this way, Tess and Gael talked back and forth.
Their conversation consisted of ‘the prettiest, nicest, smartest and strongest Sister in the world, Euseniel’ and ‘Euseniel’s deadly and unexpected charms’.

“Stop!”

“Why?”

The two looked at me at the same time and asked.

“What do you mean…….”

“Why can’t we talk about something that’s true?”

My childhood friend tilted his head and asked,

“Yes, Gael is really excited.
I’ve never been so happy these days!”

Even my younger sister agreed.

“I have a lot to brag about when I go to Varen.
I bought a lot of ribbons, and a lot of dresses and dolls! Above all, I saw the Emperor! I’ll be the only one who saw the Emperor”

Gael’s cheeks were flushed and she chattered with excitement.
A bitter smile came out at the sight of my excited younger sister.

“There are also dolls made of jewels in my palace.”

“Really?”

“Yes.
Do you want to see it?”

“Yes!”

“You can only see it when you come with Euseniel, so come with her.”

“Yes!”

I couldn’t even laugh because I was stunned by the trick that clearly showed its purpose, but the young Gael got baited right away.

“Then can I go tomorrow?”

“Of course.”

“Sister, let’s go to the imperial palace tomorrow.
A doll made of jewels.
I want to see it.”

I couldn’t refuse my younger sister’s twinkling eyes as she squeezed my fingers tightly and begged me.

“Tomorrow is a bit difficult, let’s go sometime next week.
Gael, you haven’t done your homework.
right?”

“Oh.”

“Gael will finish all her academy assignments and read the books then we can go.
Can you do that?”

“Yes!”

I was worried that she might not want to go to the academy because of something that had happened a while ago, but fortunately that didn’t seem to be the case.

“By the way, will Lili Xuen come?”

Lili Xuen’s face would noticeably be swollen because of me.
But all she has to do is call a priest and heal it.

“She will come.”

Seeing Tess confidently answering, a strange feeling of uneasiness crept up.

“…… How do you know that?”

“It’s a feeling.”

Judging from his evasiveness, it seems that it will not be easy to go through this party safely.
It was difficult to ask questions in front of Gael.
But there was one more question that I couldn’t help but ask.

“Are you involved in the reason why Nus suddenly got a provincial assignment? Don’t lie, Tessvalun.”

I threatened him to reply, but Tess avoided my gaze.

“I wouldn’t have done that if you had just called him Xuen’s second son.”

“The price was harsh for just calling his name.
His place of dispatch is a rough place even in the Empire.”

“…… So, who told him to be Euseniel’s partner?”

Tess hurriedly turned his gaze to Gael, probably feeling the temperature inside the carriage gradually sinking.

“Euseniel’s younger sister, know that me and Euseniel have the most special relationship in the world.
If someone says something, be sure to answer like this.
‘The Emperor’s master is Euseniel’-”

“-That’s enough!”

Eventually, after slamming Tess’ head with my fist, I grabbed Gael’s shoulder.

“Gael, His Majesty and I have known each other since we were young.
We’re still friendly—Tess’ twinkling eyes were pretty annoying—but we have to be formal in front of others.
So it’s a secret, got it?”

“Yes!”

Gael’s bright eyes bothered me quite a bit, but I didn’t have time to say anything because the carriage stopped.