“Maybe I shouldn't have let her go.”
The muttered words had left Kazan's lips before he realized it, echoing back to him from the cave walls.
“She still hasn't fully recovered.”
Kazan looked displeasedly at the pile of dried herbs in the corner.
None of the remaining herbs were particularly useful for treating a chronic disease.
There wasn't much he could do for Yasiris if she stayed, so he didn't try to stop her from leaving.
“...You wouldn't have listened to me anyway.”
Recently, Yasaris has become increasingly rebellious.
It was likely a shift in their dynamic that caused this change; With him being so badly injured, he couldn't force anything on her.
And he wasn't foolish enough to threaten her as a hostage when he was the one who needed help.
All he could do was let her do as she wished.
“Is this... a good thing...?”
Kazan muttered quietly, staring expressionlessly at the cave ceiling.
When he thought about it, Yasiris seemed more lively now, taking the initiative, instead of when she was being dragged around like a corpse.
Even if their bodies were a mess, did it really matter?
Honestly, Kazan didn't find his current situation too bad.
Spending time alone with Yasiris, taking care of each other, had a certain appeal.
He was more than used to the excruciating pain his body endured, so the idea of being stuck like this forever didn't seem entirely undesirable.
Maybe, over time, he could even mend his relationship with Yasiris, just a little bit...
“Here it is again”
Kazan sighed heavily.
Despite the surrender, the nagging hope clung to him stubbornly.
His subconscious refused to let go of him, hopelessly obsessed with a fantasy that would never come true.
There was no chance that Yasaris would love Kazan Tinilath at all.
However, when he came back to reality, he found himself moving for her as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Although he had decided to die by her hand if it came to that.
Kazan pressed his hand to his heart.
Every time he beat hard, as if he wanted to prove that he was still alive, he refused to respond to his will whenever it came to Sisaris.
It was out of his control.
It happened before he realized it.
Kazan's thoughts drifted back to the moments that linked him irrevocably to Pissaris, the memories playing vividly in his mind like scenes from a long-lost dream.
This was entirely Yasiris's fault, Kazan thought.
You gave him the gift of life when he was just existing, too stubborn to die.
She painted his black and white world with vibrant colors of emotion.
You make it hard for me to breathe, I can't eat, and now I can't even sleep Don't you communicate with someone like me?But you ignored that and saved me
She made it impossible for him to live without her.
This was all Yasaris's fault.
Kazan pressed his hand slightly to his heart.
The empty space there was the size of Yasiris's soft hand, which she held whenever they were alone, hidden from the eyes of others.
His red eyes, scanning the void, reflected the past.
The younger Yasiris's features turned away from him slightly.
She was always playful, teasing him with light jokes, but when it came to answering seriously, her lips would tremble.
The way she tucked her hair behind her ear with her small hand, the way her eyes crinkled shyly, the blush that inevitably tinted her cheeks—he loved it all.
“...there's no point at all.”
Kazan sighed.
He couldn't bear the thought of Yasiris hating him to death.
Even when he was trapped in the misunderstanding of betrayal, he cherished it.
Now, getting her to harbor killing intent was beyond his ability.
For now, he would return to the palace and beg her for forgiveness.
Even if it is difficult to earn it right away, with continued effort, maybe something will change.
If risking his life once wasn't enough, he had to keep doing what was necessary until he succeeded.
Perhaps he should consider handing over Beren's rule to Yasiris.
But to do so, he needed to secure power for the Empress first.
Naturally, there would be nobles who would oppose this, so how would he deal with them…
“Kyaaah!”
Kazan suddenly sat up, his upper body rising at the faint scream that reached him from afar.
“Yasaris?”
There was no way he could mistake Yasaris' voice.
His heart began to race uncontrollably, and his breathing quickened.
The beating in his chest resonated like a drum, and adrenaline began to flow through him.
"the curse …!"
He should never have let Issaris out again.
Kazan, whose language had become rougher recently, leaned against the wall with his right hand, struggling to stand on his left foot.
Ignoring his right leg, which was completely shattered, he hopped on one foot, stumbling out of the dugout.
From just this, sweat began to pool on his skin.
A moan slipped from between his tightly clenched teeth.
He wondered to himself if it would be easier to move if he cut off his dangling limbs.
The crazy idea came naturally.
It was so difficult to move his body.
Gasping for breath near the entrance, he somehow managed to pick up a long branch to support himself.
It was fortunate that he could still use his left foot and right hand.
Balancing with the strong branch, he could at least imitate walking to some extent.
“K…KG”
The pain in his limbs as if they were being torn apart with every movement was relentless, but there was no time to think about it.
Kazan, drenched in sweat, began searching for Yasaris.
Unfortunately, being inside the cave meant that he couldn't even determine the direction of the screams.
The best he could do was follow any trace of her he could find, giving priority to the direction of the river.
"Empress!
Yasaris Tenilath!"
He didn't even think about the fact that he was being chased.
Ignoring the possibility of alerting predators, he shouted until his throat was sore.
Please, please.
Answer me.
Like you did once before.
…But the forest remained cruelly silent.
Until the sun passed its zenith.
“Huff...huff...”
Kazan collapsed, leaning against a tree.
Sweat was dripping from his chin, falling in drops.
His slow steps meant that he wandered for a long time.
It was already afternoon, however, there was no sign of Lisaris.
Where…
Where should I go to find you, Yasiris?
Who took you away?
His red eyes, hazy and unfocused, were gradually filled with killing intent.
Reason has been replaced by a terrifying hatred.
Just the thought of hurting Yasaris drove Kazan crazy.
He was gripped by an overwhelming desire to tear apart any living creature he saw.
He felt as if his blood was boiling and this anger quickly turned into strength, giving him the energy to stand up again.
“Yassaris...”
Tack-!
Tack-!
Tack-!
Tack-!
Tack-!
The branch he used as a makeshift stick and his left foot hit the ground alternately.
His dangling right foot scraped the ground between them.
Kazan wandered like a ghost, looking for Yasaris.
As dusk began to fall, he finally stopped, and was confronted by a group of people wearing familiar uniforms.
“Your Majesty!”
Kazan stood still, silently watching the man running towards him.
The luxurious armor bore the badge of pride of the 3rd Royal Knights.
Voyet...!
“His Majesty is here!”
“Here!
His injuries are serious – get a stretcher!”
The hype quickly multiplied.
After the signal whistle echoed in the air, it was as if the entire system's knights had gathered.
“Your Majesty, please, lie down here...”
“Yasaris”
“Excuse me?”
Kazan finally spoke after surveying everyone gathered there.
His expression looked stunned and blank, causing the knight who asked to meet his red gaze.
“Have you seen Yasaris Tinilath?”
“Ha!”
There was something abnormal.
Although Kazan's voice was dry and hoarse, it carried an unsettling calmness that left the knight breathless.
Intent to kill?
How could such power come from mere killing intent?
The knight, sweating coldly, looked around before stuttering a response.
“K-there were relics that we believe belong to Her Majesty the Empress...but, they are...”
“Take me there”
“Yes, Your Majesty”
Kazan moved his broken body, following the knight.
The few knights who brought the stretcher exchanged glances before quietly following behind them.
The rest naturally lined up in formation, accompanying the Emperor.
When they arrived at the site...
Yasiris's clothes were torn to shreds, and her platinum hair was scattered in disarray...
In the middle of a pool of blood.