The Tyrant’s Beloved Doll

Eton was the same as before. Even after four years had passed, he hadn’t aged at all. Everything was the same except for his slightly paler hair color.

“Your face truly looks terrible,” Eton said in a gentle voice. “Something happened while I was away?”

Sezh nodded helplessly. Eton sat by the window and reached his hand out to Sezh, gently pulling her towards him.

“Come here.”

A warm hand patted Sezh’s back while she only stared at him silently.

“Luna is dead.”

“I see. Was Luna your friend?”

“Yes, my one and only friend… she was like family to me as well.”

“…”

“She died because of me.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Just… It was because of me. Everything.”

It was difficult for her to explain all the complex circumstances. The fact that she knew about Luna’s death in advance. And that even though she knew, she still couldn’t stop it. So it was undisputedly her fault.

“Sezh, there is no one to be blamed for a death,” Eton said reassuringly. “Death is something that human power can not stop. No matter what had happened, it is not your fault. I’m sure Luna will think so too.”

It can’t be stopped by human power? Sezh suddenly looked at Eton.

“Eton, remember what you said to me back then?”

“I remember most of the things I say to you.”

“You said that if I learned how to create a stable wind, you would grant my wish.”

“I did say that.”

Now, there’s hope— a small glimmer of hope. If human power can’t save a person, then maybe with magic…?

“Now I can do it. It’s not as perfect as when you helped me, but I’ve improved a lot.”

“…Sezh,” Eton, guessing what Sezh was going to ask, made a sympathetic expression.

“I can truly do it. I can show you right now. So, my wish… Can’t you save Luna…?”

“…”

“You know how to do magic…”

If magic can do it, but Eton still lacks the skill, Sezh can practice even at the cost of her life as long as it’s possible. If she could save Luna…

However, Eton’s answer was not what Sezh expected.

“Sezh, you can’t do that.”

Eton patted Sezh’s back to comfort her and continued to speak, “Once a person is dead, they cannot be brought back to life. It’s impossible. It’s something even God can’t do.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Sezh’s drooped head reflected in his red eyes.

Eton then spoke softly, “If that were possible. I would have done it first.”

Even if it meant losing all the power he had, Eton would have done it back then, and Syarhwina would have come back to life.

“Eton… Have you lost someone precious?”

Eton was silent. Someone precious. Those two words were not enough to describe Syarhwina.

“How can I be okay…? Does it get better with time? Tell me, Eton…”

“…I’m not sure either,” Eton said with a bitter expression. “It seems like it happened just yesterday to me.”

Syarhwina’s death happened a very long time ago. However, Eton had been sealed around that time and stuck with that memory. Hundreds and thousands of years have passed since then, but it wasn’t so for Eton.

“Humans say you should let go of someone who leaves first.”

“…How?”

“Well, I don’t know how or what it means since I only heard it.”

“Yesterday, Kaen also said that to me. If I’m too sad, if I keep holding on to her, Luna won’t be able to leave.”

“Won’t be able… to leave?”

“She said we should remember the happy memories instead of the bad ones. But I don’t understand. The more I look back on those memories, the more tears I shed…” Sezh let out a small sigh.

While wiping Sezh’s tears, Eton pondered by himself. If that’s true, even if hundreds of more years pass, Syarhwina’s soul will never leave this world.

“Then just cry your heart out. Cry until there are no more tears left. Then the day will come when it will fade. Just like what humans say.”

‘Even if you can’t let go of her forever, I hope it fades a little. Whether it’s confusion, sadness, longing… or even anger,’ Eton sincerely hoped.

“Then one day, when you know how to let her go with your heart, would you tell me the way? I will be waiting for it.”

“…Eton?”

“I can’t think of a way, so I don’t know how to do that,” Eton laughed bitterly. “But you will eventually find a way because you are a kind and warm-hearted child.”

A large hand caressed her tousled blonde hair.

Sezh wiped away her tears and nodded.

“Sorry. It’s been a long time since we met, but I only talked about myself.”

“It’s okay.”

“Did you find the sealing stone?”

“…I found what I was looking for.”

Sezh’s swollen eyes widened. It’s because Eton’s expression was dull.

“What happened?”

“Nothing. My part ends here… Shall we talk about something else?” Eton quickly erased the gloomy expression on his face.

“You’re a lot taller. The last time I saw you, you were only as tall as my chest at most.”

“Really?”

“Your face has also grown so much that I can’t even comprehend it. If we ran into each other on the street, I might barely recognize you.”

“Liar.”

“I’m serious.”

“I would have recognized Eton at a glance.”

“…”

“I’m positively sure of it. Why are you still the same? Why hasn’t anything changed?” Sezh asked two questions in a row, but Eton didn’t answer even one of them and just smiled.

“It’s nice to see you after such a long time, Sezh.”

“Same… here.”

It was sincere. Eton was still a mysterious person, but it was good to see him again.

Sezh felt as if she had reconnected with a long-lost friend.

“Where are you going now? Perhaps… Are you going to leave again…?”

“No,” Eton shook his head. “There are things I have to check with my own eyes. I won’t leave until I see it.”

Eton’s gaze suddenly turned to look outside of the window. He somehow seemed to be looking at Raytan’s palace.

“Your brother… What is he up to?” Eton asked out of the blue.

Sezh replied softly, “Just… Nothing special… happening. He takes care of me a lot… He even came here a while ago. I at least got this better thanks to him.”

“I see,” Eton replied with a casual face.

But what about this bloody smell*, Sezh? Who is the one causing this? …Without revealing their true intentions.

“The sun will rise soon. You better sleep now.”

“What about you…?”

“I will go back to where I used to be. The place where I first met you.”

“Lady Lize’s palace?”

“That’s right.”

“Um, but the Imperial palace is a little bit more chaotic these days… If you get caught…”

“You don’t have to worry. You know it too, right? No one can enter that place unless I allow it.”

Eton once again said something she couldn’t understand.

Endless questions barged into her head. Sezh hesitated then parted her lips, “Did you allow me in the day we first met? When I entered that room.”

“No,” Eton chuckled meaningfully. “It was possible because you are a special child.”

In an instant, Sezh’s face froze. Her tense and confused face made her look cute. Sezh was a special child. It was the first time Eton saw someone with the ability to do what she did. So he thought she was an interesting kid, and it was still the same today.

“Sezh, go to bed and sleep. The night air is cold, so make sure to cover yourself with a blanket.”

Sezh gave a slight nod in response.

Now it’s time for him to go. Eton slowly stood up in front of the window, and then he turned his head back with a face that looked like he had forgotten something.

“You still have your wish since I couldn’t fulfill the request to save Luna. Think of another wish. At that time, I want you to make a wish that can make you happy. Whatever it is.”

“Thank you.”

“But don’t say it too late.”

‘…Because I don’t have much time left,’ Eton swallowed the rest of his words.

“Have a nice dream, Sezh,” With those words, Eton jumped out of the window.

Left alone, Sezh stood blankly in front of the window and then walked to her bed to lay down.

…Does that mean Eton has someone who he should let go of? Who is that precious person Eton lost? And Raytan… why did he say he can’t come tomorrow? Unanswered questions kept coming unceasingly.

Sezh finally fell asleep after dawn.

The very next day, the announcement of Johan Franz’s death came.