The Tyrant's Last Doll

She glanced at him, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded. Ridrian let out a short sigh of relief at that slight movement.

“Where would you like to go?”

“I…want to go to that new garden I saw the other day.”

“A new garden?”

Ridrian tried to remember where that was. Suddenly, he frowned. That place was where Iona had experienced a seizure. He’d had to evacuate her. Later, he’d found out that the young bastard, Count Russen, had locked Iona up a few years in a bird cage and ordered that the garden be destroyed.

And heard that they’d built a new one.

A new one was pretty useful. Feeling a sense of pride, he kissed Iona’s hand a little longer than usual, and her face reddened.

“Let’s go.”

***

I went for a walk with just Ridrian, as per request. He didn’t want Eris and Dylan to come along.

He didn’t want to show me just being with Eris.

I felt even more depressed. The temperature seemed to get cooler as the umbrella blotted out the sun.

“Iona?”

I ignored Ridrian’s call and walked a little faster, so I was ahead. Walking in front of the emperor! Elmeria would’ve scolded me.

As we moved, I saw the new garden sparkling. As I got closer, I began to doubt my own eyes.

“This is the new garden?”

It has become a place of beauty. The new garden was completely different.

“I made it bigger than before.”

I turned to Ridrian. As he looked proud, my mind drifted to way before. I missed it, but at the same time I felt perplexed. I’d come here so I could try to get over my dark past, but he’d made it so that I wouldn’t even recognize the past.

Ah, this can’t be good.

My heart pounded. Had he built the garden for me? I was becoming a roadblock, as he was finally opening his heart to the original female main Eris.

No, he probably rebuilt it since it was hit by lightning. No way he built it for me.

I shook my head, trying to feel better.

“I want to go in.”

“Will you be okay?”

“Yes, I’m really okay.” I nodded lightly, seeing the worried look on his face.

He opened the garden door for me.

Wow!

The interior was even more fantastic.

I could hear the sound of birds. The smell of greenery hit my nose, and I felt like I’d been transported into another world. As I slowly walked inside, its mysterious presence started to fade.

We walked through the garden without a word—no, I was too busy looking around to talk. There were many trees and plants and birds I’d never seen before. It felt like I was in the Garden of Eden. It dawned on me why the noble ladies came to this place whenever they visited the palace.

And…

It’s so hot.

It was only natural, as we were in the middle of summer—and because the garden was a greenhouse type. I’d been so lost in thought; I’d forgotten something so basic.

Despite my regret, it would be awkward for me to ask to leave. I glanced over my shoulder. Ridrian didn’t look hot at all.

“Should we sit here for a bit?” he suggested, holding out a hand toward me.

Should I ask to leave?

While I pondered, an insect landed on his hand.

A mosquito!

This world also had mosquitos? I hit before he could get bitten. I was happy with the result…until it dawned on me.

Ah! Did I just hit the emperor’s hand?

I glanced up, trying to calm my heart. Ridrian was staring at his hand, a stern expression on his face.

***

What did I just do?

He looked down at his hand for a while, then lowered it.

“If…if you don’t want to, should we leave?”

My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out of my mouth. Ridrian was silent, which left me feeling even more flustered.

He’s not angry? Really? I know he said he doesn’t get angry at my rudeness, but even a normal person would’ve been angry at this.

I was so panicked I missed my timing. I couldn’t hear what he was mumbling as well.

“Are you so angry that you don’t even want to talk to me?”

“Pardon?” I quickly regained my senses. “What did you just say?”

He clenched his fist and glanced up. “Let’s go out. It seems too hot in here.”

I relaxed a little. The realization that he was a normal person who could feel heat and that he really wasn’t angry was somewhat calming.

“Yes.”

I turned around, feeling my face grow hot. Hitting the emperor’s hand and ignoring his question…

I exited the sauna-like garden. Being outside felt like being in heaven. So much so that I wondered if the heaven Terrace was in felt anything like this. As my body returned to normal, I began to feel drowsy. I hadn’t gotten much sleep last night. Spending all this time with Ridrian had been the last straw.

“I want to go home,” I almost mumbled.

Eris would be there when I got home, anyway. My shoulders slumped at the realization. Still, home would feel much better than the palace.

“Do you want to go home?”

“Pardon? Ah—honestly, yes.”

I figured he wouldn’t listen to me anyway, but I gave it a shot. Still, for some reason, he accepted it without a word of protest.

“Then I’ll tell them to prepare a carriage,” he said. “I’ll get ready, so wait for me in the drawing room.”

“Alright…pardon?” I asked. “You’re coming with me?”