The Tyrant Is A Little Bit Kind
Chapter 56: Lots of Problems 4

Chapter 56: Lots of Problems 4

(Orlax’s POV)

After we watched the city for a while, I returned to my room because Sera was starting to feel tired.

I sat on the couch and let Sera sleep on my lap since she was exhausted.

’Alright, now Catherine... but how am I supposed to solve her problem if she won’t even speak to her husband and children?’

I gently stroked Sera’s hair as she slept on my lap, thinking of a solution to this problem.

’If she refuses to talk to me, I’ll just barge in and force her to speak.’

I slowly got up, careful not to wake Sera, laid her on a soft pillow, covered her with a blanket, and left the room.

I exited the palace and headed toward the Zephyrius family estate.

When I arrived, the guards greeted me, and I returned their greetings briefly before entering.

The moment I stepped inside, I saw the head butler walking toward me. He greeted me with a bow.

"Your Majesty."

"Hello. I want to see Catherine. Where is her room?"

"Right away, Your Majesty. Please follow me."

After walking for a while, we stopped in front of Catherine’s room, and I gestured for the butler to leave.

I knocked softly on the door and called out, waiting for a response.

"Lady Catherine, are you awake?"

"..."

’Looks like I’ll have to use the hard way.’

I took a deep breath and raised my arm to break the door down, but stopped when I heard Catherine’s voice.

"Come in."

I grasped the doorknob, turned it, and entered the room.

The room was in complete disarray, as if a fight had broken out here.

I scanned the room calmly until my eyes landed on someone sitting on the bed, wrapped tightly in a blanket.

She had wrapped herself so thoroughly that I couldn’t see her face, which appeared to be in terrible shape.

There were dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep, and her face was pale.

I pulled a chair closer to her and sat down, silently observing.

"Well then, Lady Catherine, why are you doing this?"

I asked her directly, not wanting to waste time with meaningless talk.

"Tell me the reason. They say finding the cause is half the solution."

Catherine remained silent for a while after hearing my words and took a deep breath.

"Your Majesty, do you know what my name was before I became Armanthor’s wife?"

"Yes, you’re from the Reinhardt family."

I answered calmly, having read that information earlier.

"Well, in that household, everyone had to follow the head’s rules."

I remained silent, listening to her speak about the Reinhardt household.

"There was no familial warmth between members, nothing like that. So, most of the time, I felt lonely and sad. But..."

Catherine clenched her fists tightly and bit her lips.

"My sister was the only light in my life."

Tears began streaming down her face as she remembered her sister, the former empress.

"She was so kind to everyone. She was the one who got all of us to start gathering as a family."

Catherine wiped her tears, a sincere smile forming on her face as she recalled her sister.

"So when she got married and left the house, we all felt a bit sad. But soon after, most of us married and left home as well."

She lifted her head and looked directly at me.

"So, when I heard that you killed her, I felt insane. I wanted to kill you that moment."

The seriousness in her expression made it clear she was telling the truth.

"But I couldn’t. The emperor was protecting you back then. So, I chose another way."

’Don’t tell me she...’

"I incited the princes and princesses against you and had them torture you."

As soon as I heard those words, something snapped in my mind. I couldn’t hear the rest of what she was saying.

’Because of this woman, I lived that hell for four years? This woman... I’ll kill her!’

Boom!

A suffocating killing intent exploded from me so powerfully that the air grew heavy and hard to breathe.

Catherine’s face looked terrified, her body trembling from the overwhelming bloodlust.

Kill this woman!

That was the only thought in my mind. I couldn’t control my body anymore.

[Cold Blood activated]

[Error! Skill cannot be activated due to lack of "Right"]

[Patience activated]

[Error! Skill cannot be activated due to lack of "Right"]

I wasn’t even in a conscious state to read the notifications. My focus was solely on her.

’Orlax’s emotions are overwhelming me. I can’t control this body.’

I tried to resist, but it was useless. It felt like I was just a spectator as my body moved on its own.

My hand moved quickly toward Catherine and gripped her throat tightly.

"Gghk!"

Catherine grasped my hand, unable to breathe, but her weak strength did nothing.

"You damn bitch! Because of you, I lived four years of hell! I’ll kill you today!"

The voice that came out of me was filled with fury and hatred—it even startled me.

’If this continues, I’ll definitely kill her. Damn it!’

I watched helplessly as my body lifted Catherine by the neck into the air.

"Ki...ll me... pl...ease..."

Catherine spoke with great difficulty, struggling for oxygen, looking me in the eyes, awaiting her fate.

After hearing those words, I regained control of my body and immediately let go of her neck as she started to lose consciousness.

"Cough, cough... Why? Why didn’t you kill me?"

Catherine began catching her breath, coughing from the suffocation, tears streaming down her face.

"Killing you would be a mercy, Catherine."

I calmly sat back down as I watched her lying on the floor.

"Since you made me live four years of hell, it’s only right I make you go through the same."

I stood slowly and walked over to her, lowering myself to her eye level.

"You will live four years of hell starting today. Do you understand?"

"You..."

"Shhh, I don’t want to hear another word from you."

I placed my finger on her lips to silence her as I stared into her eyes.

"Catherine, by the authority granted to me, I will now punish you."

I stood up and walked over to the window, looking outside.

"All your powers and privileges will be revoked. You are banished from the Zephyrius family and shall no longer carry their name. Also..."

I looked back at Catherine lying on the floor, shock evident on her face.

"You are forbidden from seeing your family for four full years."

"No, no, please not that..."

Catherine got up and began pleading desperately, but I ignored her cries.

"This decision is effective immediately."

"Please! I beg you! Kill me! Death is better than this punishment!"

Tears were pouring down her face as she pleaded, making me waver slightly.

’No, there’s no turning back. I can’t always forgive.’

"I don’t want to see your face in the capital tomorrow. That’s all."

I ignored Catherine’s desperate cries and left the room.

After closing the door, I leaned against it, feeling strange.

’What is this? I don’t feel any better at all. I thought punishing her would bring me relief, but...’

I shook my head, brushing away unnecessary thoughts, and headed toward the exit—but I saw a man with white hair standing there.

"Are you sure about this decision?"

Armanthor spoke to me calmly, observing me.

"Eavesdropping isn’t a good habit, Grand Duke."

I sighed as I saw Armanthor, whose presence I had sensed earlier.

"Yes, I’m sure."

After reflecting on his question for a moment, I answered firmly.

"In that case, Your Majesty, you must bear the consequences of your choice. I can no longer serve as the emperor’s assistant."

’I figured this might happen.’

"Do as you wish."

I waved my hand dismissively and left the Zephyrius estate, heading back to the imperial palace.

I returned to my room and sat quietly on the couch next to the sleeping Sera.

"Was what I did today really the right decision?"

I kept thinking about the choice I made and the consequences soon to come.

"I’ve lost the Grand Duke, who was my greatest ally. The Reinhardt family won’t stay quiet after what I did to their daughter."

I rubbed my head, the headache starting to creep in.

"And I don’t even know how Alice will react to this."

I leaned back on the couch and gazed thoughtfully at the ceiling.

"All this... just to satisfy myself, I made a decision that now carries heavy consequences. I must not follow my personal emotions from now on."

I carried Sera to the bed and went to the bathroom to relax for a while.

After half an hour, I emerged from the bath, put on fresh clothes, and headed to my office.

I opened the door and stepped inside.

Unlike usual, there was no stack of paperwork piled up—the office looked empty.

"Is this your farewell gift?"

I smirked sarcastically, sat at the desk, took out a tablet, and started reading about history and noble families since I had no official work left to do.