I Became the Tyrant’s Cure in a Tragedy Novel [Novel] Chapter 50 is available as a full text chapter. Published August 31, 2025 and updated March 13, 2026.
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: The Red Letters
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“What… do you mean by that?”
*Clatter.*
The table shook slightly as an agitated Enoch shot to his feet.
Amidst the commotion, the Former Emperor calmly set down his water glass and continued his meal.
“A few years ago, I saw the records you mentioned in the High Priest’s chambers.”
“Why would the High Priest have them…!”
“Did you not know he was the duke’s man?”
“...!”
Enoch’s pupils widened at the unexpected revelation, and I covered my mouth with my hand.
“Are you surprised? It’s understandable. I, too, lived for many long years without knowing.”
“B-But, Father, is that even possible? The temple is supposed to stay out of politics…”
I spoke cautiously, observing Enoch’s state, and the Former Emperor’s lips twisted into a wry smile.
“Is the High Priest not a man? He has his greed and his desires, so he naturally moved toward the side that could fulfill them.”
He was a man who should never have been in that position from the start.
*Tsk.* Clicking his tongue, the Former Emperor leaned back in his chair.
“I hear he fled the temple a few days ago, taking everything of value with him.”
“...Then, are you suggesting he took the records of Riana’s and the duke’s daughter’s manifestations?”
“Yes. Seeing as you’re looking for them, they must be evidence that could incriminate the duke. What could be more valuable than that?”
*Tap. Tap. Tap.*
As he languidly tapped the armrest with his index finger, his gray eyes, a shade paler than Enoch’s, moved slowly.
From Enoch to me.
“What is written in it?”
“……”
“Lately, you’ve taken an interest in old rumors, haven’t you? For instance, that old nonsense about the marquess’s daughter manifesting a special ability.”
“...You must have a very capable pair of ears by my side.”
Instead of answering Enoch’s somber question, the Former Emperor stared at me in silence for a long moment before picking up his utensils again.
“As I said yesterday, even if you’ve found the duke’s weakness, do not act rashly. Not just for your sake.”
“?”
I had been about to take a bite of the scone beside me, but his persistent gaze made me slowly put it back down.
“A single misstep, and this child could be harmed as well.”
“I am aware.”
“But you won’t say you’ll stop. I wonder who you take after, really.”
The Former Emperor shook his head as if exasperated and resumed his meal.
Caught between the two of them, I furtively glanced back and forth before cautiously picking up my scone again.
As I did, the long, pale sky-blue sleeve of my dress dangled precariously close to the plate.
I wondered why such clothes were here, in a place where people rarely stayed.
And of all things, a dress in a style currently popular in the capital.
For some reason, I recalled the servant who had brought me the clothes, his face pale and touched by the morning dew. I reached for the fluttering sleeve, then my lips parted slightly.
“Ah.”
Right, my jewel.
That stone-like thing I’d picked up at Elisha’s yesterday—I’d put it in my sleeve!
As the completely forgotten fact came to mind, it acted as a catalyst.
Unfamiliar memories began to blossom in my mind.
*“This power is no longer yours, but my daughter’s. Do you understand, Riana?”*
“What… is this?”
I froze abruptly. I could see both the Former Emperor and Enoch looking at me with puzzled expressions, but I couldn’t look away.
An unfamiliar memory flooded my mind like ink spreading in water, making it impossible to see anything else.
*“It is my daughter’s. You never manifested any power to begin with!”*
The buzzing voice in my head gradually grew clearer.
The face, once a blur like a reflection in water, sharpened into focus.
Blue eyes that seemed to hold the clear sea of a summer night.
And surrounding them, a set of magnificent features.
He was much younger than the man I remembered, but…
*‘Duke Herington?’*
Though I had only met him once, Duke Herington’s image was still vivid in my mind. His youthful face contorted as he reached out a hand.
*“All you have to do is stay quiet. If you stay quiet, my daughter will become the subject of the prophecy. And then, the future empress of this nation will be my daughter. So, please? Riana, be quiet.”*
“—ana.”
*Blink.*
A gentle voice seemed to filter through the remnants of the strange memory, but my eyes remained fixed on the duke’s outstretched hand. I managed only a single blink.
*‘What is this? A hallucination? No. It’s something more…’*
Yes, it felt more tangible than a mere hallucination.
“Ah.”
A sudden thought struck me, and I let out a sharp gasp, blinking once more.
*‘Could this be... Riana's memory?’*
But why now? Why would a memory suddenly surface in a mind that had been completely blank?
Confused by the inexplicable situation, I furrowed my brow slightly. Just then, something long and firm enveloped my hand.
“Riana!”
“?”
As if to pull me from my reverie, a voice tinged with faint worry called my name. I turned my gaze to see Enoch gripping my hand, which was half the size of his.
“What’s wrong? Are you unwell?”
“No, it’s not that…”
It seemed my sudden stillness, as if I were playing a game of freeze tag after chatting and laughing just fine, had startled him quite a bit.
I patted his tense hand and fumbled with my sleeve.
I felt like I knew why—and because of what—this fragment of memory had fit so perfectly into the void of my mind, as if it had always been there.
After fumbling with my clothes for a while, a troubled expression crossed my face.
*‘Right. I changed my clothes.’*
I lowered my hands and cast a wistful glance at the scone I hadn’t finished before calling out to the Former Emperor.
“Your Majesty, the Former Emperor, I mean… Father.”
“What is it?”
“May I… be excused?”
***
“That’s strange. I’m sure I put it in here.”
After stuffing as many desserts as I could into my cheeks like a squirrel, I returned to my room and turned the clothes I’d been wearing yesterday upside down, shaking them vigorously.
I was definitely wearing them when I woke up this morning.
Did I drop it somewhere during the night?
I bent over, searching the floor to see if it had rolled away somewhere, when a familiar low voice descended from above my head.
“What are you looking for so intently?”
“Goodness!”
I clutched my chest in surprise, then straightened up and looked up at Enoch.
“Why did you come up? You didn’t finish eating.”
“Because you came up.”
“There was so much delicious food. You should have eaten more instead of worrying about me.”
I had rushed up, afraid of losing the memory fragment that had suddenly appeared.
But thinking of the magnificent spread of sweet desserts, my mouth began to water.
Seeing this, Enoch let out a soft laugh and reached out to wipe the corner of my mouth.
“If you miss it, why don’t you go back down and finish? They probably haven’t cleared the table yet.”
A tiny crumb, from when I had hastily stuffed my mouth with the scone, was now on his long finger.
Enoch casually brought it to his own lips.
*Crunch.* I listened to the sound of the scone fragment disappearing behind his firmly closed lips, my face flushing slightly as I brushed my mouth clean.
“I can’t. There’s something I need to find.”
“Something you need to find?”
“Yes. I told you I picked something up before escaping the duke’s mansion yesterday… Hmm. Strange. Where did it go?”
I continued to turn the clothes over and over, tilting my head in confusion.
Enoch stepped in front of me, his hand lightly clenched into a fist.
“Hm?”
As I tilted my head again, wondering what it was, he bent his knees slightly to match my height and slowly opened his palm.
“This.”
“Oh…?”
“Are you looking for this?”
Finally, his hand was fully open, revealing a small jewel resting on his palm.
“Why do you have this, Enoch… hmm?”
Seeing the jewel appear from such an unexpected place, I blinked rapidly and furrowed my brow.
Wondering if I was seeing things, I poked the small jewel with the tip of my nail. It rolled across his large palm.
*Hmm,* I hummed to myself before looking up at Enoch.
“Doesn’t the color look a bit strange?”
“Haa…”
Enoch watched me repeatedly poke his palm and let out a faint sigh.
“Do you still not remember?”
“Nope.”
At this point, there was nothing to be surprised about.
I nodded my head up and down matter-of-factly, and a flicker of disbelief crossed his clear, gray eyes.
But it was only for a moment.
With a habitual twitch of one eyebrow, Enoch reached into his coat. A rustling sound accompanied something he pulled out.
A white envelope, neatly addressed with only the recipient and sender.
The letter he always carried dangled before my eyes.
“Huh? Why do you have that?”
“Honestly.”
Letting out another sigh, Enoch took the contents out of the envelope and answered.
“You gave it to me last night, Riana.”
“I did?”
“Yes. Both the jewel and this letter. You gave them all to me.”
What? Did I get drunk and just hand over everything I had to Enoch as a gift?
If I was going to give him something, I should have given him something cool and nice, not this stuff.
Shaking my head at my past self’s poor taste, I watched quizzically as Enoch placed the paper in my hand.
“Enoch, why are you unfolding it? There’s nothing written on it anyway.”
“Who knows.”
At his vague reply, I followed his gaze down to the paper. My eyelashes trembled in astonishment.
“Huh? Huh? Enoch! Look at this! There are letters!”
On the paper held within my widened pupils, words had appeared.
Fiery red letters that danced like flames, as if they had moved from the colorless jewel.
Words that held the memory of Riana’s childhood, the one I had just seen in the dining hall like a scene from an old black-and-white movie.
As I stared at the colorless jewel and the words on the paper, a voice suddenly rang in my ears.
My own voice, from last night, slurred with drink.
*“Wow! Enoch, look! Letters are appearing on the paper all by themselves!”*
