Beloved Tyrant

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕾𝖎𝖝 : 𝕿𝖔𝖏𝖎'𝖘 𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖆𝖇𝖑𝖊 𝕮𝖍𝖎𝖑𝖉

𝚂𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚢: 𝔗𝔬𝔧𝔦 𝔩𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔰 𝔐𝔢𝔤𝔲𝔪𝔦

"You need to try harder." Megumi sighs in disappointment at the knight who is currently trembling and disarmed. Megumi often shows up for training to see how his knights are doing, offering advice and sparring with them. "You're frightened, it shows on your face."

"W-well, Your Majesty, you're scary."

Megumi is quiet for a moment, only frightening the young knight more. He begins to profusely apologize but Megumi just raises his hand and the knight instantly silences. "Don't show your weakness to your enemy, unless you're prepared to die." Megumi coldly says, making the knight gulp and nod his head in understanding. Megumi turns to another, pointing his sword at the meek boy. "You, come here."

"Yes, sir! Uh-I mean, Your Majesty! Uh- ahh !" He lets out a scream as Megumi strikes, sending him down onto his bottom. He rolls over quickly, missing Megumi's next strike by a hair. He quickly jumps up, firm with his grip on his weapon.

"Cease your obnoxious chatter." Megumi steps forward, swinging and the knight blocks the attack. They continue this game of cat and mouse before Megumi gets the upper hand and sends the knight down. "Better." Is all the compliment he gives but it seems that is all that is needed to cause the knight to smile and gain more confidence in himself. Megumi tugs on his shirt a bit, feeling a bit warm which is typically unusual for someone whose body remains cold.

"Your Majesty, it's nice to see you." Kokichi Muta, a knight, greets respectfully. He's a slim male with light peach colored skin and sharp, dark brown eyes. His body is covered in scars he's gained from the battlefield and he even has a large scar on his cheek as well.

"How are they?" Megumi questions, setting his sword down.

"Doing well." Kokichi's reply is short but all that Megumi needs.

"Ah! Your Majesty, I'm running a bit late but I didn't know you were coming today. If I had known I would have wanted to be the first one you spar with." Yu Haibara, a knight, exclaims with a joyful smile. He's a bit more expressive with his thoughts, kind and understanding. He easily makes friends with others but he isn't exactly a leader type when necessary, not like Kokichi can be. Haibara doesn't dwell on things that are unnecessary, he focuses on the positives in all situations.

"Don't be late next time." Megumi replies and while it might've come across in a harsh manner, Haibara just laughs.

"You're right! Next time then, Your Majesty." Haibara smiles, making his way towards the others to make conversation. Megumi is an inscrutable person, but Kokichi and Haibara seem to understand him well enough to know he isn't actually angry with Haibara for being late.

"They have much to learn." Kokichi adds after a moment of silence.

"Even an experienced knight has more knowledge to be gained. That includes me." Megumi replies, walking away from the training grounds. Toji had told him that once when he was younger and saw his father training vigorously all day and night. He had snuck out of the castle with his blanket and pillow. He slept out there and when he woke up, he was tucked into his father's bed with Toji nowhere to be found.

~𝖘𝖈𝖊𝖓𝖊 𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖓𝖌𝖊~

"Look at what I got you, bastard." Naoya enters Toji's tent, a royal invitation in hand. "I can't believe that little brat is getting married to someone who isn't me!"

"Shut up." Toji growls through clenched teeth, his eyebrows knitted together in frustration. He couldn't believe that tiny brat with blood colored eyes who had the nerve to say he was going to marry his Blessing. He can't believe Sukuna was actually successful in achieving Megumi's hand in marriage, not even bothering to gain Toji's approval. His Blessing was so small and fragile in his arms and Toji doesn't want to believe his Megumi is all grown up. The last he saw Megumi, he was taller and had lost his baby fat, so beautiful and still so lovable. Toji couldn't believe his Blessing had grown so fast.

A smirk spreads onto Naoya's face, "Are you pissed off?" Naoya simply can't help himself but taunt Toji, he always gets amusement from it.

"Fucking pervert, you're the last person I would allow to marry my Dumpling."

"I thought Duke Sukuna was the last person?"

"Get out." Toji grunts. Naoya chuckles as he walks out the tent, leaving Toji to his thoughts. Toji needed to be on the battlefield after the death of his wife. He was plagued by guilt for being unable to save her and save his Blessing from witnessing such a horrific tragedy. Toji had never wanted to die so badly in his life, for all his suffering to end. Those bright emerald eyed kept him somewhat sane, sane enough not to go on a murdering spree in the castle before ending his own life. Megumi needs a safe place to call home, Toji could only provide that by being right where the action is, his mind distracted and not focusing on the gruesome sight of his murdered wife and sobbing child covered in her blood.

He doesn't want Megumi to get married, selfishly. He wants to keep his Blessing to himself, his adorable child that he wants to keep safe. Sighing, Toji traces the silver cursive lettering of Megumi's name. His chest fills with loneliness, missing his child's face. Megumi and his mother are the only people who've ever truly loved him, even with all the blood stained on his hands. Megumi could've easily rejected Toji when he saw the man kill those assassins but he didn't, he held onto Toji and remained the same. He was never terrified of Toji, sometimes nervous or shy but never scared.

Toji would never hurt his Blessing and due to that, he doesn't want to oppose this marriage if this is what Megumi truly wants.