12. Collapse
The man sitting on the throne, Belenus, looked the seventeen-year-old girl up and down with his eyes.
The girl's blond hair had become darker, and her large, tearful eyes had grown quite beautiful and mature. Her small lips had become quite plump, as if she were holding a red fruit in her mouth.
How is her facial line? She has lost her baby fat, and her face has become quite fine. She looks just like her mother, Beatrice.
Daphne tried to shrink away from the judgmental attitude. It felt dirty, as if someone was looking into her insides.
Why are Asherad and his father Belenus so different?
The Emperor would occasionally call Daphne here to look her over. She didn't know why before, but she does now.
He wants to find in Daphne's face and body something that resembles Beatrice. He wants to see how miserable the daughter of Beatrice, his mistress, who he loved and deceived, is.
Daphne had been afraid of it before, but now she was disgusted. It was not the Emperor's mercy that kept her from being killed, but the Emperor's twisted words.
Whether he loved her mother or not, it didn't matter. Daphne tried to endure the gaze, if only to abhor it.
“If only you were over twenty years old...”
What did he just say? Daphne looked up. Why did he mention age? Even the tone was regretful. Daphne felt a strange sense of unease at that.
The Emperor approached Daphne and untied her hair, which was tied tightly so that not a single strand of hair was left hanging. Her blond hair, like that of her mother, fell into disarray. Daphne clasped her hands together and trembled.
“This hair color is starting to resemble Beatrice more and more.”
The Emperor ran his hand through Daphne's hair, grabbed a few strands, and brought them to his nose.
“You smell moldy, I will pour you some perfume.”
Perfume? What does that mean? Daphne watched the Emperor tremble.
It was dirty.
She just wanted to get out of here quickly. Daphne squeezed her eyes shut.
“Your Majesty, Princess Thalassa has arrived.”
“Tell her to come in.”
The hair that had been grabbed was barely released. However, Daphne was still unable to move as if her hair was still being held.
“You step aside.”
The voice was a little urgent. Daphne bowed and took a step back. At the same time, the servant opened the door to the audience room.
"Uour Majesty!"
A bright and charming voice was heard. The Princess of the Kingdom of Thalassa was walking with a bright smile. She had blond hair mixed with red and braided, and she looked younger than her age. Her pure white skin and peach-colored cheeks were incredibly lovely.
Dressed in scarlet like Crossandra, she had a strong sense of vitality, different from Daphne's dim vitality.
Somehow, she felt utterly ashamed of her own existence. She grabbed hold of the hem of her shabby skirt and walked out of the audience room.
Meanwhile, Kalista glanced at the blonde woman who had passed her by. She seemed familiar. She was so creepy.
All the maids tie their hair tightly. So why is she letting her hair down? And why is the Emperor acting like that?
Something felt strange.
“Who is that woman?”
Kalista tried to ask a cute question. The Emperor smiled and said,
“It’s nothing.”
“...”
It was a nervous smile that told her not to ask any more questions. Even though she was a very immature Kalista, she had that much insight. Kalista kept thinking about the maid as she continued to talk about topics that interested her.
Ah. She remembered where she had seen that maid. She was the maid who had been acting all nice in the Crown Prince's palace. She was someone she knew, even though she didn't want to know, because Asherad's gaze sometimes went towards her.
What the heck?
I'll have to ask the maids of the Crown Princess's palace. Kalista remembered the back of that unsightly woman.
“What is that?”
Asherad raised the corners of his mouth in bewilderment. He saw Daphne and Fabian talking properly. Asherad narrowed his eyes.
“This, this is...”
Lancelot, the captain of the Crown Prince's guard, hurriedly stepped forward.
“Your Highness, that guy hasn’t been here for long...”
Lancelot ground his teeth. If he were to guard Askelad right next to him, he would know his true nature. He had warned him so, but it seemed he had still managed to get close to that damn woman.
Although he came in behind someone's back, he was a person with a good personality, who knew how to use a sword and was friendly.
Although he is not very strong, he has no ill intentions in his actions...
Fabian was unaware that a servant had been brutally murdered for speaking to Daphne once.
“Hmm...”
Asherad leaned against the pillar and looked at Fabian and Daphne.
Fabian burst out laughing when Daphne said something. Daphne's face still had a wary expression, but she looked comfortable anyway.
Different from when she saw him.
“I know it’s presumptuous of you to be so light-headed that I don’t think you’d want to be particularly affectionate with me.”
"Yes?"
It was an unwritten rule in the palace to treat Daphne coldly. The Emperor had brought her here to be his plaything in the first place.
Lancelot tried hard to belittle Fabian's character.
“That guy sees women as objects to be used. Maybe he just looks like he enjoys using them.”
At those words, Asherad raised the corners of his mouth. His emerald eyes were scanning the two of them absentmindedly.
The man sitting on the throne, Belenus, looked the seventeen-year-old girl up and down with his eyes.
The girl's blond hair had become darker, and her large, tearful eyes had grown quite beautiful and mature. Her small lips had become quite plump, as if she were holding a red fruit in her mouth.
How is her facial line? She has lost her baby fat, and her face has become quite fine. She looks just like her mother, Beatrice.
Daphne tried to shrink away from the judgmental attitude. It felt dirty, as if someone was looking into her insides.
Why are Asherad and his father Belenus so different?
The Emperor would occasionally call Daphne here to look her over. She didn't know why before, but she does now.
He wants to find in Daphne's face and body something that resembles Beatrice. He wants to see how miserable the daughter of Beatrice, his mistress, who he loved and deceived, is.
Daphne had been afraid of it before, but now she was disgusted. It was not the Emperor's mercy that kept her from being killed, but the Emperor's twisted words.
Whether he loved her mother or not, it didn't matter. Daphne tried to endure the gaze, if only to abhor it.
“If only you were over twenty years old...”
What did he just say? Daphne looked up. Why did he mention age? Even the tone was regretful. Daphne felt a strange sense of unease at that.
The Emperor approached Daphne and untied her hair, which was tied tightly so that not a single strand of hair was left hanging. Her blond hair, like that of her mother, fell into disarray. Daphne clasped her hands together and trembled.
“This hair color is starting to resemble Beatrice more and more.”
The Emperor ran his hand through Daphne's hair, grabbed a few strands, and brought them to his nose.
“You smell moldy, I will pour you some perfume.”
Perfume? What does that mean? Daphne watched the Emperor tremble.
It was dirty.
She just wanted to get out of here quickly. Daphne squeezed her eyes shut.
“Your Majesty, Princess Thalassa has arrived.”
“Tell her to come in.”
The hair that had been grabbed was barely released. However, Daphne was still unable to move as if her hair was still being held.
“You step aside.”
The voice was a little urgent. Daphne bowed and took a step back. At the same time, the servant opened the door to the audience room.
"Uour Majesty!"
A bright and charming voice was heard. The Princess of the Kingdom of Thalassa was walking with a bright smile. She had blond hair mixed with red and braided, and she looked younger than her age. Her pure white skin and peach-colored cheeks were incredibly lovely.
Dressed in scarlet like Crossandra, she had a strong sense of vitality, different from Daphne's dim vitality.
Somehow, she felt utterly ashamed of her own existence. She grabbed hold of the hem of her shabby skirt and walked out of the audience room.
Meanwhile, Kalista glanced at the blonde woman who had passed her by. She seemed familiar. She was so creepy.
All the maids tie their hair tightly. So why is she letting her hair down? And why is the Emperor acting like that?
Something felt strange.
“Who is that woman?”
Kalista tried to ask a cute question. The Emperor smiled and said,
“It’s nothing.”
“...”
It was a nervous smile that told her not to ask any more questions. Even though she was a very immature Kalista, she had that much insight. Kalista kept thinking about the maid as she continued to talk about topics that interested her.
Ah. She remembered where she had seen that maid. She was the maid who had been acting all nice in the Crown Prince's palace. She was someone she knew, even though she didn't want to know, because Asherad's gaze sometimes went towards her.
What the heck?
I'll have to ask the maids of the Crown Princess's palace. Kalista remembered the back of that unsightly woman.
***
“What is that?”
Asherad raised the corners of his mouth in bewilderment. He saw Daphne and Fabian talking properly. Asherad narrowed his eyes.
“This, this is...”
Lancelot, the captain of the Crown Prince's guard, hurriedly stepped forward.
“Your Highness, that guy hasn’t been here for long...”
Lancelot ground his teeth. If he were to guard Askelad right next to him, he would know his true nature. He had warned him so, but it seemed he had still managed to get close to that damn woman.
Although he came in behind someone's back, he was a person with a good personality, who knew how to use a sword and was friendly.
Although he is not very strong, he has no ill intentions in his actions...
Fabian was unaware that a servant had been brutally murdered for speaking to Daphne once.
“Hmm...”
Asherad leaned against the pillar and looked at Fabian and Daphne.
Fabian burst out laughing when Daphne said something. Daphne's face still had a wary expression, but she looked comfortable anyway.
Different from when she saw him.
“I know it’s presumptuous of you to be so light-headed that I don’t think you’d want to be particularly affectionate with me.”
"Yes?"
It was an unwritten rule in the palace to treat Daphne coldly. The Emperor had brought her here to be his plaything in the first place.
Lancelot tried hard to belittle Fabian's character.
“That guy sees women as objects to be used. Maybe he just looks like he enjoys using them.”
At those words, Asherad raised the corners of his mouth. His emerald eyes were scanning the two of them absentmindedly.
***
It was rare for her to visit the Crown Prince's room in broad daylight. It was true that shr had nothing to do and was just hanging around hoping to be noticed, but she never thought she would be noticed so quickly.
Daphne bowed to Asherad, who was sitting on a chair. Asherad had been calling her every night since she turned eighteen.
There was a slight awkwardness.
“What now?”
A gentle voice was heard. Daphne looked up at Askelad, and the corners of his characteristic red lips were turned up.
Daphne knelt down under his chair at Asherad's gesture. She looked at the man looking down at her. The beautiful being, like an absolute being, looked at Daphne’s hard face and spoke softly.
“What is it this time that makes you act so stiff towards me?”
"That..."
Daphne didn't know what to say. Should she say that she felt distant as she watched him and Princess Thalassa walk by?
How presumptuous of you to be distant. Daphne tried to keep her mouth shut as she tried to speak.
“Daphne, since I asked, you have to answer. Can you stop answering?”
Asherad reached out and lifted her chin. His thumb touched her lips, which were as red as ripe fruit. Daphne opened her mouth.
"That..."
"Yes?"
Asherad brought his face closer. Those green eyes seemed to suck everything out of him. Even his reason was sucked out without a trace.
Daphne spoke as if she were under a trance without realizing it.
“That’s because Princess Thalassa is here...”
"Do?"
“Because you are going to get married.”
Daphne avoided Asherad's eyes and added words sparingly.
“You two look so good together...”
It was a low and melancholy voice, so low that it was hard to tell whether it was praise or sarcasm.
“Ahahaha!”
Asherad burst into a rare laugh. He looked delighted. Daphne's face turned red.
His face looked somehow happy. He used to look cold even when he smiled, but this time, only warmth filled his face.
“Oh, Daphne! I see what you misunderstood!”
“ ..”
“Daphne, do you think I’ll marry that woman?”
Isn't that right? Asherad was still smiling at those eyes.
“I was wondering why you were avoiding me again... why didn’t anyone tell you?”
“...”
“That woman is my aunt.”
“I know, not a single drop of blood with you...”
“No, that’s not important. Princess Thalassa did come to marry. But she came to marry my father, the Emperor, not me.”
"Yes?"
“I thought that rumor spread because the Princess was my age, but everyone was mistaken.”
Daphne's face brightened at those words. Oh, I see. I see. As he watched, Asherad's face also lit up.
“I guess you’re feeling good.”
"Yes."
"Why?"
Daphne shut her mouth tightly at those words. Asherad paid no attention to her not responding.
“Yeah, if you’re happy, I’m happy too.”
Daphne's face turned red at that sweet voice. Why did he say that? Why did he say that?
“Daphne. I really enjoy spending time with you.”
“...”
“When I see such a happy face, I feel comforted too.”
It was a kindness and affection that was different from Fabian's.
Thanks to Asherad's gentle smile, Daphne was able to forget about complicated matters for a moment. For example, the Emperor's meaningful attitude, his winks, and the like.
Asherad, your father is strange.
Daphne wanted to say it, but held it back. Could Asherad do something for her? Especially to stop her father, the supreme ruler of the empire.
Hr will never be able to do that.
"Daphne."
"Yes."
“Will you stay by my side?”
"Yes."
Daphne smiled broadly.
“You are mine. Aren’t you?”
Daphne didn't really question his words as if he were asking for confirmation. She was glad to hear the slight anxiety in his tone. She simply loved it.
Daphne simply looked at the one she loved with flushed cheeks, red lips, and a warm expression.
Because she doesn't know what to do with her burning affection.
The moment she saw him standing next to the Princess, Daphne realized that her feelings for him were not ordinary. She liked this man.
She is grateful for this touch, this glance.
However, he was sorry. Asherad did not know exactly what her crime was. What would he say if he knew that Daphne had dared to deceive the world by claiming to be of the same bloodline as him?
Just thinking about it made her heart flutter.
“Daphne. Why aren’t you answering?”
Daphne forced a smile.
“Yes, I will stay by your side. If Your Highness wishes.”
She didn't want to lose. If Asherad's gaze changed by her words, she wouldn't be able to live.
"Yes."
The warm expression and eyes returned. This was affection. A warmth different from that of the Emperor and Belenus. At that moment, an urgent knock was heard.
“Who are you?”
The attendant hurriedly responded to Asherad's words.
“Your Highness, the Princess of Thalassa has arrived!”
“Take her here.”
Daphne stood up and tried to stand against the wall, but Asherad grabbed her hand. For some reason, he did not keep his distance from the Princess. It was a different attitude from the Emperor. Daphne was embarrassed by this, but somehow she did not hate it.
“What are you doing here, Aunt?”
Asherad greeted the princess with a relaxed expression. The Princess answered with a big smile on her face, then noticed Daphne standing next to Asherad.
“Here you are, shameless as a sinner!”
“...”
Kalista approached Daphne and slapped her cheek. Daphne grabbed her slapped cheek and looked up.
“Your Highness, what a strange thing this is!”
"What..."
“Do you know what kind of woman this is? She is the daughter of the witch who tormented you so much!”
Asherad opened his eyes wide.
Ah, it's all over.
Tears fell from Daphne's eyes.
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