14. Woman in the bathroom
Kalista shivered. She bit her lip as she listened to the rain pitter-patter outside. She bit so hard that it turned white and then bled.
What have I just been through?
“I, Your Highness. Blood...”
"Ehut up!"
Kalista, who had been hesitantly slapping her hand on her maid, looked back. That was right. Asherad had chosen that woman over her.
“Wow, I... I!”
She finally revealed that woman's secret to him, but for the poor guy...!
But he followed that girl without hesitation?
This was such a great insult. Kalista's eyes flashed with cruelty. She felt like she had to repay the insult that had been inflicted on her in some way.
“I must go see His Majesty!”
“Oh my, Princess!”
The maid tried to stop her, but it didn't enter her mind. All she could think about was how she would get revenge on Daphne and Asherad.
Knock knock, she went to the Emperor's office, forgetting all about prestige and manners. The Emperor, who was working, welcomed his 'fiancée' with open arms.
“Welcome.”
She hated that old man, but now this man was her fiancé, and he was willing to use his power to protect her honor.
Just as she had learned from her mother, Kalista was no stranger to manipulating men.
“What is the matter with the Princess?”
“Your Majesty. I never thought your son would insult me like this.”
Although she had been ridiculed for not being the King's biological daughter, she had never been insulted like this.
To be someone's second choice, or even completely ignored! She kept gritting her teeth. She tried hard to hide the fact that she easily lost her temper when she got angry, but she didn't have the luxury of caring about it.
“Insult? Insult? What do you mean?”
The Emperor asked leisurely. Kalista did not notice the subtle sneer in the Emperor's eyes.
“His Highness the Crown Prince. I warned that woman not to approach him.”
“...That woman?”
“That woman who insulted Your Majesty! She dared to go around shouting that she was Your Majesty’s daughter!”
Kalista's words sounded hollow, as if shouting into the air, but she didn't know it.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes at the sudden revelation of his own shortcomings. The wrinkles between his eyebrows showed his displeasure, but Kalista continued to speak.
“That woman, why on earth is she living like a worm in the palace? When I told His Highness the Crown Prince her identity because he seemed to know nothing, he got angry at me and chased after her.”
“Chasing?”
“Yes! Get mad at me!”
The Emperor nodded to Kalista as if to tell her more. She spoke more excitedly.
“What did he do? No, more precisely, what was the situation?”
“I told him the whole truth. That she was the daughter of the wicked woman who deceived Your Majesty! That she was being punished by Your Majesty. That he should not get close to her.”
"So?"
“The wretched thing ran away, and Your Majesty’s son, angry with me, followed him.”
“That guy... got angry.”
As the Emperor let out a hollow laugh, Kalista nodded. Kalista, who thought he agreed with her words, misunderstood and said,
“Yes! Even if he is the Crown Prince, it is clear that his vision is clouded. If he is bewitched by that woman, then he must be that concubine’s daughter..."
Even though the Emperor's face was already clouded with anger, Kalista paid no attention to it.
As always, she was just busy venting her anger and whining for someone to release it.
“That woman, tear her to pieces right now. You have to chase her out.”
The Emperor looked at Kalista with a hardened face. Kalista had no doubt that it was his anger towards Asherad and the woman.
“Princess. The Princess can ask anything of me.”
Just as Kalista's complexion brightened, the Emperor spoke in a sinister voice.
“But, except for the throne.”
When Kalista looked puzzled at those words, the Emperor threw the inkwell.
Boom, a black ink stain spread across the wall, and there was a sound of an ink bottle breaking. A few drops of black ink splashed onto Kalista as well.
For a moment, a cool silence fell. Only the sound of rain could be heard between Kalista and the Emperor.
“I, I...”
“I will take care of my children’s education and the treatment of that woman. Didn’t the King of Thalassa even educate you on what areas should be invaded and what areas should not be invaded?”
“...”
“If you haven’t learned, how about distinguishing between when to step forward and when not to step forward?”
Kalista's face turned pale at the Emperor's words. She was finally beginning to realize that this was a foreign land without her mother and adoptive father. Not everyone would accept her childish behavior.
“Your Majesty, that’s not what I’m saying!”
“Go out!”
At the Emperor's words, Kalista was driven out without even finding her principal.
The Emperor's face was distorted as he watched Kalista close the door and leave.
“If only it weren’t for the cornerstone...”
The dowry and monopoly on the saltpeter trade brought by the Kingdom of Thalassa were very important. Saltpeter was the raw material for gunpowder, and the amount of saltpeter that the Empire could produce was very small compared to the amount that the Kingdom of Thalassa could produce.
However, he had learned something from his experience with his first wife, Sabrina. The King of Thalassa was only interested in maintaining the marriage alliance and had no particular interest in how his daughter was treated. The King of Thalassa prioritized the Empire as an ally and as a cornerstone, purchasing gunpowder produced by the Empire at a low price.
Kalista, whom he adopted as his stepdaughter, is literally a means to an end for him.
That stupid woman still didn't seem to realize it...
The Emperor cut off Kalista's attention and narrowed his brows. Asherad and Daphne. Daphne. And Asherad again.
The Emperor thought of his young and beautiful son.
But he still saw her as a toy.
In any case, he made Asherad the Crown Prince because he did not want to be called an Emperor who could not continue the lineage. That was the reason he turned a blind eye to him reaching out to Daphne.
The Emperor also wanted to trample on Daphne, and even if his own son trampled on her, it was a form of amusement.
Daphne's life, which had fallen into the abyss, was nothing more than a toy to him. The Emperor thought of Beatrice's face with a distorted face.
“Beatrice.”
I want to see you again, even if I die. A woman as lovely as a witch. My cute mistress.
If Daphne resembled some unknown bastard, the Emperor would have trampled the girl's life to pieces. However, if the girl resembled Beatrice, it would be a different story.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes and smacked his lips.
It was strange.
Daphne thought. It was embarrassing, it was strange. She didn't know why she had a warm blanket wrapped around her body.
Askeladd had always left Daphne shivering in the cold, and she had taken it for granted. That was the warmth he gave her.
She had to fend for herself in his swelteringly warm room, and was grateful to Asherad for bringing her into that warm room.
But now, why, why did he push her into the bathtub? She thought he was going to take a shower, but he filled the water and told her to get in. He even turned his back on her while she was taking off her clothes.
The water with the bath salts in it was full of white foam. Maybe that's why she didn't feel as embarrassed as she thought she would.
“Your Highness, this kindness to me is...”
“Be quiet.”
“...”
She nodded quietly. Asherad reluctantly brought a chair and sat down next to her. He, who was also soaking wet, looked down at her indifferently, as if he wasn't cold.
Was it because she had been in a cold place and was soaking in warm water? Her cheeks and lips were unusually red. She hugged her knees.
Daphne looked at Asherad, trying to cover her slender body with her arms. He was looking at Daphne's curled up body with his usual determined eyes.
He reached out and stroked Daphne's flushed cheek. She, who wore only dark, dull clothes, looked surprisingly good in the pure white bathroom with her hair down.
His head hurt from the fragrant bath salts he had added without permission. His slender fingers swept over her body, which had become damp with water.
Was it because he was surprised by her almost fleshless body? He stroked her skinny shoulder blades with his hands. Daphne flinched at the subtle gesture. It was a strange feeling.
He let go of his hand, leaned his arm on the armrest, and looked at Daphne.
“Come here.”
Long, white fingers lifted Daphne's chin. For some reason, she felt like a mermaid caught in the sea, unable to breathe.
Daphne looked at those red lips without realizing it. She didn't know why. She was so attracted to them. Was it because they were soaking wet? Daphne dared to desire those lips.
“Call me Brother.”
Daphne's eyes widened. The words that came out of her red lips, which she had been coveting the most, were quite cruel.
"Hurry."
But for some reason, no voice came out. She always followed his orders, but it was strange.
Why, why aren't you speaking?
She used to think of him as her older brother. She used to think how nice it would be if he were his older brother.
As she didn't open her mouth, Asherad's hand entered her mouth without mercy.
When the thumb suddenly appeared, she looked at Asherad with his thumb in her mouth in bewilderment. The thumb stirred inside her mouth.
It didn't feel like harassment because Asherad, who had inserted his thumb, was also tickling her tongue.
“Yes, call me.”
“...”
“Daphne. Tell me quickly, Brother.”
“...”
Daphne couldn't bring herself to say it. The words were stuck in her throat. As she looked at him with an earnest expression, Asherad took his thumb out of her mouth.
“I mean, Daphne.”
“...”
“I cherish you like a little sister.”
Should she be happy or sad? She found herself disappointed by his words and was overcome by an unbearable disgust.
Becoming a family is a joy. It was a joyous thing that Asherad established a relationship with her by treating her like a younger sister.
It was much better than when she had despaired of being just another worthless maid.
It was Asherad who had run towards her while she was being insulted. And yet, she didn’t want to call the person who had smiled brightly, “Brother.”... Daphne was confused by the strange feeling of rejection on her own.
Asherad savored the rejection and confusion on her face.
"Daphne."
"Yes."
“Are you going to run away?”
“...”
“Are you going to run away again like before?”
The hand stroking her wet hair was very affectionate. It was soft and gentle, like touching something precious. Daphne shook her head.
“I won’t run away.”
“What if you run away one more time?”
At Asherad's question, Daphne smiled at her god-like being.
“If I run away, Your Highness can do whatever you want with me.”
Kalista shivered. She bit her lip as she listened to the rain pitter-patter outside. She bit so hard that it turned white and then bled.
What have I just been through?
“I, Your Highness. Blood...”
"Ehut up!"
Kalista, who had been hesitantly slapping her hand on her maid, looked back. That was right. Asherad had chosen that woman over her.
“Wow, I... I!”
She finally revealed that woman's secret to him, but for the poor guy...!
But he followed that girl without hesitation?
This was such a great insult. Kalista's eyes flashed with cruelty. She felt like she had to repay the insult that had been inflicted on her in some way.
“I must go see His Majesty!”
“Oh my, Princess!”
The maid tried to stop her, but it didn't enter her mind. All she could think about was how she would get revenge on Daphne and Asherad.
Knock knock, she went to the Emperor's office, forgetting all about prestige and manners. The Emperor, who was working, welcomed his 'fiancée' with open arms.
“Welcome.”
She hated that old man, but now this man was her fiancé, and he was willing to use his power to protect her honor.
Just as she had learned from her mother, Kalista was no stranger to manipulating men.
“What is the matter with the Princess?”
“Your Majesty. I never thought your son would insult me like this.”
Although she had been ridiculed for not being the King's biological daughter, she had never been insulted like this.
To be someone's second choice, or even completely ignored! She kept gritting her teeth. She tried hard to hide the fact that she easily lost her temper when she got angry, but she didn't have the luxury of caring about it.
“Insult? Insult? What do you mean?”
The Emperor asked leisurely. Kalista did not notice the subtle sneer in the Emperor's eyes.
“His Highness the Crown Prince. I warned that woman not to approach him.”
“...That woman?”
“That woman who insulted Your Majesty! She dared to go around shouting that she was Your Majesty’s daughter!”
Kalista's words sounded hollow, as if shouting into the air, but she didn't know it.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes at the sudden revelation of his own shortcomings. The wrinkles between his eyebrows showed his displeasure, but Kalista continued to speak.
“That woman, why on earth is she living like a worm in the palace? When I told His Highness the Crown Prince her identity because he seemed to know nothing, he got angry at me and chased after her.”
“Chasing?”
“Yes! Get mad at me!”
The Emperor nodded to Kalista as if to tell her more. She spoke more excitedly.
“What did he do? No, more precisely, what was the situation?”
“I told him the whole truth. That she was the daughter of the wicked woman who deceived Your Majesty! That she was being punished by Your Majesty. That he should not get close to her.”
"So?"
“The wretched thing ran away, and Your Majesty’s son, angry with me, followed him.”
“That guy... got angry.”
As the Emperor let out a hollow laugh, Kalista nodded. Kalista, who thought he agreed with her words, misunderstood and said,
“Yes! Even if he is the Crown Prince, it is clear that his vision is clouded. If he is bewitched by that woman, then he must be that concubine’s daughter..."
Even though the Emperor's face was already clouded with anger, Kalista paid no attention to it.
As always, she was just busy venting her anger and whining for someone to release it.
“That woman, tear her to pieces right now. You have to chase her out.”
The Emperor looked at Kalista with a hardened face. Kalista had no doubt that it was his anger towards Asherad and the woman.
“Princess. The Princess can ask anything of me.”
Just as Kalista's complexion brightened, the Emperor spoke in a sinister voice.
“But, except for the throne.”
When Kalista looked puzzled at those words, the Emperor threw the inkwell.
Boom, a black ink stain spread across the wall, and there was a sound of an ink bottle breaking. A few drops of black ink splashed onto Kalista as well.
For a moment, a cool silence fell. Only the sound of rain could be heard between Kalista and the Emperor.
“I, I...”
“I will take care of my children’s education and the treatment of that woman. Didn’t the King of Thalassa even educate you on what areas should be invaded and what areas should not be invaded?”
“...”
“If you haven’t learned, how about distinguishing between when to step forward and when not to step forward?”
Kalista's face turned pale at the Emperor's words. She was finally beginning to realize that this was a foreign land without her mother and adoptive father. Not everyone would accept her childish behavior.
“Your Majesty, that’s not what I’m saying!”
“Go out!”
At the Emperor's words, Kalista was driven out without even finding her principal.
The Emperor's face was distorted as he watched Kalista close the door and leave.
“If only it weren’t for the cornerstone...”
The dowry and monopoly on the saltpeter trade brought by the Kingdom of Thalassa were very important. Saltpeter was the raw material for gunpowder, and the amount of saltpeter that the Empire could produce was very small compared to the amount that the Kingdom of Thalassa could produce.
However, he had learned something from his experience with his first wife, Sabrina. The King of Thalassa was only interested in maintaining the marriage alliance and had no particular interest in how his daughter was treated. The King of Thalassa prioritized the Empire as an ally and as a cornerstone, purchasing gunpowder produced by the Empire at a low price.
Kalista, whom he adopted as his stepdaughter, is literally a means to an end for him.
That stupid woman still didn't seem to realize it...
The Emperor cut off Kalista's attention and narrowed his brows. Asherad and Daphne. Daphne. And Asherad again.
The Emperor thought of his young and beautiful son.
But he still saw her as a toy.
In any case, he made Asherad the Crown Prince because he did not want to be called an Emperor who could not continue the lineage. That was the reason he turned a blind eye to him reaching out to Daphne.
The Emperor also wanted to trample on Daphne, and even if his own son trampled on her, it was a form of amusement.
Daphne's life, which had fallen into the abyss, was nothing more than a toy to him. The Emperor thought of Beatrice's face with a distorted face.
“Beatrice.”
I want to see you again, even if I die. A woman as lovely as a witch. My cute mistress.
If Daphne resembled some unknown bastard, the Emperor would have trampled the girl's life to pieces. However, if the girl resembled Beatrice, it would be a different story.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes and smacked his lips.
***
It was strange.
Daphne thought. It was embarrassing, it was strange. She didn't know why she had a warm blanket wrapped around her body.
Askeladd had always left Daphne shivering in the cold, and she had taken it for granted. That was the warmth he gave her.
She had to fend for herself in his swelteringly warm room, and was grateful to Asherad for bringing her into that warm room.
But now, why, why did he push her into the bathtub? She thought he was going to take a shower, but he filled the water and told her to get in. He even turned his back on her while she was taking off her clothes.
The water with the bath salts in it was full of white foam. Maybe that's why she didn't feel as embarrassed as she thought she would.
“Your Highness, this kindness to me is...”
“Be quiet.”
“...”
She nodded quietly. Asherad reluctantly brought a chair and sat down next to her. He, who was also soaking wet, looked down at her indifferently, as if he wasn't cold.
Was it because she had been in a cold place and was soaking in warm water? Her cheeks and lips were unusually red. She hugged her knees.
Daphne looked at Asherad, trying to cover her slender body with her arms. He was looking at Daphne's curled up body with his usual determined eyes.
He reached out and stroked Daphne's flushed cheek. She, who wore only dark, dull clothes, looked surprisingly good in the pure white bathroom with her hair down.
His head hurt from the fragrant bath salts he had added without permission. His slender fingers swept over her body, which had become damp with water.
Was it because he was surprised by her almost fleshless body? He stroked her skinny shoulder blades with his hands. Daphne flinched at the subtle gesture. It was a strange feeling.
He let go of his hand, leaned his arm on the armrest, and looked at Daphne.
“Come here.”
Long, white fingers lifted Daphne's chin. For some reason, she felt like a mermaid caught in the sea, unable to breathe.
Daphne looked at those red lips without realizing it. She didn't know why. She was so attracted to them. Was it because they were soaking wet? Daphne dared to desire those lips.
“Call me Brother.”
Daphne's eyes widened. The words that came out of her red lips, which she had been coveting the most, were quite cruel.
"Hurry."
But for some reason, no voice came out. She always followed his orders, but it was strange.
Why, why aren't you speaking?
She used to think of him as her older brother. She used to think how nice it would be if he were his older brother.
As she didn't open her mouth, Asherad's hand entered her mouth without mercy.
When the thumb suddenly appeared, she looked at Asherad with his thumb in her mouth in bewilderment. The thumb stirred inside her mouth.
It didn't feel like harassment because Asherad, who had inserted his thumb, was also tickling her tongue.
“Yes, call me.”
“...”
“Daphne. Tell me quickly, Brother.”
“...”
Daphne couldn't bring herself to say it. The words were stuck in her throat. As she looked at him with an earnest expression, Asherad took his thumb out of her mouth.
“I mean, Daphne.”
“...”
“I cherish you like a little sister.”
Should she be happy or sad? She found herself disappointed by his words and was overcome by an unbearable disgust.
Becoming a family is a joy. It was a joyous thing that Asherad established a relationship with her by treating her like a younger sister.
It was much better than when she had despaired of being just another worthless maid.
It was Asherad who had run towards her while she was being insulted. And yet, she didn’t want to call the person who had smiled brightly, “Brother.”... Daphne was confused by the strange feeling of rejection on her own.
Asherad savored the rejection and confusion on her face.
"Daphne."
"Yes."
“Are you going to run away?”
“...”
“Are you going to run away again like before?”
The hand stroking her wet hair was very affectionate. It was soft and gentle, like touching something precious. Daphne shook her head.
“I won’t run away.”
“What if you run away one more time?”
At Asherad's question, Daphne smiled at her god-like being.
“If I run away, Your Highness can do whatever you want with me.”
Her life was already worthless.
At that moment, she felt something settle on her forehead. It was very soft and wet.
Daphne realized at some point that there was only one reason she had lived, the reason she had kept her worthless life alive: she simply wanted to see this person.
When she saw that, Asherad's smiling lips hardened. He bent down. What is he going to do? At that moment, his hot lips touched her cold forehead.
“Yeah, that’s good.”
The voice that whispered while parting his lips was muffled and cracked. He stroked the hair that flowed out very slowly behind her ear.
Her whole body felt tense. Looking at the person, she had to call her brother. Daphne crossed her legs for no reason. When she looked up at where he was sitting, her neck rose and fell.
In the uncomfortable silence, Daphne warmed herself up, thinking the bathroom water was hot.
At that moment, she felt something settle on her forehead. It was very soft and wet.
Daphne realized at some point that there was only one reason she had lived, the reason she had kept her worthless life alive: she simply wanted to see this person.
When she saw that, Asherad's smiling lips hardened. He bent down. What is he going to do? At that moment, his hot lips touched her cold forehead.
“Yeah, that’s good.”
The voice that whispered while parting his lips was muffled and cracked. He stroked the hair that flowed out very slowly behind her ear.
Her whole body felt tense. Looking at the person, she had to call her brother. Daphne crossed her legs for no reason. When she looked up at where he was sitting, her neck rose and fell.
In the uncomfortable silence, Daphne warmed herself up, thinking the bathroom water was hot.
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