16. How to own you
“Huhhhhhh!”
Kalista had been crying for days. She cried louder, as if to let the knights guarding her hear, but only the maids and servants brought from Thalassa could comfort her.
In Thalassa, people couldn't stay still when she cried. It was only natural. The King and Queen of Thalassa would beat up those who made her cry.
They treated her like porcelain, as if they didn't care about even a single teardrop.
Kalista couldn't believe that her tears were insignificant here. Nor could she believe the betrayal she had just suffered.
“This can’t be happening, this can’t be happening!”
She wept as she picked up King Thalassa's letter. The handwriting on the pale parchment was elegant and flaunted her elegance, but the contents were extremely cold.
[My beloved daughter, Kalista.
I love you so much that I found the best groom for you.
It is said that the position of Empress of the Peneus Empire is something that no noble woman can attain.
Even the Emperor of the empire was known for being fair.
If you want to marry a person from that country, become a person of that country.
Especially if you are the Empress and the mother of an empire, would your husband be pleased if you sent him such a trivial letter?
Your dead eldest sister never wrote me a single letter because of the Emperor's anger.
Be a woman of character.
Also, listening to what you said, it was natural for the Emperor to be angry with you. I loved you and took you in as my daughter, so how could you tarnish the reputation of the Kingdom of Thalassa?
Be true.
Be patient and have a successor.
And never again will you say such foolish things as wanting to become Crown Prince Asherad's wife.
For your mother's sake, you should be a little wiser and more astute.
I won't show your mother the letter until you show yourself to be more dignified. ]
When she was going to the empire, she cried while holding onto the carriage, but the King of Thalassa did not take her side and harshly cast her out. He even took her husband's side.
“You won’t even show the letter to your mother...”
Kalista sobbed. She had never thought that coming to a foreign land would be like this. Even if the King of Thalassa did not want her to, she would lose contact with her beloved mother.
Everyone thought they would serve her because they were noble. But Kalista, who had no support, was ignored.
The Emperor never called her again after he became angry. The palace maids who had been approaching her so affectionately also stopped smiling and just greeted her politely.
She was shocked and angry.
It was an insult in another sense. But what drove her crazy was that she had to get used to being treated like this now.
“Ahhhh!”
She screamed hysterically. Kalista was not used to this kind of treatment.
She didn't even notice the knock or the door opening because she was so busy throwing her pillow that it hit someone.
Kalista raised her head, gnashing her teeth.
“...!”
But the moment she realized that the owner of those two legs was Asherad, even she couldn't help but freeze in shock.
Asherad looked at the pillow that had hit his leg. Slowly lowering his eyes, she saw long black eyelashes contrasting with his pure white face. It was an expression that was neither angry nor mocking, but something she could not tell.
The person who gave her her first insult was fucking beautiful.
Unlike the world that was heated up with anger, the time surrounding him seemed to pass slowly. That much, her anger had no effect on the calm world surrounding Asherad.
“I guess you are very angry.”
The voice that flowed out slowly was still soft and gentle. The man with his back to the sunlight approached Kalista.
“Oh, you didn’t hurt your hand, did you?”
“...”
Kalista bit her lip and turned her head away. This was the most childish way to let someone know she was upset, and it felt a little too early for a twenty-three-year-old.
But her way of expressing her anger was quite effective.
“Your aunt is very angry.”
Whenever she threw a tantrum like this, someone would comfort her.
She thought she was being left alone, but Asherad came to see her in person. Kalista tried to suppress her heartbeat.
“Huhhhhhh!”
Kalista had been crying for days. She cried louder, as if to let the knights guarding her hear, but only the maids and servants brought from Thalassa could comfort her.
In Thalassa, people couldn't stay still when she cried. It was only natural. The King and Queen of Thalassa would beat up those who made her cry.
They treated her like porcelain, as if they didn't care about even a single teardrop.
Kalista couldn't believe that her tears were insignificant here. Nor could she believe the betrayal she had just suffered.
“This can’t be happening, this can’t be happening!”
She wept as she picked up King Thalassa's letter. The handwriting on the pale parchment was elegant and flaunted her elegance, but the contents were extremely cold.
[My beloved daughter, Kalista.
I love you so much that I found the best groom for you.
It is said that the position of Empress of the Peneus Empire is something that no noble woman can attain.
Even the Emperor of the empire was known for being fair.
If you want to marry a person from that country, become a person of that country.
Especially if you are the Empress and the mother of an empire, would your husband be pleased if you sent him such a trivial letter?
Your dead eldest sister never wrote me a single letter because of the Emperor's anger.
Be a woman of character.
Also, listening to what you said, it was natural for the Emperor to be angry with you. I loved you and took you in as my daughter, so how could you tarnish the reputation of the Kingdom of Thalassa?
Be true.
Be patient and have a successor.
And never again will you say such foolish things as wanting to become Crown Prince Asherad's wife.
For your mother's sake, you should be a little wiser and more astute.
I won't show your mother the letter until you show yourself to be more dignified. ]
When she was going to the empire, she cried while holding onto the carriage, but the King of Thalassa did not take her side and harshly cast her out. He even took her husband's side.
“You won’t even show the letter to your mother...”
Kalista sobbed. She had never thought that coming to a foreign land would be like this. Even if the King of Thalassa did not want her to, she would lose contact with her beloved mother.
Everyone thought they would serve her because they were noble. But Kalista, who had no support, was ignored.
The Emperor never called her again after he became angry. The palace maids who had been approaching her so affectionately also stopped smiling and just greeted her politely.
She was shocked and angry.
It was an insult in another sense. But what drove her crazy was that she had to get used to being treated like this now.
“Ahhhh!”
She screamed hysterically. Kalista was not used to this kind of treatment.
She didn't even notice the knock or the door opening because she was so busy throwing her pillow that it hit someone.
Kalista raised her head, gnashing her teeth.
“...!”
But the moment she realized that the owner of those two legs was Asherad, even she couldn't help but freeze in shock.
Asherad looked at the pillow that had hit his leg. Slowly lowering his eyes, she saw long black eyelashes contrasting with his pure white face. It was an expression that was neither angry nor mocking, but something she could not tell.
The person who gave her her first insult was fucking beautiful.
Unlike the world that was heated up with anger, the time surrounding him seemed to pass slowly. That much, her anger had no effect on the calm world surrounding Asherad.
“I guess you are very angry.”
The voice that flowed out slowly was still soft and gentle. The man with his back to the sunlight approached Kalista.
“Oh, you didn’t hurt your hand, did you?”
“...”
Kalista bit her lip and turned her head away. This was the most childish way to let someone know she was upset, and it felt a little too early for a twenty-three-year-old.
But her way of expressing her anger was quite effective.
“Your aunt is very angry.”
Whenever she threw a tantrum like this, someone would comfort her.
She thought she was being left alone, but Asherad came to see her in person. Kalista tried to suppress her heartbeat.
Whoosh, something like the scent of flowers wafted in. She liked the scent that wasn't too heavy.
When did Asherad come? He was right in front of her, looking at her.
"Oh!"
As the surprised Kalista covered her mouth, Asherad smiled.
“I came to formally apologize to my aunt.”
“...”
“I was reckless.”
“...”
“I ended up insulting my aunt because of that lowly maid.”
Kalista was surprised by those words. For such a thing, he seemed to be following along so desperately... Was it her imagination? The anger he had shown was certainly real.
As those thoughts were about to escape, Asherad said.
“Auntie, I only want to tell you the truth.”
Kalista nodded at Asherad's words. As the maids left, Asherad sat down on the stool, watching them blankly.
“What is the truth? Isn’t there only one truth? That His Majesty is angry with me.”
“Auntie. Don’t tell me. Just call me.”
At Asherad's words, Kalista’s words softened. A face with a mysterious harmony of strong and delicate lines. Kalista looked at it, and this time, she averted her eyes without realizing it. She felt her ears turn red.
“Yes, that girl is that wicked woman’s child. She even threatened my position when she was young.”
“...”
“Even though all the lies were revealed, I was unable to know my father’s, no, His Majesty’s, intentions, so I kept watching over her. The reason I was showing kindness to the girl was to find out something that might be missing.”
“...”
“It’s ridiculous, but the truth is that if that woman becomes the ‘Emperor’s Child’ again, it would be a great threat to me.”
“That’s nonsense...”
“Don’t you know, Aunt? Since the beginning of time, how many such outrageous things have happened? Didn’t Mother tell you not to stand by and watch anything that could be a threat?”
“Then just kill her!”
“You want me to kill the girl that Your Majesty brought here alive?”
“Wouldn’t that be okay!”
It was a really simple matter. But Asherad looked at Kalista in silence. It seemed as if he was mocking Kalista, who was an ignorant worm. When Asherad twitched his lips, Kalista felt bad. However, Kalista kept her mouth shut when he continued to speak.
“A son rebels against his father’s decision. It’s not that simple.”
“...”
“The Crown Prince has rebelled against the Emperor’s decision. I have no authority to do so. If I were to kill the girl who was brought here alive... I would be disobeying His Majesty’s orders.”
"Ah."
“Will His Majesty forgive a subject who disobeyed an order?”
There was no sign of laughter, and a gentle voice was heard, as if teaching a child.
Even the most foolish Kalista understood. Her parents were very understanding and generous, but their relationship was different. That damned Emperor had a strange personality.
It was all the Emperor's fault that Asherad had turned his back on him. It was a strange and simple conclusion, indeed. Kalista said with a cough.
“I hadn’t thought of that, Asherad.”
“Of course. Auntie, you don’t know anything. Actually, what made me angry was that, even though it was obvious that you didn’t know, you were doing this to me, and I was so upset...”
Even Asherad did not hurt Kalista's pride by saying that it was natural for her not to know about her ignorance.
Besides, the word “sorry” somehow felt cute. Kalista put a hand on Asherad's shoulder.
“I feel sorry for not understanding you.”
“No, Aunt. I unintentionally offended you, so how can I repay you?”
“It’s okay. We’re not nobles from the same hometown anyway.”
Kalista awkwardly accepted his apology.
“Thank you. I guess I just wanted to vent my frustrations to my aunt, who came from my mother’s country.”
“...”
“Anyway, in this country, the only person I can rely on is my aunt.”
Those words moved Kalista's heart. Kalista, who had been struggling with a sense of isolation and helplessness, found her heart melting at Asherad's comfort.
“Now you are the only family I have.”
Kalista said lamentingly.
“What are you talking about? King Thalassa and his Queen are right here.”
At Asherad's words, Kalista shook her head and shed tears. Kalista had not yet matured and was easily swayed by the kindness shown by those around her.
“Look at this letter.”
Kalista handed over a letter from the Kingdom of Thalassa.
“The King of Thalassa has abandoned me.”
So, she committed a mistake that revealed her great weakness. Asherad received the letter with a puzzled look.
The parchment was dripping with tears. Asherad read it for a long time, then folded it carefully and handed it to Kalista.
He hesitated about what to do and then hugged Kalista's shoulders.
“You must have been in a lot of pain.”
“Sigh, sigh, even though he said he was my adoptive father, I believed that...”
Kalista shed tears. Asherad tried to comfort her gently. But his eyes were strangely gleaming.
She was a terribly stupid woman. Little did Kalista know what a powerful weapon her stupidity would be to Asherad!
Ah, yes. Now I don't have to waste time. He snickered. A terrible twist and joy began to take hold in his green eyes.
Daphne.
Now I've finally found the perfect way to possess you.
He held the woman in front of him in his arms and thought of other women.
“Hey! Cuckoo Girl!”
Fabian ran to Daphne when he saw her. Daphne was startled and ran away. Why on earth did he chase after her? After that conversation, Fabian tried to talk to Daphne whenever he saw her.
Daphne desperately avoided Fabian.
It was natural.
It was because Fabian had been gossiping about Asherad. As Asherad was uneasy again because he wasn't looking for him, Fabian's words kept ringing in her ears.
Aren't you the Crown Prince's personal guard? Why on earth are you hanging around the maids' quarters where I am? How did you know I'm here? Daphne sighed as she stood behind the statue.
“Found it!”
Fabian's voice was heard. Daphne was startled by the bright voice and tried to run away, but her wrist was grabbed.
“Cuckoo Girl, the game of tag is over now.”
Fabian whispered softly.
"Oh!"
As the surprised Kalista covered her mouth, Asherad smiled.
“I came to formally apologize to my aunt.”
“...”
“I was reckless.”
“...”
“I ended up insulting my aunt because of that lowly maid.”
Kalista was surprised by those words. For such a thing, he seemed to be following along so desperately... Was it her imagination? The anger he had shown was certainly real.
As those thoughts were about to escape, Asherad said.
“Auntie, I only want to tell you the truth.”
Kalista nodded at Asherad's words. As the maids left, Asherad sat down on the stool, watching them blankly.
“What is the truth? Isn’t there only one truth? That His Majesty is angry with me.”
“Auntie. Don’t tell me. Just call me.”
At Asherad's words, Kalista’s words softened. A face with a mysterious harmony of strong and delicate lines. Kalista looked at it, and this time, she averted her eyes without realizing it. She felt her ears turn red.
“Yes, that girl is that wicked woman’s child. She even threatened my position when she was young.”
“...”
“Even though all the lies were revealed, I was unable to know my father’s, no, His Majesty’s, intentions, so I kept watching over her. The reason I was showing kindness to the girl was to find out something that might be missing.”
“...”
“It’s ridiculous, but the truth is that if that woman becomes the ‘Emperor’s Child’ again, it would be a great threat to me.”
“That’s nonsense...”
“Don’t you know, Aunt? Since the beginning of time, how many such outrageous things have happened? Didn’t Mother tell you not to stand by and watch anything that could be a threat?”
“Then just kill her!”
“You want me to kill the girl that Your Majesty brought here alive?”
“Wouldn’t that be okay!”
It was a really simple matter. But Asherad looked at Kalista in silence. It seemed as if he was mocking Kalista, who was an ignorant worm. When Asherad twitched his lips, Kalista felt bad. However, Kalista kept her mouth shut when he continued to speak.
“A son rebels against his father’s decision. It’s not that simple.”
“...”
“The Crown Prince has rebelled against the Emperor’s decision. I have no authority to do so. If I were to kill the girl who was brought here alive... I would be disobeying His Majesty’s orders.”
"Ah."
“Will His Majesty forgive a subject who disobeyed an order?”
There was no sign of laughter, and a gentle voice was heard, as if teaching a child.
Even the most foolish Kalista understood. Her parents were very understanding and generous, but their relationship was different. That damned Emperor had a strange personality.
It was all the Emperor's fault that Asherad had turned his back on him. It was a strange and simple conclusion, indeed. Kalista said with a cough.
“I hadn’t thought of that, Asherad.”
“Of course. Auntie, you don’t know anything. Actually, what made me angry was that, even though it was obvious that you didn’t know, you were doing this to me, and I was so upset...”
Even Asherad did not hurt Kalista's pride by saying that it was natural for her not to know about her ignorance.
Besides, the word “sorry” somehow felt cute. Kalista put a hand on Asherad's shoulder.
“I feel sorry for not understanding you.”
“No, Aunt. I unintentionally offended you, so how can I repay you?”
“It’s okay. We’re not nobles from the same hometown anyway.”
Kalista awkwardly accepted his apology.
“Thank you. I guess I just wanted to vent my frustrations to my aunt, who came from my mother’s country.”
“...”
“Anyway, in this country, the only person I can rely on is my aunt.”
Those words moved Kalista's heart. Kalista, who had been struggling with a sense of isolation and helplessness, found her heart melting at Asherad's comfort.
“Now you are the only family I have.”
Kalista said lamentingly.
“What are you talking about? King Thalassa and his Queen are right here.”
At Asherad's words, Kalista shook her head and shed tears. Kalista had not yet matured and was easily swayed by the kindness shown by those around her.
“Look at this letter.”
Kalista handed over a letter from the Kingdom of Thalassa.
“The King of Thalassa has abandoned me.”
So, she committed a mistake that revealed her great weakness. Asherad received the letter with a puzzled look.
The parchment was dripping with tears. Asherad read it for a long time, then folded it carefully and handed it to Kalista.
He hesitated about what to do and then hugged Kalista's shoulders.
“You must have been in a lot of pain.”
“Sigh, sigh, even though he said he was my adoptive father, I believed that...”
Kalista shed tears. Asherad tried to comfort her gently. But his eyes were strangely gleaming.
She was a terribly stupid woman. Little did Kalista know what a powerful weapon her stupidity would be to Asherad!
Ah, yes. Now I don't have to waste time. He snickered. A terrible twist and joy began to take hold in his green eyes.
Daphne.
Now I've finally found the perfect way to possess you.
He held the woman in front of him in his arms and thought of other women.
***
“Hey! Cuckoo Girl!”
Fabian ran to Daphne when he saw her. Daphne was startled and ran away. Why on earth did he chase after her? After that conversation, Fabian tried to talk to Daphne whenever he saw her.
Daphne desperately avoided Fabian.
It was natural.
It was because Fabian had been gossiping about Asherad. As Asherad was uneasy again because he wasn't looking for him, Fabian's words kept ringing in her ears.
Aren't you the Crown Prince's personal guard? Why on earth are you hanging around the maids' quarters where I am? How did you know I'm here? Daphne sighed as she stood behind the statue.
“Found it!”
Fabian's voice was heard. Daphne was startled by the bright voice and tried to run away, but her wrist was grabbed.
“Cuckoo Girl, the game of tag is over now.”
Fabian whispered softly.
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