17. I fell in love with you
Daphne looked at Fabian's face. The red-haired, blue-eyed man smiled cheerfully.
Daphne couldn't understand why he was doing this to her. She was timid and couldn't bring herself to argue, so she looked at Fabian.
“Miss, why do you keep running away?”
“Well, you keep chasing me...”
“Shouldn’t I chase after you? That’s why you run away. Let’s talk.”
“What are you talking about...”
As Daphne turned her head away, as if she were embarrassed, Fabian smiled faintly.
“If you keep avoiding me, I’ll have to keep chasing you.”
“....”
“I have many questions about you, young lady.”
Looking at her with an expression of incomprehension, Fabian smiled faintly. Why are you smiling like that? Is the world that happy? Daphne had a slightly twisted thought.
“Are you curious as to why I have so many questions?”
“...”
“Aren’t you curious? You must be really curious?”
Daphne found his whining annoying. She frowned slightly and stuck out her lips, trying to say something, but she felt unfamiliar with herself.
What?
She always felt anxious and resigned when dealing with others.
It was natural. She didn't know when these people would curse her or get angry. Asherad was included. Asherad was one of the people who made Daphne most anxious.
That is to say, he didn't have the leisure to think, 'That's annoying.' It was strange that he had such feelings. Fabian sighed, not knowing whether she knew it or not.
“It’s so silent, it’s not fun, it’s not touching... Ugh. I’m sorry.”
“...”
“Are you saying that because I insulted His Highness the Great Crown Prince? Yes, I won’t say that anymore.”
Fabian raised both hands to indicate that he had no intention of attacking. When Daphne looked at Fabian, he smirked.
“You won’t avoid me anymore, will you?”
Fabian looked relieved as Daphne nodded. That person's smiling face was certainly easier to look at than Asherad's. A peacefulness without any sense of danger or risk.
Daphne opened her mouth because she felt strangely relaxed and peaceful.
“So, why are you chasing me, Sir?”
Fabian's eyes sparkled at those words. The young man smiled as if he were extremely pleased with Daphne's question.
“The reason I'm chasing you is this.”
“...”
“I fell in love with you at first sight.”
Daphne's eyes widened at those words. She was so dumbfounded. Did you fall in love? What does that mean? Fabian rolled his eyes, looking a little embarrassed.
“Yeah. I fell in love with you.”
“...”
“I like you.”
What should I say in response to that? Fabian said hurriedly as Daphne was about to turn away out of habit.
“Don’t run away again!”
“...”
“If you run away, I won’t be able to bear it. In fact, I’ve been watching you since the first time I met you.”
“...”
“Continued for more than a season.”
Someone likes me.
Daphne didn't know about Fabian. She didn't even fall in love with him at first sight. That is to say, she didn't love him.
Yet Fabian remained a deeply memorable figure in Daphne's life.
Someone said they had a crush on her. If she's not mistaken about what he meant by crush, it meant they had romantic feelings for her.
Who would like someone like her?
Just someone like her.
“Miss? Why, why? Do you hate it that much?”
Daphne was sobbing. She shook her head, trying to swallow back the tears that were about to come.
Why? Even though Asherad cared for her, that man's light flirtation, that trivial remark about falling in love at first sight, felt so important and heavy to her.
“You’re not going to run away, are you?”
Nod. In response to Daphne's words, Fabian very carefully placed his hand on Daphne's head. It was such a gentle touch. Daphne eventually shed tears.
Throughout her life, Daphne cried a lot. She cried out of pity for her situation, out of longing for her mother, out of pain, out of suffering.
But these tears were different.
She didn't know if they were tears of joy, tears of relief, or tears of pity for herself for not having received even this kind of love.
Daphne looked at Fabian without even wiping away her tears. Then, the man reached out and wiped her tears away.
“So, what’s the answer?”
Fabian said awkwardly. Daphne looked puzzled.
I like it. Isn't that the end? Fabian looked at Daphne's face and was silent for a while before sighing and saying.
“Yes. Yes. Yes, I got it.”
"Yes?"
“I’ll give you time to get to know me, too.”
“...”
“From now on, I will come to see you every day as much as possible. That’s why, Cuckoo Girl.”
“...”
“You know me, too.”
Daphne smiled at Fabian's words. It felt like a spring breeze was blowing.
***
“Your Highness, that is....”
Lancelot said with an awkward expression. Asherad was headed to where Daphne and Fabian were standing.
They were talking about something again. Daphne had a gentle expression on her face.
"Why?"
Asherad looked at it and said to Lancelot.
“I’m sorry! I have to educate...”
"No."
Asherad raised his hand to stop Lancelot's excuses.
“There’s no need to stop me now.”
Asherad smiled. He turned and walked away. The pure white sunlight was shining on Daphne’s face.
Asherad turned around as if it didn't matter to him. Lancelot looked dumbfounded. Wasn't that the Crown Prince who hated her getting close to someone?
Why on earth is he doing that?
Anyway, if only Fabian weren't in danger, then that would have been fine. Lancelot looked back.
There was a warm warmth between them.
***
“Congratulations on your official engagement, Aunt.”
Asherad approached the bored-looking woman. The woman with her reddish blonde hair tied up in a ponytail was sitting in the waiting room with a bored expression.
Even that was as beautiful as a painting. She smiled with a sad face.
A banquet to celebrate the engagement of the youngest Princess of Thalassa and the Emperor. Asherad smiled even brighter as he watched the woman despairing over the tragic engagement.
“Welcome, Asherad.”
“Oh, should I call you mother?”
Tears welled up in Kalista's eyes at those words. The maids and servants were terrified and tried to stop her, but Kalista showed no signs of stopping her tears.
“Stay away for a moment.”
Asherad defeated all his subordinates and approached Kalista.
“You look tired, Mom.”
“Don’t call me mother!”
At those sharp words, Asherad took his hand off hers.
“I was fooled. I was completely fooled!”
“...Aren’t you happy? My aunt will become the Empress of the empire.”
“How can I be happy when I am branded as an old man’s bride?”
Kalista glared at Asherad with reddened tears. Asher looked at her indifferently and soon lowered his voice.
“My father will be here soon. Wipe away your tears.”
Asherad took a handkerchief from his bosom and wiped Kalista's tears away.
“I hate the thought of being touched by an old man!”
She shook her head as if she were disgusted. Asherad grabbed Kalista's shoulder.
“Auntie, do you know how foolish it is to say something like that to me now?”
"What?"
“I am your son. If I tell you this, what will you do?”
Kalista flinched. She looked at Asherad with a frightened face.
“If you are going to show your emotions and throw tantrums to everyone indiscriminately like this, then stop right now.”
“You, you!”
Kalista raised her hand to slap Asherad's cheek, but she couldn't bring herself to do so.
“You can’t hit me because I’m saying the right thing, right?”
When Asherad asked firmly, Kalista bit her lip. Asherad raised his hand and touched her pink rouge-covered lips.
Asherad said, lifting up the gloved hand that was lying carelessly.
“Kalista.”
For a moment, her heart pounded. He took off the silk gloves on her hands. It felt dizzying, like taking off clothes.
Asherad's bare hand overlapped that bare skin. It felt hot, as if it were on fire. Asherad spoke to the brave woman who was looking at him with a tearful face.
“I will help you.”
He smiled devilishly and pressed his lips to the back of her hand. When Kalista flinched at that, he smiled coldly.
“That 'old man' will never rape you.”
The face looking up at him while kneeling had a confident smile on its face. The kiss on the back of her hand was so sweet, as if the devil was tempting her.
She was not a priest or a saint who was immune to temptation.
The corners of Kalista's mouth went up. The woman who had been tempted by the demon gave in to it with a shy smile.
The following spring, the Emperor and Kalista's marriage took place without a hitch. Kalista, perhaps having had a change of heart, no longer disobeyed the Emperor's orders.
Although she occasionally showed her pent-up temper, it was something the Emperor could find endearing.
The Kingdom of Thalassa provided a large dowry and foundation stones, and the Empire sent firearms made by skilled craftsmen. It was a satisfactory deal between the two countries.
A young and beautiful bride. Few resources. An abundance of gold. All of it.
However, the bride, who was the item of the transaction, had the expression of a dying corpse.
With her blonde hair tied up in a reddish hue, Kalista showed off her purity with pure white flowers. Her makeup was kept as minimal as possible, but her gorgeous features stood out even more.
Standing beside the aged Emperor, Kalista seemed like his daughter, yet none of the nobles spoke of her.
Asherad congratulated the 'beautiful union' of the two. For a moment, a faint smile appeared on Kalista's face and then disappeared.
Meanwhile, the Emperor's gaze was not on the Empress, but on a different place. The maid who was moving the plates. The Emperor was looking at the blonde. The Crown Prince glanced at it.
And so the precarious family was completed.
“If you are going to show your emotions and throw tantrums to everyone indiscriminately like this, then stop right now.”
“You, you!”
Kalista raised her hand to slap Asherad's cheek, but she couldn't bring herself to do so.
“You can’t hit me because I’m saying the right thing, right?”
When Asherad asked firmly, Kalista bit her lip. Asherad raised his hand and touched her pink rouge-covered lips.
Asherad said, lifting up the gloved hand that was lying carelessly.
“Kalista.”
For a moment, her heart pounded. He took off the silk gloves on her hands. It felt dizzying, like taking off clothes.
Asherad's bare hand overlapped that bare skin. It felt hot, as if it were on fire. Asherad spoke to the brave woman who was looking at him with a tearful face.
“I will help you.”
He smiled devilishly and pressed his lips to the back of her hand. When Kalista flinched at that, he smiled coldly.
“That 'old man' will never rape you.”
The face looking up at him while kneeling had a confident smile on its face. The kiss on the back of her hand was so sweet, as if the devil was tempting her.
She was not a priest or a saint who was immune to temptation.
The corners of Kalista's mouth went up. The woman who had been tempted by the demon gave in to it with a shy smile.
***
The following spring, the Emperor and Kalista's marriage took place without a hitch. Kalista, perhaps having had a change of heart, no longer disobeyed the Emperor's orders.
Although she occasionally showed her pent-up temper, it was something the Emperor could find endearing.
The Kingdom of Thalassa provided a large dowry and foundation stones, and the Empire sent firearms made by skilled craftsmen. It was a satisfactory deal between the two countries.
A young and beautiful bride. Few resources. An abundance of gold. All of it.
However, the bride, who was the item of the transaction, had the expression of a dying corpse.
With her blonde hair tied up in a reddish hue, Kalista showed off her purity with pure white flowers. Her makeup was kept as minimal as possible, but her gorgeous features stood out even more.
Standing beside the aged Emperor, Kalista seemed like his daughter, yet none of the nobles spoke of her.
Asherad congratulated the 'beautiful union' of the two. For a moment, a faint smile appeared on Kalista's face and then disappeared.
Meanwhile, the Emperor's gaze was not on the Empress, but on a different place. The maid who was moving the plates. The Emperor was looking at the blonde. The Crown Prince glanced at it.
And so the precarious family was completed.
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