8. What you will hold
Daphne, twenty-one, smiled bitterly as she recalled that past. Why was Daphne, seventeen, so foolish?
Why was she so moved by Asherad's words?
No, wouldn't it be different now? After Belenus' death, he was captured by Asherad, who had become the Emperor, and offered no resistance.
“His Majesty will see you.”
His Majesty.
The noble Asherad, who was always called His Majesty, became an Emperor worthy of the title of His Majesty.
The Emperor's attendant looked at her with a look of displeasure. It was familiar. Leon, the attendant, was always like that. Daphne followed the attendant, regretting and regretting again.
Instead of waiting for Asherad's return, she should have just run away into the mountains.
Why did she stay behind to see his face and then get caught again? Because of that little bit of foolishness, she missed her chance to be free.
There was a sound of a door opening. Daphne walked into the 'Emperor's Chamber'. She had been there before. But that time she had been to the 'Prince's Chamber'.
The Emperor's room was naturally larger than the Crown Prince's. It was the room used by the greedy and cruel man who was desperate to ruin her life before he died. Now, the one in there was Asherad.
Daphne raised her head. Outside the window, a golden moon was rising brightly, and Asherad stood there, bathed in its light, like a golden statue.
He lifted the corners of his red lips while wearing a translucent gown.
The moon was created by the Creator, a creature with its back turned to it. With his black hair pulled back, his face was more visible.
The dim light of the room illuminated his face. Deep, deep shadows fell over his face.
His face was still beautiful, but his body, revealed through his robe, was covered in small scars. He was ridiculed as a nobleman who was confined only to the palace, but he returned as the god of war and the sun, Ru-Rabda.
“Are you here, Daphne?”
In the past, she felt ecstatic at the sight. There were times when she felt like going crazy with joy every time she caught sight of it. But now, the sight was horrible.
“How did you call me?”
“How?”
A low laugh came from his lips. He slowly approached and ruffled Daphne's neat hair.
It was strange. Men always liked her with her hair down.
Asherad and his father, too.
Asherad gently ran his fingers through her hair, but then suddenly grabbed her hair tightly and crashed his lips against hers.
“Huh, huh!”
Daphne shook her head as if to deny it, but before she knew it, a soft tongue had entered her lips. For a moment, her airway felt as if it had been suddenly blocked. She pushed at his shoulder, but it was heavy and hard, and instead of being pushed away, it was pressing down on her body.
As she closed her eyes tightly and unconsciously stepped back against his body, Asherad hugged her waist and pressed her close to him. Daphne flinched at the immense desire she could already feel in her stomach.
"Why?"
Asherad parted his lips. His voice had already subsided.
Air entered her mouth. Seeing her exhale deeply, Asherad ran his thumb over her lips and then put his finger into her mouth.
When she flinched at the feeling on her stomach, Asherad narrowed his eyes and smiled as if he had finally realized.
“Why? It’s not the first or second time you’ve seen it.”
“...”
“It's yours.”
“...”
“What you will hold.”
With the hand that her lips had touched, Asherad slowly ran her fingers through his own.
Why, why is it like this? Why, why, is this man giving to her, to his 'pet', what others were desperately missing?
“Why on earth?”
“...”
“Why, Your Majesty, are you doing this to me?”
“...”
“There are many people who can become Empress, even if it’s not me.”
“Even if it’s not me?”
He followed Daphne's words leisurely.
“Even if it weren’t for me, there are plenty of women who would want to sleep with you. Why on earth would you do it to someone as lowly as me...”
Asherad caressed Daphne's body. Asherad, who had been looking at her nape for a long time with eyes flowing with ferocious madness and lust, said.
“Do you remember, Daphne?”
“...”
“During the horse riding competition.”
Daphne flinched. She, too, had recalled the exact same moment when she had been called by Asherad.
“Ugh...”
At the same time, Asherad buried his nose in her neck. Immediately afterwards, something slimy brushed against her neck. Goosebumps ran down her spine. Asherad whispered in her ear.
“At that time, I was standing there looking at you. Me.”
“...”
“From then on, I wanted to be with you.”
Again, 4 years ago,
The shadow of death that had fallen over the palace with the death of the Empress disappeared forever with the change of seasons.
The weather, which had turned into summer, has become clear green, and once again, a cool breeze is blowing, making it early autumn.
Daphne never looked for Asherad, and Asherad never looked for Daphne. Daphne, who tried hard to forget her memories of Asherad, spent her days struggling in despair.
The imperial family continued to function well without the Empress. After a while, the Emperor erased all traces of the Empress. Any traces of sorrow disappeared like a mirage.
The Emperor never visited the Empress's Palace again, which he had never visited before. When the Emperor's approval was being discussed, the Emperor held a jousting tournament as if he had been waiting for it.
The palace workers started to get busier. Daphne, who was in charge of cleaning and chores, also had to go to the jousting arena to help out.
It was the Emperor's order.
The Emperor would remember Daphne's existence whenever he forgot, and would watch how miserably she lived and how she had fallen. These were the miserable words of one who dared to deceive the seed.
Daphne had to clean the seats in front of the Emperor.
“Wipe more, wipe more!”
“...”
“This useless thing. Even after all these years, it’s still just a snail.”
Daphne tried hard not to hear the Emperor's scolding.
In fact, she deserved to be executed for this, but the Emperor did not kill her because he wanted to humiliate her over and over again. Daphne knew it too.
“They say the Prince of Pindus lusted after you? Did he flirt with you like your mother did?”
“...”
“Just like your mother, you are shallow.”
“...”
It was disgusting.
When the Emperor passed by Daphne, he showed his displeasure and scolded her, finding fault with her.
However, he was embarrassed to be angry at a mere girl, so whenever he wanted to harass her, he would bite people and insult Daphne.
“You will be just like your mother; you will be good at flirting.”
Insults directed at oneself were okay, but insults directed at one's mother were always unfamiliar.
Daphne clenched her hands that held the rag. Then the Emperor ran up and grabbed her by the hair. The Emperor’s eyes met Daphne’s face.
“How old are you now?”
“I’m seventeen.”
“You’re past adulthood.”
The twisted old man looked at her face and began to smirk as if he had realized something.
After that, for some reason, Daphne was excluded from everything.
With Daphne out of the business, all she could do was wander the palace. The maids would point fingers at her for that, but she felt like a mold in that musty room. As soon as she walked down the hallway, she heard a loud voice.
“His Highness the Crown Prince has been injured!”
"Really?!"
Daphne opened her eyes wide as she heard the maids whispering.
Why? Why Asherad? Is it a big wound? Daphne approached the maids, whispering.
“Why, His Highness?”
At Daphne's words, everyone held their breath and looked at her. When she spoke, everyone became silent and looked at each other before speaking.
“Why are you curious about that?”
Ariel said, raising the corners of her lips. Everyone burst into laughter.
“If you’re curious, why don’t you ask yourself?”
“...”
“Do you really think His Highness the Crown Prince would care about you?”
At those words, Daphne bowed her head, unable to say anything more.
“I think a spear grazed his shoulder during the horseback riding competition. It’s okay.”
Daphne turned her head at the sound of the voice. Sarah smiled brightly and said,
“Why are you telling me that?”
Sarah shook her head at Amanda's voice.
“Anyway, if you’re being kind...”
The maids complained that the steam had gone out.
Daphne nodded her head in gratitude at Sarah. Leaving the maids behind, Daphne opened her eyes wide and sat in a corner at the back of the palace, lost in thought.
The spear grazed his shoulder? How much would it hurt? Wouldn't he lose the use of his arm again? Her hands began to twitch uneasily. Her heart pounded.
She wants to see if he's okay.
Her heart was about to burst with worry. She wanted to go to the Crown Prince's room right away, but she now knew her place.
She didn't even dare to worry. Her worries were not really important to Asherad. Too many people worried about him, and her worries were worse than not worrying at all.
And, first of all, she was nothing to Asherad.
It was three days later.
“His Highness the Crown Prince calls.”
That day, as she was spending the day thinking about Asherad, Asherad's attendant came. Daphne's eyes widened like a puppy waiting for its master.
Daphne followed the servant to the Crown Prince's room.
Why did he call me? She felt a strange thrill. She felt a tingling sensation, like her hair was standing on end. He hadn't forgotten me.
Asherad, His Highness the Crown Prince, to me.
That fact alone made Daphne feel like she was still special.
The servant who brought Daphne stepped back and said something.
“Do not make His Highness angry.”
“...”
Was it anger? Was it anger? Daphne couldn't understand it. She opened the door and went inside as usual.
“Are you here?”
As soon as she arrived, she heard a soft voice. It was a quick answer, as if he had been waiting for her.
It was a voice so tender that it brought tears to her eyes. Daphne paused for a moment, recalling the past. Even when he had thrown her away to the Prince of Pindus, his voice had been this tender.
The mean joy and happiness disappeared, and only betrayal and sadness remained.
"Daphne."
“Did you call?”
Even though her name was called, Daphne lowered her head and answered quietly.
“Raise your head and look at me.”
Daphne raised her head. She and Asherad, who were standing with their backs to the window, met. A body shining in the moonlight came into view.
He was always neat and well-fitting, but his clothes had become disheveled a long time ago. His shirt was completely unbuttoned and barely hung over his shoulders. His tightly packed muscles were visible through it.
“Come here, Daphne.”
Revealing his exquisitely beautiful body, he welcomed Daphne.
Daphne, twenty-one, smiled bitterly as she recalled that past. Why was Daphne, seventeen, so foolish?
Why was she so moved by Asherad's words?
No, wouldn't it be different now? After Belenus' death, he was captured by Asherad, who had become the Emperor, and offered no resistance.
“His Majesty will see you.”
His Majesty.
The noble Asherad, who was always called His Majesty, became an Emperor worthy of the title of His Majesty.
The Emperor's attendant looked at her with a look of displeasure. It was familiar. Leon, the attendant, was always like that. Daphne followed the attendant, regretting and regretting again.
Instead of waiting for Asherad's return, she should have just run away into the mountains.
Why did she stay behind to see his face and then get caught again? Because of that little bit of foolishness, she missed her chance to be free.
There was a sound of a door opening. Daphne walked into the 'Emperor's Chamber'. She had been there before. But that time she had been to the 'Prince's Chamber'.
The Emperor's room was naturally larger than the Crown Prince's. It was the room used by the greedy and cruel man who was desperate to ruin her life before he died. Now, the one in there was Asherad.
Daphne raised her head. Outside the window, a golden moon was rising brightly, and Asherad stood there, bathed in its light, like a golden statue.
He lifted the corners of his red lips while wearing a translucent gown.
The moon was created by the Creator, a creature with its back turned to it. With his black hair pulled back, his face was more visible.
The dim light of the room illuminated his face. Deep, deep shadows fell over his face.
His face was still beautiful, but his body, revealed through his robe, was covered in small scars. He was ridiculed as a nobleman who was confined only to the palace, but he returned as the god of war and the sun, Ru-Rabda.
“Are you here, Daphne?”
In the past, she felt ecstatic at the sight. There were times when she felt like going crazy with joy every time she caught sight of it. But now, the sight was horrible.
“How did you call me?”
“How?”
A low laugh came from his lips. He slowly approached and ruffled Daphne's neat hair.
It was strange. Men always liked her with her hair down.
Asherad and his father, too.
Asherad gently ran his fingers through her hair, but then suddenly grabbed her hair tightly and crashed his lips against hers.
“Huh, huh!”
Daphne shook her head as if to deny it, but before she knew it, a soft tongue had entered her lips. For a moment, her airway felt as if it had been suddenly blocked. She pushed at his shoulder, but it was heavy and hard, and instead of being pushed away, it was pressing down on her body.
As she closed her eyes tightly and unconsciously stepped back against his body, Asherad hugged her waist and pressed her close to him. Daphne flinched at the immense desire she could already feel in her stomach.
"Why?"
Asherad parted his lips. His voice had already subsided.
Air entered her mouth. Seeing her exhale deeply, Asherad ran his thumb over her lips and then put his finger into her mouth.
When she flinched at the feeling on her stomach, Asherad narrowed his eyes and smiled as if he had finally realized.
“Why? It’s not the first or second time you’ve seen it.”
“...”
“It's yours.”
“...”
“What you will hold.”
With the hand that her lips had touched, Asherad slowly ran her fingers through his own.
Why, why is it like this? Why, why, is this man giving to her, to his 'pet', what others were desperately missing?
“Why on earth?”
“...”
“Why, Your Majesty, are you doing this to me?”
“...”
“There are many people who can become Empress, even if it’s not me.”
“Even if it’s not me?”
He followed Daphne's words leisurely.
“Even if it weren’t for me, there are plenty of women who would want to sleep with you. Why on earth would you do it to someone as lowly as me...”
Asherad caressed Daphne's body. Asherad, who had been looking at her nape for a long time with eyes flowing with ferocious madness and lust, said.
“Do you remember, Daphne?”
“...”
“During the horse riding competition.”
Daphne flinched. She, too, had recalled the exact same moment when she had been called by Asherad.
“Ugh...”
At the same time, Asherad buried his nose in her neck. Immediately afterwards, something slimy brushed against her neck. Goosebumps ran down her spine. Asherad whispered in her ear.
“At that time, I was standing there looking at you. Me.”
“...”
“From then on, I wanted to be with you.”
***
Again, 4 years ago,
The shadow of death that had fallen over the palace with the death of the Empress disappeared forever with the change of seasons.
The weather, which had turned into summer, has become clear green, and once again, a cool breeze is blowing, making it early autumn.
Daphne never looked for Asherad, and Asherad never looked for Daphne. Daphne, who tried hard to forget her memories of Asherad, spent her days struggling in despair.
The imperial family continued to function well without the Empress. After a while, the Emperor erased all traces of the Empress. Any traces of sorrow disappeared like a mirage.
The Emperor never visited the Empress's Palace again, which he had never visited before. When the Emperor's approval was being discussed, the Emperor held a jousting tournament as if he had been waiting for it.
The palace workers started to get busier. Daphne, who was in charge of cleaning and chores, also had to go to the jousting arena to help out.
It was the Emperor's order.
The Emperor would remember Daphne's existence whenever he forgot, and would watch how miserably she lived and how she had fallen. These were the miserable words of one who dared to deceive the seed.
Daphne had to clean the seats in front of the Emperor.
“Wipe more, wipe more!”
“...”
“This useless thing. Even after all these years, it’s still just a snail.”
Daphne tried hard not to hear the Emperor's scolding.
In fact, she deserved to be executed for this, but the Emperor did not kill her because he wanted to humiliate her over and over again. Daphne knew it too.
“They say the Prince of Pindus lusted after you? Did he flirt with you like your mother did?”
“...”
“Just like your mother, you are shallow.”
“...”
It was disgusting.
When the Emperor passed by Daphne, he showed his displeasure and scolded her, finding fault with her.
However, he was embarrassed to be angry at a mere girl, so whenever he wanted to harass her, he would bite people and insult Daphne.
“You will be just like your mother; you will be good at flirting.”
Insults directed at oneself were okay, but insults directed at one's mother were always unfamiliar.
Daphne clenched her hands that held the rag. Then the Emperor ran up and grabbed her by the hair. The Emperor’s eyes met Daphne’s face.
“How old are you now?”
“I’m seventeen.”
“You’re past adulthood.”
The twisted old man looked at her face and began to smirk as if he had realized something.
After that, for some reason, Daphne was excluded from everything.
***
With Daphne out of the business, all she could do was wander the palace. The maids would point fingers at her for that, but she felt like a mold in that musty room. As soon as she walked down the hallway, she heard a loud voice.
“His Highness the Crown Prince has been injured!”
"Really?!"
Daphne opened her eyes wide as she heard the maids whispering.
Why? Why Asherad? Is it a big wound? Daphne approached the maids, whispering.
“Why, His Highness?”
At Daphne's words, everyone held their breath and looked at her. When she spoke, everyone became silent and looked at each other before speaking.
“Why are you curious about that?”
Ariel said, raising the corners of her lips. Everyone burst into laughter.
“If you’re curious, why don’t you ask yourself?”
“...”
“Do you really think His Highness the Crown Prince would care about you?”
At those words, Daphne bowed her head, unable to say anything more.
“I think a spear grazed his shoulder during the horseback riding competition. It’s okay.”
Daphne turned her head at the sound of the voice. Sarah smiled brightly and said,
“Why are you telling me that?”
Sarah shook her head at Amanda's voice.
“Anyway, if you’re being kind...”
The maids complained that the steam had gone out.
Daphne nodded her head in gratitude at Sarah. Leaving the maids behind, Daphne opened her eyes wide and sat in a corner at the back of the palace, lost in thought.
The spear grazed his shoulder? How much would it hurt? Wouldn't he lose the use of his arm again? Her hands began to twitch uneasily. Her heart pounded.
She wants to see if he's okay.
Her heart was about to burst with worry. She wanted to go to the Crown Prince's room right away, but she now knew her place.
She didn't even dare to worry. Her worries were not really important to Asherad. Too many people worried about him, and her worries were worse than not worrying at all.
And, first of all, she was nothing to Asherad.
It was three days later.
“His Highness the Crown Prince calls.”
That day, as she was spending the day thinking about Asherad, Asherad's attendant came. Daphne's eyes widened like a puppy waiting for its master.
Daphne followed the servant to the Crown Prince's room.
Why did he call me? She felt a strange thrill. She felt a tingling sensation, like her hair was standing on end. He hadn't forgotten me.
Asherad, His Highness the Crown Prince, to me.
That fact alone made Daphne feel like she was still special.
The servant who brought Daphne stepped back and said something.
“Do not make His Highness angry.”
“...”
Was it anger? Was it anger? Daphne couldn't understand it. She opened the door and went inside as usual.
“Are you here?”
As soon as she arrived, she heard a soft voice. It was a quick answer, as if he had been waiting for her.
It was a voice so tender that it brought tears to her eyes. Daphne paused for a moment, recalling the past. Even when he had thrown her away to the Prince of Pindus, his voice had been this tender.
The mean joy and happiness disappeared, and only betrayal and sadness remained.
"Daphne."
“Did you call?”
Even though her name was called, Daphne lowered her head and answered quietly.
“Raise your head and look at me.”
Daphne raised her head. She and Asherad, who were standing with their backs to the window, met. A body shining in the moonlight came into view.
He was always neat and well-fitting, but his clothes had become disheveled a long time ago. His shirt was completely unbuttoned and barely hung over his shoulders. His tightly packed muscles were visible through it.
“Come here, Daphne.”
Revealing his exquisitely beautiful body, he welcomed Daphne.
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