5. Death and the Boy
Daphne was led by Asherad's hand to his room.
“Oh, it must be really cold.”
The boy seemed lost in thought as he watched Daphne shivering.
“What should I do with this?”
Unlike Daphne, who was shivering and seemed like she might faint at any moment, Asherad was relaxed.
The cold night air was so cold. Fortunately, this room in Asherad was warm.
But although it was definitely a cozy place, it was also a place that gave off creepy vibes. There was something odd about Daphne standing tall in the clean room and Asherad sitting and observing her.
But Daphne was so trembling and so focused on the boy in front of her that she didn't think about the boy's actions.
She remembered the boy she saw when she first came to the palace. But who would have thought that this boy might have been her older brother...
His voice, his eyes, and her beautiful appearance, which seemed to be filled with all the goodness in the world, were so beautiful that she could not dare to keep up with them.
You're the same bloodline as that great person? Did you really think that kind of lie would work? How pathetic a lie did your mother tell? In the first place, there's no way she and that person were related by blood.
What if that person recognizes her? He will surely be angry at her like the Emperor. Asherad ended up covering Daphne with a blanket, as she could not even raise her head. She was so embarrassed. As he covered her with the blanket himself, Asherad and her face became closer.
“Why were you being bullied?”
“...”
“What is your name?”
The boy's words made it seem as if a stone was stuck in her throat, and she couldn't say anything.
“You’re not saying anything.”
Daphne closed her eyes tightly at that voice.
“What are you doing without saying anything?”
The servant shouted. She shivered as she wrapped herself in the blanket.
“Leon, I’m asking her.”
Asherad was noble, even though he was young. The attendant hurriedly bowed his head at those words.
“Come on, tell me.”
It didn't seem like they'd let her out unless she said her name. She shut her eyes tightly.
“It hurts.”
“...”
“Daphne, Daphne. I’ve heard of you a lot.”
Was it because her eye color was different? Or was it because her appearance was so shabby compared to before? Asherad didn't know Daphne.
For a moment, the attendant made a strange expression, but she was looking at the boy's feet, the glossy shine on his stylish leather shoes.
“I don’t remember at all.”
“...”
A laughing voice was heard.
“Daphne. Then why do people bother you?”
“...”
Daphne raised her head weakly. If that person found out the truth, would he change like them? Or would he become cruel like the Emperor? She didn't know. She desperately needed this warmth. But her mouth opened on its own.
“Mother, she told a big lie.”
"...Yes?"
He opened his eyes wide. Daphne looked down again.
“You deserve to be in this situation just because of your mother’s sins?”
“Because my mother lied to me. I lied to her, too. That’s a sin.”
As if in repentance, she closed her eyes tightly. One of his eyebrows rose as if in surprise. The cold sneer disguised as good intentions disappeared, and soon an interested look took hold in both eyes.
“Raise your head, Daphne.”
“...”
“From now on, I’m going to make you work for several hours a day.”
“Huh? What is that...”
“How can you blame a child for her mother’s sins? It would be unfair to blame you.”
Was it because he had straight lines? Was it because his eyes were sharp for a boy? He seemed righteous. Like a fair ruler.
“So, Daphne, don’t worry too much.”
He did her a favor, just like the kindness he had shown her when they first met.
***
From the day she came into Asherad's sight, the blatant harassment disappeared. However, she still had to live in the most rat-infested room, and the food she was served was poor. Of course, the Emperor would occasionally look at her and insult her, making fun of her, but even so, there was hope in her hellish daily life.
After finishing all her schedules, she waited for Asherad's call in a room where the breeze came in.
When his servant knocked on her door with a look of displeasure, she got up and followed the servant to his room.
“Are you here?”
People are always tense in front of the Prince, but Daphne was different. Daphne was finally able to relax in front of him.
Unlike Daphne, who was small in stature, Asherad had a large frame. He lay on the fireplace chair and looked up at Daphne with a languid expression. His face was enchantingly handsome.
Unlike the filthy room where she had to sleep curled up with rats, this place was heaven.
“It looks like you didn’t get bullied much today.”
"Yes."
"Thank god."
He gave a faint smile and gestured to the book with his eyes, as if to beckon her over. Daphne smiled brightly and opened the book. As she knelt down on the soft carpet, she read the book out loud.
He leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed and a relaxed expression, placing his hand on the head of Daphne, who was kneeling at his feet.
Long fingers stroked her hair. Pat pat. It felt good to have hands tickling her hair.
Daphne really liked this moment. It wasn't a cold, moldy, dirty room. It always smelled good. And Asherad always smiled and watched over her.
“Aren’t you hungry? Eat while you do this.”
A cookie was thrust into her mouth as she sat down. Daphne looked at the cookie in front of her mouth. It smelled like sweet chocolate and nutty nuts.
“Yes, ah.”
Following Asherad, she opened her lips. Daphne accepted it with a look of gratitude. Asherad's eyes were strange.
“I want you to eat a lot.”
The hand stroking her head was still gentle and affectionate. It did not hide the coldness and mockery like a blade, but she did not know it.
“K, kehahaha!”
Daphne looked up in surprise at the sudden sound of laughter. The Emperor was smiling with a blush on his face at the door.
“Are you here, Father?”
Asherad patted Daphne's head and stood up. Daphne felt like an idiot.
Surely, isn't it true that Asherad is getting scolded by the Emperor for saving her?
“You crazy bastard! This is a masterpiece, a masterpiece!”
But the Emperor was laughing loudly at something.
***
“Sarah, what’s that hairpin?”
“My brother just gave me a present.”
“Your brother is so affectionate.”
As Daphne approached, the maids glared at her. Of them, only Sarah smiled and nodded.
Daphne backed away and went to another area.
It's been seven years since she came to the palace.
Daphne grew up.
It was a world of isolation where no one approached her. If someone found someone kind, they either treated her coldly or disappeared, as if they had heard 'that rumor'.
The same was true for the animals she had affection for. The horses in the stable and the small birds she had fed all died, as if they did not want to be touched by her hands.
How lonely is a world without someone to love? The only person she could love was Asherad.
He was always affectionate and thoughtful.
Asherad always felt sorry for her situation. As if there was an invisible string, Asherad never forgot her and looked for her.
“Brother.”
Daphne muttered the unfamiliar word.
If she had an older brother, would he have been like Asherad? Would he have given her a hairpin as a gift, just like Sarah's older brother?
If she were truly His Majesty's heir, Asherad might have done so.
They would have been a wonderful family. Then she would have punished those girls who were bullying her.
Daphne thought of Asherad. Her face turned red.
As Asherad grew older, he began to look like a man. His face, with its beautiful curves, took on a darker shade. His body, with its straight lines, also became more handsome.
A wonderful being. Everyone looked up to him, revered him, and loved him. And it was only natural. As the only child of the Emperor and a noble bloodline, Asherad lived up to everyone's expectations.
His eyes, which were gradually becoming hardened, took on a cold, almost arrogant look, but he was a gentleman. Contrary to his always peculiar, unapproachable air, he was kind to women, children, and those below him.
There was nothing he couldn't do. When everyone was talking about how graceful his dance was, how beautiful his voice was when he recited the prayer, and how enchanting his smile was, Daphne smiled with an odd sense of superiority.
How lucky it was to see him up close. Daphne was the only one who Asherad allowed to be by his side.
Asherad cherishes her. He loves her. He does her favors. He is special to her.
But... But that’s all.
Daphne pondered gloomily as she pondered the rumors about who Asherad's fiancée would be.
"Daphne!"
“...”
"Daphne?"
Daphne looked at the people who approached her. It was strange. No one spoke to her, only mocked her.
But when there were no people, this brown-haired man, Nowell, had been secretly showing her favor. But today was the first time he had spoken to her like this.
“Daphne. Give me that water jug.”
When she held out the water jug, looking puzzled, he took it. She remembered what the maids had said about Nowell being kind.
“People are just too much, aren’t they?”
“...”
“Everyone is sorry for you... Poor Daphne. Really, you...”
Nowell looked at her with pity. Daphne looked at the jug she had given him. In any case, he had shown kindness.
"Thank you."
“...You can speak.”
"Of course."
“I didn’t know you could speak. Your voice is so pretty.”
Nowell looked at her with a bright smile. Daphne's cheeks turned red. It was the first time anyone other than Asherad had complimented her. So she smiled slightly.
This day wasn't bad. How nice it would be if every day were filled with such luck?
She looked at Noel's back.
She has a good feeling about today.
Daphne's wish was shattered as night fell. Daphne's steps became urgent. She ran into the 'Crown Prince's' garden, even though she knew it was rude. It was a place where the moon was clearly visible.
Everyone in the palace was singing a sad death song. As the sun set, the Empress died. Asherad's mother died.
She didn't know what to say. She didn't know what comfort to offer. But all she knew was that she had to be a comfort to Asherad.
As expected, Asherad was sitting alone, looking up at the sky.
Poor thing, poor thing. Daphne felt this way, too, when she lost her mother. She sat down in front of him and knelt down without realizing it.
“It’s you.”
Asherad smelled different from his usual perfume, but had a pungent odor. Contrary to the thought that he would be crying, his face was dark, and he wasn't crying.
Moonlight seeped into the green leaves.
“I... I, Your Highness.”
Daphne's voice trembled. Could even her comfort be a deception?
“You said you lost your mother, too?”
"Yes."
“I guess this is what it felt like.”
He looked lonely. The cold night wind blew his fine forehead.
“My mother’s funeral will start tomorrow. I’m going to be busy.”
“...”
“So you don’t have to come until the funeral is over.”
It was still a kind word that showed consideration for Daphne. But he looked lonely and desolate. Daphne cherished her mother. The same must be true for Asherad.
Daphne placed her hand carefully over his.
"Your Highness."
"Yes?"
“I am here.”
“...”
“When things are hard, I...”
“This is true.”
Askeladd opened his eyes wide and looked at Daphne. For a moment, he felt a sense of ecstasy. But that feeling soon melted away in the night air. His long fingers stroked Daphne’s hair.
It was a beautiful woman's face that was beginning to shed its girlish charm. Her blue eyes were especially attractive.
“Ugh!”
His hand grabbed her hair and pulled.
“I’m sorry, did it hurt?”
He said with a small smile.
“Yes, Daphne. You just have to be by my side all the time.”
"...Yes."
“When I tell you to come, you come. When I tell you to go, you go.”
Asherad lifted her chin. She was a little scared now. Asherad said beautifully, wiping Daphne's tearful face.
“Just stay by my side like this for the rest of your life.”
As she nodded once more, he smiled with satisfaction. Asherad, who was staring intently at Daphne's face, raised the corners of his mouth.
“So you’re mine, you know that?”
"Yes."
The words came out without much resistance. Mechanically, as if brainwashed. He brought his face up to Daphne’s face. She flinched and was surprised. Velvety lips touched her cheek.
As she backed away in surprise, Asherad snickered.
“Go.”
She ran away with a face as red as a beet. Asherad snickered as he watched her back. Asherad placed his hand on his cheek, touching his lips.
“Ah. That was hard to bear.”
Asherad looked back and said. Someone's legs were sticking out from under the tree. Asherad approached it with an indifferent expression. A bloody corpse was lying under the tree. A young man with brown hair, Nowell, was lying dead with his eyes wide open.
“Should I show this or not?”
Asherad tapped the hand with his foot. It was the hand that had touched Daphne’s hand. Suddenly unable to bear it, he picked up the sword stuck in the ground. The sword, drawing a cool trajectory, cut off the wrist in an instant.
There was no mourning. There was only anger. A strange discomfort. She only remembers the blue eyes of that little girl who trembled with joy.
“It’s annoying.”
Asherad gritted his teeth and muttered. On the night his mother died, Asherad personally murdered a male servant.
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