19. The owner of the gift
With every step she took, her pure white skirt fluttered softly. It was a graceful and flowing curve that could not be compared to the maid's uniform made of tough fabric.
The dress was so beautiful that she felt bad wearing old shoes with it.
Daphne straightened her back and walked with dignity like a noble lady, just as her mother had taught her.
Walking like this, it felt like going back in time. The clothes weren't decorated with precious metals like jewels, but the lace attached to the hem of the clothes was incredibly gorgeous.
“Daphne, what’s going on?”
"Yes?"
Fabian was surprised to see Daphne, because she was dressed differently than usual, wearing black.
Her hair was still tied tightly like a maid's, and she had shiny blonde hair and a pink dress that matched her outfit. Even though her hair was still tied tightly like a maid's, she looked like a noblewoman just from her bright clothes.
“You dressed up.”
Was it because she was wearing white clothes? Her blue eyes were clear, yet sad and hazy, as if she would wither. Even though she had only changed clothes once, Daphne felt a beauty that was incomparable to that of others.
Shy, downcast eyes, an elegant smile. What on earth is the difference between that noble lady and that young lady? Damn it. Fabian ground his teeth.
Daphne said shyly.
“Sarah told me to wear it and go out...”
"Sarah?"
“Yeah. I don’t have any reason to go out anyway...”
Fabian was speechless. It felt like he had been hit in the head.
Come to think of it, Daphne had an ambiguous expression every time he asked her out on a date. He thought it was too early to go on a date, so he put in the effort, but what if she had actually been forbidden from going out from the start?
Servants in the castle were not always allowed entry, but they were free to come and go if they received prior permission.
But what about Daphne?
“Daphne, have you never been out even once?”
Daphne nodded. This was a bit serious. Fabian seemed lost in thought. Daphne looked puzzled.
Daphne just smiled shyly. Anyway, she was glad that Fabian liked it.
It was a good thing she followed Sarah's advice. Perhaps that was why she gave Daphne a dress. Sarah, who had been somewhat friendly to Daphne, seemed to have decided to take her side completely. Sarah did not spare her 'friendly' advice.
She would occasionally visit Daphne's old, dirty room, which everyone avoided, to give her snacks.
'It's a pretty dress you finally received, so you should try it on at least once.'
'But if I wear different clothes, I'll get in trouble.'
'Daphne, you're pretty, but it's a shame. You can't even go out... The maid will be going out tomorrow, so try it on for a little while.'
'...'
'You have to show your pretty face to that red-haired knight.'
Did she want to show this to Fabian? Actually, she didn't know. Still, she wore the dress because she also wanted to wear pretty clothes. It reminded her of her childhood.
At that time, Daphne thought that her mother's warm embrace was her whole world, without any worries.
A time when everything was sweet and soft like sunshine.
She remembered the time when she was dressed by her mother's hands. Daphne read a storybook. She held onto the clothes her mother was wearing.
'I want to wear pretty clothes like these too.'
Daphne's clothes were always in childish, bright colors. Red, yellow, blue...
Rather than such bright colors, she wanted to wear soft, flowing clothes like her mother. Sometimes her mother, dressed in white, looked like a fairy, an elf, the guardian of the forest, and sometimes a goddess of love.
'When you grow up, of course, I'll let you wear it. But you're still a kid.'
While gently stroking her head, Daphne would sometimes whine but then become calm.
'This cute thing, when will you grow up?'
Her mother used to ask Daphne while stroking her head.
'When will you grow up, little thing?'
'...'
'When you come of age, I will make you the prettiest dress.'
But now Daphne had grown up, and she was dressed in the clothes her mother would have worn, but her mother was no longer there. She wanted to wear these clothes and go to her mother's grave.
To where her mother is...
"Daphne."
At those words, Daphne came back to reality. Fabian was looking at her with concern. Daphne forced a smile.
“Oh, sorry. I was thinking about my mother.”
"Mother?"
“My mother often wore clothes like this.”
“...”
“When I told her that I wanted to wear it, she asked me when I would grow up and wear clothes like this.”
Oh, Daphne opened her lips. She was a wicked concubine who deceived the world, even though she was her beloved mother. She was a wicked concubine who tried to drive out the virtuous Empress. That was her mother's position.
“You liked your mother.”
It was a warm word. Daphne felt as if her painful wounds were being gently caressed by it. She tried to swallow down the emotions that were welling up inside her.
She felt sorry for Fabian. She was grateful to have a man following her all winter, but she liked Fabian, not longed for him.
But Fabian was different.
Fabian always wanted something from her. He never pressed her for an answer, but every time he looked into her eyes, Daphne felt grateful, and at the same time, she felt like she was going to the abyss.
But she can't push Fabian away. When Fabian's affection reaches her, she realizes how lonely she was and how much she wanted people's affection.
If even Fabian turned his back on her, she wouldn't be able to bear it.
Even Asherad doesn't give her as much affection as Fabian. He treats her like a cute little sister, and sometimes he takes away the affection he gave her.
At that moment, Fabian flinched and looked somewhere.
“Fabian?”
Fabian frowned at Daphne's question.
“Daphne, I think you’d better go back and change your clothes.”
"Yes?"
“...”
Fabian seemed lost in thought.
“You... no, you’re nothing.”
Daphne was about to turn back, feeling uneasy at that expression.
“It suits you well, but why do you want to change clothes?”
“...”
Daphne flinched at the familiar voice. Just hearing the voice sent goosebumps down her body. No way. No way. When Daphne turned her head, the Emperor was standing there.
Was he deliberately trying to meet her? Accompanied by only two of his closest knights, he approached Daphne quite friendly.
Since when have they been close? That closeness gave her goosebumps.
“Your Majesty!”
Fabian knelt down and bowed his head. Daphne bit her lip. She felt a strange sense of helplessness. It was even more so when she saw Fabian on his knees.
“You?”
“This is Fabian Pond.”
“Aha, Pond.”
The Emperor raised the corners of his mouth. Fabian's face showed contempt at those words. When Daphne looked at him in a puzzled manner, the Emperor continued.
“Where do you belong?”
“I belong to the Crown Prince’s Palace.”
“Yes, I see... It’s the Count of Locania.”
The Emperor stroked his beard and looked at Fabian. He could sense Fabian's troubled expression. Daphne fidgeted with her hands.
“Don’t change your clothes. Wear whatever you want.”
“...”
“I took the time to give you this as a gift. Isn’t it such a shame?”
Daphne opened her lips. What is that now...? The Emperor lifted the corners of his mouth as he looked at Daphne’s blank face. His dark, low gaze fell on her.
“You are becoming more and more like your mother. You are beautiful.”
Has that ever been so terrible? Daphne's heart pounded. The Emperor strode forward. Daphne's body trembled slightly.
Even though she didn't touch him, she felt ashamed just by looking at him. She felt as if she was being harassed.
With every step she took, her pure white skirt fluttered softly. It was a graceful and flowing curve that could not be compared to the maid's uniform made of tough fabric.
The dress was so beautiful that she felt bad wearing old shoes with it.
Daphne straightened her back and walked with dignity like a noble lady, just as her mother had taught her.
Walking like this, it felt like going back in time. The clothes weren't decorated with precious metals like jewels, but the lace attached to the hem of the clothes was incredibly gorgeous.
“Daphne, what’s going on?”
"Yes?"
Fabian was surprised to see Daphne, because she was dressed differently than usual, wearing black.
Her hair was still tied tightly like a maid's, and she had shiny blonde hair and a pink dress that matched her outfit. Even though her hair was still tied tightly like a maid's, she looked like a noblewoman just from her bright clothes.
“You dressed up.”
Was it because she was wearing white clothes? Her blue eyes were clear, yet sad and hazy, as if she would wither. Even though she had only changed clothes once, Daphne felt a beauty that was incomparable to that of others.
Shy, downcast eyes, an elegant smile. What on earth is the difference between that noble lady and that young lady? Damn it. Fabian ground his teeth.
Daphne said shyly.
“Sarah told me to wear it and go out...”
"Sarah?"
“Yeah. I don’t have any reason to go out anyway...”
Fabian was speechless. It felt like he had been hit in the head.
Come to think of it, Daphne had an ambiguous expression every time he asked her out on a date. He thought it was too early to go on a date, so he put in the effort, but what if she had actually been forbidden from going out from the start?
Servants in the castle were not always allowed entry, but they were free to come and go if they received prior permission.
But what about Daphne?
“Daphne, have you never been out even once?”
Daphne nodded. This was a bit serious. Fabian seemed lost in thought. Daphne looked puzzled.
Daphne just smiled shyly. Anyway, she was glad that Fabian liked it.
It was a good thing she followed Sarah's advice. Perhaps that was why she gave Daphne a dress. Sarah, who had been somewhat friendly to Daphne, seemed to have decided to take her side completely. Sarah did not spare her 'friendly' advice.
She would occasionally visit Daphne's old, dirty room, which everyone avoided, to give her snacks.
'It's a pretty dress you finally received, so you should try it on at least once.'
'But if I wear different clothes, I'll get in trouble.'
'Daphne, you're pretty, but it's a shame. You can't even go out... The maid will be going out tomorrow, so try it on for a little while.'
'...'
'You have to show your pretty face to that red-haired knight.'
Did she want to show this to Fabian? Actually, she didn't know. Still, she wore the dress because she also wanted to wear pretty clothes. It reminded her of her childhood.
At that time, Daphne thought that her mother's warm embrace was her whole world, without any worries.
A time when everything was sweet and soft like sunshine.
She remembered the time when she was dressed by her mother's hands. Daphne read a storybook. She held onto the clothes her mother was wearing.
'I want to wear pretty clothes like these too.'
Daphne's clothes were always in childish, bright colors. Red, yellow, blue...
Rather than such bright colors, she wanted to wear soft, flowing clothes like her mother. Sometimes her mother, dressed in white, looked like a fairy, an elf, the guardian of the forest, and sometimes a goddess of love.
'When you grow up, of course, I'll let you wear it. But you're still a kid.'
While gently stroking her head, Daphne would sometimes whine but then become calm.
'This cute thing, when will you grow up?'
Her mother used to ask Daphne while stroking her head.
'When will you grow up, little thing?'
'...'
'When you come of age, I will make you the prettiest dress.'
But now Daphne had grown up, and she was dressed in the clothes her mother would have worn, but her mother was no longer there. She wanted to wear these clothes and go to her mother's grave.
To where her mother is...
"Daphne."
At those words, Daphne came back to reality. Fabian was looking at her with concern. Daphne forced a smile.
“Oh, sorry. I was thinking about my mother.”
"Mother?"
“My mother often wore clothes like this.”
“...”
“When I told her that I wanted to wear it, she asked me when I would grow up and wear clothes like this.”
Oh, Daphne opened her lips. She was a wicked concubine who deceived the world, even though she was her beloved mother. She was a wicked concubine who tried to drive out the virtuous Empress. That was her mother's position.
“You liked your mother.”
It was a warm word. Daphne felt as if her painful wounds were being gently caressed by it. She tried to swallow down the emotions that were welling up inside her.
She felt sorry for Fabian. She was grateful to have a man following her all winter, but she liked Fabian, not longed for him.
But Fabian was different.
Fabian always wanted something from her. He never pressed her for an answer, but every time he looked into her eyes, Daphne felt grateful, and at the same time, she felt like she was going to the abyss.
But she can't push Fabian away. When Fabian's affection reaches her, she realizes how lonely she was and how much she wanted people's affection.
If even Fabian turned his back on her, she wouldn't be able to bear it.
Even Asherad doesn't give her as much affection as Fabian. He treats her like a cute little sister, and sometimes he takes away the affection he gave her.
At that moment, Fabian flinched and looked somewhere.
“Fabian?”
Fabian frowned at Daphne's question.
“Daphne, I think you’d better go back and change your clothes.”
"Yes?"
“...”
Fabian seemed lost in thought.
“You... no, you’re nothing.”
Daphne was about to turn back, feeling uneasy at that expression.
“It suits you well, but why do you want to change clothes?”
“...”
Daphne flinched at the familiar voice. Just hearing the voice sent goosebumps down her body. No way. No way. When Daphne turned her head, the Emperor was standing there.
Was he deliberately trying to meet her? Accompanied by only two of his closest knights, he approached Daphne quite friendly.
Since when have they been close? That closeness gave her goosebumps.
“Your Majesty!”
Fabian knelt down and bowed his head. Daphne bit her lip. She felt a strange sense of helplessness. It was even more so when she saw Fabian on his knees.
“You?”
“This is Fabian Pond.”
“Aha, Pond.”
The Emperor raised the corners of his mouth. Fabian's face showed contempt at those words. When Daphne looked at him in a puzzled manner, the Emperor continued.
“Where do you belong?”
“I belong to the Crown Prince’s Palace.”
“Yes, I see... It’s the Count of Locania.”
The Emperor stroked his beard and looked at Fabian. He could sense Fabian's troubled expression. Daphne fidgeted with her hands.
“Don’t change your clothes. Wear whatever you want.”
“...”
“I took the time to give you this as a gift. Isn’t it such a shame?”
Daphne opened her lips. What is that now...? The Emperor lifted the corners of his mouth as he looked at Daphne’s blank face. His dark, low gaze fell on her.
“You are becoming more and more like your mother. You are beautiful.”
Has that ever been so terrible? Daphne's heart pounded. The Emperor strode forward. Daphne's body trembled slightly.
Even though she didn't touch him, she felt ashamed just by looking at him. She felt as if she was being harassed.
Why? Why? He gave me clothes as a gift?
Not Asherad?
“I’m glad it suits you. Beatrice used to wear something like that, too.”
The Emperor's face was not looking at Daphne, but at a woman from the past. It was disgusting to see and reminisce about someone else as another human being. The Emperor trampled even her small and precious memories.
But that thought was fortunate. She knew all too well what the Emperor was seeing, and it was terrifying. What was worse was that he had no intention of hiding his feelings now.
Even in front of Fabian.
The Emperor smiled broadly as he saw Daphne's face turn pale.
“Your Majesty. Where did you go? How did you come here?”
A soft female voice was heard. He knew the owner of that voice all too well. It was Kalista. The Emperor cleared his throat.
“What is the Empress doing here?”
“Have you forgotten? Didn’t you promise to meet my brother from Thalassa after the State Council meeting?”
“Oh, I forgot.”
The Emperor looked embarrassed. He didn't know how things would turn out.
Daphne simply lowered her head. She didn’t even notice the Emperor’s gaze lingering on her, nor did she notice Kalista’s face distorting when she saw it.
The Emperor disappeared as if he were avoiding the spot. Daphne just wanted this moment to end quickly. When she raised her head, thinking that Kalista had followed the Emperor, stars appeared on her face.
“Where are you raising your head?”
“...”
The ball was burning. Daphne looked at Kalista with a surprised expression. She gritted her teeth and glared at Daphne.
“Born lowly, yet doing the same dirty work! What are those clothes? How dare a maid wear something different?!”
Daphne couldn't bring herself to open her mouth. How could she say anything since it was given to her by the Emperor? When Daphne was speechless, Calista said as if she had expected her to say so.
“Take it off.”
The maid who followed behind Calista winked fiercely. Daphne flinched. No way, no way, just like Olga did to her...!
The maids rushed to Daphne. They looked as if they had been caught. Daphne tried to kneel before the Empress. She tried to beg her, but it seemed as if the Empress had already decided to humiliate her.
“Your Majesty, the Empress, hold fast!”
Fabian stepped forward. Kalista bit her lip and looked at Fabian. She looked him up and down.
“Who is blocking my path?”
“...”
“Aren’t you a knight of the Crown Princess’ Palace?”
“...”
“We are trying to rectify the lax discipline in the palace, so who should you arrest?”
Kalista screamed. Fabian bit his lip. Daphne closed her eyes.
Should she bite her tongue? She'd rather die and disappear. She's always been treated like this, so she's getting used to this humiliation.
However, seeing her friend Fabian in this state... She didn’t have the confidence to live with her head held high.
“Your Majesty, I was wrong. Please forgive me!”
Daphne cried out pitifully. She wished that Kalista would have mercy on her.
“Take it off quickly!”
At Kalista's scream, the buttons on her clothes were ripped off. The brief moment of affection disappeared like a mirage, and a rotten, rotten reality revealed itself.
No one can help her.
All she could do was to show the man who loved her in a blatant way what kind of person she was.
She was a mean and shabby person who couldn't even maintain the slightest self-respect or anything. She was always being trampled, broken, and broken again...
“What is this?”
At that moment, a leisurely voice was heard again.
Not Asherad?
“I’m glad it suits you. Beatrice used to wear something like that, too.”
The Emperor's face was not looking at Daphne, but at a woman from the past. It was disgusting to see and reminisce about someone else as another human being. The Emperor trampled even her small and precious memories.
But that thought was fortunate. She knew all too well what the Emperor was seeing, and it was terrifying. What was worse was that he had no intention of hiding his feelings now.
Even in front of Fabian.
The Emperor smiled broadly as he saw Daphne's face turn pale.
“Your Majesty. Where did you go? How did you come here?”
A soft female voice was heard. He knew the owner of that voice all too well. It was Kalista. The Emperor cleared his throat.
“What is the Empress doing here?”
“Have you forgotten? Didn’t you promise to meet my brother from Thalassa after the State Council meeting?”
“Oh, I forgot.”
The Emperor looked embarrassed. He didn't know how things would turn out.
Daphne simply lowered her head. She didn’t even notice the Emperor’s gaze lingering on her, nor did she notice Kalista’s face distorting when she saw it.
The Emperor disappeared as if he were avoiding the spot. Daphne just wanted this moment to end quickly. When she raised her head, thinking that Kalista had followed the Emperor, stars appeared on her face.
“Where are you raising your head?”
“...”
The ball was burning. Daphne looked at Kalista with a surprised expression. She gritted her teeth and glared at Daphne.
“Born lowly, yet doing the same dirty work! What are those clothes? How dare a maid wear something different?!”
Daphne couldn't bring herself to open her mouth. How could she say anything since it was given to her by the Emperor? When Daphne was speechless, Calista said as if she had expected her to say so.
“Take it off.”
The maid who followed behind Calista winked fiercely. Daphne flinched. No way, no way, just like Olga did to her...!
The maids rushed to Daphne. They looked as if they had been caught. Daphne tried to kneel before the Empress. She tried to beg her, but it seemed as if the Empress had already decided to humiliate her.
“Your Majesty, the Empress, hold fast!”
Fabian stepped forward. Kalista bit her lip and looked at Fabian. She looked him up and down.
“Who is blocking my path?”
“...”
“Aren’t you a knight of the Crown Princess’ Palace?”
“...”
“We are trying to rectify the lax discipline in the palace, so who should you arrest?”
Kalista screamed. Fabian bit his lip. Daphne closed her eyes.
Should she bite her tongue? She'd rather die and disappear. She's always been treated like this, so she's getting used to this humiliation.
However, seeing her friend Fabian in this state... She didn’t have the confidence to live with her head held high.
“Your Majesty, I was wrong. Please forgive me!”
Daphne cried out pitifully. She wished that Kalista would have mercy on her.
“Take it off quickly!”
At Kalista's scream, the buttons on her clothes were ripped off. The brief moment of affection disappeared like a mirage, and a rotten, rotten reality revealed itself.
No one can help her.
All she could do was to show the man who loved her in a blatant way what kind of person she was.
She was a mean and shabby person who couldn't even maintain the slightest self-respect or anything. She was always being trampled, broken, and broken again...
“What is this?”
At that moment, a leisurely voice was heard again.
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