20. Who did you want to show it to?
“Ah, Asherad!”
Kalista's face brightened as soon as she recognized the owner of the voice. His mere appearance stopped the maids from undressing Daphne.
Daphne looked at Asherad with a blushing face. She doesn't know what he's thinking.
It was a look like he was looking at her, the one who had almost been raped by the Prince of Pindus. Would it have been better if it had been an expression like looking at a bug crawling on the ground? An expression, like looking at the furniture given to him in his room.
He clearly said he cared about her.
He told her to stay by his side.
He said he thought of her like a little sister.
But why does this man always look at her with that expression in these situations? Not with hostility or contempt, but with an indifferent and cold face that looks at something worthless.
“What is happening here, Asherad?”
“I heard a commotion.”
At that moment, Fabian's eyes narrowed, but no one noticed.
“It’s a matter of discipline within the palace. I’m just punishing that incompetent maid. If the maid wears plain clothes and goes around without permission, what will happen to the discipline within the palace?”
Asherad sighed softly at Kalista's words.
“How could I possibly interfere with my mother’s authority?”
He said with a pensive expression.
“But, don’t you know? You don’t have time to waste on a maid.”
“...”
“You have to come with me today.”
It was a smooth voice. Softer than the one he had given to Daphne, and full of affection...
Kalista's eyes widened at Asherad's words. She looked back and forth between Daphne, who was a thorn in her side, and Asherad. And then, the answer came too easily.
Spending time with her aging husband or her handsome adopted son was a choice Kalista had to make. After all, Asherad was the only place she could place her heart in this rotten palace.
“I will discipline her myself. Stay in my room.”
As Asherad spoke in a cold voice, Daphne lowered her head. Kalista frowned at that.
“Asherad, this is for me...”
“Didn’t I tell you something?”
The reason the Emperor kept that woman alive.
The Emperor is clearly interested in Daphne. In any case, the Emperor does not insult Kalista by taking the maid's side in front of her.
If they go any further, he doesn't know what will happen to the Emperor.
Asherad was a good adviser to the somewhat impulsive and emotional Kalista. First of all, he knew how to appease her without going against her wishes.
"Great."
“Then, shall we go?”
When Asherad held out his hand, Kalista shyly took it.
Kalista's maids let go of Daphne and followed her. Daphne watched them.
To her, it did not occur that the relationship between Kalista and Asherad was too close, like that of a stepmother and son.
It was just hard to shake off the feeling of humiliation and shame flowing through her body.
Daphne was on her knees, looking at the ground.
The Emperor's teasing, Kalista's ravages, and Asherad's disdain.
Nothing was pleasant. Daphne's eyes began to lose focus again. Then, Fabian looked at Daphne.
He doesn't know what expression that is. Is it pity for the poor, persecuted person, or disgust at the squalor of Daphne's life that he has actually seen, or fear?
Something seemed to crumble at the sight of him glaring at her, unable to offer even a single word of comfort.
Fabian was always the one who comforted her. She expected him to comfort her again, just like in a sweet dream. Perhaps, she thought that this man was different from the Asherad she liked.
When she was with Fabian, she felt like she had returned to being an ordinary person. However, she realized how powerless the world Fabian had created was in front of those in power.
Daphne closed her slightly open mouth. Otherwise, she would have said something weak to Fabian. She just looked at him with the same unfocused eyes and expressionless face as before she met Fabian.
And then, Fabian turned around without hesitation and walked away. Daphne couldn't bring herself to hold him back. She just kept shedding tears.
The sun was very warm, and the spring air was settling into the garden. Daphne shivered amid the bright flowers and the gentle sunlight.
It was cold.
It felt like they were in the middle of winter again.
Daphne stood in the Crown Prince's room in a messy state. The Crown Prince's room was warm as usual. His room was neat and tidy. However, everything in his room was too precious for her to dare touch.
This room was nice. However, Daphne always felt uncomfortable in this room.
The owner of this room was like that, too.
So, Daphne tried hard to be satisfied with the affection of a 'little sister'. But at times like this, Daphne felt awkward towards Asherad.
But that awkwardness was also a luxury. She waited for Asherad in a time that felt like death, and floundered in the familiar swamp of despair.
All Daphne had left was despair. All she could do was feel sorry for herself.
What else can she do but pity?
There was nothing tangible. Asherad's affection for her was nothing special, more like an occasional whim, and Fabian's affection was too easily lost in her reality.
I guess I had just a little bit of expectation...
Daphne stood there, unable to lean on anything, watching the sun set over the Crown Prince's room. As the dusk approached, Asherad came in.
He sat down at the table, passing Daphne, who was standing there, sighing softly.
Swish, he turned the chair towards Daphne. He looked at her standing face and said.
“This is a sight beyond words.”
“...”
It was the first time that Asherad's voice had a hint of mockery. Daphne looked at Asherad with an expressionless face. He extended his thick, white hand.
Jjiik
Daphne's doll-like expression changed in an instant. Asherad tore Daphne's clothes with tremendous force.
“Your Highness!”
“...”
Daphne shouted as she looked at Asherad, but he didn’t even furrow his eyebrows and continued to push. With a thud, the button came off. Daphne looked down at the rolling button.
She, wearing only a chemise and drawers, turned her gaze to him with a blank expression. Asherad was looking at Daphne’s body. His eyes seemed to have darkened. Finally, he raised his green eyes and met Daphne’s eyes.
“Who told you to wear dirty clothes?”
“...”
“Who did you want to show it to?”
Asherad stood behind Daphne. He untied Daphne's tightly tied blonde hair.
As her hair, which had been tightly tied, was released, she felt a strangely languid feeling. Daphne stroked her hair.
“Tell me, Daphne.”
"That..."
Daphne squeezed her eyes shut. Show it to Fabian, it's for her mother. That was right.
“I wanted to show it to Your Highness.”
Asherad said nothing.
“I thought Your Highness had bought it for me.”
Although she was suspicious of the gift she had received unexpectedly, she was secretly happy because she thought that Asherad had bought it for her. She wanted to show him that. Daphne lowered her head in shame. Asherad was looking at Daphne with his characteristic blank expression.
Was it because he realized that her intentions were real? Despite that, he remained frozen without even blinking, but Daphne didn't notice.
Maybe because she had already been embarrassed once, she wasn't embarrassed to say this. It was also the case that he had torn her clothes and stood there in her underwear.
Asherad straightened the hair that flowed down Daphne's back. His breath hit the nape of her neck, which was half exposed. At that moment, when her body suddenly became hot, Asherad spoke.
“You were the most beautiful there today.”
“...”
“I'm serious.”
Daphne closed her eyes tightly at those words and looked back at Asherad. It was as if he were trying to comfort her. For some reason, hearing those words made her feel relieved, and the regret she had forgotten rose up.
A look of interest appeared in Asherad's eyes, as if it was reflected on Daphne's face as well.
“Are you angry?”
“...”
“Are you angry that I left you behind and took that woman’s side?”
“I couldn’t help it.”
Daphne answered mechanically. Asherad chuckled as he watched her. When he looked up at the laughter, he still had an amused expression on his face.
It was clear that Asherad had feelings for Daphne now. However, something was suffocating her. She was so suffocated that she couldn't stand it.
But as always, she suppressed those feelings. She was the daughter of a sinner, and she had to endure it.
Because that's right.
Asherad spoke as he looked at Daphne's face. The touch of his fingers as he stroked her cheek was incredibly sweet.
“But Daphne, you did that too.”
“...”
“You hung out with that knight, Fabian Pond.”
Daphne was puzzled by Asherad saying that name. Was he interested in her like this? Asherad said with an expression of uncertainty.
“Daphne. What did that knight do for you today?”
“...”
“What could he do for you today?”
Asherad patted her head affectionately. That's right. Fabian, at the moment when she was moved by that name, Asherad quietly bent down and met Daphne's eyes.
“He can’t do anything for you. Just look at what happened today. He was so helpless.”
“...”
“Daphne, that guy is a bad knight.”
“...”
"So..."
“We don’t get along anyway.”
“...”
“You don’t need to tell me. He left on his own.”
Asherad grabbed Daphne's shoulder at her sad words.
“I’m sorry. Did I upset you?”
Daphne did not answer. Her words were affectionate. But they were cold. Perhaps because of her coldness, Asherad was silent for a moment, then said as if he had no other choice.
“The reason why I can’t get close to you is this.”
“...”
“Because His Majesty the Emperor commanded so.”
It was an overly cold remark, even for someone talking about his own father.
“Yes, he ordered me not to see you.”
There was even a cold sneer in those words.
Daphne, on the other hand, opened her eyes wide. The Emperor told her not to meet him.
Why on earth?
Why would you do something like that?
He took her out of her hard work, called her out, examined her, gave her clothes as a gift, and ordered her not to meet Asherad. After neglecting her for so long, he is now doing something to Daphne.
Daphne had a terrible feeling that her life was about to change completely. It was going to be for the worse...
“Daphne, stay away from that helpless man. Before something worse happens.”
“...”
“I am the only one who cares about you.”
Is it because of the distance between her and Asherad? Is it because of Fabian's criticism?
Daphne shook her head internally. Isn't the Crown Prince also helpless? Under the Emperor's orders, Asherad couldn't even approach Daphne.
Asherad would have noticed by now. That the Emperor, his father, was lusting after her.
“Ah, Asherad!”
Kalista's face brightened as soon as she recognized the owner of the voice. His mere appearance stopped the maids from undressing Daphne.
Daphne looked at Asherad with a blushing face. She doesn't know what he's thinking.
It was a look like he was looking at her, the one who had almost been raped by the Prince of Pindus. Would it have been better if it had been an expression like looking at a bug crawling on the ground? An expression, like looking at the furniture given to him in his room.
He clearly said he cared about her.
He told her to stay by his side.
He said he thought of her like a little sister.
But why does this man always look at her with that expression in these situations? Not with hostility or contempt, but with an indifferent and cold face that looks at something worthless.
“What is happening here, Asherad?”
“I heard a commotion.”
At that moment, Fabian's eyes narrowed, but no one noticed.
“It’s a matter of discipline within the palace. I’m just punishing that incompetent maid. If the maid wears plain clothes and goes around without permission, what will happen to the discipline within the palace?”
Asherad sighed softly at Kalista's words.
“How could I possibly interfere with my mother’s authority?”
He said with a pensive expression.
“But, don’t you know? You don’t have time to waste on a maid.”
“...”
“You have to come with me today.”
It was a smooth voice. Softer than the one he had given to Daphne, and full of affection...
Kalista's eyes widened at Asherad's words. She looked back and forth between Daphne, who was a thorn in her side, and Asherad. And then, the answer came too easily.
Spending time with her aging husband or her handsome adopted son was a choice Kalista had to make. After all, Asherad was the only place she could place her heart in this rotten palace.
“I will discipline her myself. Stay in my room.”
As Asherad spoke in a cold voice, Daphne lowered her head. Kalista frowned at that.
“Asherad, this is for me...”
“Didn’t I tell you something?”
The reason the Emperor kept that woman alive.
The Emperor is clearly interested in Daphne. In any case, the Emperor does not insult Kalista by taking the maid's side in front of her.
If they go any further, he doesn't know what will happen to the Emperor.
Asherad was a good adviser to the somewhat impulsive and emotional Kalista. First of all, he knew how to appease her without going against her wishes.
"Great."
“Then, shall we go?”
When Asherad held out his hand, Kalista shyly took it.
Kalista's maids let go of Daphne and followed her. Daphne watched them.
To her, it did not occur that the relationship between Kalista and Asherad was too close, like that of a stepmother and son.
It was just hard to shake off the feeling of humiliation and shame flowing through her body.
Daphne was on her knees, looking at the ground.
The Emperor's teasing, Kalista's ravages, and Asherad's disdain.
Nothing was pleasant. Daphne's eyes began to lose focus again. Then, Fabian looked at Daphne.
He doesn't know what expression that is. Is it pity for the poor, persecuted person, or disgust at the squalor of Daphne's life that he has actually seen, or fear?
Something seemed to crumble at the sight of him glaring at her, unable to offer even a single word of comfort.
Fabian was always the one who comforted her. She expected him to comfort her again, just like in a sweet dream. Perhaps, she thought that this man was different from the Asherad she liked.
When she was with Fabian, she felt like she had returned to being an ordinary person. However, she realized how powerless the world Fabian had created was in front of those in power.
Daphne closed her slightly open mouth. Otherwise, she would have said something weak to Fabian. She just looked at him with the same unfocused eyes and expressionless face as before she met Fabian.
And then, Fabian turned around without hesitation and walked away. Daphne couldn't bring herself to hold him back. She just kept shedding tears.
The sun was very warm, and the spring air was settling into the garden. Daphne shivered amid the bright flowers and the gentle sunlight.
It was cold.
It felt like they were in the middle of winter again.
***
Daphne stood in the Crown Prince's room in a messy state. The Crown Prince's room was warm as usual. His room was neat and tidy. However, everything in his room was too precious for her to dare touch.
This room was nice. However, Daphne always felt uncomfortable in this room.
The owner of this room was like that, too.
So, Daphne tried hard to be satisfied with the affection of a 'little sister'. But at times like this, Daphne felt awkward towards Asherad.
But that awkwardness was also a luxury. She waited for Asherad in a time that felt like death, and floundered in the familiar swamp of despair.
All Daphne had left was despair. All she could do was feel sorry for herself.
What else can she do but pity?
There was nothing tangible. Asherad's affection for her was nothing special, more like an occasional whim, and Fabian's affection was too easily lost in her reality.
I guess I had just a little bit of expectation...
Daphne stood there, unable to lean on anything, watching the sun set over the Crown Prince's room. As the dusk approached, Asherad came in.
He sat down at the table, passing Daphne, who was standing there, sighing softly.
Swish, he turned the chair towards Daphne. He looked at her standing face and said.
“This is a sight beyond words.”
“...”
It was the first time that Asherad's voice had a hint of mockery. Daphne looked at Asherad with an expressionless face. He extended his thick, white hand.
Jjiik
Daphne's doll-like expression changed in an instant. Asherad tore Daphne's clothes with tremendous force.
“Your Highness!”
“...”
Daphne shouted as she looked at Asherad, but he didn’t even furrow his eyebrows and continued to push. With a thud, the button came off. Daphne looked down at the rolling button.
She, wearing only a chemise and drawers, turned her gaze to him with a blank expression. Asherad was looking at Daphne’s body. His eyes seemed to have darkened. Finally, he raised his green eyes and met Daphne’s eyes.
“Who told you to wear dirty clothes?”
“...”
“Who did you want to show it to?”
Asherad stood behind Daphne. He untied Daphne's tightly tied blonde hair.
As her hair, which had been tightly tied, was released, she felt a strangely languid feeling. Daphne stroked her hair.
“Tell me, Daphne.”
"That..."
Daphne squeezed her eyes shut. Show it to Fabian, it's for her mother. That was right.
“I wanted to show it to Your Highness.”
Asherad said nothing.
“I thought Your Highness had bought it for me.”
Although she was suspicious of the gift she had received unexpectedly, she was secretly happy because she thought that Asherad had bought it for her. She wanted to show him that. Daphne lowered her head in shame. Asherad was looking at Daphne with his characteristic blank expression.
Was it because he realized that her intentions were real? Despite that, he remained frozen without even blinking, but Daphne didn't notice.
Maybe because she had already been embarrassed once, she wasn't embarrassed to say this. It was also the case that he had torn her clothes and stood there in her underwear.
Asherad straightened the hair that flowed down Daphne's back. His breath hit the nape of her neck, which was half exposed. At that moment, when her body suddenly became hot, Asherad spoke.
“You were the most beautiful there today.”
“...”
“I'm serious.”
Daphne closed her eyes tightly at those words and looked back at Asherad. It was as if he were trying to comfort her. For some reason, hearing those words made her feel relieved, and the regret she had forgotten rose up.
A look of interest appeared in Asherad's eyes, as if it was reflected on Daphne's face as well.
“Are you angry?”
“...”
“Are you angry that I left you behind and took that woman’s side?”
“I couldn’t help it.”
Daphne answered mechanically. Asherad chuckled as he watched her. When he looked up at the laughter, he still had an amused expression on his face.
It was clear that Asherad had feelings for Daphne now. However, something was suffocating her. She was so suffocated that she couldn't stand it.
But as always, she suppressed those feelings. She was the daughter of a sinner, and she had to endure it.
Because that's right.
Asherad spoke as he looked at Daphne's face. The touch of his fingers as he stroked her cheek was incredibly sweet.
“But Daphne, you did that too.”
“...”
“You hung out with that knight, Fabian Pond.”
Daphne was puzzled by Asherad saying that name. Was he interested in her like this? Asherad said with an expression of uncertainty.
“Daphne. What did that knight do for you today?”
“...”
“What could he do for you today?”
Asherad patted her head affectionately. That's right. Fabian, at the moment when she was moved by that name, Asherad quietly bent down and met Daphne's eyes.
“He can’t do anything for you. Just look at what happened today. He was so helpless.”
“...”
“Daphne, that guy is a bad knight.”
“...”
"So..."
“We don’t get along anyway.”
“...”
“You don’t need to tell me. He left on his own.”
Asherad grabbed Daphne's shoulder at her sad words.
“I’m sorry. Did I upset you?”
Daphne did not answer. Her words were affectionate. But they were cold. Perhaps because of her coldness, Asherad was silent for a moment, then said as if he had no other choice.
“The reason why I can’t get close to you is this.”
“...”
“Because His Majesty the Emperor commanded so.”
It was an overly cold remark, even for someone talking about his own father.
“Yes, he ordered me not to see you.”
There was even a cold sneer in those words.
Daphne, on the other hand, opened her eyes wide. The Emperor told her not to meet him.
Why on earth?
Why would you do something like that?
He took her out of her hard work, called her out, examined her, gave her clothes as a gift, and ordered her not to meet Asherad. After neglecting her for so long, he is now doing something to Daphne.
Daphne had a terrible feeling that her life was about to change completely. It was going to be for the worse...
“Daphne, stay away from that helpless man. Before something worse happens.”
“...”
“I am the only one who cares about you.”
Is it because of the distance between her and Asherad? Is it because of Fabian's criticism?
Daphne shook her head internally. Isn't the Crown Prince also helpless? Under the Emperor's orders, Asherad couldn't even approach Daphne.
Asherad would have noticed by now. That the Emperor, his father, was lusting after her.
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