25. In the words of the escapee
Daphne tried to get up without realizing it. As soon as she kicked the ground to escape, her hand was grabbed. She tried to pull her hand away, but the force of the grip on her wrist made her scream.
She gritted her teeth and was dragged right in front of Asherad. It seemed like it had been a long time since she had seen that person. But she still couldn't bring herself to look at his face.
Daphne barely raised her head to look up. Asherad's face, bathed in the dawn light, was glowing white. Could this be the vampire of legend, who sucks human blood? He lifted his lips, which were so red that it was almost as if he was about to suck blood.
Daphne sighed without realizing it.
“Hey, how is it here...”
“Does that matter?”
It was a soft but cool voice. It was the first time she realized that such a voice could be so scary. She felt dizzy.
Has his face ever looked this scary?
“Let go.”
“...”
“Your Highness, let go.”
Please help me.
Please save me.
Please love me.
Daphne had never asked Asherad for anything like that. This was the first time Daphne had asked Asherad for something.
I'm leaving. Leave me alone.
Her first request meant a break in the relationship. Daphne was desperate, even though she knew it was useless. Asherad twisted the corners of his mouth.
Asherad looked up at the sky and let out a small laugh. To Daphne, it felt like a mockery, but it was only a small laugh.
"No."
The man, his eyes shining as he looked at Daphne, spoke affectionately.
“I don’t like it, what should I do?”
Daphne's hair stood on end. Asherad whispered softly to her frightened expression.
“Follow me, Daphne.”
“...”
“If you want the man you love to be safe.”
Daphne's lips trembled at the whispering voice. Fabian. That face lingered in her mind. The escape plan had failed.
That means there was a leak somewhere. If he came this early and waited, the plan was leaked quite a while ago.
Then what must have happened to Fabian? Daphne clung to Asherad, who was staring at her intently, trembling.
"Please."
“...”
“Please, just spare Fabian.”
In that moment, she felt a force pulling her arm roughly. His face was neat and tidy without a single flaw, but the hand that was pulling her was extremely menacing.
His hand, which held her wrist, was bulging with veins. It felt like her wrist was going to break, but Daphne didn't resist.
The place she was taken to was familiar.
Right in the Crown Prince's room.
In that dark room where she had always felt safe, she became a bird in a cage again. As soon as she entered, Daphne looked around.
Could Fabian be here? Where is he?
“Your Highness, Fabian... Where is Fabian?”
Did he put him in prison? What should I do about this?
“...”
“Because you deceived me.”
So for the first time, she stood up to the one who had been her world. The only ray of light during that hellish time, Asherad. She thought she might die. But somehow, she didn't think Asherad would kill her.
There were too many opportunities to kill. This man would not want to give the being that insulted him a chance to die in peace.
Because of that, Daphne was able to say what she wanted to say. Daphne said with a distorted expression on Asherad's face.
“You knew who I was from the beginning.”
“...”
“I hated you.”
“...”
“You hated me and despised me. That’s why you played with me. Me... Me...”
“...”
“You didn’t really like me.”
Tears flowed from Daphne's eyes. That was it. It didn't matter the Emperor's dirty hands or how Asherad had isolated her from behind.
Just that affection.
What was important was that the affection that was shown, like rain in a drought, was fake and meant to mock her.
“That’s why I’m running away.”
“...”
“Because I want to get out of here. Because I’m sick of your father. Because I don’t want to see your face anymore.”
Asherad was worse than the others who had distanced and tormented her. He had isolated her, made her dependent on him, and treated her like a dog.
She remembered the dog training book she had read to him before.
He said that the most effective way to make a rude dog look at you is to be with his owner in a place filled with only unfriendly beings.
Daphne did.
In this strange place where everyone was hostile to her, she stopped looking at Asherad's kindness.
He trained her like a dog, telling her not to leave him, to stay by his side. Even though he knew that Daphne liked him, and that she was clinging to him.
Asherad was quietly looking down at Daphne. He lowered his head slightly, and the shadows made it difficult to see his face properly. However, his bright eyes looked as if they were wounded.
Or maybe he wanted it that way. His expression was not visible. As Daphne was wondering if he was really hurt by the corners of his mouth that were down, a loud noise like a bang was heard.
“Ha, hahaha!”
Asherad let out a loud laugh for the first time in his life. The loud laugh sent goosebumps down Daphne's spine. He held his stomach and laughed.
He smiled brightly as if he was watching a comedy, and looked at Daphne.
"Daphne."
“...”
“Isn’t that too shameless? You want me to like you.”
“..."
As if a mask had been removed, Asherad was smiling crookedly. As Daphne slightly parted her lips, his thumb brushed over her soft lips.
“Do you dare to hope that I like you?”
“...”
“You must have known what your mother did. You must have thought that your existence almost threw me into the abyss.”
"That...!"
She really didn't know.
Her own existence threatened Asherad. In her memory, her mother was anxious and desperate to return to the palace, and it seemed that she was trying to force Daphne into the palace.
If it weren't for Fabian, she really wouldn't have known.
Daphne stared at him blankly. That's right. It was shameless to have hoped for even a shred of affection from Asherad. It was funny how she had been so disappointed.
“So, you’re saying you’re leaving?”
However, there was no reason to drag it out just because they had a bad relationship with each other.
Daphne wanted to get rid of her feelings for Asherad, to get away from everything, and start over. She had been bullied enough.
So she hoped he would have mercy and let her go. Daphne said with empty eyes, looking at the distorted face of the one who was touching her lips.
“I was wrong. It was wrong to be born to such a mother, and it was wrong to try to usurp Your Highness’s position.”
“...”
“So, let’s finish this. Please.”
Daphne was tired. She just knew that it was wrong for her to want something. The moment Asherad pointed out that she didn't deserve even the bitter feeling of betrayal, she just wanted to die.
Asherad said, lifting up Daphne's pale face.
“Who can end it as they please?”
“...”
“You can’t end it. Absolutely not.”
As he looked at Daphne's tearful face, Asherad lowered his head even further. He turned his head as if he was going to kiss her again, but now his body and face were closer together.
Asherad whispered into her ear, which was exposed when she turned her head.
“I mean, Daphne.”
“...”
“I like that shameless side of you.”
“...”
“I love you.”
At the most terrible timing in the world, Asherad confessed his feelings. To Daphne, it was just another mockery.
This is how he will return the shameless love she wished for and toy with her.
“So, accept me.”
Asherad buried his face in her neck.
Tears fell from Daphne's face. Her face was twisted into tears, as she hated this confession so much, yet was foolish enough to be fooled by its sweetness.
Asherad gently pulled Daphne towards him. Daphne realized there was a bed behind her.
Daphne tried to get up without realizing it. As soon as she kicked the ground to escape, her hand was grabbed. She tried to pull her hand away, but the force of the grip on her wrist made her scream.
She gritted her teeth and was dragged right in front of Asherad. It seemed like it had been a long time since she had seen that person. But she still couldn't bring herself to look at his face.
Daphne barely raised her head to look up. Asherad's face, bathed in the dawn light, was glowing white. Could this be the vampire of legend, who sucks human blood? He lifted his lips, which were so red that it was almost as if he was about to suck blood.
Daphne sighed without realizing it.
“Hey, how is it here...”
“Does that matter?”
It was a soft but cool voice. It was the first time she realized that such a voice could be so scary. She felt dizzy.
Has his face ever looked this scary?
“Let go.”
“...”
“Your Highness, let go.”
Please help me.
Please save me.
Please love me.
Daphne had never asked Asherad for anything like that. This was the first time Daphne had asked Asherad for something.
I'm leaving. Leave me alone.
Her first request meant a break in the relationship. Daphne was desperate, even though she knew it was useless. Asherad twisted the corners of his mouth.
Asherad looked up at the sky and let out a small laugh. To Daphne, it felt like a mockery, but it was only a small laugh.
"No."
The man, his eyes shining as he looked at Daphne, spoke affectionately.
“I don’t like it, what should I do?”
Daphne's hair stood on end. Asherad whispered softly to her frightened expression.
“Follow me, Daphne.”
“...”
“If you want the man you love to be safe.”
Daphne's lips trembled at the whispering voice. Fabian. That face lingered in her mind. The escape plan had failed.
That means there was a leak somewhere. If he came this early and waited, the plan was leaked quite a while ago.
Then what must have happened to Fabian? Daphne clung to Asherad, who was staring at her intently, trembling.
"Please."
“...”
“Please, just spare Fabian.”
In that moment, she felt a force pulling her arm roughly. His face was neat and tidy without a single flaw, but the hand that was pulling her was extremely menacing.
His hand, which held her wrist, was bulging with veins. It felt like her wrist was going to break, but Daphne didn't resist.
The place she was taken to was familiar.
Right in the Crown Prince's room.
In that dark room where she had always felt safe, she became a bird in a cage again. As soon as she entered, Daphne looked around.
Could Fabian be here? Where is he?
“Your Highness, Fabian... Where is Fabian?”
Did he put him in prison? What should I do about this?
Asherad looked down at Daphne with an expressionless expression that was hard to read.
She became frustrated.
“Your Highness, Fabian... yup!”
Asherad grabbed Daphne's hair at the back of her head and suddenly kissed her roughly on the lips. Daphne's eyes opened wide.
As soon as the dry and chewy thing touched her mouth, her mouth opened reflexively. Asherad didn't miss it.
Something moist brushed her lips. Daphne couldn't even close her teeth for fear of biting his tongue. She just quietly accepted his kiss, like a herbivore that had given everything to a wild beast.
The wet sensation of his tongue tickled the roof of her mouth. Even though she was her, she knew that this was what men and women did when they had sex. Asherad kissed her.
Asherad, to her...
Every time their lips touched and parted, she could barely breathe. She tried to force herself to push him away, as the strength in her body was fading away. When she raised her wrist to push him away, it was grabbed and slammed against the wall.
“That... hmph!”
Daphne yelled at him to stop, but he seemed determined to cover her mouth, so the kiss only got more intense.
The more she struggled, the stronger the force holding her body. Their saliva coated their lips and chins. Their hot breaths met each other, filling them with heat.
“Hmm, hmph!”
Tears welled up in Daphne’s eyes. After the torturous kiss, Daphne was finally able to face Asherad. Her hair had long since been untied, and her wrists, which had been resisting, had been grabbed.
“Fabi...”
“Why did you try to run away?”
It was a clean voice, without the afterglow of a passionate kiss. Unlike Daphne, who was panting, he looked at her with a gloomy and neat face. His green eyes, filled with small lights, were splendid.
“I promise I won’t run away again.”
He continued speaking in a low whisper.
"Say it."
The hair on the back of her head was thrown back. Tears were streaming down Daphne’s face. Was he demanding an answer, or was he angry?
“You have to see me.”
His thumb brushed the wrist he was holding. Daphne really wondered if she was going to be eaten by this man.
“You said you would stay by my side.”
“...”
“You said you wouldn’t leave me. You said you’d stay by my side.”
Is that why? Is that the only reason he got angry? Daphne looked at Asherad's face. She still didn't know what he was thinking.
However, it was shocking to see someone who didn't know the reason. Daphne opened her trembling lips.
“That’s it...”
She became frustrated.
“Your Highness, Fabian... yup!”
Asherad grabbed Daphne's hair at the back of her head and suddenly kissed her roughly on the lips. Daphne's eyes opened wide.
As soon as the dry and chewy thing touched her mouth, her mouth opened reflexively. Asherad didn't miss it.
Something moist brushed her lips. Daphne couldn't even close her teeth for fear of biting his tongue. She just quietly accepted his kiss, like a herbivore that had given everything to a wild beast.
The wet sensation of his tongue tickled the roof of her mouth. Even though she was her, she knew that this was what men and women did when they had sex. Asherad kissed her.
Asherad, to her...
Every time their lips touched and parted, she could barely breathe. She tried to force herself to push him away, as the strength in her body was fading away. When she raised her wrist to push him away, it was grabbed and slammed against the wall.
“That... hmph!”
Daphne yelled at him to stop, but he seemed determined to cover her mouth, so the kiss only got more intense.
The more she struggled, the stronger the force holding her body. Their saliva coated their lips and chins. Their hot breaths met each other, filling them with heat.
“Hmm, hmph!”
Tears welled up in Daphne’s eyes. After the torturous kiss, Daphne was finally able to face Asherad. Her hair had long since been untied, and her wrists, which had been resisting, had been grabbed.
“Fabi...”
“Why did you try to run away?”
It was a clean voice, without the afterglow of a passionate kiss. Unlike Daphne, who was panting, he looked at her with a gloomy and neat face. His green eyes, filled with small lights, were splendid.
“I promise I won’t run away again.”
He continued speaking in a low whisper.
"Say it."
The hair on the back of her head was thrown back. Tears were streaming down Daphne’s face. Was he demanding an answer, or was he angry?
“You have to see me.”
His thumb brushed the wrist he was holding. Daphne really wondered if she was going to be eaten by this man.
“You said you would stay by my side.”
“...”
“You said you wouldn’t leave me. You said you’d stay by my side.”
Is that why? Is that the only reason he got angry? Daphne looked at Asherad's face. She still didn't know what he was thinking.
However, it was shocking to see someone who didn't know the reason. Daphne opened her trembling lips.
“That’s it...”
“...”
“Because you deceived me.”
So for the first time, she stood up to the one who had been her world. The only ray of light during that hellish time, Asherad. She thought she might die. But somehow, she didn't think Asherad would kill her.
There were too many opportunities to kill. This man would not want to give the being that insulted him a chance to die in peace.
Because of that, Daphne was able to say what she wanted to say. Daphne said with a distorted expression on Asherad's face.
“You knew who I was from the beginning.”
“...”
“I hated you.”
“...”
“You hated me and despised me. That’s why you played with me. Me... Me...”
“...”
“You didn’t really like me.”
Tears flowed from Daphne's eyes. That was it. It didn't matter the Emperor's dirty hands or how Asherad had isolated her from behind.
Just that affection.
What was important was that the affection that was shown, like rain in a drought, was fake and meant to mock her.
“That’s why I’m running away.”
“...”
“Because I want to get out of here. Because I’m sick of your father. Because I don’t want to see your face anymore.”
Asherad was worse than the others who had distanced and tormented her. He had isolated her, made her dependent on him, and treated her like a dog.
She remembered the dog training book she had read to him before.
He said that the most effective way to make a rude dog look at you is to be with his owner in a place filled with only unfriendly beings.
Daphne did.
In this strange place where everyone was hostile to her, she stopped looking at Asherad's kindness.
He trained her like a dog, telling her not to leave him, to stay by his side. Even though he knew that Daphne liked him, and that she was clinging to him.
Asherad was quietly looking down at Daphne. He lowered his head slightly, and the shadows made it difficult to see his face properly. However, his bright eyes looked as if they were wounded.
Or maybe he wanted it that way. His expression was not visible. As Daphne was wondering if he was really hurt by the corners of his mouth that were down, a loud noise like a bang was heard.
“Ha, hahaha!”
Asherad let out a loud laugh for the first time in his life. The loud laugh sent goosebumps down Daphne's spine. He held his stomach and laughed.
He smiled brightly as if he was watching a comedy, and looked at Daphne.
"Daphne."
“...”
“Isn’t that too shameless? You want me to like you.”
“..."
As if a mask had been removed, Asherad was smiling crookedly. As Daphne slightly parted her lips, his thumb brushed over her soft lips.
“Do you dare to hope that I like you?”
“...”
“You must have known what your mother did. You must have thought that your existence almost threw me into the abyss.”
"That...!"
She really didn't know.
Her own existence threatened Asherad. In her memory, her mother was anxious and desperate to return to the palace, and it seemed that she was trying to force Daphne into the palace.
If it weren't for Fabian, she really wouldn't have known.
Daphne stared at him blankly. That's right. It was shameless to have hoped for even a shred of affection from Asherad. It was funny how she had been so disappointed.
“So, you’re saying you’re leaving?”
However, there was no reason to drag it out just because they had a bad relationship with each other.
Daphne wanted to get rid of her feelings for Asherad, to get away from everything, and start over. She had been bullied enough.
So she hoped he would have mercy and let her go. Daphne said with empty eyes, looking at the distorted face of the one who was touching her lips.
“I was wrong. It was wrong to be born to such a mother, and it was wrong to try to usurp Your Highness’s position.”
“...”
“So, let’s finish this. Please.”
Daphne was tired. She just knew that it was wrong for her to want something. The moment Asherad pointed out that she didn't deserve even the bitter feeling of betrayal, she just wanted to die.
Asherad said, lifting up Daphne's pale face.
“Who can end it as they please?”
“...”
“You can’t end it. Absolutely not.”
As he looked at Daphne's tearful face, Asherad lowered his head even further. He turned his head as if he was going to kiss her again, but now his body and face were closer together.
Asherad whispered into her ear, which was exposed when she turned her head.
“I mean, Daphne.”
“...”
“I like that shameless side of you.”
“...”
“I love you.”
At the most terrible timing in the world, Asherad confessed his feelings. To Daphne, it was just another mockery.
This is how he will return the shameless love she wished for and toy with her.
“So, accept me.”
Asherad buried his face in her neck.
Tears fell from Daphne's face. Her face was twisted into tears, as she hated this confession so much, yet was foolish enough to be fooled by its sweetness.
Asherad gently pulled Daphne towards him. Daphne realized there was a bed behind her.
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