36. I feel like I want to eat something.
As long as you're alive, that's enough.
Sarah stared into the distance with a distant expression. Her expression seemed a little hazy. Before Daphne could say anything, the corners of Sarah’s mouth went up.
“Anyway, His Majesty has called me back to serve you. Isn’t that a blessing?”
“...”
“I can be with you.”
Well, fortunately, Daphne couldn't bring herself to answer. Sarah was a sympathetic friend, and so she helped Daphne.
But was this good for Sarah?
She doesn't know if it's a good thing that she's working under a lower-ranking maid, not even a senior maid like Sarah, who has been with her for a long time.
Daphne looked at Sarah's face, but the kind-hearted Sarah was just friendly.
“It’s so nice to see you again.”
“...”
“I thought you would escape successfully and never see you again.”
How nice it would have been if it had been that way. If only they had gotten away from it all. That wouldn't have been so bad. Sarah was kicked out of the palace, but she could still live, and Daphne could live freely.
Compared to Sarah, who was delighted, Daphne just held onto her bitter heart.
It was certainly good that Sarah was alive. However, she wanted to say goodbye to everyone here as much as possible. But that wish has now been dashed.
As soon as Asherad returned, he naturally looked for Daphne, and became like a dog being dragged by her on a leash.
Daphne, who had been following Sarah, finally arrived at a place called a restaurant. If there was a sacred place that the dirty Daphne had never entered, it was the restaurant.
The restaurant was as grand as Daphne had imagined. Large tables, bright red chairs, sparkling chandeliers, and flowers on the tables.
Asherad was sitting at the very end. He smiled when he saw Daphne.
Usually, the high-ranking person is the last to attend. However, the Emperor, who held the empire in his hands, had his 'lover', a former maid, arrive first and wait for her.
He was truly a man full of love.
“The red dress is as pretty as a rose.”
“...”
“My lover is so cool because she is so innocent and doesn’t even know the law.”
What... is this against the rules? Daphne looked at her clothes. Even considering the etiquette she had learned, she was not sure if this dress was particularly against the rules.
At that moment, Asherad whispered quietly.
“I want to strip you off.”
Daphne's back tensed at those words. Sarah, no, everyone here must have heard this. As her cheeks turned slightly red in shame, Asherad smiled even more deeply.
Only a socially ignorant fool would come to breakfast dressed like this. Asherad secretly despised such people.
It is not known whether Daphne chose this outfit or whether the maids were jealous of her. If the former, it was overly effective; if the latter, it was a waste of effort.
Because Asherad wanted to take off that enchanting red dress right away. He wanted to tear off that thin silk, bite the rippling flesh with his teeth, and roll it with his tongue.
She chose flashiness over elegance, and she did it all too well. The color that suited Daphne the least was black.
Although she looked ordinary in her maid uniform, the bright colors suited her incredibly well.
“Come and sit here.”
At Asherad's gesture, Daphne sat down. She was seated close to Asherad. As soon as she sat down, steaming soup was offered to her.
“Eat.”
Daphne reached for the soup hesitantly. It had been a long time since she had a proper meal.
Daphne felt the servants watching her, obviously to assess her dining etiquette.
Daphne lowered her eyes and laid down her napkin. She quietly tilted her soup bowl outward and tilted her spoon in the same direction.
Asherad picked it up and laughed.
Daphne had not had a proper meal for a while and had not had a chance to show off, but she had been strictly educated by Beatrice. It had been a long time since she had eaten a fancy meal, but her gestures came out as naturally as breathing.
The etiquette of the Peneios nobles, who ate their soup by tilting it outward rather than pulling it inward, was also one of the criteria for judging whether or not the person who invited them to eat knew the etiquette of the nobles.
Without realizing it, Daphne passed the test with great ease.
The cream soup with mushrooms was quite tasty, so Daphne ate it quietly. She was full just from eating the soup. Daphne ate half of it and left the rest. Asherad asked quietly.
“Why don’t you eat more?”
“...I’m full.”
At Daphne's words, Asherad stood up from his seat, grabbed the chair, and moved it next to her.
The servants were flustered. Regardless, Asherad picked up the spoon and brought the soup to Daphne’s mouth.
“Eat.”
Daphne looked at Asherad's expression and opened her mouth to swallow it. She didn't know what he would do if she said no.
Earlier, Asherad's eyes had felt that dangerous. When the soup reached the top of her throat, Daphne could no longer endure it and declared surrender.
“I’m full.”
“...”
“I can’t eat it.”
Asherad tilted his head at the sight.
“You can’t eat this? Daphne. You don’t like eating with me?”
Daphne shook her head. This time, Asherad held out the bread. Daphne took it all and ate it.
It was so much more than what she usually ate. She felt like her stomach was going to burst. Nevertheless, she mechanically accepted the soup that Asherad gave her.
This may have been another form of bullying.
If she refuses, she will be considered one who dared to refuse a meal with the Emperor. Asherad raised the corners of his mouth when he saw Daphne's face darken.
“How can you fill your stomach with this? Daphne, you need to have dessert too.”
He held out a ripe green grape to Daphne. Daphne opened her red lips and took it. The grape was so large that she had to open her mouth wide.
He brushed her lips as if something had suddenly occurred to him.
The refreshing juice of the green grapes made her feel better. He held out the green grapes again.
Daphne hesitated as she looked at it. But when it was brought close to her mouth, she opened her mouth wide and took it.
Eventually, a large piece of flesh spilled out past her lips. Asherad lowered his head and kissed Daphne’s lips. His clean tongue swept across Daphne’s lips. As if it were too sweet, the tongue that licked it began to lick her lips even more vigorously. It was a sudden kiss.
As Daphne squeezed her eyes shut, he got up, placed both hands on her armrests, and kissed her.
Is this what it means to be the Emperor's wife?
How can she do this with such nonchalance, even with the maids right next to her... Does she have to accept this, knowing that it will be a spectacle? And it was obvious how much they would gossip about her.
Daphne's gaze remained fixed on the maids.
Suddenly, Asherad stood up and grabbed the tablecloth, causing the food to fall off the table with its plates. A discordant clang echoed through the restaurant.
What is this all of a sudden? Daphne gulped at Asherad's antics. He looked in the direction Daphne was looking and gave an order.
“Put it away.”
Then the maids slowly began to clean up the broken dishes and food. Daphne unconsciously tried to get up and help them, but Asherad pushed her shoulder and sat her down.
Daphne looked at those in front of her, bending down and clearing the plates.
One of them was the one who would point with his finger and laugh out loud when Daphne passed by. The other one was the one who whispered in Daphne's ear as if telling her to listen.
They were all veterans, and it felt strange to think of them as 'higher-ranking' servants and maids.
Looking at the back of their heads gave her a strange feeling.
“Look here, Daphne.”
As she looked ahead at his sweet and gentle words, Asherad kissed her again. The servants were clearing the plates, and they were kissing.
It seemed to tease them. Even at the end of that passionate kiss, Daphne could hardly concentrate. When the food was all cleared away, Asherad gave an order.
“Everyone get out.”
Then a brave servant stepped forward.
“Your Majesty, if breakfast is not to your liking, shall I serve it again?”
“...”
“You haven’t had breakfast yet.”
“I clearly told you to get out, but do you think I should use such harsh language to get you to understand?”
The servant who saw Asherad's eyes hurriedly made a gesture. They all quickly disappeared, lest sparks fly.
In the end, all that was left in the restaurant was a worn-out tablecloth and Daphne.
After confirming that there was no one, Asherad grabbed Daphne by the waist and lifted her up, laying her down on the table without food. Dark green eyes looked at her. They had cloudy and dark eyes. Daphne knew what those eyes meant.
“Are you relieved now?”
He smiled and patted Daphne on the head. Daphne was taken aback by his touch. Asherad was clearly someone who treated his servants appropriately. Why on earth was he acting like that?
Before she could even come to a conclusion, Asherad spoke again.
“Did you sleep well last night?”
“..”
“In the new room. I wonder what it feels like.”
It was a friendly tone, as if he were talking to a fish while placing it on a cutting board. Daphne bit her lip.
“There was a mirror.”
"Mirror?"
“So I could see the face.”
Then Asherad seemed to be lost in thought for a moment. She couldn't see his face because there was no mirror. It was an area she didn't understand.
For a moment, he thought he saw a bit of her human expression, and then he ran his palm over Daphne's enchanting red dress. His palm, enjoying the smooth texture, felt hot as if he was touching bare skin.
“I want to eat something, but the ones from before are terrible.”
Asherad laughed bitterly.
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