Run Away From Me - Chapter 39

39. I wanted something like this

Looking at the beautiful naked woman, Asherad whispered.

“Now, hurry, Daphne. Say ‘brother.’”

"...No!"

Yeah, yeah, that's what I wanted.

Asherad's hands swept over Daphne's body. Prying her round thighs apart, he entered her in one go.

A breath burst from Daphne's mouth. Asherad could make Daphne feel it again and again.

Daphne twisted her waist several times, her red lips parting at Asherad's movements. After all actions were over, Asherad kissed Daphne on the forehead.

“You shouldn’t have dead eyes.”

“...”

“Daphne, I like you alive. I love you.”

Daphne weakly turned her gaze to Asherad. Her gaze was directed to the distant sky. Looking at this man, Daphne remembered what she had wanted.

She didn't want any revenge on this man.

Just. A little, just a little.

If she can be treated as a human being. If she can be loved as a human being.

That's all she was hoping for.

Daphne squeezed her eyes shut.

***

“Well, that woman, she was here?”

“I heard that His Majesty cherishes her so much.”

The new maids also liked to chatter. Well, it might have been natural for those who had to be as silent as furniture in front of those above them to open their mouths behind their backs.

Amanda pouted as she listened to the chatter.

Two seasons have already passed since Daphne ran away and was captured by the new Emperor and became his 'lover'.

Sarah became her maid, leaving Amanda alone here.

“I heard that the people working here harassed that woman so much. It seems like they’ve all been working here for a long time.”

“That’s right, I went to look for the cleaning supplies last time, and there was a room there. When I asked around, I found out that the maid lived there. It smelled like rat droppings and mold, and it was so bad...”

“Oh my god... Then that person, that lover, doesn’t even seek revenge? From what I see, they’re all people who have been working here for a long time.”

“That’s right. If it were me, the moment I gained His Majesty’s favor, I would have turned everything upside down.”

The whispering new maids were so excited that they couldn't even be careful with their words.

“You just kept making me do strange things and harassing me.”

“Poor thing.”

Amanda gritted her teeth and shouted.

“Can’t you guys watch your mouth?!”

Oh my, the maids who had been chattering froze in surprise. Amanda put her hand on her waist.

“If you don’t know anything, then shut your mouth! I’m telling you to wash a rag properly!”

At Amanda's shouts, they hurriedly left with buckets and wet rags. Amanda was still furious and groaned.

“I feel sick.”

“...”

“What do they know?”

Amanda gritted her teeth. She picked up the fallen rag and sighed.

"It's annoying."

Amanda grumbled. She was in a bad mood. It was the kind of day when she felt like spitting on the floor she had just cleaned.

***

The silence in the State Council chamber grew louder. That was only natural. The most important item in the great trade run by the imperial family, the Holy Fire, had been plundered.

In particular, there was a painting of the artist Arete's work, 'The Time of Creation', a sacred painting of the brave goddess of war swinging a spear and splitting the earth.

It was a famous myth that when the wicked humans committed the sin of not respecting God, the strict God could not tolerate it and, as punishment, split the earth and separated humans from each other.

Arete is portrayed the moment realistically and dynamic manner. The figure of a slender goddess wielding a spear.

But wrapped in a blood-stained red cloth, her cold face was the very image of a warlord filled with anger and murder.

But even that gruesome appearance was sacred and awe-inspiring.

A painting that appropriately combines righteous anger and holiness. This was Arete's masterpiece among his masterpieces.

That holy painting was stolen while on a ship in trade with the Kingdom of Marquis. That alone was a big deal.

The Marquis, who were famous for their love of paintings, would be upset if they found out about this. They would never give up their specialty, porcelain.

Is that all? If this had happened shortly after the new Emperor ascended the throne, it would certainly have seemed ridiculous. The face of the foreign minister in charge of trade had turned blue and white. The time for execution was approaching.

“It looks like there was some mischief on Marquis’ part.”

Unlike the nobles who couldn't say anything, Asherad was calm. It was as if he were taking it as someone else's business. It seemed easygoing, but some nobles found it unsatisfactory.

It seems that the Emperor has no sense of reason, having taken the daughter of that concubine as his lover.

Falling for a woman's skirt? You might be stupider than I thought. Didn't the former Emperor also try to push him away, even though he was his son?

An Emperor who has only recently ascended the throne was always subject to suspicion and testing.

“How did the Navy miss it?”

“When the merchant ships were attacked, they had already fled for a long time. Also, looking at the sky, I could foresee the wrath of Boreas.”

Boreas meant the god of the wind. And yet, the admiral, Duke Maucel, could not raise his head.

It was shameful that they did not set out for battle because they were afraid of the wind and rain, even though the merchant ships they were supposed to protect were attacked and fled.

“The escape route must be found by any means necessary...”

“No, that’s fine. Since the Marquis Kingdom, a maritime power, is determined to do something about it, it’ll be difficult to leave any traces.”

No matter how strong the national defense of an empire was, it was always looked down upon when a young man ascended the throne. The foolish King of Marquis seemed to have no idea who Asherad was.

“Don’t blame yourself.”

Asherad said with a soft smile.

“It is only natural that the lives of those who pledged loyalty are more important than a single stolen holy relic. I think it was a good decision.”

The Duke of Maucel looked puzzled at the man's good expression. He had thought he would be dismissed, but instead he was praised.

The former Emperor would have cursed the Duke, the naval captain, and the naval commander. He would have told them to find the holy fire right away.

But Asherad seemed relaxed. Rather, it was even more elegant to just laugh it off and move on.

He wondered if he would laugh like that and spout out venomous words again, but there was not a single trace of negativity on Asherad's face.

'As expected, it's true that the Emperor was jealous of his own son!'

The Duke of Maucel had a certain respect for Asherad, who had participated in the war as a knight. However, when even this great mistake was turned into encouragement, his respect grew.

Compared to the mean-spirited Emperor, the Crown Prince was said to be gentle to his subordinates. The same was true on the battlefield. It was natural that he, who went into battle refusing special privileges, was admired by the knights of the country.

“Then let’s do it like this.”

Like the beautiful figure in the painting, he seemed to be struggling for a moment, but soon he just smiled deeply.

“If the end of the path is the King of Marquis, then I too must respond with a prank.”

He turned to the left and called out to the person who had been fidgeting for a while.

“Count Leschi.”

"Yes, yes."

It was Count Leschi. He was the one who had sponsored the excavation of the painter Arete. He was bowing his head as if this place were a bed of thorns.

“No. The artist Arete has already stopped her work.”

Before Asherad could even say a word, Count Leschi shook his head and shouted.

“That’s not what I want.”

Asherad spoke to the Count, who had a puzzled expression.

“My lover has been feeling down lately. I was wondering if she could get some help.”

The nobles were taken aback by those words. Why is he suddenly talking about a lover? Could it be that this Emperor is not able to tell right from wrong?

“What help... do you mean?”

“Your sister’s words.”

“...”

“She likes drawing that much, doesn’t she?”

The Count flinched at those words. As Asherad stared at him, Count Leschi lowered his head.

“Teach her how to draw.”

"All right."

At Count Leschi's words, Asherad smiled broadly and said.

“I will leave the Holy Fire project to Count Leschi. A work that is on par with ‘The Time of the Opening of the World’ will surely return.”

How could a picture be created by taking his sister hostage? People were skeptical. The Duke of Maucel was one of those who were disappointed.

But there was one person who grabbed his pounding heart.

'How... how did you know?'

Count Leschi clutched his pounding heart. The Emperor knew clearly.

'How did you know that my sister was Arete?'

A woman can draw pictures as a hobby. However, it is only still lifes or landscapes, and she dares not draw saints or heroes. However, the moment he showed this because he was too sorry for his younger sister's talent, people said that it was a gift from heaven and made her a genius.

The Count had arranged for a suitable substitute, fearing that his sister might be executed for blasphemy. Everything was meticulous, so how could they have been caught?!

Using the excuse of being a concubine, Asherad was quietly warning her. He was asking her to hand over a picture. Some said the Emperor was a worm, while others said he was a scary person.

This clever young Emperor had already built up a book of information. Count Leschi broke out in a cold sweat.


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