48. The Wages of Sin
The door opened shortly after the moon rose. It was so obvious that the main character would open the door without even knocking. It was Asherad. Daphne wasn't particularly surprised.
The blue moonlight cast deep shadows on his face. Daphne looked not at Asherad, but at his long shadow.
Daphne suddenly reached out her hand towards the shadow approaching her. She repeatedly swiped her hand over the shadow that overlapped hers.
Of course, the shadow had no tactile sensation. It was just a curve, as if covering the finger. Daphne looked at the actual shadow that had passed through her hand.
The man's mood seemed bad today.
“Why didn’t you tell me before?”
It was the first thing he said when they met. Daphne was taken aback. Why didn't you tell me before? What did you mean?
"Daphne."
As she stared blankly, a hand was extended. Daphne surrendered herself to that hand.
“I asked you why you didn’t tell me about the woman’s misbehavior.”
“If it’s that woman.”
“I’m talking about the Empress Dowager.”
“...”
Asherad leaned down and caressed Daphne's cheek. His sharp eyes met Daphne's. Daphne stared into his eyes.
It was confusing.
Why is this person pretending not to know?
Wasn't he the one who found out about Daphne's escape route three years ago, caught her, and killed Fabian?
It was truly detestable to pretend not to know something even though you knew it. Well, even if Asherad didn't know, it didn't matter. If he didn't know, even though he was the Emperor, it means he didn't really want to know.
But he's clearly pretending not to know. Is it because he's embarrassed?
“Well, officially, she's your mother.”
Daphne decided to follow Asherad's lead. She looked shy and bit her lips like the shabby maid she used to be.
“And this kind of thing, I’m used to it.”
Her ears tingled for a moment at the added words. Asherad pressed her earlobe with his thumbnail. Asherad raised the corners of his mouth at her expression, asking why.
“You're used to it...”
“...”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
For a moment, a strange light appeared on his face. It seemed like a light of regret, or a light of disgust. At the moment when Daphne raised her head and was about to say something about the mysteriousness, Asherad spoke.
“I will make sure that doesn’t happen to you again.”
“...”
“That woman will never insult you.”
"It's okay."
Daphne said briskly. She spoke with an awkward expression, as if she were extremely embarrassed by this privilege.
“It is only natural that Her Majesty the Empress dislikes me. After all, I am the daughter of a criminal.”
Asherad glared at Daphne with a cold gaze. For some reason, Asherad's expression became even more twisted at her words. She pretended not to know and continued.
“But it’s better than the old mouse-like accommodations. I can eat delicious food, get pretty things, and sleep in a warm place, so I can put up with it.”
Daphne laughed bashfully.
Asherad stared at Daphne intently. His eyes were trying to discern the truth. Asherad would find cracks in Daphne’s face anyway.
No matter how much she tried to control her expression, Asherad was always able to find her weaknesses.
He will dig in like that, break her down again, and embrace her while singing the song through the gap.
“But, Your Majesty, I have a favor to ask.”
“...”
“I, I...”
"What?"
"...that is."
Daphne's lips trembled. She bit them as if she couldn't bear to say anything. Then he put a hand on her shoulder.
“Why, tell me.”
The one who was urging was Asherad. Daphne's eyes widened. Why was this person so impatient?
Wasn't he originally a man who didn't care about her circumstances? Like a man courting her, Asherad looked desperate.
Before Asherad's patience ran out, she tightened her grip and said.
“I want to get rid of all those maids.”
"What?"
Daphne opened her eyes and looked at Asherad.
“Those maids who didn’t stand by me when I was unfairly scolded by Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”
"...Ah."
Asherad made a face as if he had just remembered something. Daphne was afraid of what Asherad might say, so she added something random.
“When Her Highness the Empress Dowager pushed me, they didn’t even hold back.”
No. Daphne quickly realized that this was not 'just a joke'. This was. Some level of sincerity. She wanted to 'punish' them.
It was a lowly instinct, but that's what happened.
“I want to fire them, I want to kick them out.”
Daphne looked up and saw Asherad. The person in charge of appointing maids was the mistress of the palace, Kalista.
To be exact, it was the head maid who was the agent. It was not something a mere lover could do as she pleased.
Daphne looked at Asherad very carefully, trying to figure out how much Asherad had allowed her.
Jewelry, clothes, good food, and walks. More than these, it was what she could do here that mattered.
The reason she hesitated was that she was preparing to convince Asherad if he refused outright. As Daphne saw it, Asherad hated stupid things. For Daphne to ask for something without thinking was 'stupid'.
She knew this wasn't right, but the nuance of making the request was important.
“Oh. Right. Right. I forgot.”
What does that mean? Asherad smiled broadly. His eyes sparkled with joy. It was different from when she had asked him to buy her a dress.
“If you feel bad, you should feel bad. Those damn things.”
Asherad snapped his fingers. At the same time, the door opened, and his attendant, Leon, came in.
“Did you call?”
“Bring the maids who followed Daphne today.”
What is he thinking? Will Asherad personally notify them of their dismissal?
“I can just say it...”
“Stay still.”
Asherad gently stroked Daphne's head. When Daphne nodded, Asherad smiled brightly.
Rather than feeling good about that caressing touch, it gave her goosebumps.
Not far away, the maids came. There were five of them. All of them had swollen cheeks, clearly having been lashed out at by Kalista.
Asherad looked at the maids indifferently and said.
“I have called you today to reprimand you for failing to fulfill your duties.”
Asherad looked at the maids with a stiff expression that he had never shown to Daphne. The sight was extremely unfamiliar.
'Did you tell the Emperor that?'
The maids glared at Daphne and fell to their knees. It was obvious that they thought she had told the tale.
In fact, it was Kalista who made the biggest mistake, but in the end, they were the ones who used the poison, so it was understandable that they felt wronged. Asherad said after seeing that look.
“So, I will show you all an example by executing you.”
In that moment, Daphne's heart sank.
An eerie silence fell. They stared at each other with wide eyes.
“Your Majesty, what do you mean?”
Daphne had never wanted them to be executed. She really had. Daphne grabbed Asherad's arm, but Asherad refused and instead held her hand tightly. It seemed to encourage her.
“Take them and go.”
At Asherad's refreshing words, the imperial knights who had been guarding the outside of the room came in. The sound of their armor clanking sounded like funeral bells.
The faces of the maids who had thought it was real were terrified.
“Hey, save me!”
“Please save me, Your Majesty!”
“Please save me!”
Daphne's face turned pale as she watched the maids screaming. It was just a dismissal. It was absolutely, absolutely not what she had intended.
Asherad looked down at those who were screaming for help with an expressionless face, like they were looking at a worm.
"Your Majesty."
Daphne called him in a hurry. Asherad turned his gaze from the maids to Daphne.
A smile appeared on his face.
"Why?"
Why? Why, don't you know why? Those maids didn't commit a crime worthy of death. They were just rude to Daphne. That was all!
“You decided to fire them!”
“Sorry, Daphne. I never made that promise.”
“...”
“However, I agree with the opinion that they were negligent in serving you.”
His voice was smooth as velvet. Daphne looked at the knelt maids. They all looked desperate. It didn’t matter that they had neglected her, that they had openly cursed her, that they had ridiculed and tormented her before she became the Emperor’s mistress.
“It is not a mortal sin.”
Yes, it was not a mortal sin.
“It’s a mortal sin.”
But it was a mortal sin for Asherad. Asherad looked straight into Daphne's eyes and said.
“They made you angry.”
"...that."
“Why, you didn’t think I didn’t knew that those women were harassing you?”
“...”
“You needed to show them an example. Just kill them.”
The door opened shortly after the moon rose. It was so obvious that the main character would open the door without even knocking. It was Asherad. Daphne wasn't particularly surprised.
The blue moonlight cast deep shadows on his face. Daphne looked not at Asherad, but at his long shadow.
Daphne suddenly reached out her hand towards the shadow approaching her. She repeatedly swiped her hand over the shadow that overlapped hers.
Of course, the shadow had no tactile sensation. It was just a curve, as if covering the finger. Daphne looked at the actual shadow that had passed through her hand.
The man's mood seemed bad today.
“Why didn’t you tell me before?”
It was the first thing he said when they met. Daphne was taken aback. Why didn't you tell me before? What did you mean?
"Daphne."
As she stared blankly, a hand was extended. Daphne surrendered herself to that hand.
“I asked you why you didn’t tell me about the woman’s misbehavior.”
“If it’s that woman.”
“I’m talking about the Empress Dowager.”
“...”
Asherad leaned down and caressed Daphne's cheek. His sharp eyes met Daphne's. Daphne stared into his eyes.
It was confusing.
Why is this person pretending not to know?
Wasn't he the one who found out about Daphne's escape route three years ago, caught her, and killed Fabian?
It was truly detestable to pretend not to know something even though you knew it. Well, even if Asherad didn't know, it didn't matter. If he didn't know, even though he was the Emperor, it means he didn't really want to know.
But he's clearly pretending not to know. Is it because he's embarrassed?
“Well, officially, she's your mother.”
Daphne decided to follow Asherad's lead. She looked shy and bit her lips like the shabby maid she used to be.
“And this kind of thing, I’m used to it.”
Her ears tingled for a moment at the added words. Asherad pressed her earlobe with his thumbnail. Asherad raised the corners of his mouth at her expression, asking why.
“You're used to it...”
“...”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
For a moment, a strange light appeared on his face. It seemed like a light of regret, or a light of disgust. At the moment when Daphne raised her head and was about to say something about the mysteriousness, Asherad spoke.
“I will make sure that doesn’t happen to you again.”
“...”
“That woman will never insult you.”
"It's okay."
Daphne said briskly. She spoke with an awkward expression, as if she were extremely embarrassed by this privilege.
“It is only natural that Her Majesty the Empress dislikes me. After all, I am the daughter of a criminal.”
Asherad glared at Daphne with a cold gaze. For some reason, Asherad's expression became even more twisted at her words. She pretended not to know and continued.
“But it’s better than the old mouse-like accommodations. I can eat delicious food, get pretty things, and sleep in a warm place, so I can put up with it.”
Daphne laughed bashfully.
Asherad stared at Daphne intently. His eyes were trying to discern the truth. Asherad would find cracks in Daphne’s face anyway.
No matter how much she tried to control her expression, Asherad was always able to find her weaknesses.
He will dig in like that, break her down again, and embrace her while singing the song through the gap.
“But, Your Majesty, I have a favor to ask.”
“...”
“I, I...”
"What?"
"...that is."
Daphne's lips trembled. She bit them as if she couldn't bear to say anything. Then he put a hand on her shoulder.
“Why, tell me.”
The one who was urging was Asherad. Daphne's eyes widened. Why was this person so impatient?
Wasn't he originally a man who didn't care about her circumstances? Like a man courting her, Asherad looked desperate.
Before Asherad's patience ran out, she tightened her grip and said.
“I want to get rid of all those maids.”
"What?"
Daphne opened her eyes and looked at Asherad.
“Those maids who didn’t stand by me when I was unfairly scolded by Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”
"...Ah."
Asherad made a face as if he had just remembered something. Daphne was afraid of what Asherad might say, so she added something random.
“When Her Highness the Empress Dowager pushed me, they didn’t even hold back.”
No. Daphne quickly realized that this was not 'just a joke'. This was. Some level of sincerity. She wanted to 'punish' them.
It was a lowly instinct, but that's what happened.
“I want to fire them, I want to kick them out.”
Daphne looked up and saw Asherad. The person in charge of appointing maids was the mistress of the palace, Kalista.
To be exact, it was the head maid who was the agent. It was not something a mere lover could do as she pleased.
Daphne looked at Asherad very carefully, trying to figure out how much Asherad had allowed her.
Jewelry, clothes, good food, and walks. More than these, it was what she could do here that mattered.
The reason she hesitated was that she was preparing to convince Asherad if he refused outright. As Daphne saw it, Asherad hated stupid things. For Daphne to ask for something without thinking was 'stupid'.
She knew this wasn't right, but the nuance of making the request was important.
“Oh. Right. Right. I forgot.”
What does that mean? Asherad smiled broadly. His eyes sparkled with joy. It was different from when she had asked him to buy her a dress.
“If you feel bad, you should feel bad. Those damn things.”
Asherad snapped his fingers. At the same time, the door opened, and his attendant, Leon, came in.
“Did you call?”
“Bring the maids who followed Daphne today.”
What is he thinking? Will Asherad personally notify them of their dismissal?
“I can just say it...”
“Stay still.”
Asherad gently stroked Daphne's head. When Daphne nodded, Asherad smiled brightly.
Rather than feeling good about that caressing touch, it gave her goosebumps.
Not far away, the maids came. There were five of them. All of them had swollen cheeks, clearly having been lashed out at by Kalista.
Asherad looked at the maids indifferently and said.
“I have called you today to reprimand you for failing to fulfill your duties.”
Asherad looked at the maids with a stiff expression that he had never shown to Daphne. The sight was extremely unfamiliar.
'Did you tell the Emperor that?'
The maids glared at Daphne and fell to their knees. It was obvious that they thought she had told the tale.
In fact, it was Kalista who made the biggest mistake, but in the end, they were the ones who used the poison, so it was understandable that they felt wronged. Asherad said after seeing that look.
“So, I will show you all an example by executing you.”
In that moment, Daphne's heart sank.
An eerie silence fell. They stared at each other with wide eyes.
“Your Majesty, what do you mean?”
Daphne had never wanted them to be executed. She really had. Daphne grabbed Asherad's arm, but Asherad refused and instead held her hand tightly. It seemed to encourage her.
“Take them and go.”
At Asherad's refreshing words, the imperial knights who had been guarding the outside of the room came in. The sound of their armor clanking sounded like funeral bells.
The faces of the maids who had thought it was real were terrified.
“Hey, save me!”
“Please save me, Your Majesty!”
“Please save me!”
Daphne's face turned pale as she watched the maids screaming. It was just a dismissal. It was absolutely, absolutely not what she had intended.
Asherad looked down at those who were screaming for help with an expressionless face, like they were looking at a worm.
"Your Majesty."
Daphne called him in a hurry. Asherad turned his gaze from the maids to Daphne.
A smile appeared on his face.
"Why?"
Why? Why, don't you know why? Those maids didn't commit a crime worthy of death. They were just rude to Daphne. That was all!
“You decided to fire them!”
“Sorry, Daphne. I never made that promise.”
“...”
“However, I agree with the opinion that they were negligent in serving you.”
His voice was smooth as velvet. Daphne looked at the knelt maids. They all looked desperate. It didn’t matter that they had neglected her, that they had openly cursed her, that they had ridiculed and tormented her before she became the Emperor’s mistress.
“It is not a mortal sin.”
Yes, it was not a mortal sin.
“It’s a mortal sin.”
But it was a mortal sin for Asherad. Asherad looked straight into Daphne's eyes and said.
“They made you angry.”
"...that."
“Why, you didn’t think I didn’t knew that those women were harassing you?”
“...”
“You needed to show them an example. Just kill them.”
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