49. Smile a little
Set an example. Just kill to set an example. No matter how kind they are to their subordinates, the royal family is still the royal family.
Those who rule, those who reign, those who value the lives of their subordinates more than the lives of flies.
It was Asherad, not Daphne, who decided whether or not the crime was serious enough to warrant dismissal.
It was a chilling moment. The moment she felt that terrifying gap, a maid ran in.
“Please save me! Please save me!”
She desperately grabbed the Emperor's trouser leg. Daphne bit her lip.
This place, which had become a place of execution from a place of dismissal, was terrible. Even though they had ostracized and tormented her, she didn't want them to die. She just wanted them to get into trouble.
Asherad was smiling at Daphne's face, ignoring the presence of the maid who was even grabbing his trouser leg and shaking it.
The maid then changed her target to Daphne.
“I was wrong. I was wrong, Miss!”
“...”
“I have been lacking in many ways in serving you. Please forgive my shortcomings, my lady.”
To young Daphne, this maid was a high-ranking maid, someone she could not even look at. She was willing to throw herself at Daphne's feet and beg for her survival.
“Please have mercy, please have mercy.”
She rested her forehead on Daphne's toes several times.
To the Emperor's prostitute whom she had cursed as dirty, to the sinner's daughter, the cuckoo, Daphne.
“Your Majesty, please forgive me.”
Daphne said, squeezing her eyes shut. She didn't want this kind of submission. She just wanted to see how much she could get through. Was it okay for her to ask for this much?
However, Daphne opened her eyes as a thought flashed through her head.
What's the difference between her and Asherad, except that he's playing with her life?
He, too, was testing her authority with these people. It was fundamentally no different from Asherad, who was setting an example.
“Now you're finally asking for forgiveness in the right place.”
Asherad's voice was warm like salvation. At those words, all the maids gathered around Daphne.
“I was wrong, Miss!”
“I was wrong.”
“I was wrong, I was wrong.”
“I was wrong, I was wrong!”
Everyone rushed to Daphne and begged her with sobbing voices. Daphne looked down at them.
Daphne felt an ominous premonition. She had felt a kinship with them, but for a short time, she too had become one with them, looking down on them. Like Asherad.
“Forgive me... please forgive me.”
Daphne looked at Asherad and pleaded softly.
“Please, just get them fired.”
She denied the thoughts in her head. No. She was not like Asherad. At least she did not play with their lives.
A smile appeared on Asherad's face as he watched Daphne's pleading. It was like a mischievous young boy playing a mean prank on his older friend.
Asherad burst into laughter as he looked into Daphne's eyes.
“Ah, Daphne. That face was really funny.”
“...”
“I was joking, Daphne.”
Asherad spoke with a gentle expression. Daphne opened her eyes wide and soon sighed in relief. But then.
Phew!
Blood splattered across the room. Daphne was so shocked that she couldn't even scream. Everything happened so quickly, like the time it takes for light to reach the room.
As Asherad took the knight's sword, he struck down a maid's neck with one blow.
The pungent smell of blood was everywhere. Those who had been alive until just now were writhing madly, searching for their necks. Warm blood spurted out, spreading the bloody smell and eerie warmth.
“Ahhhhhhh!”
The maids cried out at the sight of that nightmarish sight. Daphne did the same. She looked at Asherad, trying to hold on to her fragile mind.
“Why... Why... When you said you forgive them.”
A feeble sound rang out, as if the air was being sucked out. Asherad spoke with a fresh face, looking at the dead maid’s severed head. He looked at Daphne’s surprise as if he was admiring her, then lowered his head and looked down at the hem of his trousers.
“It was not said that the sin of touching the Emperor’s body without permission would be forgiven.”
As if he had touched feces. He looked at his pants. Daphne gasped. What kind of person is this? Daphne trembled her lips as she looked at the maids who were wailing. Leon, who was quick-witted, spoke to the maids.
“Consider yourself lucky. Everyone, pack your bags and get out now.”
The maids who were sobbing quickly ran away, fearing that Asherad's sword would strike them too. At Leon's direction, the servants removed the maids' bodies. Daphne looked at Asherad with tears streaming down her face.
"How is it?"
Asherad, with a smiling face, Asherad's face was as bright as a child's face about to be praised.
She tried to raise the corners of her mouth, but they wouldn't go up. For a moment, Daphne had the feeling that this man was testing her. She didn't know what he was testing, but it was like that. He was deliberately provoking her and seeing her reaction.
How do I pass Asherad's test here?
Before the answer could be given, Daphne's eyes closed. Her body, which had lost its strength, leaned against Asherad's embrace.
"Daphne?"
“...”
"Daphne!"
That was the right answer. Daphne tried to calm her trembling body and closed her eyes.
When she opened her eyes again, the sun was rising in the sky. Daphne blinked slowly. When did she sleep?
She couldn't remember. Daphne frowned. Then she realized the irritating smell. It was the pungent smell of blood.
Daphne stood up from her seat.
Ah.
Right.
She covered her face with both hands in self-loathing.
“How about lying down a bit longer?”
When she turned her head to the gentle voice, Sarah was next to her. Daphne's eyes filled with tears. When she saw Sarah's face, tears flowed down her face.
“Sarah. What should I do?”
“...”
“It’s so hard, I think I’m going to die.”
She clutched her chest. Sarah held Daphne tightly in her arms. Daphne felt comforted in her embrace.
“I asked to be spared, I asked to be spared!”
Daphne said in screamed. Sarah patted her on the back as if she knew everything.
“It’s okay, it’s okay, Daphne.”
Daphne broke down even more at those calm words.
“Breath, I don’t want to breathe! Existence itself is a sin. I just wish someone would kill me!”
For the first time, she poured out her feelings. She really wanted to die. She couldn't stand it because she wanted to die. Daphne continued to cry.
“Someone, someone, kill me!”
Daphne cried out in pain.
“What should I do with you, really?”
Sarah's voice was wet with tears. Daphne was overcome with self-loathing as she listened to Sarah's soothing words. Daphne's body trembled.
Even as she was held in Sarah's arms, Daphne thought through her tears. I want to get away from this place. I want to get away from Askelad.
I want to run away from him.
***
Something passed over Daphne's head as she slept. Daphne opened her eyes. It was Asherad. He was looking at Daphne with an unreadable expression.
As Daphne opened her eyes, Asherad stopped stroking her hand. Their eyes met. The two of them did not say anything.
There was silence for a long time. What did this beautiful man look down at her for? Asherad's thumb brushed Daphne’s dry lips.
Silent Time. Asherad opened his mouth.
"Are you okay?"
Daphne nodded.
“Yes, it’s okay.”
The emotionless voice returned. The emotionlessness on her face seemed like time had faded. It was a clear contrast to her face when she was a maid who knew nothing.
Even though she was dark at that time, her face always glowed when she looked at him.
But the light was nowhere to be found. As Asherad narrowed his brows, Daphne thought indifferently. Who is that monster trying to kill again?
She was dumbfounded by the thoughts inside her.
Once upon a time, she was unreachable and impatient. Now, all that remained was aversion and hatred for that man. In the past, she wanted him to understand her pain. She wanted him to ask if she was okay.
Daphne, looking at Asherad, realized that now was the time to be honest.
“I told you not to do it.”
“...”
“I told you not to kill me.”
Daphne looked at Asherad with a distorted face. Asherad made a face of incomprehension.
“I thought it would be easier for you to kill her once than to fire her.”
It was an attitude that there was no regret for the life that was lost. Daphne suddenly thought of Fabian. Was he like this when he killed Fabian? Did he kill him like this without any feelings at all?
“I know that woman has been harassing you a lot lately.”
“...”
That's right. The dead woman was one of those who had laughed at Daphne the most. She was the one who had stood right behind her and had not stopped her when Kalista had pushed her, and she had been the one who had snickered and laughed.
Even before Daphne became his official lover, she would laugh out loud when she passed by and mock her as if she wanted her to hear her.
Still, she wasn't bad enough to be killed by Asherad. If we're going to harass her, isn't he the first one?
Asherad lowered his eyes at Daphne's cold gaze and said.
“Yes, I won’t do it.”
“...”
“This will never happen.”
What is this? Daphne was even more surprised. Why would you say something like that? If she knew Asherad, she would have mocked her, saying that she is the same. Why are you so obedient?
“This won’t happen...”
“...”
“Smile a little.”
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