63. Self-harm
Asherad, who had just run in, slowly lowered his gaze from Daphne’s face. Her bandaged hand, her bandaged leg were visible through her slightly lifted skirt.
“Judging from the way you’re standing there, it looks like you’re not seriously injured.”
It was the first time in a long time that she saw Asherad speak. It wasn't a cheerful word.
Asherad turned his back and tried to leave the room. Oh, no. Daphne took a step without realizing it and fell down with a bang. Then Asherad looked back.
It was a silent gaze that did not say a word. He was observing her actions without even holding Daphne's hand affectionately.
The gaze seemed like a test. Daphne suppressed a scream, putting strength into her sore leg. Her sprained ankle hurt more than she could have imagined.
She limped towards Asherad. Asherad was waiting for her slowly. Daphne felt a distant sadness at that.
“Don’t go.”
“...”
“I've been waiting for you.”
At Daphne's words, Asherad turned his body, which had been facing outward, completely inward. He stared at the woman standing before him.
“Aren’t you going to come looking for me anymore?”
Daphne looked at Asherad anxiously, as if he had been her whole world before. He narrowed his eyes.
“You’re never going to see me again?”
Asherad didn't answer that question. He looked at Daphne and raised the corners of his mouth.
“I guess the special treatment I gave you all this time was pretty sweet?”
“...”
Daphne knelt before Asherad with a wounded expression. Her twisted ankle cracked again. Her bruised knee stung as it touched the floor.
“If you tell me to kneel, I will kneel.”
“...”
“If you act like a dog, I will.”
Asherad's gaze fell on Daphne's knees and legs. He also saw Daphne biting her lips as she spoke.
The furrowed brow was clearly a sign of pain. Daphne sighed at Asherad's gaze.
“Yes, I got your point.”
“...”
“While Your Majesty was away, I was afraid I would go back to that room.”
Daphne shed tears. Truth requires some amount of lying. They had too much work to do to just whisper sweet nothings.
“But, Your Majesty.”
“...”
“I was afraid that Your Majesty would never come looking for me again.”
“...”
“Without you, I am completely alone.”
Of course, it was you who made me so isolated. Daphne swallowed the words that were about to burst out and looked at Asherad earnestly.
“I’m scared.”
“...”
“I’m scared that I’ll be alone here forever.”
Daphne's voice was trembling. Tears were falling from her eyes. She didn't have to try to act. She just cried.
Asherad was looking at Daphne's tears. If the statue he always saw changed color, would he make a face like that? He seemed to find it curious, but kept his distance.
A long time has passed, as if eons have passed.
Asherad crouched down and looked at Daphne.
“I think I know your topic, now I’m glad.”
Tears fell from Daphne's eyes. He lifted Daphne's chin.
“But Daphne.”
“...”
“I never asked you to say it in such a stupid way.”
He took Daphne's hand, grabbed her body, and pulled her up, grabbing her waist.
He sat Daphne down on a chair and immediately knelt at her feet. Daphne was surprised by the natural process, without any hesitation.
The Emperor knelt before her. She thought it was so humiliating...But she didn’t care...
Asherad looked again at Daphne's knee, where blood was spreading outside the bandage, then reached out and looked at her ankle.
“Ah, ugh!”
The bandage she had worked so hard to keep in place slipped out of place as he knelt down. He raised his hand and removed the bandage.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty.”
His thumb pressed hard on the sore spot. Daphne grimaced. He watched her suffering without blinking.
“Yes. Just don’t run away.”
He continued to fiddle with her pink ankle. Daphne tried to pull it away, but a large hand grabbed her white foot.
His palm was hot against her slightly cold feet. Daphne thought it tickled. He placed his fingers on the red, swollen bone. He pressed it. Daphne let out a shallow breath.
It was like the panting sound of flesh being mixed. She looked at Asherad in surprise.
His eyes gleamed dangerously through his flowing bangs.
“Run away from me.”
I'm going to break this ankle.
Asherad smiled brightly at Daphne. Daphne also realized what the man touching her ankle was saying.
Tears welled up in Kalista's eyes as she read the letter.
“How could you do this to me...”
How sad, her throat was hoarse. Kalista's eyes were red. Blood flowed from her clenched lips.
The letter contained a message asking for help, saying that the Princess of the Kingdom of Thalassa would become Asherad's bride.
Princess Veronica of the collateral branch of the Kingdom of Thalassa, Duke Arald, who is a collateral royal and is the 'last' daughter of King Thalassa.
It was the birth of the youngest daughter, who followed in the footsteps of Kalista, who was so precious that she would not hurt anyone, even if she set her eyes on her. Kalista screamed in anger.
“Your Majesty must be so blessed! Seeing that damn youngest daughter keep having children!”
She knew the royal family was dirty, but she didn't know it was like this. And Princess Arald! She's...
Kalista screamed in frustration. What if she were to become the Empress? Kalista was the setting sun, and the Empress was the rising sun.
Of course, having lost the support of her husband, she would become an old woman in the back room.
I, who am still very young and beautiful...
Besides, what if that girl gives birth to a Crown Prince? Then Princess Arald will laugh and trample on her.
That had to be stopped!
Kalista stood up, wiping away her tears. Asherad said they were going to have a ball.
Princess Arald, no, it is not likely that the Princess was destined to become the Empress. Kalista stood up to ask Asherad.
Will Asherad grant her request?
Asherad literally ignored Kalista. Her budget was also drastically cut, and her maids were also cut as an example.
As the highest-ranking woman in the Peneus Empire, at some point, she began to pay attention to the palace people.
She must make peace with Asherad.
Before Veronica Arald comes, she must stand firm. Also, she must prevent her from becoming Empress. Kalista's eyes glowed coldly.
Kalista wore the shabby clothes she hated wearing so much. She put on a little makeup over her blushing face, fearing it would be too ugly.
Since she had to be bloodless, she made her lips as pale as possible. She didn't braid her hair like before, but just let it hang down.
She looked in the mirror. A woman crying in sorrow.
Her eyes were red and puffy, perhaps because she was crying, and her eyes were moist and drained of energy.
Even just looking at her pitiful appearance, which seemed as if she might collapse at any moment, was satisfying. After finishing her preparations, Kalista went outside.
“His Majesty is currently enjoying a rest in the garden.”
It was just the right timing. When you take a break, your mind naturally relaxes. She headed to the Emperor's garden.
Fortunately, the knights allowed Kalista to enter. However, they simply gave her a seat while looking at her with a subtle expression.
Kalista's face hardened as she passed a garden of lilies that had been bred to bloom in the fall. It shocked her greatly.
If the Emperor was resting, she thought he would be sitting on the provided bench, reading a book or enjoying the breeze. He looked slightly disheveled, but still had his own elegance.
But Asherad was different from what she expected.
He was just sitting on the ground. Warm sunlight, cool breeze. Asherad was sitting on the grass, his head down, staring intently at something.
Kalista's gaze shifted to the spot. What she had thought was a white sheet was actually a person lying down. The blond hair sparkled in the sunlight.
Asherad stroked her hair with a smile. The autumn sky was clear, the wind was moderately cool, and the sunlight was not harsh.
It was a good time to take a nap, and the arrogant man was smiling and looking at the vulgar woman sleeping on his lap.
It was an unapproachable atmosphere.
It was an atmosphere where you couldn't approach.
Dangerous, yet warm and affectionate. Beneath that perfect picture, Kalista had become a stranger. Does he know what expression he is making? Does he know what face he is looking at?
Abandoning all manner of propriety, law, and dignity, the man was fondling with great care the daughter of a lowly sinner, a vulgar temptress, or a doll she believed to be her substitute.
'He did that to show me. To show that he's angry.'
Kalista tried to console herself by thinking that way, but the world she had built up in her fantasies was now beginning to crumble.
Asherad, who had just run in, slowly lowered his gaze from Daphne’s face. Her bandaged hand, her bandaged leg were visible through her slightly lifted skirt.
“Judging from the way you’re standing there, it looks like you’re not seriously injured.”
It was the first time in a long time that she saw Asherad speak. It wasn't a cheerful word.
Asherad turned his back and tried to leave the room. Oh, no. Daphne took a step without realizing it and fell down with a bang. Then Asherad looked back.
It was a silent gaze that did not say a word. He was observing her actions without even holding Daphne's hand affectionately.
The gaze seemed like a test. Daphne suppressed a scream, putting strength into her sore leg. Her sprained ankle hurt more than she could have imagined.
She limped towards Asherad. Asherad was waiting for her slowly. Daphne felt a distant sadness at that.
“Don’t go.”
“...”
“I've been waiting for you.”
At Daphne's words, Asherad turned his body, which had been facing outward, completely inward. He stared at the woman standing before him.
“Aren’t you going to come looking for me anymore?”
Daphne looked at Asherad anxiously, as if he had been her whole world before. He narrowed his eyes.
“You’re never going to see me again?”
Asherad didn't answer that question. He looked at Daphne and raised the corners of his mouth.
“I guess the special treatment I gave you all this time was pretty sweet?”
“...”
Daphne knelt before Asherad with a wounded expression. Her twisted ankle cracked again. Her bruised knee stung as it touched the floor.
“If you tell me to kneel, I will kneel.”
“...”
“If you act like a dog, I will.”
Asherad's gaze fell on Daphne's knees and legs. He also saw Daphne biting her lips as she spoke.
The furrowed brow was clearly a sign of pain. Daphne sighed at Asherad's gaze.
“Yes, I got your point.”
“...”
“While Your Majesty was away, I was afraid I would go back to that room.”
Daphne shed tears. Truth requires some amount of lying. They had too much work to do to just whisper sweet nothings.
“But, Your Majesty.”
“...”
“I was afraid that Your Majesty would never come looking for me again.”
“...”
“Without you, I am completely alone.”
Of course, it was you who made me so isolated. Daphne swallowed the words that were about to burst out and looked at Asherad earnestly.
“I’m scared.”
“...”
“I’m scared that I’ll be alone here forever.”
Daphne's voice was trembling. Tears were falling from her eyes. She didn't have to try to act. She just cried.
Asherad was looking at Daphne's tears. If the statue he always saw changed color, would he make a face like that? He seemed to find it curious, but kept his distance.
A long time has passed, as if eons have passed.
Asherad crouched down and looked at Daphne.
“I think I know your topic, now I’m glad.”
Tears fell from Daphne's eyes. He lifted Daphne's chin.
“But Daphne.”
“...”
“I never asked you to say it in such a stupid way.”
He took Daphne's hand, grabbed her body, and pulled her up, grabbing her waist.
He sat Daphne down on a chair and immediately knelt at her feet. Daphne was surprised by the natural process, without any hesitation.
The Emperor knelt before her. She thought it was so humiliating...But she didn’t care...
Asherad looked again at Daphne's knee, where blood was spreading outside the bandage, then reached out and looked at her ankle.
“Ah, ugh!”
The bandage she had worked so hard to keep in place slipped out of place as he knelt down. He raised his hand and removed the bandage.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty.”
His thumb pressed hard on the sore spot. Daphne grimaced. He watched her suffering without blinking.
“Yes. Just don’t run away.”
He continued to fiddle with her pink ankle. Daphne tried to pull it away, but a large hand grabbed her white foot.
His palm was hot against her slightly cold feet. Daphne thought it tickled. He placed his fingers on the red, swollen bone. He pressed it. Daphne let out a shallow breath.
It was like the panting sound of flesh being mixed. She looked at Asherad in surprise.
His eyes gleamed dangerously through his flowing bangs.
“Run away from me.”
I'm going to break this ankle.
Asherad smiled brightly at Daphne. Daphne also realized what the man touching her ankle was saying.
***
Tears welled up in Kalista's eyes as she read the letter.
“How could you do this to me...”
How sad, her throat was hoarse. Kalista's eyes were red. Blood flowed from her clenched lips.
The letter contained a message asking for help, saying that the Princess of the Kingdom of Thalassa would become Asherad's bride.
Princess Veronica of the collateral branch of the Kingdom of Thalassa, Duke Arald, who is a collateral royal and is the 'last' daughter of King Thalassa.
It was the birth of the youngest daughter, who followed in the footsteps of Kalista, who was so precious that she would not hurt anyone, even if she set her eyes on her. Kalista screamed in anger.
“Your Majesty must be so blessed! Seeing that damn youngest daughter keep having children!”
She knew the royal family was dirty, but she didn't know it was like this. And Princess Arald! She's...
Kalista screamed in frustration. What if she were to become the Empress? Kalista was the setting sun, and the Empress was the rising sun.
Of course, having lost the support of her husband, she would become an old woman in the back room.
I, who am still very young and beautiful...
Besides, what if that girl gives birth to a Crown Prince? Then Princess Arald will laugh and trample on her.
That had to be stopped!
Kalista stood up, wiping away her tears. Asherad said they were going to have a ball.
Princess Arald, no, it is not likely that the Princess was destined to become the Empress. Kalista stood up to ask Asherad.
Will Asherad grant her request?
Asherad literally ignored Kalista. Her budget was also drastically cut, and her maids were also cut as an example.
As the highest-ranking woman in the Peneus Empire, at some point, she began to pay attention to the palace people.
She must make peace with Asherad.
Before Veronica Arald comes, she must stand firm. Also, she must prevent her from becoming Empress. Kalista's eyes glowed coldly.
Kalista wore the shabby clothes she hated wearing so much. She put on a little makeup over her blushing face, fearing it would be too ugly.
Since she had to be bloodless, she made her lips as pale as possible. She didn't braid her hair like before, but just let it hang down.
She looked in the mirror. A woman crying in sorrow.
Her eyes were red and puffy, perhaps because she was crying, and her eyes were moist and drained of energy.
Even just looking at her pitiful appearance, which seemed as if she might collapse at any moment, was satisfying. After finishing her preparations, Kalista went outside.
“His Majesty is currently enjoying a rest in the garden.”
It was just the right timing. When you take a break, your mind naturally relaxes. She headed to the Emperor's garden.
Fortunately, the knights allowed Kalista to enter. However, they simply gave her a seat while looking at her with a subtle expression.
Kalista's face hardened as she passed a garden of lilies that had been bred to bloom in the fall. It shocked her greatly.
If the Emperor was resting, she thought he would be sitting on the provided bench, reading a book or enjoying the breeze. He looked slightly disheveled, but still had his own elegance.
But Asherad was different from what she expected.
He was just sitting on the ground. Warm sunlight, cool breeze. Asherad was sitting on the grass, his head down, staring intently at something.
Kalista's gaze shifted to the spot. What she had thought was a white sheet was actually a person lying down. The blond hair sparkled in the sunlight.
Asherad stroked her hair with a smile. The autumn sky was clear, the wind was moderately cool, and the sunlight was not harsh.
It was a good time to take a nap, and the arrogant man was smiling and looking at the vulgar woman sleeping on his lap.
It was an unapproachable atmosphere.
It was an atmosphere where you couldn't approach.
Dangerous, yet warm and affectionate. Beneath that perfect picture, Kalista had become a stranger. Does he know what expression he is making? Does he know what face he is looking at?
Abandoning all manner of propriety, law, and dignity, the man was fondling with great care the daughter of a lowly sinner, a vulgar temptress, or a doll she believed to be her substitute.
'He did that to show me. To show that he's angry.'
Kalista tried to console herself by thinking that way, but the world she had built up in her fantasies was now beginning to crumble.
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