64. Collapse of the Delusion
'No, it's not. He's showing it on purpose.'
Kalista kept repeating to herself, but no answer came. She wished the man would look at her and put her confusion to rest.
As soon as he noticed her presence, she wished that his charming face would become more radiant and his eyes would shine like before.
But this man's face was disgustingly plain and meek.
Kalista felt like she was going crazy in that gap. Her feet sank into the sand and shook. Why? Didn't Asherad like her?
You liked me, right?
It certainly was. Asherad liked Kalista. That's why she was here. Wasn't it?
He avoided people's hands, gave her secret glances, and stayed by her side the whole time. They drank tea and ate together. They even kissed each other.
But why are you looking at that woman, or rather that b*tch, with that expression? You're the one who loves me.
It should be me...?
Isn't it me?
Although she was ridiculed as a fake Princess, she was not always the one who was not chosen. That is to say, if you compare her to someone else, she was always the priority.
She was always loved, always adored, and always praised by people.
It was an insult to even be compared to the most vile and dirty woman she had ever met.
Kalista thought her thoughts, or rather her delusions, were correct. It never occurred to her that it was due to the strange contact and instigation that Asherad had intended.
She, too, was in her own difficult world, and the solid walls of delusion she had built to reject that world were crumbling.
It had already been cracked several times, so it was too easy for it to fall apart. This person didn't love her.
He loved her from the start.
That thing, that woman!
But what do I have left?
Kalista looked at her pitiful state and thought to herself, “I will take my husband, who will be my support, with my own hands…”
Killed with her own hands.
And Asherad is about to usher in a new Empress and push her into the perfect back room. Kalista thought Asherad was her salvation.
It was natural. He had saved her from the tyranny of her husband, Belenus, and from the society that ridiculed her for being unfamiliar with the Empire.
A handsome face, flowing grace, and a strong body. Her man will love her as her ideal partner.
But what if not?
What is left for her?
If Asherad had not guaranteed it, she would have been nothing more than an Empress dowager in name only. If she had given birth to a Prince and that child had become the Crown Prince, things would have been different.
At the time, it was horrible to drive out Asherad and have sex with the old man and make the child she had as Crown Prince, but it would have been the smoothest way for Kalista to live her life.
But Kalista threw that method away with her own hands, falling for Asherad's tricks.
But that doesn't mean she can't be with Asherad. She's never had sex with him, but he's not his father.
In the end, she was a fool who only trusted the heart of the one she loved and threw her own life into the abyss with her own hands.
Kalista's eyes took on a sinister glow as she looked at that happy-looking figure.
'No, it's not. He's showing it on purpose.'
Kalista kept repeating to herself, but no answer came. She wished the man would look at her and put her confusion to rest.
As soon as he noticed her presence, she wished that his charming face would become more radiant and his eyes would shine like before.
But this man's face was disgustingly plain and meek.
Kalista felt like she was going crazy in that gap. Her feet sank into the sand and shook. Why? Didn't Asherad like her?
You liked me, right?
It certainly was. Asherad liked Kalista. That's why she was here. Wasn't it?
He avoided people's hands, gave her secret glances, and stayed by her side the whole time. They drank tea and ate together. They even kissed each other.
But why are you looking at that woman, or rather that b*tch, with that expression? You're the one who loves me.
It should be me...?
Isn't it me?
Although she was ridiculed as a fake Princess, she was not always the one who was not chosen. That is to say, if you compare her to someone else, she was always the priority.
She was always loved, always adored, and always praised by people.
It was an insult to even be compared to the most vile and dirty woman she had ever met.
Kalista thought her thoughts, or rather her delusions, were correct. It never occurred to her that it was due to the strange contact and instigation that Asherad had intended.
She, too, was in her own difficult world, and the solid walls of delusion she had built to reject that world were crumbling.
It had already been cracked several times, so it was too easy for it to fall apart. This person didn't love her.
He loved her from the start.
That thing, that woman!
But what do I have left?
Kalista looked at her pitiful state and thought to herself, “I will take my husband, who will be my support, with my own hands…”
Killed with her own hands.
And Asherad is about to usher in a new Empress and push her into the perfect back room. Kalista thought Asherad was her salvation.
It was natural. He had saved her from the tyranny of her husband, Belenus, and from the society that ridiculed her for being unfamiliar with the Empire.
A handsome face, flowing grace, and a strong body. Her man will love her as her ideal partner.
But what if not?
What is left for her?
If Asherad had not guaranteed it, she would have been nothing more than an Empress dowager in name only. If she had given birth to a Prince and that child had become the Crown Prince, things would have been different.
At the time, it was horrible to drive out Asherad and have sex with the old man and make the child she had as Crown Prince, but it would have been the smoothest way for Kalista to live her life.
But Kalista threw that method away with her own hands, falling for Asherad's tricks.
But that doesn't mean she can't be with Asherad. She's never had sex with him, but he's not his father.
In the end, she was a fool who only trusted the heart of the one she loved and threw her own life into the abyss with her own hands.
Kalista's eyes took on a sinister glow as she looked at that happy-looking figure.
I won't leave you alone. I won't leave you alone.
Kalista gritted her teeth.
Veronica Arald was not objectively beautiful. She was a plain-looking woman, but she was one of those people who, when she put on makeup, became glamorous, a blank sheet of paper, one of those common impressions in high society.
But her two eyes were like snakes. With brown hair and the amber eyes characteristic of Thalassaine. Veronica felt a completely different atmosphere from Kalista.
“Meet the great hero of the Empire. Veronica Arald Estalia.”
“Welcome.”
Asherad looked down at Veronica with an indifferent expression. She was dressed up, but not overdone like Kalista, and was neat and tidy. Moreover, it was clear that she was going to act differently from Kalista.
She also said hello to Daphne, who was watching it.
Asherad was holding Daphne in his arms as if he were deliberately insulting her. Daphne felt like she was going to die instead, wondering why he was insulting the Princess of the Kingdom of Thalassa like this.
“Thank you for your hardships on your way here. I have prepared a room for you, so you can recover from your travel fatigue.”
"All right."
“Oh, it would be nice to see your ‘sister’ too.”
Veronica, who had been bowing her head the whole time to Asherad's words, raised her head and looked straight at Asherad.
“My older sister is the late Princess Sabrina.”
Asherad smiled brightly at the sight. The man's smile on his firm face was something that definitely caught people's attention.
Veronica also opened her eyes wide and looked at the man who would become her husband.
Moderately tanned skin, pitch-black hair that doesn't even seem to allow light to pass through, green eyes that inherited Belenus's eyes, and a strong and sturdy body that no one can defeat.
He was an attractive male whom everyone dreams of.
But Veronica bowed her head. It was said that the devil tempts people with the most beautiful appearance. She was not foolish enough to fall for that temptation.
That was stupid, Kalista's doing.
“Your Majesty, I will step aside.”
She walked out of the audience room with her head bowed and her steps elegantly. People were angry and said that it was a great insult from the first meeting, but Veronica, who had been insulted, had an indifferent expression.
“That’s not true, I’m not the Empress.”
“Why, why... Your Majesty, why did you do that?”
When he called her into the audience room, Daphne couldn't believe it.
Asherad looked at Daphne in his arms. Ever since Veronica came in, her body had been as hard as stone. The tension was transmitted to Asherad.
He sits on the throne, and Daphne sits on top of him.
Anyone who saw it would see that it was an Emperor who was obsessed with women and his wicked concubine.
However, the concubine did not smile at the Emperor as she tried to seduce him, but instead looked around anxiously.
"Why?"
“...”
“I’m declaring this to everyone. You’re my lover, so don’t touch me.”
He stroked Daphne's hair as if he thought she was cute. Daphne looked at Asherad as he said that.
Asherad introduced herself to his prospective wife in this way:
Why do I feel so suffocated?
Why? She didn't feel any satisfaction in revealing herself to Veronica. She wished she could just disappear into the ground.
Asherad took Daphne off his lap and stood up. Then he picked Daphne up in his arms. She had a limp when she walked because of her injured ankle.
"Why?"
“I feel suffocated.”
As she moved in Asherad's arms, Daphne sometimes felt distant from Asherad.
When Daphne was caught trying to run away, he held her every day. He lusted after her and held her like an animal.
But now things were a little different.
He spent his time with Daphne rather normally. He didn't do anything like 'sleeping', which is the typical behavior of a 'coquette' as Count Locania puts it.
Do you love me?
Daphne thought as she was held in his warm arms.
Daphne clearly remembered Asherad running towards her when she hurt her ankle. Looking at his disheveled appearance, she thought, 'Maybe...' But she doesn't know. Why didn't he mix flesh?
Finally, Asherad arrived at Daphne's room.
“Do you want to take a nap?”
Daphne shook her head. Then he sat her down on a chair. There were some delicious green grapes on the table, probably prepared by the maids.
When Asherad reached out and put it in Daphne's mouth, Daphne ate it. The question of why was already out of the question.
Asherad did this to Daphne sometimes. Isn't this action important right now? When Daphne offered Asherad a grape, he chewed it and swallowed it. A faint smile appeared in his eyes.
He held out the grapes again with his long hand.
Daphne looked at it and said.
“Will you make that woman your Empress?”
He smiled, still holding out his hand.
"Why?"
Only then did his eyes sparkle. Only then did Daphne realize what Asherad had hoped for and why he had created this situation.
She looked at Asherad earnestly, her expression clouded as if she was about to cry.
She 'demanded' Askrad.
“I... don’t like it.”
Daphne put the offered grape in her mouth, but the grape did not enter her mouth.
Licking.
She stuck out her red tongue and licked Askelad's long fingers.
Asherad's gaze turned to Daphne. The blue-eyed woman looked at him with tears in her eyes and her lips slightly parted.
Disheveled hair. A face that looks only at itself. That anxious expression.
Bam-.
He heard the grapes he had picked up roll across the floor.
***
Veronica Arald was not objectively beautiful. She was a plain-looking woman, but she was one of those people who, when she put on makeup, became glamorous, a blank sheet of paper, one of those common impressions in high society.
But her two eyes were like snakes. With brown hair and the amber eyes characteristic of Thalassaine. Veronica felt a completely different atmosphere from Kalista.
“Meet the great hero of the Empire. Veronica Arald Estalia.”
“Welcome.”
Asherad looked down at Veronica with an indifferent expression. She was dressed up, but not overdone like Kalista, and was neat and tidy. Moreover, it was clear that she was going to act differently from Kalista.
She also said hello to Daphne, who was watching it.
Asherad was holding Daphne in his arms as if he were deliberately insulting her. Daphne felt like she was going to die instead, wondering why he was insulting the Princess of the Kingdom of Thalassa like this.
“Thank you for your hardships on your way here. I have prepared a room for you, so you can recover from your travel fatigue.”
"All right."
“Oh, it would be nice to see your ‘sister’ too.”
Veronica, who had been bowing her head the whole time to Asherad's words, raised her head and looked straight at Asherad.
“My older sister is the late Princess Sabrina.”
Asherad smiled brightly at the sight. The man's smile on his firm face was something that definitely caught people's attention.
Veronica also opened her eyes wide and looked at the man who would become her husband.
Moderately tanned skin, pitch-black hair that doesn't even seem to allow light to pass through, green eyes that inherited Belenus's eyes, and a strong and sturdy body that no one can defeat.
He was an attractive male whom everyone dreams of.
But Veronica bowed her head. It was said that the devil tempts people with the most beautiful appearance. She was not foolish enough to fall for that temptation.
That was stupid, Kalista's doing.
“Your Majesty, I will step aside.”
She walked out of the audience room with her head bowed and her steps elegantly. People were angry and said that it was a great insult from the first meeting, but Veronica, who had been insulted, had an indifferent expression.
“That’s not true, I’m not the Empress.”
After hurling those words at her fevered critics, Veronica walked down the hall without looking back.
***
“Why, why... Your Majesty, why did you do that?”
When he called her into the audience room, Daphne couldn't believe it.
Asherad looked at Daphne in his arms. Ever since Veronica came in, her body had been as hard as stone. The tension was transmitted to Asherad.
He sits on the throne, and Daphne sits on top of him.
Anyone who saw it would see that it was an Emperor who was obsessed with women and his wicked concubine.
However, the concubine did not smile at the Emperor as she tried to seduce him, but instead looked around anxiously.
"Why?"
“...”
“I’m declaring this to everyone. You’re my lover, so don’t touch me.”
He stroked Daphne's hair as if he thought she was cute. Daphne looked at Asherad as he said that.
Asherad introduced herself to his prospective wife in this way:
Why do I feel so suffocated?
Why? She didn't feel any satisfaction in revealing herself to Veronica. She wished she could just disappear into the ground.
Asherad took Daphne off his lap and stood up. Then he picked Daphne up in his arms. She had a limp when she walked because of her injured ankle.
"Why?"
“I feel suffocated.”
As she moved in Asherad's arms, Daphne sometimes felt distant from Asherad.
When Daphne was caught trying to run away, he held her every day. He lusted after her and held her like an animal.
But now things were a little different.
He spent his time with Daphne rather normally. He didn't do anything like 'sleeping', which is the typical behavior of a 'coquette' as Count Locania puts it.
Do you love me?
Daphne thought as she was held in his warm arms.
Daphne clearly remembered Asherad running towards her when she hurt her ankle. Looking at his disheveled appearance, she thought, 'Maybe...' But she doesn't know. Why didn't he mix flesh?
Finally, Asherad arrived at Daphne's room.
“Do you want to take a nap?”
Daphne shook her head. Then he sat her down on a chair. There were some delicious green grapes on the table, probably prepared by the maids.
When Asherad reached out and put it in Daphne's mouth, Daphne ate it. The question of why was already out of the question.
Asherad did this to Daphne sometimes. Isn't this action important right now? When Daphne offered Asherad a grape, he chewed it and swallowed it. A faint smile appeared in his eyes.
He held out the grapes again with his long hand.
Daphne looked at it and said.
“Will you make that woman your Empress?”
He smiled, still holding out his hand.
"Why?"
Only then did his eyes sparkle. Only then did Daphne realize what Asherad had hoped for and why he had created this situation.
She looked at Asherad earnestly, her expression clouded as if she was about to cry.
She 'demanded' Askrad.
“I... don’t like it.”
Daphne put the offered grape in her mouth, but the grape did not enter her mouth.
Licking.
She stuck out her red tongue and licked Askelad's long fingers.
Asherad's gaze turned to Daphne. The blue-eyed woman looked at him with tears in her eyes and her lips slightly parted.
Disheveled hair. A face that looks only at itself. That anxious expression.
Bam-.
He heard the grapes he had picked up roll across the floor.
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