67. Deviation
Daphne blinked. What is this person talking about? Why the sudden picture? When Daphne looked at him in confusion, Ioannis said.
“I heard that Miss Daphne has a talent for drawing.”
“...”
Daphne couldn't find the words to say. She thought, what good was the painting now? She smiled bitterly and said.
“I can draw small pictures for practice, but I’m not good enough to exhibit my work.”
It was a painting that she had only studied for a few months. How could she dare to challenge the art festival? However, only Ioannis could notice that Daphne's eyes were shining.
“Can’t you make a small drawing too?”
“That... it takes time for the paint to dry...”
Oil paint takes a long time to dry.
“It will take a long time for the paint to dry.”
Ioannis smiled and said as Daphne muttered weakly.
“That’s no problem. The truth is, the reason I came here was not to escort you, but to give you a gift.”
Then Ioannis brought a strange box. When she opened the wooden box, she saw a glass bottle filled with colorful paints. Daphne looked at him in surprise.
“I heard that this paint dries quite quickly. It is said that it will soon be commercialized in the Peneus Empire.”
This is a new paint... Daphne’s eyes sparkled. Ioannis spoke with a puzzled expression, looking at Daphne, who was clearly showing interest.
“Why are you still hesitating?”
Daphne said with an awkward smile.
“And above all, because His Majesty does not want it.”
“...”
“His Majesty doesn’t like me to draw very much. I can’t afford to upset him.”
Daphne said that and laughed at herself. Just now, she really did look like the Emperor's mistress. She was so grateful for the paint. But...
Ioannis looked at Daphne's face. Her eyes sparkled with her hobby of drawing, and her face, once as delicate as a small wild flower, was filled with liveliness.
Like a flower blooming on a dying tree, her lively face was miraculous, rare, and beautiful. That intense liveliness was not to the liking of Asherad. The sight of Daphne being happy due to something other than him
“His Majesty is so childish.”
Daphne opened her eyes wide. She didn't expect Ioannis, who was supposed to be loyal to Asherad as a knight, to express Asherad in such a way.
Childish? How childish of His Majesty! He frowned and spoke firmly, not knowing whether he knew the shock Daphne had received or not.
“Please do so. I will have a flower shop prepared in another room.”
"Yes?"
“I won’t report this matter to His Majesty separately. Ah. If you want to paint, I think it would be good to meet with Lady Leschi as well.”
Daphne was so happy that she almost cried out in joy.
That's right. Asherad is always busy, and his visits are usually regular. He doesn't search every room in the palace, so if Ioannis agrees, Daphne can be free.
“Thank you, Ioannis!”
Daphne really liked this man. She thought he was stiff, but he was flexible enough. Ioannis smiled at Daphne, whose face had brightened. It was a smile closer to apology than kindness toward Daphne.
“You look happy.”
Asherad stroked Daphne's head. Daphne shook her head vigorously. She was afraid of what Asherad would do if he found out that Daphne could paint again.
Even though they were friends, there was no way that Ioannis would not be harmed.
“Why? Do you like it when those women, regardless of whether you are with me or not, are desperate to open your heart?”
Daphne's face hardened. The voice sounded sarcastic. You, a sinner and a palace maid, are anxious because women of noble birth cannot approach you. Is that a good thing? Daphne shook her head. The fatigue she had forgotten was washing over her.
“I... am tired.”
"You're tired?"
"Yes."
Asherad stroked Daphne's head. It seemed as if it was soothing her. As she received his gentle touch, Daphne looked at Asherad's expression. It was because he seemed like he would once again cut into her heart with his sharp words.
But Asherad burst into laughter.
Why?
It was strange. He patted Daphne's head and burst into a bright laugh.
The situation seemed ridiculous. For a moment, Daphne thought Asherad was laughing at her, but it was different from laughing.
“You’re so tired that the word ‘tired’ even came out of your mouth. Those women must have been quite the people.”
“...”
“What do you think, Daphne? I like this situation.”
“What is the situation?”
“I’m talking about the situation where those noble women are fussing over you.”
“...”
“You guys are all so funny. How dare you.”
Dare? The words that followed were omitted, so Daphne could not understand. However, he still had a smile on his face, as if he still found Daphne's embarrassment amusing.
“So, Your Majesty, what should I do?”
Shr asked Ioannis, but he didn't give her an answer. In that case, wouldn't it be better to find out Asherad's intentions? Asherad, seeing her troubled face, burst into laughter again and whispered.
“Enjoy it for a while, and then leave it out for two people.”
Daphne blinked. What is this person talking about? Why the sudden picture? When Daphne looked at him in confusion, Ioannis said.
“I heard that Miss Daphne has a talent for drawing.”
“...”
Daphne couldn't find the words to say. She thought, what good was the painting now? She smiled bitterly and said.
“I can draw small pictures for practice, but I’m not good enough to exhibit my work.”
It was a painting that she had only studied for a few months. How could she dare to challenge the art festival? However, only Ioannis could notice that Daphne's eyes were shining.
“Can’t you make a small drawing too?”
“That... it takes time for the paint to dry...”
Oil paint takes a long time to dry.
“It will take a long time for the paint to dry.”
Ioannis smiled and said as Daphne muttered weakly.
“That’s no problem. The truth is, the reason I came here was not to escort you, but to give you a gift.”
Then Ioannis brought a strange box. When she opened the wooden box, she saw a glass bottle filled with colorful paints. Daphne looked at him in surprise.
“I heard that this paint dries quite quickly. It is said that it will soon be commercialized in the Peneus Empire.”
This is a new paint... Daphne’s eyes sparkled. Ioannis spoke with a puzzled expression, looking at Daphne, who was clearly showing interest.
“Why are you still hesitating?”
Daphne said with an awkward smile.
“And above all, because His Majesty does not want it.”
“...”
“His Majesty doesn’t like me to draw very much. I can’t afford to upset him.”
Daphne said that and laughed at herself. Just now, she really did look like the Emperor's mistress. She was so grateful for the paint. But...
Ioannis looked at Daphne's face. Her eyes sparkled with her hobby of drawing, and her face, once as delicate as a small wild flower, was filled with liveliness.
Like a flower blooming on a dying tree, her lively face was miraculous, rare, and beautiful. That intense liveliness was not to the liking of Asherad. The sight of Daphne being happy due to something other than him
“His Majesty is so childish.”
Daphne opened her eyes wide. She didn't expect Ioannis, who was supposed to be loyal to Asherad as a knight, to express Asherad in such a way.
Childish? How childish of His Majesty! He frowned and spoke firmly, not knowing whether he knew the shock Daphne had received or not.
“Please do so. I will have a flower shop prepared in another room.”
"Yes?"
“I won’t report this matter to His Majesty separately. Ah. If you want to paint, I think it would be good to meet with Lady Leschi as well.”
Daphne was so happy that she almost cried out in joy.
That's right. Asherad is always busy, and his visits are usually regular. He doesn't search every room in the palace, so if Ioannis agrees, Daphne can be free.
“Thank you, Ioannis!”
Daphne really liked this man. She thought he was stiff, but he was flexible enough. Ioannis smiled at Daphne, whose face had brightened. It was a smile closer to apology than kindness toward Daphne.
***
“You look happy.”
Asherad stroked Daphne's head. Daphne shook her head vigorously. She was afraid of what Asherad would do if he found out that Daphne could paint again.
Even though they were friends, there was no way that Ioannis would not be harmed.
“Why? Do you like it when those women, regardless of whether you are with me or not, are desperate to open your heart?”
Daphne's face hardened. The voice sounded sarcastic. You, a sinner and a palace maid, are anxious because women of noble birth cannot approach you. Is that a good thing? Daphne shook her head. The fatigue she had forgotten was washing over her.
“I... am tired.”
"You're tired?"
"Yes."
Asherad stroked Daphne's head. It seemed as if it was soothing her. As she received his gentle touch, Daphne looked at Asherad's expression. It was because he seemed like he would once again cut into her heart with his sharp words.
But Asherad burst into laughter.
Why?
It was strange. He patted Daphne's head and burst into a bright laugh.
The situation seemed ridiculous. For a moment, Daphne thought Asherad was laughing at her, but it was different from laughing.
“You’re so tired that the word ‘tired’ even came out of your mouth. Those women must have been quite the people.”
“...”
“What do you think, Daphne? I like this situation.”
“What is the situation?”
“I’m talking about the situation where those noble women are fussing over you.”
“...”
“You guys are all so funny. How dare you.”
Dare? The words that followed were omitted, so Daphne could not understand. However, he still had a smile on his face, as if he still found Daphne's embarrassment amusing.
“So, Your Majesty, what should I do?”
Shr asked Ioannis, but he didn't give her an answer. In that case, wouldn't it be better to find out Asherad's intentions? Asherad, seeing her troubled face, burst into laughter again and whispered.
“Enjoy it for a while, and then leave it out for two people.”
“...”
“Either you choose is fine. It won’t harm you in any way.”
It was a refreshing attitude. Daphne lowered her head and spoke weakly.
“If I were to choose someone... would Your Majesty give her strength?”
Actually, that was the question. Whether it was Kalista or Veronica, whichever woman she chose, did this man empower that choice?
As far as Daphne knew, she was not worthy of it. Asherad patted Daphne's head.
“Of course, Daphne...”
“...Ugh!”
The hand stroking her hair became rough. Daphne moaned.
Daphne looked at Asherad in pain as he grabbed her hair, and he smiled with his red lips raised.
“Of course, I have no such intention.”
“...”
“You have to know the topic.”
Asherad said this, lowering his arrogant eyes.
Daphne opened her eyes wide and looked at the one who loved her and cherished her.
Again.
Whenever she felt hope and happiness rising, Asherad would mercilessly shatter it. What was even more painful was that Asherad was watching with satisfaction as Daphne’s face turned to despair.
Yes, of course, if a dog climbed up, the owner had a duty to trample on it and discipline it.
It's like making a weak heart strong again, Daphne thought.
No matter how much those women cooed at her, she had nothing to gain.
Suddenly, Ioannis' voice came to mind. He said that no matter what choice she made, the Emperor would be behind her... Ioannis was looking at Asherad in a positive light.
Well, that was understandable. When Asherad ran to the injured Daphne, Daphne also thought that it was love. There was no such beautiful feeling.
Only sadistic control and submission remain between the two.
Daphne closed her eyes as if giving up. The pleasant afterglow on Daphne’s face disappeared. Her face became dark again, as if the moonlight that had been illuminating her face was obscured by clouds.
“Open your eyes.”
At Asherad's command, Daphne looked at him. Daphne’s tearful, resigned face was also very beautiful. He lowered the hand that was holding her hair and stroked her head. He said it, knowing that it would hurt her feelings.
In an instant, their frozen relationship was shattered by Asherad's violent command. This time will be no different.
“If you say so...”
“...”
“It hurts me when you say that, Your Majesty.”
But this time it was different. Daphne was looking at Asherad with resentment.
Suppressing her despair, Daphne dared to confront Asherad.
Asherad narrowed his eyes. For some reason, he felt that this was more presumptuous than taking those women's side and arguing with them.
But when she looked into those blue eyes that seemed like they were going to suck her in, those thoughts disappeared and she thought that this wasn't such a bad thing.
“What’s upsetting?”
“If I’m being cocky, just say I’m being cocky. I can totally understand that.”
“...”
“Your Majesty, I am ignorant when I am next to you. So, please do not hurt me like this.”
Ha. Asherad laughed in vain. Daphne’s body trembled as she spoke.
She chose to confront Asherad rather than keep her mouth shut and endure his taunts. He would kill everyone else, but Asherad would not kill her. She knew that as a painful lesson.
So this kind of provocation is also okay. He will find her provocations amusing.
“What’s wrong with you being hurt?”
“Your Majesty, when you say that, I feel sad.”
"Sad?"
“It makes me sad to be by Your Majesty’s side.”
Tears welled up in Daphne's eyes. It seemed as if she had wanted to say something like that a long time ago.
Tears streamed down her face.
Asherad's face hardened as he watched her without wiping away her tears. He did not watch Daphne crying as if it were a game. He was 'troubled' by the crying.
Asherad reached out to Daphne. Her slender body fit into his large, strong arms.
“...”
He hugged Daphne. Both the one hugging and the one being hugged opened their eyes wide in surprise.
"Yes."
“...”
“Yes, I won’t do it.”
Asherad whispered affectionately. Asherad smiled and said while looking at the surprised Daphne.
“You sound cute, too.”
Daphne narrowed her eyes.
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