74. This is what is on the palm of your hand
“Miss, this is not a place for a little lamb like you.”
The corners of the lips revealed under the cat mask drew a curve. Daphne smiled at him. She wanted to hug Artemisia tightly, but she held back and spoke as if grumbling on purpose.
“Why am I a lamb?”
“Don’t you know how decadent a masquerade ball is?”
“Decadent?”
“Whether it’s a man or a woman, if they like each other, they’ll try to get along. It’s very wild and savage.”
Artemisia scolded her in a stern voice. Daphne looked around. Somehow, it seemed that it was not simply sensitivity that made her feel threatened by the people approaching them.
“How did you know it was me?”
Artemisia chuckled at Daphne's question.
“The blonde is wearing a dress that is obviously luxurious, but her gestures are completely clueless compared to that. A bewildered expression.”
"Ah..."
“Also, we spent a lot of time together, so how could you not know?”
Daphne smiled broadly.
“I missed you.”
“Me, right. You said you’d come find me. I’ve been waiting for you.”
Daphne made an awkward expression. She was so sad that she couldn't meet Artemisia because she had to watch Asherad's expression.
“Every time I see you from afar, I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”
Daphne smiled at her warm words. It always warmed her heart to hear someone wish her well.
Artemisia linked arms with Daphne and led her to the balcony. She looked around the balcony next to her to make sure there was no one there, and whispered quietly.
“So, Daphne, how are things going?”
"Yes?
Artemisia whispered quietly.
“Cutting off His Majesty the Emperor’s head.”
Daphne flinched. Why, really? Did Artemisia understand that so intuitively? Daphne looked around restlessly. Naturally, Artemisia had checked in advance, so there was no one else here except Daphne and Artemisia.
“That’s... no, I... was just trying to run away.”
"Aha."
Artemisia snickered. Daphne quickly realized that she was just trying to tease out a plan.
“Can you run away? Should I help you?”
“No... It’s okay.”
Daphne's helper is Count Locania. There has been no contact with him since she was almost caught by Asherad, but anyway. Fortunately, Asherad thought Daphne had run away on her own and didn't know that she had helpers.
He was proud that he knew everything about Daphne.
Who knew that Daphne had been secretly meeting the Count of Locania and receiving help?
However, what was worrying was Artemisia's attitude right now. If Asherad later noticed that she had received help from someone, wouldn't Artemisia be the target of suspicion and punishment?
“I’m fine. I’m of use to the Emperor.”
Artemisia laughed, perhaps reading Daphne's thoughts.
“No, it’s really okay. I have no intention of running away anymore.”
Daphne said that on purpose. When she spoke a little louder, Artemisia's expression changed. She looked at Daphne as if she were looking at a stranger.
“Daphne. No way...”
“I like His Majesty.”
Daphne smiled broadly. She could immediately tell that Artemisia's expression was confused under her mask. Daphne grabbed Artemisia's arm. She seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, then smiled broadly.
“Somehow... that picture was strange.”
"Yes?"
“I’m talking about the painting you submitted this time.”
Daphne's hair stood on end. Daphne usually had a violent outburst about Asherad, but this time it was different. What could be more shameful than having her teacher see the picture she had drawn? It was creepy in another sense.
“Ah... How did you know?”
“I know. I’ve seen so many of your drawings. I want to compliment you on continuing to draw. You really are talented.”
“...”
“I wish the picture were a little bigger...”
Daphne shook her head in regret. Artemisia spoke as if she were happy.
“Is the response good?”
“...Really?”
“Yes. It’s pretty good, so now it’s hanging in the middle of the wall. You know? That’s what it means when a painting is hung in the middle at an art festival.”
Unlike the paintings of masters or artists with some degree of recognition, the paintings of new artists fill the walls. The paintings that get the best responses from people are hung in the center. Artemisia patted Daphne on the shoulder.
“When I saw that picture, an idea suddenly occurred to me.”
“...”
“Why did Daphne paint the legend of the laurel tree and the sun god?”
“...”
“Is it because you want to run away?”
"That..."
“If the fairy wanted to run away, why did she have to turn into a tree?”
At that moment, she felt her heart sink.
“If I really wanted to run away, I would have turned into a bird, turned into a fish in the river, turned into the wind, and run away. Why was I a tree that received the grace of the sun? I couldn’t move, I was rooted in the ground and couldn’t run away...”
“...”
“Yes, Daphne. If that’s your choice, I respect it.”
There was a hint of disappointment in Artemisia's voice, but Daphne was unable to respond. Instead, she simply whispered quietly.
“Will you respect even this choice?”
Artemisia stared at Daphne. She could only tell what kind of face she was making by her lips. Soon, the corners of her mouth lifted.
“Of course, Daphne.”
Her words were so full of warmth that Daphne felt like crying right after hearing them. In fact, she wanted to say that she was going to run away. At that moment, Artemisia spoke.
“Oh, Daphne.”
“...”
“I heard that His Majesty may be present at the masquerade ball.”
"Yes?"
“His Majesty will personally look into the Empress candidate without telling anyone...”
When Daphne's expression hardened, Artemisia placed a hand on her shoulder.
“I don’t know exactly what happened, but since it has come to this, let’s go find His Majesty. There’s a rumor that the woman who finds His Majesty could become the empress.”
“Yeah, I’ll have to try and catch it.”
Asherad, who was sitting on the balcony right next to him, snickered and muttered softly.
An unbearable satisfaction came over his face. The prelude to a masquerade. While everyone was dancing like a painting, intoxicated with lust and pleasure, he watched Daphne.
What on earth would this woman do in his absence? Would he try to escape again? Or would she find someone to help her? Asherad was sure that Daphne would have someone to help her when she left the palace.
However, at the time, when he was lying down after taking poison, and there was no one watching Daphne on Duke Turbol’s watch, it was unclear whether she had any helpers. They suspected Artemisia, but she didn’t even know that Daphne had left.
That's why Asherad deliberately let go of the leash.
Who does she go and talk to? Who does she approach?
He was hiding in the dark, watching and listening to everything. When they looked around and found a balcony, it was Asherad, eavesdropping on the conversation from the balcony right next to it.
“I have no intention of running away...”
The conversation between Artemisia and Daphne was not heard at first. However, the voice that said they would not run away was clearly heard. He wondered if she had noticed that he was watching, but she was not.
What Daphne was hiding was so simple it was laughable.
According to the conversation, she secretly painted a picture and submitted it to an art festival.
On the day she ran away from Asherad, she saw the picture she had drawn there and returned as soon as she heard the news that he had awakened.
There was no contradiction in Daphne's actions or words. If the hint of hiding something was because of 'that', it would be cute.
He became lenient towards Daphne at the point where she told Artemisia flatly that she had no intention of running away, since he had already told her to draw the picture anyway.
Asherad recalled the picture of Daphne.
The nymph who ran away from the sun god became a laurel tree.
As Artemisia wondered, why on earth did she become a tree? Did she become a plant that barely survives by relying on the grace of the sun and the rain that falls from the sky?
Asherad didn't find the answer. However, he liked Artemisia's conclusion. Daphne didn't want to run away. His doubts were cleared, and he was finally able to smile brightly.
“I heard that His Majesty may be present at the masquerade ball.”
“His Majesty will personally look into the empress candidate without telling anyone...”
Asherad held back a loud laugh at that. He didn't know who had leaked the information, but he had to give her a compliment.
Asherad, or rather, 'the poor man with brown hair and an awkward gait,' smiled quietly.
He deliberately disguised himself with somewhat worn-out clothes and gait. There were more lower-ranking nobles, retired soldiers with injured legs, than expected, and as Asherad had intended, none of them spoke to Asherad.
“Since it has come to this, let’s go find His Majesty. There is a rumor that the woman who finds His Majesty could become the Empress.”
There was no way Daphne could find him. He had planned to come forward if Daphne was in moderate danger. There were too many people here who looked down on his beloved.
Daphne, who had come out of the balcony, tried to eat some finger food but couldn't. She looked around anxiously.
At that moment, her eyes met Asherad's. But Daphne turned her head away. It seemed as if that small eye contact was the place to focus her gaze.
You really don't know me, Asherad asked playfully.
When a man approached her and said something, she hesitated. He tried to see if he would follow her, but she had already shaken her head and disappeared into the crowd as if she were running away.
Asherad frowned. Daphne was nowhere to be seen.
Looks like he missed it this time.
As Asherad turned to look in that direction, someone grabbed his waist.
"Your Majesty."
A sweet voice rang in his ears. Asherad looked back. Daphne, wearing a blonde bird-shaped mask, was hugging his waist. Asherad was puzzled.
Why?
How do you know who I am?
Daphne said with a bright smile.
“I thought it was Your Majesty when I saw you earlier.”
“...”
“I’ve been with you for so long, Your Majesty, I recognized you right away. Did I do well?”
The blue eyes behind the mask must have been gently folded. He made a blank expression and let out a hollow laugh. He thought he was playing with her on his palm, but it turned out that this woman was already thinking about how to approach him after seeing him.
It was he who was in the palm of her hand.
But this pleasant teasing did not hurt his pride or make him feel uncomfortable.
She found him among a crowd of people. That fact alone was a little overwhelming.
“Miss, this is not a place for a little lamb like you.”
The corners of the lips revealed under the cat mask drew a curve. Daphne smiled at him. She wanted to hug Artemisia tightly, but she held back and spoke as if grumbling on purpose.
“Why am I a lamb?”
“Don’t you know how decadent a masquerade ball is?”
“Decadent?”
“Whether it’s a man or a woman, if they like each other, they’ll try to get along. It’s very wild and savage.”
Artemisia scolded her in a stern voice. Daphne looked around. Somehow, it seemed that it was not simply sensitivity that made her feel threatened by the people approaching them.
“How did you know it was me?”
Artemisia chuckled at Daphne's question.
“The blonde is wearing a dress that is obviously luxurious, but her gestures are completely clueless compared to that. A bewildered expression.”
"Ah..."
“Also, we spent a lot of time together, so how could you not know?”
Daphne smiled broadly.
“I missed you.”
“Me, right. You said you’d come find me. I’ve been waiting for you.”
Daphne made an awkward expression. She was so sad that she couldn't meet Artemisia because she had to watch Asherad's expression.
“Every time I see you from afar, I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”
Daphne smiled at her warm words. It always warmed her heart to hear someone wish her well.
Artemisia linked arms with Daphne and led her to the balcony. She looked around the balcony next to her to make sure there was no one there, and whispered quietly.
“So, Daphne, how are things going?”
"Yes?
Artemisia whispered quietly.
“Cutting off His Majesty the Emperor’s head.”
Daphne flinched. Why, really? Did Artemisia understand that so intuitively? Daphne looked around restlessly. Naturally, Artemisia had checked in advance, so there was no one else here except Daphne and Artemisia.
“That’s... no, I... was just trying to run away.”
"Aha."
Artemisia snickered. Daphne quickly realized that she was just trying to tease out a plan.
“Can you run away? Should I help you?”
“No... It’s okay.”
Daphne's helper is Count Locania. There has been no contact with him since she was almost caught by Asherad, but anyway. Fortunately, Asherad thought Daphne had run away on her own and didn't know that she had helpers.
He was proud that he knew everything about Daphne.
Who knew that Daphne had been secretly meeting the Count of Locania and receiving help?
However, what was worrying was Artemisia's attitude right now. If Asherad later noticed that she had received help from someone, wouldn't Artemisia be the target of suspicion and punishment?
“I’m fine. I’m of use to the Emperor.”
Artemisia laughed, perhaps reading Daphne's thoughts.
“No, it’s really okay. I have no intention of running away anymore.”
Daphne said that on purpose. When she spoke a little louder, Artemisia's expression changed. She looked at Daphne as if she were looking at a stranger.
“Daphne. No way...”
“I like His Majesty.”
Daphne smiled broadly. She could immediately tell that Artemisia's expression was confused under her mask. Daphne grabbed Artemisia's arm. She seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, then smiled broadly.
“Somehow... that picture was strange.”
"Yes?"
“I’m talking about the painting you submitted this time.”
Daphne's hair stood on end. Daphne usually had a violent outburst about Asherad, but this time it was different. What could be more shameful than having her teacher see the picture she had drawn? It was creepy in another sense.
“Ah... How did you know?”
“I know. I’ve seen so many of your drawings. I want to compliment you on continuing to draw. You really are talented.”
“...”
“I wish the picture were a little bigger...”
Daphne shook her head in regret. Artemisia spoke as if she were happy.
“Is the response good?”
“...Really?”
“Yes. It’s pretty good, so now it’s hanging in the middle of the wall. You know? That’s what it means when a painting is hung in the middle at an art festival.”
Unlike the paintings of masters or artists with some degree of recognition, the paintings of new artists fill the walls. The paintings that get the best responses from people are hung in the center. Artemisia patted Daphne on the shoulder.
“When I saw that picture, an idea suddenly occurred to me.”
“...”
“Why did Daphne paint the legend of the laurel tree and the sun god?”
“...”
“Is it because you want to run away?”
"That..."
“If the fairy wanted to run away, why did she have to turn into a tree?”
At that moment, she felt her heart sink.
“If I really wanted to run away, I would have turned into a bird, turned into a fish in the river, turned into the wind, and run away. Why was I a tree that received the grace of the sun? I couldn’t move, I was rooted in the ground and couldn’t run away...”
“...”
“Yes, Daphne. If that’s your choice, I respect it.”
There was a hint of disappointment in Artemisia's voice, but Daphne was unable to respond. Instead, she simply whispered quietly.
“Will you respect even this choice?”
Artemisia stared at Daphne. She could only tell what kind of face she was making by her lips. Soon, the corners of her mouth lifted.
“Of course, Daphne.”
Her words were so full of warmth that Daphne felt like crying right after hearing them. In fact, she wanted to say that she was going to run away. At that moment, Artemisia spoke.
“Oh, Daphne.”
“...”
“I heard that His Majesty may be present at the masquerade ball.”
"Yes?"
“His Majesty will personally look into the Empress candidate without telling anyone...”
When Daphne's expression hardened, Artemisia placed a hand on her shoulder.
“I don’t know exactly what happened, but since it has come to this, let’s go find His Majesty. There’s a rumor that the woman who finds His Majesty could become the empress.”
***
“Yeah, I’ll have to try and catch it.”
Asherad, who was sitting on the balcony right next to him, snickered and muttered softly.
An unbearable satisfaction came over his face. The prelude to a masquerade. While everyone was dancing like a painting, intoxicated with lust and pleasure, he watched Daphne.
What on earth would this woman do in his absence? Would he try to escape again? Or would she find someone to help her? Asherad was sure that Daphne would have someone to help her when she left the palace.
However, at the time, when he was lying down after taking poison, and there was no one watching Daphne on Duke Turbol’s watch, it was unclear whether she had any helpers. They suspected Artemisia, but she didn’t even know that Daphne had left.
That's why Asherad deliberately let go of the leash.
Who does she go and talk to? Who does she approach?
He was hiding in the dark, watching and listening to everything. When they looked around and found a balcony, it was Asherad, eavesdropping on the conversation from the balcony right next to it.
“I have no intention of running away...”
The conversation between Artemisia and Daphne was not heard at first. However, the voice that said they would not run away was clearly heard. He wondered if she had noticed that he was watching, but she was not.
What Daphne was hiding was so simple it was laughable.
According to the conversation, she secretly painted a picture and submitted it to an art festival.
On the day she ran away from Asherad, she saw the picture she had drawn there and returned as soon as she heard the news that he had awakened.
There was no contradiction in Daphne's actions or words. If the hint of hiding something was because of 'that', it would be cute.
He became lenient towards Daphne at the point where she told Artemisia flatly that she had no intention of running away, since he had already told her to draw the picture anyway.
Asherad recalled the picture of Daphne.
The nymph who ran away from the sun god became a laurel tree.
As Artemisia wondered, why on earth did she become a tree? Did she become a plant that barely survives by relying on the grace of the sun and the rain that falls from the sky?
Asherad didn't find the answer. However, he liked Artemisia's conclusion. Daphne didn't want to run away. His doubts were cleared, and he was finally able to smile brightly.
“I heard that His Majesty may be present at the masquerade ball.”
“His Majesty will personally look into the empress candidate without telling anyone...”
Asherad held back a loud laugh at that. He didn't know who had leaked the information, but he had to give her a compliment.
Asherad, or rather, 'the poor man with brown hair and an awkward gait,' smiled quietly.
He deliberately disguised himself with somewhat worn-out clothes and gait. There were more lower-ranking nobles, retired soldiers with injured legs, than expected, and as Asherad had intended, none of them spoke to Asherad.
“Since it has come to this, let’s go find His Majesty. There is a rumor that the woman who finds His Majesty could become the Empress.”
There was no way Daphne could find him. He had planned to come forward if Daphne was in moderate danger. There were too many people here who looked down on his beloved.
Daphne, who had come out of the balcony, tried to eat some finger food but couldn't. She looked around anxiously.
At that moment, her eyes met Asherad's. But Daphne turned her head away. It seemed as if that small eye contact was the place to focus her gaze.
You really don't know me, Asherad asked playfully.
When a man approached her and said something, she hesitated. He tried to see if he would follow her, but she had already shaken her head and disappeared into the crowd as if she were running away.
Asherad frowned. Daphne was nowhere to be seen.
Looks like he missed it this time.
As Asherad turned to look in that direction, someone grabbed his waist.
"Your Majesty."
A sweet voice rang in his ears. Asherad looked back. Daphne, wearing a blonde bird-shaped mask, was hugging his waist. Asherad was puzzled.
Why?
How do you know who I am?
Daphne said with a bright smile.
“I thought it was Your Majesty when I saw you earlier.”
“...”
“I’ve been with you for so long, Your Majesty, I recognized you right away. Did I do well?”
The blue eyes behind the mask must have been gently folded. He made a blank expression and let out a hollow laugh. He thought he was playing with her on his palm, but it turned out that this woman was already thinking about how to approach him after seeing him.
It was he who was in the palm of her hand.
But this pleasant teasing did not hurt his pride or make him feel uncomfortable.
She found him among a crowd of people. That fact alone was a little overwhelming.
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