77. You were pretty back then, too
As winter ends and spring approaches, the Emperor inspects the estates of the nobles. Of course, he does not ask where they are going. This is to monitor them closely to see if they have any impure intentions or are neglecting the management of their estates.
Asherad was also not one to neglect his duties. He completed all his preparations while spending time with Daphne.
As his inspection drew near, Daphne's face became more subtle. If he left, there would be an opportunity. She could completely escape from him.
But why does she feel uneasy when he says he's leaving? If he leaves the palace, he'll probably come back when the spring flowers have bloomed and summer has truly begun.
Daphne felt bad thinking about breaking up with him again after such a long time. Of course, he was the one who ruined her life. Why was it like this?
“This is really dog-like.”
Daphne muttered to herself, mocking herself. She had thought she would submit to him like a dog, and it seemed she had really become one.
Daphne, who had become a foolish beast when her master left, waited anxiously for that day. And the day before his departure came. At that moment, the door to the greenhouse opened, and Asherad came in.
“Why are you making that face?”
Asherad spoke with a smile, looking at Daphne's gloomy face. Daphne did not respond.
He reached out and tied Daphne's white fox fur scarf around her neck. Asherad looked around the greenhouse he had made for Daphne.
“Do you like it?”
"Yes."
The greenhouse was too much. It was filled with the scent of lost trees, and the vivid spring felt like no trace of the colorless winter.
Asherad gestured as he looked at a swing hanging from a tree in what seemed like a forest.
Daphne sighed and sat down on the swing. Then Asherad pushed the swing. Daphne's face was serious, even though she should have been happy.
“Aren’t you busy?”
"Yes?"
“You’re going tomorrow, right?”
Asherad smiled deeply at the resentment he felt at those words.
“So that’s why you had that expression?”
“...”
Daphne did not deny it. When she glanced at it, Asherad clearly had a happy expression on his face. That sent ripples through her mind.
“You don’t want me to go?”
“...”
“Do you wish I hadn’t gone?”
Asherad lowered his head as he held the rope. His face looked sly. Daphne didn't answer and turned her head away. It was because her pride was hurt that she lied. Wasn't it? If Asherad wanted to go, it was a 'lie', so why would her pride be hurt?
Daphne shook her head with renewed awareness.
“Oh, I wish I could go.”
Askela pushed Daphne's swing. Daphne's body swayed. Daphne's long hair, tied in half, fluttered. Surrounded by the green forest, Daphne looked like a true tree nymph.
“Why do you ask when you already know the answer?”
“...”
“Your Majesty is truly strange.”
Asherad laughed at Daphne's words. His bright smile was as innocent as a boy's. He stopped laughing and said.
“Daphne, do you remember?”
“...”
“When we first met.”
“Are you talking about that time when you turned the bucket over?”
“No. You know.”
Asherad smiled faintly. The boy's appearance when she first visited the palace. That was what he was talking about. Daphne looked at Asherad's face. The young boy in the tree grew up again and stirred up Daphne's life.
“Your Majesty, you came down from that tree. What were you doing then?”
"Well."
He raised the corners of his mouth with a playful expression. Asherad was looking at Daphne, but he was staring at the Daphne of the past.
“Did you know then that I was my mother's daughter?”
Daphne very cautiously brought up the subject out of curiosity. Asherad didn’t answer. He just reached out and touched the corner of Daphne’s eyes.
“I just find it annoying that your eyes are green.”
Instead of answering, he said something else.
“Blue eyes suit you better.”
She remembers when she used to disguise her eye color with a magic necklace her mother gave her.
Daphne lowered her eyes as she recalled that moment of sin.
Asherad lifted Daphne's chin, looking at her blurred face, and forced her face to meet his.
“But Daphne.”
“...”
“You were pretty back then, too.”
Daphne's cheeks flushed red. If he had known that she was the daughter of a vassal who threatened his position, he would have hated her. But she was beautiful.
“Just, you didn’t hang out with hell. You didn’t hang out with the world. Just.”
“...”
“It was just so infinitely white and pretty.”
Should I like it? Daphne grabbed Asherad's arm.
Lie.
Daphne already knew that Asherad was lying. Askelad knew who Daphne was. She was pretty? He didn't want to grab her by the throat and kill her, so that was a good thing.
“I wanted to hold on to it longer.”
“...”
“If you go a little further between those trees, there’s a swing. I wanted to take you there. When you were very young.”
“...”
“Yeah, my mother gave me a lift when I was very young.”
Asherad's expression darkened at the word "mother." Daphne bit her lip.
Asherad was looking at Daphne with heated eyes. It felt like she was being sucked into those eyes, but Daphne tried to calm herself down.
Asherad looked at the net rope, his expression bright like that of a boy back then.
Like a boy who didn't want to send the girl away. He opened his mouth very carefully.
“If you tell me not to go, I won’t go.”
“...”
“I won’t leave you alone anymore.”
Asherad stroked Daphne's head. His hands were filled with affection.
Daphne looked at his face, felt his gentle touch. Suddenly, she had a great realization. She had both distrusted and trusted Asherad's heart. It was contradictory.
Daphne thought that Asherad was crazy about her, even though she didn't think he loved her.
But Asherad has changed.
At some point, he changed and stopped deceiving her. From some point on, only sweet things were sent to her.
Daphne was scared and spoke quickly.
“What are you talking about? You should go.”
“...”
“I hope Your Majesty doesn’t hear that I ruined the country.”
Daphne lifted Asherad's hand, which was stroking her head, and kissed it.
“And I hope they don’t call me a slut.”
Asherad chuckled at those words. Daphne found his face strange.
How did the man who used to treat her like a dog end up like this? He was devoted to tormenting Daphne and sending her into the abyss.
But now he is acting so confusedly. Therefore, Daphne's venom has also diminished. Kalista has not been able to harass Daphne, and Asherad has provided the best for Daphne in some form.
She wishes this person would harass her instead.
It would be nice if he could just tie her up like before and get angry.
Then there would be nothing to worry about.
“I will miss you.”
Asherad whispered. Daphne listened with her head bowed, her knees clenched.
Someday, before he went to war, Daphne wanted to hear those words from him. As he left without any plans, Daphne felt that he had completely...
What are you thinking?
Daphne opened her eyes wide.
At that time, Fabian had not been dead for long! Asherad coveted Daphne's body. As if punishing her for running away, he licked Daphne's tears as if they were honey! He indulged in her sorrow and anger, taking her only as a means.
But how!
“I'll miss you too.”
Daphne tried to answer calmly. Asherad hugged Daphne's head.
Her forehead touched his firm stomach. Tears flowed from Daphne's eyes. She could not hold back her tears at the realization of her humiliating feelings.
"I love you."
When Daphne heard Asherad's whispers, she cried even louder.
He doesn't want to leave. He wants to settle down here. Because Daphne's entire world was created by Asherad.
So, he ended up loving her without any pride. Asherad whispered quietly, not knowing whether he knew Daphne's feelings or not.
“Come back...”
“...”
“Come back and I will welcome you as my Empress.”
Daphne raised her head. Empress. Daphne knew it. Even the previous Emperor could not make her own mother the Empress.
This was because there was strong opposition from the Empress and the nobles. Also, the sun god served by Peneus followed the doctrine of monogamy.
"Your Majesty."
“...I’ve thought about what to do.”
The man smiled brightly like daytime. In this romantic greenhouse, Asherad proposed to Daphne. At that moment, Daphne thought.
Is it possible for a person to marry a dog?
Asherad was saying that he would be willing to marry Daphne.
Ah, she couldn't deny it anymore.
Daphne thought coldly, trying to escape her feelings and discarding her negative attitude.
No human being would marry a dog.
To Daphne, Asherad is human.
He is a lovable person whom she would like to marry.
Asherad loved Daphne.
That was the only truth without any contradiction.
Tears flowed from Daphne's eyes. Asherad gladly raised his hand and wiped away Daphne's tears.
That's right.
Someday, she wanted to hear this sound.
From her earliest childhood, when she was oppressed in the desolate palace. From the time he became her only salvation and her paradise, Daphne had dared to hope for this man's love. But why now, why now, why now?
“It's late.”
Daphne said sobbing.
“No, it’s not late.”
Asherad declared. Daphne shook her head, sobbing.
It was too late. It was too late. Daphne could no longer love Asherad completely. Fabian's death, her hatred. It was all that had sent Daphne into the abyss.
“You said it was late.”
"Sorry."
Asherad was someone who could apologize so easily.
He was the one who could make a sweet confession of love.
But why now, of all times?
The woman, wanting to run away from the man's arms, sobbed sadly.
As winter ends and spring approaches, the Emperor inspects the estates of the nobles. Of course, he does not ask where they are going. This is to monitor them closely to see if they have any impure intentions or are neglecting the management of their estates.
Asherad was also not one to neglect his duties. He completed all his preparations while spending time with Daphne.
As his inspection drew near, Daphne's face became more subtle. If he left, there would be an opportunity. She could completely escape from him.
But why does she feel uneasy when he says he's leaving? If he leaves the palace, he'll probably come back when the spring flowers have bloomed and summer has truly begun.
Daphne felt bad thinking about breaking up with him again after such a long time. Of course, he was the one who ruined her life. Why was it like this?
“This is really dog-like.”
Daphne muttered to herself, mocking herself. She had thought she would submit to him like a dog, and it seemed she had really become one.
Daphne, who had become a foolish beast when her master left, waited anxiously for that day. And the day before his departure came. At that moment, the door to the greenhouse opened, and Asherad came in.
“Why are you making that face?”
Asherad spoke with a smile, looking at Daphne's gloomy face. Daphne did not respond.
He reached out and tied Daphne's white fox fur scarf around her neck. Asherad looked around the greenhouse he had made for Daphne.
“Do you like it?”
"Yes."
The greenhouse was too much. It was filled with the scent of lost trees, and the vivid spring felt like no trace of the colorless winter.
Asherad gestured as he looked at a swing hanging from a tree in what seemed like a forest.
Daphne sighed and sat down on the swing. Then Asherad pushed the swing. Daphne's face was serious, even though she should have been happy.
“Aren’t you busy?”
"Yes?"
“You’re going tomorrow, right?”
Asherad smiled deeply at the resentment he felt at those words.
“So that’s why you had that expression?”
“...”
Daphne did not deny it. When she glanced at it, Asherad clearly had a happy expression on his face. That sent ripples through her mind.
“You don’t want me to go?”
“...”
“Do you wish I hadn’t gone?”
Asherad lowered his head as he held the rope. His face looked sly. Daphne didn't answer and turned her head away. It was because her pride was hurt that she lied. Wasn't it? If Asherad wanted to go, it was a 'lie', so why would her pride be hurt?
Daphne shook her head with renewed awareness.
“Oh, I wish I could go.”
Askela pushed Daphne's swing. Daphne's body swayed. Daphne's long hair, tied in half, fluttered. Surrounded by the green forest, Daphne looked like a true tree nymph.
“Why do you ask when you already know the answer?”
“...”
“Your Majesty is truly strange.”
Asherad laughed at Daphne's words. His bright smile was as innocent as a boy's. He stopped laughing and said.
“Daphne, do you remember?”
“...”
“When we first met.”
“Are you talking about that time when you turned the bucket over?”
“No. You know.”
Asherad smiled faintly. The boy's appearance when she first visited the palace. That was what he was talking about. Daphne looked at Asherad's face. The young boy in the tree grew up again and stirred up Daphne's life.
“Your Majesty, you came down from that tree. What were you doing then?”
"Well."
He raised the corners of his mouth with a playful expression. Asherad was looking at Daphne, but he was staring at the Daphne of the past.
“Did you know then that I was my mother's daughter?”
Daphne very cautiously brought up the subject out of curiosity. Asherad didn’t answer. He just reached out and touched the corner of Daphne’s eyes.
“I just find it annoying that your eyes are green.”
Instead of answering, he said something else.
“Blue eyes suit you better.”
She remembers when she used to disguise her eye color with a magic necklace her mother gave her.
Daphne lowered her eyes as she recalled that moment of sin.
Asherad lifted Daphne's chin, looking at her blurred face, and forced her face to meet his.
“But Daphne.”
“...”
“You were pretty back then, too.”
Daphne's cheeks flushed red. If he had known that she was the daughter of a vassal who threatened his position, he would have hated her. But she was beautiful.
“Just, you didn’t hang out with hell. You didn’t hang out with the world. Just.”
“...”
“It was just so infinitely white and pretty.”
Should I like it? Daphne grabbed Asherad's arm.
Lie.
Daphne already knew that Asherad was lying. Askelad knew who Daphne was. She was pretty? He didn't want to grab her by the throat and kill her, so that was a good thing.
“I wanted to hold on to it longer.”
“...”
“If you go a little further between those trees, there’s a swing. I wanted to take you there. When you were very young.”
“...”
“Yeah, my mother gave me a lift when I was very young.”
Asherad's expression darkened at the word "mother." Daphne bit her lip.
Asherad was looking at Daphne with heated eyes. It felt like she was being sucked into those eyes, but Daphne tried to calm herself down.
Asherad looked at the net rope, his expression bright like that of a boy back then.
Like a boy who didn't want to send the girl away. He opened his mouth very carefully.
“If you tell me not to go, I won’t go.”
“...”
“I won’t leave you alone anymore.”
Asherad stroked Daphne's head. His hands were filled with affection.
Daphne looked at his face, felt his gentle touch. Suddenly, she had a great realization. She had both distrusted and trusted Asherad's heart. It was contradictory.
Daphne thought that Asherad was crazy about her, even though she didn't think he loved her.
But Asherad has changed.
At some point, he changed and stopped deceiving her. From some point on, only sweet things were sent to her.
Daphne was scared and spoke quickly.
“What are you talking about? You should go.”
“...”
“I hope Your Majesty doesn’t hear that I ruined the country.”
Daphne lifted Asherad's hand, which was stroking her head, and kissed it.
“And I hope they don’t call me a slut.”
Asherad chuckled at those words. Daphne found his face strange.
How did the man who used to treat her like a dog end up like this? He was devoted to tormenting Daphne and sending her into the abyss.
But now he is acting so confusedly. Therefore, Daphne's venom has also diminished. Kalista has not been able to harass Daphne, and Asherad has provided the best for Daphne in some form.
She wishes this person would harass her instead.
It would be nice if he could just tie her up like before and get angry.
Then there would be nothing to worry about.
“I will miss you.”
Asherad whispered. Daphne listened with her head bowed, her knees clenched.
Someday, before he went to war, Daphne wanted to hear those words from him. As he left without any plans, Daphne felt that he had completely...
What are you thinking?
Daphne opened her eyes wide.
At that time, Fabian had not been dead for long! Asherad coveted Daphne's body. As if punishing her for running away, he licked Daphne's tears as if they were honey! He indulged in her sorrow and anger, taking her only as a means.
But how!
“I'll miss you too.”
Daphne tried to answer calmly. Asherad hugged Daphne's head.
Her forehead touched his firm stomach. Tears flowed from Daphne's eyes. She could not hold back her tears at the realization of her humiliating feelings.
"I love you."
When Daphne heard Asherad's whispers, she cried even louder.
He doesn't want to leave. He wants to settle down here. Because Daphne's entire world was created by Asherad.
So, he ended up loving her without any pride. Asherad whispered quietly, not knowing whether he knew Daphne's feelings or not.
“Come back...”
“...”
“Come back and I will welcome you as my Empress.”
Daphne raised her head. Empress. Daphne knew it. Even the previous Emperor could not make her own mother the Empress.
This was because there was strong opposition from the Empress and the nobles. Also, the sun god served by Peneus followed the doctrine of monogamy.
"Your Majesty."
“...I’ve thought about what to do.”
The man smiled brightly like daytime. In this romantic greenhouse, Asherad proposed to Daphne. At that moment, Daphne thought.
Is it possible for a person to marry a dog?
Asherad was saying that he would be willing to marry Daphne.
Ah, she couldn't deny it anymore.
Daphne thought coldly, trying to escape her feelings and discarding her negative attitude.
No human being would marry a dog.
To Daphne, Asherad is human.
He is a lovable person whom she would like to marry.
Asherad loved Daphne.
That was the only truth without any contradiction.
Tears flowed from Daphne's eyes. Asherad gladly raised his hand and wiped away Daphne's tears.
That's right.
Someday, she wanted to hear this sound.
From her earliest childhood, when she was oppressed in the desolate palace. From the time he became her only salvation and her paradise, Daphne had dared to hope for this man's love. But why now, why now, why now?
“It's late.”
Daphne said sobbing.
“No, it’s not late.”
Asherad declared. Daphne shook her head, sobbing.
It was too late. It was too late. Daphne could no longer love Asherad completely. Fabian's death, her hatred. It was all that had sent Daphne into the abyss.
“You said it was late.”
"Sorry."
Asherad was someone who could apologize so easily.
He was the one who could make a sweet confession of love.
But why now, of all times?
The woman, wanting to run away from the man's arms, sobbed sadly.
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