88. Broken Delusion
Count Locania had been suffering from nervousness for a while. It was strange. Daphne's escape had failed, but Asherad was not making any moves.
Did Asherad know about him? Did Daphne report his existence? He didn't know. He was prepared to run away just in case, but he didn't move recklessly. If Daphne hadn't reported him, his sudden movements would have been enough to arouse suspicion.
It was a game of wits.
Even so, how many times did he hesitate whether to run away or not? The cunning Emperor would be suspicious of and watch over all the nobles who moved during this time.
Especially if the Count of Locania is the object of suspicion, it will immediately turn into certainty.
The reason for his confidence was simple. Wasn't he Fabian's father? Foolish Asherad didn't even consider that the Count of Locania loved and cherished the illegitimate child. Furthermore, he had brought weapons to Asherad. Therefore, Asherad trusted the Count of Locania.
But once it goes wrong, it is irreversible. He must never be the object of suspicion. So Count Locania went about the palace as usual and assisted the Emperor at his side. If his guess was right, the Emperor knew nothing. But he could not guess anything. Count Locania suppressed the desire to run away and decided to trust Daphne.
Count Locania continued to wonder why he had failed.
'I never thought the Emperor would come back right away.'
It was as if a trap had been set. As soon as he heard that the Emperor was returning, Count Locania gave up on rescuing Daphne and fled.
The problem is that he doesn't know how Daphne is doing after she's been captured. All the knights who were assigned to protect Daphne have been replaced. Should he be thankful that she didn't die? In any case, he was going in and out of the thorny palace and observing the situation.
'The Kingdom of Pindus's disturbing movements...'
This was an urgent report. That's why he hurried to find the Emperor. He had to figure out how to contact Daphne.
“What's going on?”
As he approached the office, the knight guarding it stopped him. Count Locania spoke in an urgent voice.
“I have something to report. It’s urgent.”
He gave up his seat at the words of Count Locania. As expected, there was no sign of caution towards him.
“Where is His Majesty?”
At those words, the knight took a moment to choose his words. The Count’s eyebrows gathered together in embarrassment.
“It’s urgent.”
The knight spoke carefully at those words.
“He went out to the garden in a hurry.”
Why in the garden? Although he was curious, Count Locania nodded and quickly walked into the garden. At that moment, a screaming sound was heard.
“Let go! Let go of this!”
At the woman's sharp voice, Count Locania looked over. He thought he would encounter their party, so he quietly hid behind a pillar. In the corridor connected to the central palace, knights were arresting and dragging a woman away.
'Empress Dowager?'
Kalista was held captive by the knights. Even the knights seemed to have no respect for her. It was obvious at first glance that the knights looked down on the woman.
'Looks like that damn woman is finally paying the price.'
He gnashed his teeth as he thought about how Asherad had gone to war and how Kalista had behaved. His wife and daughter had been insulted. He hated Asherad, but so did Kalista. He was a cold-hearted man to someone who was not his own person.
But what's going on?
Asherad was polite to the Empress Dowager in public. His attitude meant that there was something wrong with him. He should find out.
Count Locania's gaze turned there.
***
Kalista sobbed all day. She couldn't bear to be humiliated among those humans. Her pride was torn to pieces and fell to the ground. And her impertinent subordinates didn't even come in to see their master crying.
The smiling faces of the lower ones were vivid in her eyes all day long. And the most vivid one was Daphne, who was standing next to Asherad and looking at her with a fearful look.
“I’ll kill you!”
I will kill the knight who dragged me away, the maid who laughed at me, and that disgusting bitch!
She ground her teeth as she remembered Daphne. Her eyes, which had been crying, were bloodshot. This must have been Daphne's plan. She calculated when she would hit her and arranged for Asherad to witness the scene.
Kalista ground her teeth at Daphne, who had created this situation without any self-reflection.
“You lowly thing, I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you! You vile bitch, you vixen bitch!”
Of course, she did have one regret. It was that she confessed to Asherad in front of everyone, unable to resist the impulse.
He was the Emperor and had the prestige to do so. How surprised he must have been. She had to confess her love in a quiet atmosphere. Asherad must have been angry, and that is why he imprisoned her in such an insulting way.
As expected, it was Daphne who created this situation!
“I’m going to kill you, I’m going to kill you!”
Then the door flew open.
“Why are you coming now?!”
Kalista shouted sharply. It was Daphne who entered the room. Kalista ran to her, saying it was a good chance to meet her. As she reached out to grab her by the collar, someone grabbed her arm and threw her away. Until then, Kalista had thought it was Daphne.
“You, you bitch!”
I will really kill you. She has found a weapon. Even if I kill you, even Asherad won't be able to say anything because you dared to touch the royal family.
“Are you trying to kill her?”
But when she heard the clear voice, Kalista stopped and fixed her gaze on the door. It was Asherad. Her eyes lit up.
“Ah, Asherad!"
Kalista shouted in a hopeful voice. She naturally thought that Asherad would see her collapse and pick her up. At that time, just like he had picked up Daphne, Asherad did not pick up Kalista or scold Daphne for not picking her up, but instead stared at Kalista.
“Ah, Asherad.”
Kalista felt slightly uneasy.
“I asked if you were trying to kill her.”
Kalista's eyes widened in anger. Asherad had brought Daphne here on purpose. He had come to mediate between them.
“Why did you bring that girl here?”
“...”
“Why, did she say she was wronged? That I suddenly hit her!”
Kalista stood up and said.
“But, that girl also...”
“Shut up and speak clearly. Do you hate her? Do you want to kill her?”
Kalista's mouth was open in shock, her lips trembling. Shut up? Shut up? This man, even if he was intentionally angry at her! Where did he get the urge to speak like that?
“Yes, I want to kill her! I want to kill that bitch who is getting in the way between you and me! I hate her to death!”
“So, you made her run away?”
“Yeah! That’s what I said!”
Kalista admitted that she had helped Daphne escape. Asherad's eyes changed. But Kalista continued to shout.
“Why don’t you just run away? Come back and see what a dirty act you’re doing to Your Majesty, spreading your legs! Asherad, that woman needs to disappear. It’s not good for you!”
Daphne's face turned pale upon hearing the insult. However, she was not sickened by the insult, but by Kalista's 'recognition'. She looked at Asherad with anxious eyes. Kalista looked at Asherad and cried out in despair.
“Asherad! How many times do I have to say that I love you? Of course, I know you’re upset today! But I couldn’t help it!”
“...”
“I love you, I love you! I love you. I liked you from the beginning. That’s why I killed your father, too! So that you would come back!”
Kalista shed tears. Despite her cruel nature, she looked incredibly beautiful as she cried. However, Asherad's face did not soften.
“But that was too much, I’m mad at you. You kissed her in front of me because you liked that piece of shit.”
“...”
“There’s no need to hide anymore. This place is just us. Tell me your true feelings. Come on!”
Asherad's eyes fell at Kalista's urging. He seemed to hesitate, then strode toward Kalista. He looked at Kalista as if he was going to kiss her. Kalista's eyes were filled with excitement. He would confess his love. And he would whisper his love to me.
She expected a kiss from Asherad.
“Kalista. I...”
“...”
“I’ve never loved anyone like you.”
Kalista's eyes widened at those cruel words.
Pfft, Kalista felt a sharp pain in her stomach. The terribly beautiful man looked down at her with his haughty eyes.
“Ouch, oh, oh, oh!”
Asherad didn't stop at just stabbing, but twisted the blade. The pain was so intense that she couldn't even scream properly. All she knew was that Asherad was poking fun at her.
“Oh, please, please!”
It hurts so much, it hurts! Please stop! Kalista thrashed.
“Stop it!”
Daphne's voice was heard. It was the most annoying voice at this moment. Look at Kalista's eyes, who was asking why, Asherad said.
“If you’re this stupid, you’re not worth keeping alive.”
Asherad spoke softly. You call me stupid? Not worth keeping alive?
Kalista moved, her body bleeding. It hurt. It hurt so much, but her breathing did not stop. Kalista reached out to Asherad as if asking for help, but he grimaced as if he was looking at something dirty and slapped her hand away.
That sigh and that look in his eyes touched her more than the words, “I don’t love you.”
Daphne's illusion of Kalista that she had been building up was shattered.
She killed her husband for this man.
She even threw away her future, where she could live comfortably. She tried to help him. But this is the end? Just because of that one girl?
Kalista glared at Daphne, who was standing in front of the door with blazing eyes. She was still acting innocent and shameless. That girl must have instigated it. But Kalista looked at Asherad.
She now realized that Asherad's actions were not because he loved her.
Used and then discarded.
She was fooled by the sweet words he whispered to her, pretending to love her. That man doesn't love her; he never loved her. Tears fell from Kalista's eyes. She didn't want to die. She didn't want to die!
“Ashe...”
Kalista crawled away from the man who was going to kill her. Someone, save me, please, save me! She unconsciously turned to Daphne. As she looked at Daphne with pleading eyes, she felt the pain of the iron piercing her flesh again.
“Cough!”
This time, her heart, which was beating, was stabbed. Kalista died while looking at Daphne's face.
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