90. Original Sin
Sarah's brother lost his life because he had talked to Daphne. When Daphne heard that, she gave up her desire to live. Then she realized how easy she had been in the past.
She thought about wanting to die, but she didn't want to die. Looking at the dagger that Asherad held out, she realized that she wanted to live happily.
But she didn't want to live that kind of life anymore. That's why Daphne was able to take action for the first time.
She lifted the necklace and took out the jewel. It was hidden from view by the necklace’s decoration, but there was a cap. The green necklace was one that Kalista had given her.
'This necklace holds a special secret.'
Kalista held out the necklace and pulled out the jewel. As she shook it, Daphne realized that it was not a jewel, but a glass ball filled with liquid.
'If you eat this, you will fall into eternal sleep.'
Then Kalista handed it to Daphne. Although she was curious as to why she was being given this medicine, Kalista smiled softly.
'If you're a woman, you should have one of these poisons.'
She didn't know what he meant. But she knew one thing. This was a trap. If Daphne were to use the poison on someone else, she would be killed instantly by Kalista. Of course, if Daphne were to use it herself, it would be Kalista's best luck.
Anyway, Daphne kept this necklace in her jewelry box. And it was finally time to use it. Daphne opened the lid and drank the poison in one gulp.
Something hot flowed down her throat.
'A person who eats it will initially have no symptoms, but after a while, they will vomit blood and die.'
How much time does she have left? Daphne smiled to herself. If her life was to continue killing others, if she was loved by the god of death, then it was right not to continue that life.
Daphne saw a beautiful sky before she died.
She wanted to get away from everything and go outside. She saw the trees sprouting leaves and the flowers blooming in the garden. Her steps led to a familiar place.
A place where foolish Daphne occasionally finds happiness.
The place where she saw young Asherad.
Away from everything, her mind was at peace. Daphne smiled brightly as she looked at the empty Crown Prince’s palace. Daphne’s footsteps headed to another place.
A large tree. When young Daphne came to the palace.
And Daphne returned to her room to face death quietly.
Even though she was about to die like that, Ioannis came to Daphne's room. There was no reason to refuse.
“Asherad hated you. But he also loved you.”
“...”
“That’s why his way of expressing himself was distorted. No, maybe he didn’t learn how to properly give or receive love.”
As she faced death, Daphne felt less affection for Asherad. She thought, “Why not just listen to his story before I die?”
“Asherad’s life was hell.”
Eight-year-old Asherad saw the scene unfold before his eyes. His father was pouring wine on his mother's head. Sabrina, the First Princess of the kingdom of Thalassa, endured the insults from the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, you must fulfill your duties as a wife.”
“...”
“Isn’t it true that as a wife and a subject, you should know what your husband likes and wants and try your best to satisfy those needs?”
“...”
“Why on earth did you commit such an insult to my lover?”
Belenus smiled as he saw his wife trembling with shame.
“Keep in mind that you can replace that guy.”
The Emperor who loved another. And Sabrina, who came here to strengthen the national power of the Kingdom of Thalassa. Since their relationship was without love, it was only natural that they would end up in ruins.
After the Emperor disappeared, Sabrina grumbled to herself. She turned her eyes to Asherad, who was watching, and slapped him on the cheek. Asherad collapsed. He was now only an eight-year-old boy, and he could not withstand the strength of an adult. Sabrina grumbled.
“If you were a great person yourself, you wouldn’t be insulted by being called replaceable!”
Asherad looked at Sabrina with indifferent eyes, not the frightened expression typical of a child. Sabrina, perhaps intoxicated by this, picked up the bottle of alcohol on the table and poured it on Asherad.
Cough cough cough!
Asherad coughed at it. To a child, alcohol was like too strong a poison.
“Remember the insult this mother suffered.”
Asherad shook his head, but all the alcohol poured out, soaking him. Seeing this, Sabrina lifted Asherad up and pulled the rope.
“Did you call? Gasp!”
Sabrina smiled awkwardly at the surprised maid who was looking at her hat, soaked in alcohol. It was a kind face, different from the one she had shown to Asherad.
“Emily, Asherad was playing a prank. Can you bring me some new clothes?”
Empress Sabrina was outwardly virtuous and affectionate to her subordinates. This was because she knew that rumors were scary. The better she was, the more the Emperor's lover, Beatrice, was criticized as being poisonous.
The problem, however, was that Sabrina did not show that kindness to her son.
Sabrina abused Asherad while wearing an angel mask.
A replacement for that woman's daughter.
That was what diminished the value of Asherad, Sabrina's only hope. She wanted her son to become an irreplaceable, perfect being.
“You will lose your crown to that girl.”
That girl. That woman. A lovely thing that could be replaced. The one the Emperor loved. No matter how mature Asherad was, he was still a child, and instead of hating his parents, he hated that girl, Daphne. How hateful it is to be the illegitimate child of a father.
Like Sabrina, Asherad had to wear a kind mask and endure Sabrina's harsh discipline.
“What, what is this!”
One day, the Duke of Turbol was surprised to see bruises on Asherad's body. He realized that this was not normal. The Duke cared for Asherad, but Sabrina did not stop her abuse.
Time passed like that.
“Please, save me.”
Sabrina strangled him. Asherad's face turned bright red. Whenever Asherad made a mistake or didn't make proper progress in class, the Emperor would laugh at Asherad, and Sabrina would strangle Asherad.
The Emperor occasionally offered poison to Asherad. Hurry up and die so that your position can be given to my daughter. He could not dethrone the poor Crown Prince, so he hoped Asherad would disappear on his own.
As he grew up, Asherad was kind to everyone. He was polite to his father and comforted his grieving mother. But it was a thoroughly planned mask. A mask like his mother. The more this happened, the more the people of the palace sympathized with the Empress and Asherad, and they were polite and kind to them.
Asherad hated Daphne. As soon as he met the young Daphne, Asherad realized the twist within him.
The blonde, freckled girl was lovely to anyone who saw her. For a moment, even he felt weak.
However, Asherad gritted his teeth when he realized that her innocence had been formed by his unloving parents. The girl looked at Asherad with tears in her eyes, her face reddening, and her eyes wide open.
The disgusting expression of someone holding his hand tightly. The arrogance of thinking that everyone would be kind to her. Asherad would never forget that look.
He wanted to break that innocent face full of love that was different from his.
For the first time, the twist inside him, not his mask, pointed to someone. He thought of Daphne, and thought of her.
Sabrina visited the palace and harbored ill feelings towards Daphne and Beatrice, who threatened her position. She succeeded in slowly poisoning Beatrice and eliminating her. And she made the Emperor know that Daphne was a fake.
The whole country was in an uproar over that. Asherad moved his steps. It was because he had heard that the woman had come in as a maid.
Asherad looked at the girl with the bucket over her head. When he took it off, a familiar face of a girl came into view.
Pure white cheeks, red cheeks. Fearful but clear eyes. Only then did Asherad smile with shining eyes.
I will never leave this girl alone.
Asherad took the fallen girl as his own.
Daphne listened to Ioannis. She didn't even cry. She had only one thought in her mind.
'It was a good decision to drink the poison.'
She had such a happy childhood. Unlike Asherad, she didn't have a mother who would strangle her and a father who would tell her to drink poison.
Asherad wasn't just tormenting her for almost losing the throne. His hatred was so natural.
It was a relief to know that. She resented Asherad, but that was the end of it.
“As expected, that person and I are no good...”
“...”
“Oh, it’s such a bad relationship.”
Her presence made Asherad's childhood a living hell, and their mothers killed each other. Asherad tormented Daphne, and Daphne hated Asherad for it.
It would be a sin to be born; this was her original sin. Daphne realized that her choice was right.
Death will end it all. This is the only way to atone for my sins, Daphne thought, coughing up blood.
"Daphne!"
Daphne closed her eyes.
"What?"
“...”
“Tell me again what you said.”
Asherad, who was guarding the funeral, turned pale when he saw Ioannis' face.
“Why did she die?”
“...”
“Why did she die?”
Despite the attention of the people, he grabbed Ioannis by the collar. When Ioannis nodded quietly, Asherad let go of his collar and ran away. Ioannis’ face darkened as he saw his back.
Sarah's brother lost his life because he had talked to Daphne. When Daphne heard that, she gave up her desire to live. Then she realized how easy she had been in the past.
She thought about wanting to die, but she didn't want to die. Looking at the dagger that Asherad held out, she realized that she wanted to live happily.
But she didn't want to live that kind of life anymore. That's why Daphne was able to take action for the first time.
She lifted the necklace and took out the jewel. It was hidden from view by the necklace’s decoration, but there was a cap. The green necklace was one that Kalista had given her.
'This necklace holds a special secret.'
Kalista held out the necklace and pulled out the jewel. As she shook it, Daphne realized that it was not a jewel, but a glass ball filled with liquid.
'If you eat this, you will fall into eternal sleep.'
Then Kalista handed it to Daphne. Although she was curious as to why she was being given this medicine, Kalista smiled softly.
'If you're a woman, you should have one of these poisons.'
She didn't know what he meant. But she knew one thing. This was a trap. If Daphne were to use the poison on someone else, she would be killed instantly by Kalista. Of course, if Daphne were to use it herself, it would be Kalista's best luck.
Anyway, Daphne kept this necklace in her jewelry box. And it was finally time to use it. Daphne opened the lid and drank the poison in one gulp.
Something hot flowed down her throat.
'A person who eats it will initially have no symptoms, but after a while, they will vomit blood and die.'
How much time does she have left? Daphne smiled to herself. If her life was to continue killing others, if she was loved by the god of death, then it was right not to continue that life.
Daphne saw a beautiful sky before she died.
She wanted to get away from everything and go outside. She saw the trees sprouting leaves and the flowers blooming in the garden. Her steps led to a familiar place.
A place where foolish Daphne occasionally finds happiness.
The place where she saw young Asherad.
Away from everything, her mind was at peace. Daphne smiled brightly as she looked at the empty Crown Prince’s palace. Daphne’s footsteps headed to another place.
A large tree. When young Daphne came to the palace.
And Daphne returned to her room to face death quietly.
Even though she was about to die like that, Ioannis came to Daphne's room. There was no reason to refuse.
“Asherad hated you. But he also loved you.”
“...”
“That’s why his way of expressing himself was distorted. No, maybe he didn’t learn how to properly give or receive love.”
As she faced death, Daphne felt less affection for Asherad. She thought, “Why not just listen to his story before I die?”
“Asherad’s life was hell.”
***
Eight-year-old Asherad saw the scene unfold before his eyes. His father was pouring wine on his mother's head. Sabrina, the First Princess of the kingdom of Thalassa, endured the insults from the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, you must fulfill your duties as a wife.”
“...”
“Isn’t it true that as a wife and a subject, you should know what your husband likes and wants and try your best to satisfy those needs?”
“...”
“Why on earth did you commit such an insult to my lover?”
Belenus smiled as he saw his wife trembling with shame.
“Keep in mind that you can replace that guy.”
The Emperor who loved another. And Sabrina, who came here to strengthen the national power of the Kingdom of Thalassa. Since their relationship was without love, it was only natural that they would end up in ruins.
After the Emperor disappeared, Sabrina grumbled to herself. She turned her eyes to Asherad, who was watching, and slapped him on the cheek. Asherad collapsed. He was now only an eight-year-old boy, and he could not withstand the strength of an adult. Sabrina grumbled.
“If you were a great person yourself, you wouldn’t be insulted by being called replaceable!”
Asherad looked at Sabrina with indifferent eyes, not the frightened expression typical of a child. Sabrina, perhaps intoxicated by this, picked up the bottle of alcohol on the table and poured it on Asherad.
Cough cough cough!
Asherad coughed at it. To a child, alcohol was like too strong a poison.
“Remember the insult this mother suffered.”
Asherad shook his head, but all the alcohol poured out, soaking him. Seeing this, Sabrina lifted Asherad up and pulled the rope.
“Did you call? Gasp!”
Sabrina smiled awkwardly at the surprised maid who was looking at her hat, soaked in alcohol. It was a kind face, different from the one she had shown to Asherad.
“Emily, Asherad was playing a prank. Can you bring me some new clothes?”
Empress Sabrina was outwardly virtuous and affectionate to her subordinates. This was because she knew that rumors were scary. The better she was, the more the Emperor's lover, Beatrice, was criticized as being poisonous.
The problem, however, was that Sabrina did not show that kindness to her son.
Sabrina abused Asherad while wearing an angel mask.
A replacement for that woman's daughter.
That was what diminished the value of Asherad, Sabrina's only hope. She wanted her son to become an irreplaceable, perfect being.
“You will lose your crown to that girl.”
That girl. That woman. A lovely thing that could be replaced. The one the Emperor loved. No matter how mature Asherad was, he was still a child, and instead of hating his parents, he hated that girl, Daphne. How hateful it is to be the illegitimate child of a father.
Like Sabrina, Asherad had to wear a kind mask and endure Sabrina's harsh discipline.
“What, what is this!”
One day, the Duke of Turbol was surprised to see bruises on Asherad's body. He realized that this was not normal. The Duke cared for Asherad, but Sabrina did not stop her abuse.
Time passed like that.
“Please, save me.”
Sabrina strangled him. Asherad's face turned bright red. Whenever Asherad made a mistake or didn't make proper progress in class, the Emperor would laugh at Asherad, and Sabrina would strangle Asherad.
The Emperor occasionally offered poison to Asherad. Hurry up and die so that your position can be given to my daughter. He could not dethrone the poor Crown Prince, so he hoped Asherad would disappear on his own.
As he grew up, Asherad was kind to everyone. He was polite to his father and comforted his grieving mother. But it was a thoroughly planned mask. A mask like his mother. The more this happened, the more the people of the palace sympathized with the Empress and Asherad, and they were polite and kind to them.
Asherad hated Daphne. As soon as he met the young Daphne, Asherad realized the twist within him.
The blonde, freckled girl was lovely to anyone who saw her. For a moment, even he felt weak.
However, Asherad gritted his teeth when he realized that her innocence had been formed by his unloving parents. The girl looked at Asherad with tears in her eyes, her face reddening, and her eyes wide open.
The disgusting expression of someone holding his hand tightly. The arrogance of thinking that everyone would be kind to her. Asherad would never forget that look.
He wanted to break that innocent face full of love that was different from his.
For the first time, the twist inside him, not his mask, pointed to someone. He thought of Daphne, and thought of her.
Sabrina visited the palace and harbored ill feelings towards Daphne and Beatrice, who threatened her position. She succeeded in slowly poisoning Beatrice and eliminating her. And she made the Emperor know that Daphne was a fake.
The whole country was in an uproar over that. Asherad moved his steps. It was because he had heard that the woman had come in as a maid.
Asherad looked at the girl with the bucket over her head. When he took it off, a familiar face of a girl came into view.
Pure white cheeks, red cheeks. Fearful but clear eyes. Only then did Asherad smile with shining eyes.
I will never leave this girl alone.
Asherad took the fallen girl as his own.
***
Daphne listened to Ioannis. She didn't even cry. She had only one thought in her mind.
'It was a good decision to drink the poison.'
She had such a happy childhood. Unlike Asherad, she didn't have a mother who would strangle her and a father who would tell her to drink poison.
Asherad wasn't just tormenting her for almost losing the throne. His hatred was so natural.
It was a relief to know that. She resented Asherad, but that was the end of it.
“As expected, that person and I are no good...”
“...”
“Oh, it’s such a bad relationship.”
Her presence made Asherad's childhood a living hell, and their mothers killed each other. Asherad tormented Daphne, and Daphne hated Asherad for it.
It would be a sin to be born; this was her original sin. Daphne realized that her choice was right.
Death will end it all. This is the only way to atone for my sins, Daphne thought, coughing up blood.
"Daphne!"
Daphne closed her eyes.
***
"What?"
“...”
“Tell me again what you said.”
Asherad, who was guarding the funeral, turned pale when he saw Ioannis' face.
“Why did she die?”
“...”
“Why did she die?”
Despite the attention of the people, he grabbed Ioannis by the collar. When Ioannis nodded quietly, Asherad let go of his collar and ran away. Ioannis’ face darkened as he saw his back.
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