94. Illusion
When Daphne woke up and called his name, Asherad was momentarily speechless. What should he call it? Amazement at this miracle? Joy at the fact that his god was alive? He willingly became Daphne's believer and looked at Daphne, who was looking at him with blurry eyes.
“Oh, thank goodness. Thank goodness.”
Askelad smiled brightly. Did his repentance work? Daphne blinked blankly. He didn’t see any hatred or fear towards Asherad.
“Why am I here..."
Daphne looked down at herself. Confusion filled her eyes. Then Asherad grabbed Daphne's hand.
“It’s okay. It’s nothing.”
Daphne looked at the hand that Asherad was holding, then looked at his face again in shock.
“Who, who are you?”
“...”
“Isn’t that Asherad?”
What does this mean? Asherad tried to speak calmly to the confused eyes.
“Are you out of your mind right now?”
His green eyes trembled slightly. Why didn't she recognize him? Daphne was not normal right now. Could she have gone crazy? However, Daphne was more surprised. Daphne blinked slowly.
“So you’ve grown up since then?”
“What do you mean?”
Something needs to be done, Asherad thought, as he tried to call the doctor.
“You’ve grown. Since the last time I saw you at the palace.”
“...”
Asherad's face hardened. This was the palace, and they were always in the palace. But why did she say that? Why did she tell Asherad that he had grown up? Asherad's eyes trembled as he realized that Daphne's mind had finally gone mad.
“What do you want to do?”
His voice became gloomy and low. Then Daphne pulled the sheet over her mouth and peeked out her eyes, just like a child.
“Are you going to pretend to forget everything this time? Did you wake up with your head down as soon as you woke up?”
It was such a trivial trick. Asherad spoke coldly, caressing Daphne affectionately. It was no longer the same trick as trying to escape from him by taking poison. But strangely, he did not feel like killing her. He was angry at Daphne for deceiving him even after coming this far, but he decided to understand.
“Am I pretending to forget?”
"Daphne."
Daphne's face was filled with confusion.
“What did I do wrong?”
The voice trembled. Asherad tilted his head. Daphne was not good at hiding her expressions. Even when she whispered sweetly as if she loved him, there was an awkwardness, and Asherad sensed it. But this innocent look right now was definitely the truth.
“I, Askeraad. Why am I here? Where am I...?”
Asherad looked closely at Daphne's face with a frozen expression. Then, he asked with a sigh.
“How old are you?”
Ioannis hurried his steps. He had heard that Daphne had woken up. The maid said she certainly could not guarantee that there would be no aftereffects.
Surely something has happened to Daphne? His steps became quicker. What could Daphne be doing? Could she be despairing, having failed to die again?
Did Asherad change his mind? I couldn't tell.
“His Majesty?”
“He is eating.”
"I get it."
Ioannis headed to the restaurant. After skipping meals, he finally seemed to have the energy to eat. Ioannis was relieved that Asherad had recovered.
As he stepped into the restaurant, he heard a strange voice.
“Daphne. Oh, try it.”
"Ah."
The affectionate voices of a man and a woman. They were definitely the voices of Daphne and Asherad. But why were they affectionate? Did Daphne give up? Or was she crazy?
"It is delicious."
"Yes?"
But the tone was strange. As Ioannis got closer, he saw Asherad and Daphne hidden behind the curtain.
“Come in.”
Asherad looked at Ioannis, who was standing awkwardly with a big smile. Ioannis looked at Asherad's happy-looking face. Something was strange. When Ioannis turned his head, Daphne grabbed Asherad's clothes and tried to hide herself.
“What the heck is this...”
Asherad smiled and patted Daphne on the head. Daphne was strange. She didn't even pretend to know Ioannis and hid herself like that...
“Understand. She keeps hiding like this when she sees people she doesn’t know.”
Asherad said with a smiling face.
"Stranger?"
Ioannis couldn't understand anymore. Did Asheraddo something? Ioannis asked Daphne.
“Miss Daphne, what’s wrong?”
But Daphne buried herself deeper into Asherad. Asherad lifted his arms and hugged her. He spoke with a bright face.
“Daphne is nine years old now.”
"What?"
Asherad chuckled as Ioannis made a face of incomprehension.
“She lost my memories since she was nine. Everything.”
Ioannis looked at Daphne with a shocked expression. She seemed too busy holding onto Asherad's arms to look at Ioannis.
“Why on earth...”
“That medicine helped us.”
Asherad's eyes sparkled strangely. He stroked Daphne's blond hair and smiled brightly. Ioannis thought of the side effects of the medicine. Daphne had lost her memory. He sighed.
“Ioannis. God has not forsaken me.”
He stroked Daphne with a triumphant look on his face.
“Look, it’s as if nothing happened. You just have to rebuild your memories.”
The face full of joy was clearly that of the old Asherad. Asherad was living comfortably like that? Again? Did God really pity Asherad's misfortune?
Asherad had to regret bitterly. However, his sins were erased, and only the days of his comfort remained.
“Daphne. Say hello to Ioannis.”
Daphne flinched and tried to turn her head.
“It’s okay, my friend.”
Daphne turned her head and slowly left Asherad's embrace. She stood up and greeted Ioannis. Her gentle eyes were clearly those of a child.
"Hello."
The greeting by holding the hem of her skirt was extremely elegant. When she looked at Ioannis, who did not accept the greeting with a fearful expression, Ioannis nodded.
"Nice to see you."
It's a funny play.
“This is Ioannis from Turbol.”
Daphne nodded. Asherad smiled as if she had done well and patted Daphne on the head. Then she smiled brightly.
“Did you see it?”
“...”
“Daphne only follows me.”
Ioannis couldn't answer Asherad's words. He was so depressed that he couldn't say anything. Daphne and Asherad were smiling happily.
As Daphne continued to eat, the sauce got on her face. Then Asherad personally picked up a napkin and wiped Daphne's lips.
Then Daphne laughed bashfully.
That immature and delicate appearance was certainly lovely. Asherad, who was happy to see that smile, was also dazzling.
But Ioannis knew.
That is an illusory love.
Was it because he needed Daphne's love that he became sick and young from being crazy in love and longing for love? Was it because he was so hungry for that abnormal love?
“Asherad.”
"Why?"
“I'm sorry.”
This was all he could say to Asherad. He looked at the pitiful being and shed tears. It was the first time in twenty years that the blunt and cold Ioannis had shed tears.
“Yes, here are your clothes.”
"Yes."
Daphne smiled brightly and spread her arms. Sarah, who was handing over the clothes, made a face that seemed to catch her breath for a moment. It was because she was distressed by seeing Daphne’s bright face. She suppressed her emotions that were welling up.
"Daphne."
"Yes?"
“You’re not acting, are you?”
“Acting?”
Daphne tilted her head. Sarah's anger rose at that. She looked at Daphne closely several times, but it seemed as if Daphne had really reverted to being a little child.
“You’re not. You’re acting like you’re nine.”
“I’m nine years old, right?”
Sarah sighed at those words. She had been tormenting Daphne continuously, hoping that she would become unhappy. She had deliberately made her meet the dead Emperor and had caused trouble for Prince Pindus. However, no matter what Sarah did, Daphne became unhappy just as she tried to gain happiness.
And then the end of that misfortune was poisoning.
When she finally woke up, she was smiling innocently, calling Sarah her older sister. Sarah hated that innocence. Isn't that too cowardly?
Now that she's told her of her sins, she doesn't even feel pain and just forgets everything. How cowardly.
“I really hate you.”
"... Yes?"
“I really don’t like it, I will never let it go! How can I forget all the mistakes you made?!”
Sarah cried out as she saw Daphne's frightened face. Daphne comforted Sarah, who was crying in front of her.
"Sorry."
“...”
“I’m sorry I forgot everything.”
At those words, Sarah cried even louder. She hated Daphne. She hated her so much that she couldn't stand it. She should have just died. Why did she appear in such a pitiful state? Sarah cried and cried. The place where she had lost her finger was numb.
When Daphne woke up and called his name, Asherad was momentarily speechless. What should he call it? Amazement at this miracle? Joy at the fact that his god was alive? He willingly became Daphne's believer and looked at Daphne, who was looking at him with blurry eyes.
“Oh, thank goodness. Thank goodness.”
Askelad smiled brightly. Did his repentance work? Daphne blinked blankly. He didn’t see any hatred or fear towards Asherad.
“Why am I here..."
Daphne looked down at herself. Confusion filled her eyes. Then Asherad grabbed Daphne's hand.
“It’s okay. It’s nothing.”
Daphne looked at the hand that Asherad was holding, then looked at his face again in shock.
“Who, who are you?”
“...”
“Isn’t that Asherad?”
What does this mean? Asherad tried to speak calmly to the confused eyes.
“Are you out of your mind right now?”
His green eyes trembled slightly. Why didn't she recognize him? Daphne was not normal right now. Could she have gone crazy? However, Daphne was more surprised. Daphne blinked slowly.
“So you’ve grown up since then?”
“What do you mean?”
Something needs to be done, Asherad thought, as he tried to call the doctor.
“You’ve grown. Since the last time I saw you at the palace.”
“...”
Asherad's face hardened. This was the palace, and they were always in the palace. But why did she say that? Why did she tell Asherad that he had grown up? Asherad's eyes trembled as he realized that Daphne's mind had finally gone mad.
“What do you want to do?”
His voice became gloomy and low. Then Daphne pulled the sheet over her mouth and peeked out her eyes, just like a child.
“Are you going to pretend to forget everything this time? Did you wake up with your head down as soon as you woke up?”
It was such a trivial trick. Asherad spoke coldly, caressing Daphne affectionately. It was no longer the same trick as trying to escape from him by taking poison. But strangely, he did not feel like killing her. He was angry at Daphne for deceiving him even after coming this far, but he decided to understand.
“Am I pretending to forget?”
"Daphne."
Daphne's face was filled with confusion.
“What did I do wrong?”
The voice trembled. Asherad tilted his head. Daphne was not good at hiding her expressions. Even when she whispered sweetly as if she loved him, there was an awkwardness, and Asherad sensed it. But this innocent look right now was definitely the truth.
“I, Askeraad. Why am I here? Where am I...?”
Asherad looked closely at Daphne's face with a frozen expression. Then, he asked with a sigh.
“How old are you?”
***
Ioannis hurried his steps. He had heard that Daphne had woken up. The maid said she certainly could not guarantee that there would be no aftereffects.
Surely something has happened to Daphne? His steps became quicker. What could Daphne be doing? Could she be despairing, having failed to die again?
Did Asherad change his mind? I couldn't tell.
“His Majesty?”
“He is eating.”
"I get it."
Ioannis headed to the restaurant. After skipping meals, he finally seemed to have the energy to eat. Ioannis was relieved that Asherad had recovered.
As he stepped into the restaurant, he heard a strange voice.
“Daphne. Oh, try it.”
"Ah."
The affectionate voices of a man and a woman. They were definitely the voices of Daphne and Asherad. But why were they affectionate? Did Daphne give up? Or was she crazy?
"It is delicious."
"Yes?"
But the tone was strange. As Ioannis got closer, he saw Asherad and Daphne hidden behind the curtain.
“Come in.”
Asherad looked at Ioannis, who was standing awkwardly with a big smile. Ioannis looked at Asherad's happy-looking face. Something was strange. When Ioannis turned his head, Daphne grabbed Asherad's clothes and tried to hide herself.
“What the heck is this...”
Asherad smiled and patted Daphne on the head. Daphne was strange. She didn't even pretend to know Ioannis and hid herself like that...
“Understand. She keeps hiding like this when she sees people she doesn’t know.”
Asherad said with a smiling face.
"Stranger?"
Ioannis couldn't understand anymore. Did Asheraddo something? Ioannis asked Daphne.
“Miss Daphne, what’s wrong?”
But Daphne buried herself deeper into Asherad. Asherad lifted his arms and hugged her. He spoke with a bright face.
“Daphne is nine years old now.”
"What?"
Asherad chuckled as Ioannis made a face of incomprehension.
“She lost my memories since she was nine. Everything.”
Ioannis looked at Daphne with a shocked expression. She seemed too busy holding onto Asherad's arms to look at Ioannis.
“Why on earth...”
“That medicine helped us.”
Asherad's eyes sparkled strangely. He stroked Daphne's blond hair and smiled brightly. Ioannis thought of the side effects of the medicine. Daphne had lost her memory. He sighed.
“Ioannis. God has not forsaken me.”
He stroked Daphne with a triumphant look on his face.
“Look, it’s as if nothing happened. You just have to rebuild your memories.”
The face full of joy was clearly that of the old Asherad. Asherad was living comfortably like that? Again? Did God really pity Asherad's misfortune?
Asherad had to regret bitterly. However, his sins were erased, and only the days of his comfort remained.
“Daphne. Say hello to Ioannis.”
Daphne flinched and tried to turn her head.
“It’s okay, my friend.”
Daphne turned her head and slowly left Asherad's embrace. She stood up and greeted Ioannis. Her gentle eyes were clearly those of a child.
"Hello."
The greeting by holding the hem of her skirt was extremely elegant. When she looked at Ioannis, who did not accept the greeting with a fearful expression, Ioannis nodded.
"Nice to see you."
It's a funny play.
“This is Ioannis from Turbol.”
Daphne nodded. Asherad smiled as if she had done well and patted Daphne on the head. Then she smiled brightly.
“Did you see it?”
“...”
“Daphne only follows me.”
Ioannis couldn't answer Asherad's words. He was so depressed that he couldn't say anything. Daphne and Asherad were smiling happily.
As Daphne continued to eat, the sauce got on her face. Then Asherad personally picked up a napkin and wiped Daphne's lips.
Then Daphne laughed bashfully.
That immature and delicate appearance was certainly lovely. Asherad, who was happy to see that smile, was also dazzling.
But Ioannis knew.
That is an illusory love.
Was it because he needed Daphne's love that he became sick and young from being crazy in love and longing for love? Was it because he was so hungry for that abnormal love?
“Asherad.”
"Why?"
“I'm sorry.”
This was all he could say to Asherad. He looked at the pitiful being and shed tears. It was the first time in twenty years that the blunt and cold Ioannis had shed tears.
***
“Yes, here are your clothes.”
"Yes."
Daphne smiled brightly and spread her arms. Sarah, who was handing over the clothes, made a face that seemed to catch her breath for a moment. It was because she was distressed by seeing Daphne’s bright face. She suppressed her emotions that were welling up.
"Daphne."
"Yes?"
“You’re not acting, are you?”
“Acting?”
Daphne tilted her head. Sarah's anger rose at that. She looked at Daphne closely several times, but it seemed as if Daphne had really reverted to being a little child.
“You’re not. You’re acting like you’re nine.”
“I’m nine years old, right?”
Sarah sighed at those words. She had been tormenting Daphne continuously, hoping that she would become unhappy. She had deliberately made her meet the dead Emperor and had caused trouble for Prince Pindus. However, no matter what Sarah did, Daphne became unhappy just as she tried to gain happiness.
And then the end of that misfortune was poisoning.
When she finally woke up, she was smiling innocently, calling Sarah her older sister. Sarah hated that innocence. Isn't that too cowardly?
Now that she's told her of her sins, she doesn't even feel pain and just forgets everything. How cowardly.
“I really hate you.”
"... Yes?"
“I really don’t like it, I will never let it go! How can I forget all the mistakes you made?!”
Sarah cried out as she saw Daphne's frightened face. Daphne comforted Sarah, who was crying in front of her.
"Sorry."
“...”
“I’m sorry I forgot everything.”
At those words, Sarah cried even louder. She hated Daphne. She hated her so much that she couldn't stand it. She should have just died. Why did she appear in such a pitiful state? Sarah cried and cried. The place where she had lost her finger was numb.
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