97. I know
“Ahhhh! What the heck! What the heck is this!!”
The Prince of Pindus screamed as he looked at his severed flesh. It was his manhood, his pride. It was the spear that would immobilize the woman, and it was the important part that would be responsible for the future of Pindus.
Now I will never be able to act like a man again! This noble body was supposed to give birth to a royal descendant and contribute to the country! My pride! Asherad watched the scream with a blank expression, then looked at the red flesh and spoke.
“It doesn’t look like a big chunk has fallen off, but you’re being harsh, Prince.”
Prince Pindus's eyes turned bloodshot at the joke.
“Look! This kid cut my ass off! The future of our country! Get in there quick and take him out, take him out!”
The Prince shouted, but no one came in. Suddenly, the Prince thought about how Asherad could have barged in here.
No way, no way...
Asherad looked toward the door and said as he saw the Prince of Pindus' eyes widen.
“I killed them all.”
At those words, Prince Pindus let out a desperate scream. At this moment, he was left alone in a strange land without any protection. He was helpless under the violence. As the Prince stepped back, Asherad approached him with slow, slow steps.
Then he lifted his foot and crushed the severed piece of flesh. Crunch, blood spurted out.
“Whoooooooo!”
Prince Pindus writhed in pain and retched. He now realized what he had come to. That beast was going to kill him. Prince Pindus, finally realizing the murderous intent in that expressionless face, clasped his hands together and prayed.
“Hey, save me!”
Asherad stood like a messenger. The Prince felt a sense of awe at that. Asherad, who was standing tall, smiled and said.
“Did you think I would leave you alone?”
“...”
“I already tried to kill you.”
The grin of the messenger was cold and evil. The Prince's face turned pale at the Emperor's attitude, which showed no hesitation. Killing me? Why on earth? There was no reason for that. Of course, he had ridiculed him several times because he was embarrassed by the position of the Crown Prince of the empire. It was true that he had not respected that guy since he was young.
But you're going to kill me? Me?
Just for that reason?
“If you keep touching it like that, your hand will be cut off.”
Asherad held up his sword, dripping with blood. When Prince Pindus reached out, Asherad cut off his hand without mercy.
“Ahh! Oh! Ohhh!”
He screamed desperately.
“Please save me! Please save me, I’ll do anything! I’ll do anything!”
It hurts, it hurts! He didn't know how much pain would follow. He was terrified. He didn't know that Crown Prince Askelad, no, the Emperor, who was always quiet and upright, would be this crazy. To kill him so openly! What would he do in the future?
“Anything? You don’t have to do anything.”
“...Ahhh!”
“If you insist on doing this, I hope it will be a good corpse.”
What the heck! Asherad snickered at the Prince's words. Asherad sat down, looked the Prince in the eye, and spoke softly.
“You will successfully conclude a trade agreement with me and safely leave for your country with the diplomatic delegation.”
“Hikhiik!”
“Between the kingdom of Thalassa and the kingdom of Pindus, you will be brutally murdered by a bandit group and become a corpse.”
“Ouch! Haaaak!”
“Don’t be so scared. Your father would be so happy if a country you don’t get along with is the culprit. If your country’s King declares war on the Kingdom of Thalassa and requests an alliance, I will gladly help.”
“Yes, I was wrong...”
“Your father will look up to me as a benefactor.”
“...”
“I will avenge those Thalassa things who tortured you to death.”
“Ugh!”
The Prince flinched at the words, 'tortured to death'. Asherad had told him what fate awaited him. He shook his head, shedding tears. Those who abused, tormented, and made others cry always paid a heavy price.
“What if it goes wrong! What if the kingdoms are to unite!”
He shouted in a last desperate attempt. He hoped that this madman would regain his sense of reason. However, Asherad tilted his head as if he were puzzled.
“What does that mean?”
“Ugh!”
The country will be in ruins. No matter how great the empire is, even if the kingdoms are united... it won't be safe. Isn't the Emperor afraid of the future?
“You tried to touch my Daphne twice.”
Asherad muttered. Just because of that woman. Just because he tried to touch that woman once... The Prince shed tears and regretted it. He shouldn’t have touched that woman. This man was more into women than he thought, and he didn’t care if the country was in ruins because of the war.
Asherad rang the bell as he passed the Prince. He opened the door and smiled as the knights came in.
“Please heal him quickly.”
The knights supported the Prince. The former proud, cunning, and cruel Prince was gone, and only a man who despaired of the future remained.
The Prince regretted it bitterly, but it was too late. His last words were, 'Please kill me.'
He lasted quite a while.
Daphne was frowning. The smell of the medicine she had applied to her body was bitter. Fortunately, it was just a simple bruise, so she only had bruises on her body and had ointment applied.
Daphne calmed down surprisingly quickly. Was it because Asherad had come to protect her? While receiving treatment, Daphne became convinced that Asherad would not sell her out or believe the Prince’s words.
The reason was simple: because of the dead knights.
Asherad has already killed the knights, and it must be for Daphne's sake. Since he has already killed them, the conflict between the nations has begun.
Daphne, who had been thinking calmly, opened her eyes wide.
Huh? Why am I thinking like this?
When the gap between the adult's and the child's thoughts overlapped, her head started to spin. She held her head for a long time, then gasped for breath and tried to think of something else.
Yeah, let's not think about such complicated things.
Daphne sat on her chair, thinking about something else. First of all, what puzzled her the most was the identity of the 'Emperor'.
'Your Majesty, the Emperor!'
Clearly, the strange man called Asherad that, and Asherad answered him. Could he be the Emperor?
Why?
The Emperor, her false father, is now bedridden.
As Daphne was confused, there was a knock on the door. When she answered to come in, the door swung open. It was Asherad.
"Daphne."
He was very tall. He was wearing a light blue shirt and a black vest, as if he had changed his clothes. He had a tall and sturdy body. He had grown to a size that was incomparable to when he was a little boy. The young man who had been a boy at this moment was completely unfamiliar.
The boy who was once a royal family member has grown up and looks upon Daphne with warmth.
Daphne observed the man closely. Asherad paused at the slightly wary expression on his face.
"Why?"
Asherad had a wounded expression. Daphne's heart weakened at the sight. She bit her lip and asked openly.
“Asherad. Are you the Emperor?”
At those words, Asherad lowered his eyes. Just as Daphne was about to get up from her chair, Asherad sat down next to Daphne on the sofa.
"Yes."
Daphne looked at Asherad without saying anything. Daphne also knew. The Emperor was to become the Emperor's child.
She is the Emperor's fake daughter, and Asherad is his real son.
That alone made Daphne unable to raise her head in front of Asherad because she was embarrassed. She remembered her mother saying that the Crown Prince was good at everything, so she had to win.
That's what Asherad did. He was the one who had to win. Does Asherad know that? What if he finds out that Daphne is his father's fake daughter?
She was afraid of Asherad. She already knew that her 'father', the Emperor, had a wife. How much would the son of the real wife hate the daughter of the fake wife?
"Daphne?"
Daphne thought of Asherad rejecting her with a cold face. She was scared. What if Asherad made a face of disgust? Daphne lowered her head, clutching the hem of her skirt.
“Daphne, are you still sick? What’s wrong?”
Daphne closed her eyes painfully at those kind words. Let's not hide it. Yes, they said we shouldn't lie. Let's be honest and ask for forgiveness.
At the age of nine, she had never fallen into the abyss, so she had no fear and could be more upright. A time when Asherad's kindness was not her only salvation. A time when she had never properly experienced conflict and was pure and beautiful, when she had heard what justice was.
Daphne, who had returned to that time, raised her head and said.
“Asherad. I’m sorry.”
Tears welled up in my eyes.
“I, that... that... That is...”
Her voice trembled as tears welled up in her eyes. However, Daphne thought that she had to speak honestly. Even if she was to be hated by Asherad. Asherad's expression did not appear clouded by tears.
“That’s because I was His Majesty the Emperor’s fake daughter...”
“...”
“But I can’t lie to you... I’m sorry. I was, well. His Majesty the Emperor’s fake daughter.”
The incoherent and straightforward words touched the man's sore spot. As he watched that cruel purity, Asherad stood silently for a long time. A complex expression appeared on his face.
“Asherad is His Majesty's real son... I...”
Daphne cried. She didn't know why the fake daughter and the real son met and became lovers. She couldn't understand the complicated relationship, but that's why Daphne apologized. She was the wrong one because she was telling a lie as the fake daughter. Asherad put his hand on Daphne's shoulder and let it fall weakly.
“I know.”
“...”
“I know, so it’s okay.”
His chest was pounding. He continued to feel a strange sensation. A sharp pain, as if being stabbed with a knife. It was as if someone was squeezing his heart and then releasing it. How should he describe this feeling?
Why, this apple make me feel this way? The arrogant Asherad could not explain this feeling in words. Instead, he spoke in a hushed voice.
“There’s no need to apologize.”
It's not a mistake to be born.
You, too, me, too.
He held Daphne in his arms and hugged her. Something welled up in his eyes and flowed down. He thought about the 'what if' that he had never thought about before.
If, very if.
If only our old days were like this.
If only we had told each other the truth and not lies.
Could you and I both be happy?
His sin had not occurred, and Asherad might have been able to forgive Daphne, for he could not have hated that innocent being.
“Daphne, I’m the one who’s sorry.”
Daphne flinched at those words. Asherad hugged her tightly.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Daphne...”
If he had been foolish enough to let go of one apology, their ending could have been different. He apologized, which he had not been able to do until then.
An apology that could only be made because she had lost her memory.
Asherad buried his face in Daphne's neck. Daphne, whose body had been frozen, raised her hand and placed it on Asherad's back.
“Ahhhh! What the heck! What the heck is this!!”
The Prince of Pindus screamed as he looked at his severed flesh. It was his manhood, his pride. It was the spear that would immobilize the woman, and it was the important part that would be responsible for the future of Pindus.
Now I will never be able to act like a man again! This noble body was supposed to give birth to a royal descendant and contribute to the country! My pride! Asherad watched the scream with a blank expression, then looked at the red flesh and spoke.
“It doesn’t look like a big chunk has fallen off, but you’re being harsh, Prince.”
Prince Pindus's eyes turned bloodshot at the joke.
“Look! This kid cut my ass off! The future of our country! Get in there quick and take him out, take him out!”
The Prince shouted, but no one came in. Suddenly, the Prince thought about how Asherad could have barged in here.
No way, no way...
Asherad looked toward the door and said as he saw the Prince of Pindus' eyes widen.
“I killed them all.”
At those words, Prince Pindus let out a desperate scream. At this moment, he was left alone in a strange land without any protection. He was helpless under the violence. As the Prince stepped back, Asherad approached him with slow, slow steps.
Then he lifted his foot and crushed the severed piece of flesh. Crunch, blood spurted out.
“Whoooooooo!”
Prince Pindus writhed in pain and retched. He now realized what he had come to. That beast was going to kill him. Prince Pindus, finally realizing the murderous intent in that expressionless face, clasped his hands together and prayed.
“Hey, save me!”
Asherad stood like a messenger. The Prince felt a sense of awe at that. Asherad, who was standing tall, smiled and said.
“Did you think I would leave you alone?”
“...”
“I already tried to kill you.”
The grin of the messenger was cold and evil. The Prince's face turned pale at the Emperor's attitude, which showed no hesitation. Killing me? Why on earth? There was no reason for that. Of course, he had ridiculed him several times because he was embarrassed by the position of the Crown Prince of the empire. It was true that he had not respected that guy since he was young.
But you're going to kill me? Me?
Just for that reason?
“If you keep touching it like that, your hand will be cut off.”
Asherad held up his sword, dripping with blood. When Prince Pindus reached out, Asherad cut off his hand without mercy.
“Ahh! Oh! Ohhh!”
He screamed desperately.
“Please save me! Please save me, I’ll do anything! I’ll do anything!”
It hurts, it hurts! He didn't know how much pain would follow. He was terrified. He didn't know that Crown Prince Askelad, no, the Emperor, who was always quiet and upright, would be this crazy. To kill him so openly! What would he do in the future?
“Anything? You don’t have to do anything.”
“...Ahhh!”
“If you insist on doing this, I hope it will be a good corpse.”
What the heck! Asherad snickered at the Prince's words. Asherad sat down, looked the Prince in the eye, and spoke softly.
“You will successfully conclude a trade agreement with me and safely leave for your country with the diplomatic delegation.”
“Hikhiik!”
“Between the kingdom of Thalassa and the kingdom of Pindus, you will be brutally murdered by a bandit group and become a corpse.”
“Ouch! Haaaak!”
“Don’t be so scared. Your father would be so happy if a country you don’t get along with is the culprit. If your country’s King declares war on the Kingdom of Thalassa and requests an alliance, I will gladly help.”
“Yes, I was wrong...”
“Your father will look up to me as a benefactor.”
“...”
“I will avenge those Thalassa things who tortured you to death.”
“Ugh!”
The Prince flinched at the words, 'tortured to death'. Asherad had told him what fate awaited him. He shook his head, shedding tears. Those who abused, tormented, and made others cry always paid a heavy price.
“What if it goes wrong! What if the kingdoms are to unite!”
He shouted in a last desperate attempt. He hoped that this madman would regain his sense of reason. However, Asherad tilted his head as if he were puzzled.
“What does that mean?”
“Ugh!”
The country will be in ruins. No matter how great the empire is, even if the kingdoms are united... it won't be safe. Isn't the Emperor afraid of the future?
“You tried to touch my Daphne twice.”
Asherad muttered. Just because of that woman. Just because he tried to touch that woman once... The Prince shed tears and regretted it. He shouldn’t have touched that woman. This man was more into women than he thought, and he didn’t care if the country was in ruins because of the war.
Asherad rang the bell as he passed the Prince. He opened the door and smiled as the knights came in.
“Please heal him quickly.”
The knights supported the Prince. The former proud, cunning, and cruel Prince was gone, and only a man who despaired of the future remained.
The Prince regretted it bitterly, but it was too late. His last words were, 'Please kill me.'
He lasted quite a while.
***
Daphne was frowning. The smell of the medicine she had applied to her body was bitter. Fortunately, it was just a simple bruise, so she only had bruises on her body and had ointment applied.
Daphne calmed down surprisingly quickly. Was it because Asherad had come to protect her? While receiving treatment, Daphne became convinced that Asherad would not sell her out or believe the Prince’s words.
The reason was simple: because of the dead knights.
Asherad has already killed the knights, and it must be for Daphne's sake. Since he has already killed them, the conflict between the nations has begun.
Daphne, who had been thinking calmly, opened her eyes wide.
Huh? Why am I thinking like this?
When the gap between the adult's and the child's thoughts overlapped, her head started to spin. She held her head for a long time, then gasped for breath and tried to think of something else.
Yeah, let's not think about such complicated things.
Daphne sat on her chair, thinking about something else. First of all, what puzzled her the most was the identity of the 'Emperor'.
'Your Majesty, the Emperor!'
Clearly, the strange man called Asherad that, and Asherad answered him. Could he be the Emperor?
Why?
The Emperor, her false father, is now bedridden.
As Daphne was confused, there was a knock on the door. When she answered to come in, the door swung open. It was Asherad.
"Daphne."
He was very tall. He was wearing a light blue shirt and a black vest, as if he had changed his clothes. He had a tall and sturdy body. He had grown to a size that was incomparable to when he was a little boy. The young man who had been a boy at this moment was completely unfamiliar.
The boy who was once a royal family member has grown up and looks upon Daphne with warmth.
Daphne observed the man closely. Asherad paused at the slightly wary expression on his face.
"Why?"
Asherad had a wounded expression. Daphne's heart weakened at the sight. She bit her lip and asked openly.
“Asherad. Are you the Emperor?”
At those words, Asherad lowered his eyes. Just as Daphne was about to get up from her chair, Asherad sat down next to Daphne on the sofa.
"Yes."
Daphne looked at Asherad without saying anything. Daphne also knew. The Emperor was to become the Emperor's child.
She is the Emperor's fake daughter, and Asherad is his real son.
That alone made Daphne unable to raise her head in front of Asherad because she was embarrassed. She remembered her mother saying that the Crown Prince was good at everything, so she had to win.
That's what Asherad did. He was the one who had to win. Does Asherad know that? What if he finds out that Daphne is his father's fake daughter?
She was afraid of Asherad. She already knew that her 'father', the Emperor, had a wife. How much would the son of the real wife hate the daughter of the fake wife?
"Daphne?"
Daphne thought of Asherad rejecting her with a cold face. She was scared. What if Asherad made a face of disgust? Daphne lowered her head, clutching the hem of her skirt.
“Daphne, are you still sick? What’s wrong?”
Daphne closed her eyes painfully at those kind words. Let's not hide it. Yes, they said we shouldn't lie. Let's be honest and ask for forgiveness.
At the age of nine, she had never fallen into the abyss, so she had no fear and could be more upright. A time when Asherad's kindness was not her only salvation. A time when she had never properly experienced conflict and was pure and beautiful, when she had heard what justice was.
Daphne, who had returned to that time, raised her head and said.
“Asherad. I’m sorry.”
Tears welled up in my eyes.
“I, that... that... That is...”
Her voice trembled as tears welled up in her eyes. However, Daphne thought that she had to speak honestly. Even if she was to be hated by Asherad. Asherad's expression did not appear clouded by tears.
“That’s because I was His Majesty the Emperor’s fake daughter...”
“...”
“But I can’t lie to you... I’m sorry. I was, well. His Majesty the Emperor’s fake daughter.”
The incoherent and straightforward words touched the man's sore spot. As he watched that cruel purity, Asherad stood silently for a long time. A complex expression appeared on his face.
“Asherad is His Majesty's real son... I...”
Daphne cried. She didn't know why the fake daughter and the real son met and became lovers. She couldn't understand the complicated relationship, but that's why Daphne apologized. She was the wrong one because she was telling a lie as the fake daughter. Asherad put his hand on Daphne's shoulder and let it fall weakly.
“I know.”
“...”
“I know, so it’s okay.”
His chest was pounding. He continued to feel a strange sensation. A sharp pain, as if being stabbed with a knife. It was as if someone was squeezing his heart and then releasing it. How should he describe this feeling?
Why, this apple make me feel this way? The arrogant Asherad could not explain this feeling in words. Instead, he spoke in a hushed voice.
“There’s no need to apologize.”
It's not a mistake to be born.
You, too, me, too.
He held Daphne in his arms and hugged her. Something welled up in his eyes and flowed down. He thought about the 'what if' that he had never thought about before.
If, very if.
If only our old days were like this.
If only we had told each other the truth and not lies.
Could you and I both be happy?
His sin had not occurred, and Asherad might have been able to forgive Daphne, for he could not have hated that innocent being.
“Daphne, I’m the one who’s sorry.”
Daphne flinched at those words. Asherad hugged her tightly.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Daphne...”
If he had been foolish enough to let go of one apology, their ending could have been different. He apologized, which he had not been able to do until then.
An apology that could only be made because she had lost her memory.
Asherad buried his face in Daphne's neck. Daphne, whose body had been frozen, raised her hand and placed it on Asherad's back.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment