#136. The Worst Betrayal
Daphne was like a withered tree. She had lost her characteristic vitality and was withering away. Why did she feel this way? Why, why... Even she could not explain her feelings.
Daphne sat up. She looked at Ian, who was asleep again. Ian seemed to feel the same way, as he slept a lot. It was as if he could escape the painful reality when he slept. Daphne looked at Ian.
“Do you wish your father were alive?”
But Ian was silent. Ian suffered from the trauma of the war. According to the doctor, the first thing to do was to let him sleep as much as possible, so Ian had been sleeping these days.
“You've only known each other for a month. He hasn’t been particularly nice to you.”
“...”
“Ian, tell me. Please, tell me.”
Daphne burst into tears. She was truly a pitiful mother. Daphne knew it too. Tears flowed down her chin without stopping. After sobbing for a long time, Daphne stood up as if she had made up her mind about something.
Asherad touched his face. Wet blood flowed. His face was also swollen, so he couldn’t see clearly. It was clearly a blood clot. Asherad didn’t feel any humiliation at the fact that his beautiful face, which people had praised, had become like this. Rather, he thought that if he died by losing a lot of blood, it would be a luxurious death.
A choice between becoming a stallion or being executed.
"Haha!"
He laughed with all his might. He found his own appearance funny. He waited for his life to end while covered in blood. Then, someone appeared.
"Daphne."
As if he knew it was coming, the man saw a shadow with its back to the torch on the wall. He stared helplessly at Daphne.
“Why did you come here?”
Daphne said nothing to his question. She seemed like a vision from the dead. After a long moment of silence, Daphne spoke.
“You have now received your retribution.”
Daphne looked distressed as she spoke. Asherad looked at her beautiful face.
“What is it like to lose everything?”
“Daphne, is that what you should say to your husband, who tried to save you and ended up like this?”
Daphne's expression fell at that sound. It was an accurate point. Daphne was thinking about that too. That's why she couldn't come up with sarcastic words. She wanted to trample him with words, but she couldn't. She closed her eyes tightly.
The peaceful times are over.
Now the time of condemnation had begun. Yet Daphne did not want to accept it.
“You will lose everything you have and die.”
Daphne's voice trembled. Asherad spoke.
“Well, what do you think...”
“...”
Because hr had already lost it. Not really. He had an indifferent expression the whole time. He didn't even say the usual words of begging for help. He just looked at this woman as if he were admiring her.
“What about Ian?”
Daphne's face twisted into tears at that question.
“He's sleeping now.”
"Yes."
“...”
“Don’t talk about me.”
“He already knows. He's a smart kid.”
“That’s right...”
Asherad clicked his tongue. As Asherad moved, the light from the torch outside the prison illuminated his face. The scars on his face that had not been visible before became visible.
“What the...!”
Daphne's face turned pale. She ran out of the prison as if she had seen something terrible. As he watched her run away, Asherad leaned his head against the wall as if he were tired.
He felt like his head was going to explode from drinking. That was the kind of life Derek had been living these days. He kept drinking, ignoring the lifeless Daphne and the sleepy Ian.
The Count of Locania is coming soon. What should I do about this... And, how should I improve my relationship with Daphne... Anger is rising again in his
Daphne was like a withered tree. She had lost her characteristic vitality and was withering away. Why did she feel this way? Why, why... Even she could not explain her feelings.
Daphne sat up. She looked at Ian, who was asleep again. Ian seemed to feel the same way, as he slept a lot. It was as if he could escape the painful reality when he slept. Daphne looked at Ian.
“Do you wish your father were alive?”
But Ian was silent. Ian suffered from the trauma of the war. According to the doctor, the first thing to do was to let him sleep as much as possible, so Ian had been sleeping these days.
“You've only known each other for a month. He hasn’t been particularly nice to you.”
“...”
“Ian, tell me. Please, tell me.”
Daphne burst into tears. She was truly a pitiful mother. Daphne knew it too. Tears flowed down her chin without stopping. After sobbing for a long time, Daphne stood up as if she had made up her mind about something.
***
Asherad touched his face. Wet blood flowed. His face was also swollen, so he couldn’t see clearly. It was clearly a blood clot. Asherad didn’t feel any humiliation at the fact that his beautiful face, which people had praised, had become like this. Rather, he thought that if he died by losing a lot of blood, it would be a luxurious death.
A choice between becoming a stallion or being executed.
"Haha!"
He laughed with all his might. He found his own appearance funny. He waited for his life to end while covered in blood. Then, someone appeared.
"Daphne."
As if he knew it was coming, the man saw a shadow with its back to the torch on the wall. He stared helplessly at Daphne.
“Why did you come here?”
Daphne said nothing to his question. She seemed like a vision from the dead. After a long moment of silence, Daphne spoke.
“You have now received your retribution.”
Daphne looked distressed as she spoke. Asherad looked at her beautiful face.
“What is it like to lose everything?”
“Daphne, is that what you should say to your husband, who tried to save you and ended up like this?”
Daphne's expression fell at that sound. It was an accurate point. Daphne was thinking about that too. That's why she couldn't come up with sarcastic words. She wanted to trample him with words, but she couldn't. She closed her eyes tightly.
The peaceful times are over.
Now the time of condemnation had begun. Yet Daphne did not want to accept it.
“You will lose everything you have and die.”
Daphne's voice trembled. Asherad spoke.
“Well, what do you think...”
“...”
Because hr had already lost it. Not really. He had an indifferent expression the whole time. He didn't even say the usual words of begging for help. He just looked at this woman as if he were admiring her.
“What about Ian?”
Daphne's face twisted into tears at that question.
“He's sleeping now.”
"Yes."
“...”
“Don’t talk about me.”
“He already knows. He's a smart kid.”
“That’s right...”
Asherad clicked his tongue. As Asherad moved, the light from the torch outside the prison illuminated his face. The scars on his face that had not been visible before became visible.
“What the...!”
Daphne's face turned pale. She ran out of the prison as if she had seen something terrible. As he watched her run away, Asherad leaned his head against the wall as if he were tired.
***
He felt like his head was going to explode from drinking. That was the kind of life Derek had been living these days. He kept drinking, ignoring the lifeless Daphne and the sleepy Ian.
The Count of Locania is coming soon. What should I do about this... And, how should I improve my relationship with Daphne... Anger is rising again in his
alcohol-clouded mind.
Asherad, that son of a bitch.
If only that son of a bitch hadn't been there. Every time he watched Asherad, he'd get punched. Of course. He was the son of a bitch who brutally murdered his own brother. He was a guy who wouldn't get any better no matter how many times he got hit.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door. He had asked for a soup to relieve his hangover, and it seemed to be that. As Derek was holding his head as if it was going to burst and telling him to come in, Daphne came.
Derek sat up, flinching. He tried to straighten his messy hair. Daphne, coming to him... was surprised.
“Olivia.”
“Have you had a drink?”
"A little."
In fact, it wasn't a little. He had a distinctive smell of alcohol. Daphne stared at his face, which seemed slightly pleased. She took a breath as if she were nervous.
“What’s going on?”
“...I went to the dungeon.”
“Ah. Yeah. That’s right.”
His good mood disappeared in an instant. The reason he had been drinking was that he had heard that Daphne had visited the dungeon the day before. From what he had heard, their conversation was nothing special.
Daphne said she laughed at Asherad while he was in prison. But talking about 'Ian' hurt his feelings. What kind of child is Ian? Wasn't he the child who had been with him since birth?
“Olivia.”
“It’s Daphne.”
Something felt off. Olivia had been telling him to call her 'Daphne' since the last time. The reason was that she didn't have to be afraid anymore, but for some reason, it felt like a bad change.
"Derek."
She knelt before him. Before Derek could say anything, she said.
“Please save that person.”
"What?"
“Please save that man.”
“What are you talking about?”
Yeah, how could this woman possibly ask me to spare that bastard? The bastard who killed my brother?!
“I know I’m asking a ridiculous favor.”
“...”
“But please spare his life. Please let him live.”
“Olivia!”
"Please!"
Daphne begged for the life of her beloved in front of the one who loved her, even though she knew how shameless and outrageous this was.
“You, now, how... how you!”
“Please spare his life, even if it’s just for Ian’s sake.”
Daphne felt a sharp pain in her neck for a moment. Derek grabbed her by the collar. Derek glared at her with reddened eyes.
“How could you, how could you to me!”
“I’m sorry... Ugh, I know it’s cruel..."
Daphne made a pained expression. Perhaps, Daphne thought that violence would come to her, too. The moment Derek raised his hand, she flinched greatly. However, the strength left the hand that held her by the collar, and only a sob was heard.
“Olivia. You love that kid.”
A cold voice was heard. Daphne looked up.
“Until now, you have loved him all along, right?”
“...”
Say no, please, Daphne said into that pleading face.
“I think that’s what it was...”
"No!"
Derek shouted.
“You thought that kid was horrible! You wanted to run away so badly! You got brainwashed by him again!”
“...”
“That bastard knew you were here and came in here to brainwash you! You know that, Olivia!”
Daphne's eyes widened at those words. She thought that might be the case. However, Asherad did not cling to her. Except for their relationship on that first day. If he came here on purpose because he knew where she was, Asherad was a piece of trash who could not be rehabilitated. But what if he didn't?
It didn't matter either way. Daphne just wanted to save Asherad.
"Get out."
“...”
“Get out now!”
Derek shouted. Daphne stumbled out. Tears fell, but Daphne didn't wipe them away. This, this was the best. After Daphne left, Derek sat back down. He broke the cup on the table.
How much I have struggled to be with you.
You were my place to return to.
How, you...
A monstrous groan escaped from his teeth.
Derek fell in love with Olivia for a very small reason. Before he knew she was pregnant, she had nightmares and was afraid to go out. And after she found out, she became completely depressed. Derek felt sorry for her, even though he thought it was a pain.
In any case, this woman was also a victim. So, by her side, talking to her, he shared that world with her.
She is like a younger sister to him.
He thought so. He took care of the woman as if he were taking care of his sister. But then, at some point, Daphne began to smile comfortably as she looked at Derek's face.
It's stiff and awkward, but she smiles. She grumbles that it's hard, but she also smiles faintly when she sees something. Derek realized that he was crazy about that smile. He wanted to see that face, and he wanted to see it again. In that addictive feeling, he suddenly realized his love.
To get rid of those feelings, he left Olivia behind and went out to 'work'. But when he came back, it was back home again.
Even though he left to sort out his feelings, he never forgot Olivia for a single day. That's why he went back, and this woman cried. So Derek decided to love her to his heart's content.
He understood why Fabian had tried to save this woman.
This woman's fragile life is full of tragedy, and it was so appealing that he wanted to appear in it and help her, rather than just watch it as an audience member.
He protects her not because he wants to, but because he wants to be with this woman.
He is like a woman who is pitiful and warm. He is like a woman who has a place to return to.
However...
But the woman had committed the worst betrayal. It shouldn't have happened. Derek gritted his teeth. His groans of pain continued to leak out.
Asherad, that son of a bitch.
If only that son of a bitch hadn't been there. Every time he watched Asherad, he'd get punched. Of course. He was the son of a bitch who brutally murdered his own brother. He was a guy who wouldn't get any better no matter how many times he got hit.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door. He had asked for a soup to relieve his hangover, and it seemed to be that. As Derek was holding his head as if it was going to burst and telling him to come in, Daphne came.
Derek sat up, flinching. He tried to straighten his messy hair. Daphne, coming to him... was surprised.
“Olivia.”
“Have you had a drink?”
"A little."
In fact, it wasn't a little. He had a distinctive smell of alcohol. Daphne stared at his face, which seemed slightly pleased. She took a breath as if she were nervous.
“What’s going on?”
“...I went to the dungeon.”
“Ah. Yeah. That’s right.”
His good mood disappeared in an instant. The reason he had been drinking was that he had heard that Daphne had visited the dungeon the day before. From what he had heard, their conversation was nothing special.
Daphne said she laughed at Asherad while he was in prison. But talking about 'Ian' hurt his feelings. What kind of child is Ian? Wasn't he the child who had been with him since birth?
“Olivia.”
“It’s Daphne.”
Something felt off. Olivia had been telling him to call her 'Daphne' since the last time. The reason was that she didn't have to be afraid anymore, but for some reason, it felt like a bad change.
"Derek."
She knelt before him. Before Derek could say anything, she said.
“Please save that person.”
"What?"
“Please save that man.”
“What are you talking about?”
Yeah, how could this woman possibly ask me to spare that bastard? The bastard who killed my brother?!
“I know I’m asking a ridiculous favor.”
“...”
“But please spare his life. Please let him live.”
“Olivia!”
"Please!"
Daphne begged for the life of her beloved in front of the one who loved her, even though she knew how shameless and outrageous this was.
“You, now, how... how you!”
“Please spare his life, even if it’s just for Ian’s sake.”
Daphne felt a sharp pain in her neck for a moment. Derek grabbed her by the collar. Derek glared at her with reddened eyes.
“How could you, how could you to me!”
“I’m sorry... Ugh, I know it’s cruel..."
Daphne made a pained expression. Perhaps, Daphne thought that violence would come to her, too. The moment Derek raised his hand, she flinched greatly. However, the strength left the hand that held her by the collar, and only a sob was heard.
“Olivia. You love that kid.”
A cold voice was heard. Daphne looked up.
“Until now, you have loved him all along, right?”
“...”
Say no, please, Daphne said into that pleading face.
“I think that’s what it was...”
"No!"
Derek shouted.
“You thought that kid was horrible! You wanted to run away so badly! You got brainwashed by him again!”
“...”
“That bastard knew you were here and came in here to brainwash you! You know that, Olivia!”
Daphne's eyes widened at those words. She thought that might be the case. However, Asherad did not cling to her. Except for their relationship on that first day. If he came here on purpose because he knew where she was, Asherad was a piece of trash who could not be rehabilitated. But what if he didn't?
It didn't matter either way. Daphne just wanted to save Asherad.
"Get out."
“...”
“Get out now!”
Derek shouted. Daphne stumbled out. Tears fell, but Daphne didn't wipe them away. This, this was the best. After Daphne left, Derek sat back down. He broke the cup on the table.
How much I have struggled to be with you.
You were my place to return to.
How, you...
A monstrous groan escaped from his teeth.
***
Derek fell in love with Olivia for a very small reason. Before he knew she was pregnant, she had nightmares and was afraid to go out. And after she found out, she became completely depressed. Derek felt sorry for her, even though he thought it was a pain.
In any case, this woman was also a victim. So, by her side, talking to her, he shared that world with her.
She is like a younger sister to him.
He thought so. He took care of the woman as if he were taking care of his sister. But then, at some point, Daphne began to smile comfortably as she looked at Derek's face.
It's stiff and awkward, but she smiles. She grumbles that it's hard, but she also smiles faintly when she sees something. Derek realized that he was crazy about that smile. He wanted to see that face, and he wanted to see it again. In that addictive feeling, he suddenly realized his love.
To get rid of those feelings, he left Olivia behind and went out to 'work'. But when he came back, it was back home again.
Even though he left to sort out his feelings, he never forgot Olivia for a single day. That's why he went back, and this woman cried. So Derek decided to love her to his heart's content.
He understood why Fabian had tried to save this woman.
This woman's fragile life is full of tragedy, and it was so appealing that he wanted to appear in it and help her, rather than just watch it as an audience member.
He protects her not because he wants to, but because he wants to be with this woman.
He is like a woman who is pitiful and warm. He is like a woman who has a place to return to.
However...
But the woman had committed the worst betrayal. It shouldn't have happened. Derek gritted his teeth. His groans of pain continued to leak out.
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