#140. Emperor
In Thalassa's palace, Count Locania looked at Daphne with a tired expression. The woman's eyes were bloodshot, and she looked extremely pitiful. It was clear that she had been crying.
The Count committed many inhuman acts to seek his revenge. Separating his mother from her son was one of those wrongdoings. The Count sighed and turned his back on the woman.
“If you plan on begging for the child to be returned, then go back.”
“Your Excellency.”
“I won’t kill him. No, he’ll live a life of luxury.”
“Your Excellency.”
Then Count Locania realized that Daphne's voice was not one of sorrow. She spoke calmly, as if she were trying to have a conversation, not beg.
“That’s not what I was trying to say.”
"...What?"
“Do you remember my promise? When I said I would do anything, I meant that you would use me. I’m not talking about Ian.”
Look at that, it seemed like he had come to question the unfairness of the promise. But what Daphne said next made him flinch.
“So, use me.”
Could it be that she was saying that she would give him her body? Count Locania had no interest in lusting after his son's woman.
“What do you want me to use it for?”
“Make me Emperor.”
Daphne said with a cool smile.
At those words, Count Locania fixed his posture, where he had been resting his chin on his hand. What is this woman talking about? Has she lost her child and gone mad? But Daphne's eyes were clear. Daphne continued singing.
“The daughter of the enchantress Beatrice, the cuckoo chick who dared to claim to be born of royal blood.”
Count Locania opened his eyes wide.
Ah. He could finally see Daphne properly. Why did the poor woman who had been toyed around by Asherad have to live such a life? He had never thought about the reason. She was just Asherad's concubine... She was much more useful than he had thought!
“Use me, there’s no reason not to use me. Ian, I think I’m easier to handle than that guy.”
Daphne said.
By bringing Ian in, he tried to give a piece of shit to the Kingdom of Thalassa, which was dreaming of a vain dream of interference in internal affairs. However, the downside was that even if he brought Ian in, he would be branded a traitor who rebelled against the Emperor. This meant that he acknowledged Asherad's bloodline as the Emperor.
But what if we set up Daphne?
In the first place, what if the Count of Locania had protected Daphne, who was of 'true bloodline'? What if her bloodline had been tampered with by the corrupt Empress and turned out to be false? No, what if her bloodline was real? And so, what if the true Emperor was reestablished?
In fact, there is no evidence that she is the Emperor's blood relative. In fact, it must be fake. Beatrice indeed disguised her eye color with a necklace containing ancient magic.
But both Daphne and Asherad are cuckoo chicks. So then the cuckoo chick that follows him will be crowned King. Daphne said calmly.
“It doesn’t matter if Ian isn’t the successor.”
No, it would be more fun to become the successor. He also wanted to see how the Duke of Turbol would turn out! Daphne continued speaking after seeing the Count of Locania's eyes sparkle.
“Nothing changes, Count. Only the person who puts forward changes. As you can see, I am just a powerless mortal, and I will only follow your orders. There is no other way to survive.”
"Yes?"
“I will live as your doll. I will not ask for anything in return.”
If Daphne becomes Emperor, there would be many advantages. He decided to think about this woman. She and Asherad had a child together anyway. So if Ian were to be the successor, what would happen to the forces that follow Asherad... Could he do whatever he wanted with Asherad's bloodline? It seemed more certain that there were more advantages than disadvantages.
“I have no wish. To live with Ian, and...”
After hearing the last words, Count Locania finally burst into laughter. After laughing for a long time, he nodded his head very cheerfully.
This was the most perfect consummation of revenge.
After deciding to become the Emperor, Daphne wanted to see Ian, but she held back. She promised that she would meet Ian when she ascended to the throne. The Count would not break his promise so easily. Moreover, if she did not follow him after he had put her on the throne, it would be difficult for him too.
Daphne was taught manners. There was a lot to learn, but fortunately, she had already been taught much of it as a child. Daphne found it amusing that her mother's greed had come true in some form. And it was even better than she thought that her mother's reputation as a dirty slut had been cleared.
That day, the day she thought Derek had abandoned her, Daphne racked her brain desperately. How could she not be dragged into this situation? How could she not be dragged into someone else's revenge, and not have anything taken from her? She had nothing, but so much was taken from her.
The circumstances were just right, and she put herself out there.
Count Locania was impressed by how educated Daphne was. She doesn't remember everything either, but she seems quite well-off, perhaps because she's next to Asherad.
When she entered the palace, she entered not as a lowly maid, but as an 'Emperor'. From the cursed cuckoo that no one in the palace wanted to approach, she became the most noble of the Emperors.
The remaining palace maids were shocked at the sight of Daphne. With the excitement so high that they could barely sleep at night, Count Locania began to change public opinion on 'who is the wrong bloodline', and Daphne also memorized the etiquette for the coronation ceremony. It wasn't particularly difficult to think of meeting Ian.
She kept her back straight and practiced a cool expression at all times. She already knew that the nobles would ignore and belittle her. She had suffered so many times that she was sick of being ignored. That was why she did not show any sign of it to the nobles who pointed at her or to the nobles who forced a kiss on her hand.
After all, the real ruler was going to be the Count of Locania, and her ego should have been nonexistent. Amid the tense atmosphere of the palace, they finally held the coronation ceremony without incident.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Daphne said to Count Locania.
“Your Majesty, you have had a hard time too.”
At her soft words, Count Locania spoke.
“I brought the Prince to the palace.”
Ian! She tried to be happy, but she had to fight hard not to show her emotions. She said, hiding her joy.
“So, what did I ask you?”
“Oh, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Count Locania laughed.
“You should now say ‘order’ instead of ‘ask.’ I am now just a Count.”
The words were polite, but it was a command that pointed out the tone. Daphne nodded and said.
“Where is what I asked for?”
The Count raised the corners of his mouth as he spoke in a corrected tone.
“It is well, Your Majesty.”
“Yes.”
It had its own business, but meeting Ian was a priority. She wanted to see her son soon.
The woman in the richly dressed dress rose from her seat and walked. The servants, maids, and maids followed her. Daphne raised her hand to reduce their number and went into the room.
“Make sure no one enters the room.”
The knight nodded at Daphne's words. Daphne closed the door and looked around the room. The room was dark and empty. Just as she was starting to feel uneasy...
"Mom!"
“Whoa!”
Daphne screamed without realizing it. It's Ian, it's Ian! Daphne smiled brightly and hugged Ian.
“Mom! Mom, Mom! Where have you been? I’ve been missing you!”
“I missed you too, my son!”
The radiant blond hair, the flushed cheeks, the cute lips. It was all Ian. Daphne nuzzled her face against Ian's cheek. Ian kissed his mother's cheek and said,
“The Count said that I could see you if I waited a little longer. He said that we could live together.”
“Was it so?”
“So I held it in for a long time.”
Daphne couldn't stand it anymore and hugged Ian tightly.
“Mom, you’re so pretty.”
"Really?"
“Yeah, it’s really pretty.”
Daphne smiled.
“They said my mom was the most beautiful woman in the city, and it turns out you weren’t. My mom is the most beautiful person in the world.”
Daphne burst out laughing at those words. She felt relieved. In fact, she had been worried that the Count would not show her the child. But he knew, too. If he wanted, he could take Ian back. Daphne looked at Ian.
“Ian, my baby.”
She felt the warmth of her child, whom she would not mind putting in her eyes. And, she stayed with Ian until he fell asleep. When everything was asleep, Daphne woke up again. The face of the woman who had been lovingly looking at the sleeping child disappeared.
The look in her eyes changed.
As Daphne came out of the room, the servants and knights greeted her.
“Where is the thing the Count brought?”
“I am in the interrogation room.”
"Yes."
Daphne nodded. She passed through the dark corridor. She was more used to dark corridors than the ones that were always lit. Daphne looked at the bare stone walls. There was a place like this in the palace. The room she entered following the knight’s guidance was a different place from the splendid palace. Inside the room was a prison, and next to it were torture devices.
Daphne looked at the man sitting beyond the bars, then gave orders to the knights.
“Take that man out.”
The knights took out 'that man' without hesitation. The treatment was not good. The smell of blood was strong.
“Everyone, come out.”
“It’s dangerous.”
“His wrists are tied.”
'That man's wrists were tied behind his back. When Daphne's words were reasonable, the knight finally spoke honestly.
“No, it is the order of the Count of Locania.”
“I don’t know about anything else, but the Count will not interfere in this matter. That was our promise.”
But when the knights did not move, Daphne said coldly.
“Do you want to be executed for disobeying orders?”
The knight bowed his head at those words. What happened today would reach the Count's ears. It didn't matter. She probably wouldn't care.
Daphne saw the tied-up black-haired man, Asherad. Unlike his gorgeous self, Asherad was tied up shabbily, like a cuckoo's nest.
Daphne raised her hand and lifted his head. Then, the man opened his eyes and smiled.
“Hello, Daphne?”
“Asherad.”
As if it was a long-awaited reunion, Asherad smiled. However, the situation was now reversed. She had become the Emperor, and Asherad had become someone who dared to claim the title.
But the man still looked arrogant, and the woman's face was hard.
It was a touching reunion for lovers.
In Thalassa's palace, Count Locania looked at Daphne with a tired expression. The woman's eyes were bloodshot, and she looked extremely pitiful. It was clear that she had been crying.
The Count committed many inhuman acts to seek his revenge. Separating his mother from her son was one of those wrongdoings. The Count sighed and turned his back on the woman.
“If you plan on begging for the child to be returned, then go back.”
“Your Excellency.”
“I won’t kill him. No, he’ll live a life of luxury.”
“Your Excellency.”
Then Count Locania realized that Daphne's voice was not one of sorrow. She spoke calmly, as if she were trying to have a conversation, not beg.
“That’s not what I was trying to say.”
"...What?"
“Do you remember my promise? When I said I would do anything, I meant that you would use me. I’m not talking about Ian.”
Look at that, it seemed like he had come to question the unfairness of the promise. But what Daphne said next made him flinch.
“So, use me.”
Could it be that she was saying that she would give him her body? Count Locania had no interest in lusting after his son's woman.
“What do you want me to use it for?”
“Make me Emperor.”
Daphne said with a cool smile.
At those words, Count Locania fixed his posture, where he had been resting his chin on his hand. What is this woman talking about? Has she lost her child and gone mad? But Daphne's eyes were clear. Daphne continued singing.
“The daughter of the enchantress Beatrice, the cuckoo chick who dared to claim to be born of royal blood.”
Count Locania opened his eyes wide.
Ah. He could finally see Daphne properly. Why did the poor woman who had been toyed around by Asherad have to live such a life? He had never thought about the reason. She was just Asherad's concubine... She was much more useful than he had thought!
“Use me, there’s no reason not to use me. Ian, I think I’m easier to handle than that guy.”
Daphne said.
By bringing Ian in, he tried to give a piece of shit to the Kingdom of Thalassa, which was dreaming of a vain dream of interference in internal affairs. However, the downside was that even if he brought Ian in, he would be branded a traitor who rebelled against the Emperor. This meant that he acknowledged Asherad's bloodline as the Emperor.
But what if we set up Daphne?
In the first place, what if the Count of Locania had protected Daphne, who was of 'true bloodline'? What if her bloodline had been tampered with by the corrupt Empress and turned out to be false? No, what if her bloodline was real? And so, what if the true Emperor was reestablished?
In fact, there is no evidence that she is the Emperor's blood relative. In fact, it must be fake. Beatrice indeed disguised her eye color with a necklace containing ancient magic.
But both Daphne and Asherad are cuckoo chicks. So then the cuckoo chick that follows him will be crowned King. Daphne said calmly.
“It doesn’t matter if Ian isn’t the successor.”
No, it would be more fun to become the successor. He also wanted to see how the Duke of Turbol would turn out! Daphne continued speaking after seeing the Count of Locania's eyes sparkle.
“Nothing changes, Count. Only the person who puts forward changes. As you can see, I am just a powerless mortal, and I will only follow your orders. There is no other way to survive.”
"Yes?"
“I will live as your doll. I will not ask for anything in return.”
If Daphne becomes Emperor, there would be many advantages. He decided to think about this woman. She and Asherad had a child together anyway. So if Ian were to be the successor, what would happen to the forces that follow Asherad... Could he do whatever he wanted with Asherad's bloodline? It seemed more certain that there were more advantages than disadvantages.
“I have no wish. To live with Ian, and...”
After hearing the last words, Count Locania finally burst into laughter. After laughing for a long time, he nodded his head very cheerfully.
This was the most perfect consummation of revenge.
***
After deciding to become the Emperor, Daphne wanted to see Ian, but she held back. She promised that she would meet Ian when she ascended to the throne. The Count would not break his promise so easily. Moreover, if she did not follow him after he had put her on the throne, it would be difficult for him too.
Daphne was taught manners. There was a lot to learn, but fortunately, she had already been taught much of it as a child. Daphne found it amusing that her mother's greed had come true in some form. And it was even better than she thought that her mother's reputation as a dirty slut had been cleared.
That day, the day she thought Derek had abandoned her, Daphne racked her brain desperately. How could she not be dragged into this situation? How could she not be dragged into someone else's revenge, and not have anything taken from her? She had nothing, but so much was taken from her.
The circumstances were just right, and she put herself out there.
Count Locania was impressed by how educated Daphne was. She doesn't remember everything either, but she seems quite well-off, perhaps because she's next to Asherad.
When she entered the palace, she entered not as a lowly maid, but as an 'Emperor'. From the cursed cuckoo that no one in the palace wanted to approach, she became the most noble of the Emperors.
The remaining palace maids were shocked at the sight of Daphne. With the excitement so high that they could barely sleep at night, Count Locania began to change public opinion on 'who is the wrong bloodline', and Daphne also memorized the etiquette for the coronation ceremony. It wasn't particularly difficult to think of meeting Ian.
She kept her back straight and practiced a cool expression at all times. She already knew that the nobles would ignore and belittle her. She had suffered so many times that she was sick of being ignored. That was why she did not show any sign of it to the nobles who pointed at her or to the nobles who forced a kiss on her hand.
After all, the real ruler was going to be the Count of Locania, and her ego should have been nonexistent. Amid the tense atmosphere of the palace, they finally held the coronation ceremony without incident.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Daphne said to Count Locania.
“Your Majesty, you have had a hard time too.”
At her soft words, Count Locania spoke.
“I brought the Prince to the palace.”
Ian! She tried to be happy, but she had to fight hard not to show her emotions. She said, hiding her joy.
“So, what did I ask you?”
“Oh, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Count Locania laughed.
“You should now say ‘order’ instead of ‘ask.’ I am now just a Count.”
The words were polite, but it was a command that pointed out the tone. Daphne nodded and said.
“Where is what I asked for?”
The Count raised the corners of his mouth as he spoke in a corrected tone.
“It is well, Your Majesty.”
“Yes.”
It had its own business, but meeting Ian was a priority. She wanted to see her son soon.
The woman in the richly dressed dress rose from her seat and walked. The servants, maids, and maids followed her. Daphne raised her hand to reduce their number and went into the room.
“Make sure no one enters the room.”
The knight nodded at Daphne's words. Daphne closed the door and looked around the room. The room was dark and empty. Just as she was starting to feel uneasy...
"Mom!"
“Whoa!”
Daphne screamed without realizing it. It's Ian, it's Ian! Daphne smiled brightly and hugged Ian.
“Mom! Mom, Mom! Where have you been? I’ve been missing you!”
“I missed you too, my son!”
The radiant blond hair, the flushed cheeks, the cute lips. It was all Ian. Daphne nuzzled her face against Ian's cheek. Ian kissed his mother's cheek and said,
“The Count said that I could see you if I waited a little longer. He said that we could live together.”
“Was it so?”
“So I held it in for a long time.”
Daphne couldn't stand it anymore and hugged Ian tightly.
“Mom, you’re so pretty.”
"Really?"
“Yeah, it’s really pretty.”
Daphne smiled.
“They said my mom was the most beautiful woman in the city, and it turns out you weren’t. My mom is the most beautiful person in the world.”
Daphne burst out laughing at those words. She felt relieved. In fact, she had been worried that the Count would not show her the child. But he knew, too. If he wanted, he could take Ian back. Daphne looked at Ian.
“Ian, my baby.”
She felt the warmth of her child, whom she would not mind putting in her eyes. And, she stayed with Ian until he fell asleep. When everything was asleep, Daphne woke up again. The face of the woman who had been lovingly looking at the sleeping child disappeared.
The look in her eyes changed.
As Daphne came out of the room, the servants and knights greeted her.
“Where is the thing the Count brought?”
“I am in the interrogation room.”
"Yes."
Daphne nodded. She passed through the dark corridor. She was more used to dark corridors than the ones that were always lit. Daphne looked at the bare stone walls. There was a place like this in the palace. The room she entered following the knight’s guidance was a different place from the splendid palace. Inside the room was a prison, and next to it were torture devices.
Daphne looked at the man sitting beyond the bars, then gave orders to the knights.
“Take that man out.”
The knights took out 'that man' without hesitation. The treatment was not good. The smell of blood was strong.
“Everyone, come out.”
“It’s dangerous.”
“His wrists are tied.”
'That man's wrists were tied behind his back. When Daphne's words were reasonable, the knight finally spoke honestly.
“No, it is the order of the Count of Locania.”
“I don’t know about anything else, but the Count will not interfere in this matter. That was our promise.”
But when the knights did not move, Daphne said coldly.
“Do you want to be executed for disobeying orders?”
The knight bowed his head at those words. What happened today would reach the Count's ears. It didn't matter. She probably wouldn't care.
Daphne saw the tied-up black-haired man, Asherad. Unlike his gorgeous self, Asherad was tied up shabbily, like a cuckoo's nest.
Daphne raised her hand and lifted his head. Then, the man opened his eyes and smiled.
“Hello, Daphne?”
“Asherad.”
As if it was a long-awaited reunion, Asherad smiled. However, the situation was now reversed. She had become the Emperor, and Asherad had become someone who dared to claim the title.
But the man still looked arrogant, and the woman's face was hard.
It was a touching reunion for lovers.
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