#144. Deception and Bondage
Daphne saw Derek, who had come early in the morning. Derek had been appointed as the commander of the knights guarding the palace by the Count of Locania. She had heard that becoming a knight was extremely difficult. Daphne decided not to think about why Derek had become a knight. The Count of Locania was the one who had made the palace his residence and wielded absolute power in place of the Emperor. What could be difficult about making his son a knight?
“Daph... Your Majesty!”
Daphne tilted her head. Why did this person come to her? Daphne looked at Derek in wonder. Is there something important? He could have just told Count Locania, but why did this person come?
“Just throw that kid away now.”
“What kind of kid?”
When Daphne asked curiously, Derek shouted.
“Asherad, that son of a bitch.”
“...”
He came to say that. Let's watch what Daphne says. Derek sighed. Maybe it was because she ascended the throne, but Daphne had changed somehow. He could always tell what she was thinking, but now he couldn't tell what she was thinking.
The graceful gesture of moving the chin so naturally that he could not help but wonder if the person in front of him was someone else. The Emperor's appearance, which was so dazzling, seemed divine just by its appearance. Even the polished gestures made people lower their heads.
Derek flinched for a moment at the sight of the woman who lived an ordinary life next to him, who was different from him. He soon pulled himself together and said.
“I’m here with you on purpose.”
“...”
“It’s clear that this was all his intention!”
At those words, Derek thought Daphne would immediately abandon Asherad. Or at least listen to his story seriously. But Daphne asked with a curious face.
“So, what have you planned and what are you going to do?”
Derek was speechless at those words. Last night, when he had come to see Daphne, he had seen the presence of a man with cold eyes shining under Daphne's knees as she sat there.
He was clearly a dog, but he wasn't a dog. He saw those wet, rotten eyes of affection. As soon as he saw them, he knew. Oh, this man had intended it all. He had intended it to be this way.
Daphne was deceived.
So he has to get rid of him.
“He must have evil intentions. He might be by Your Majesty’s side, kill Your Majesty, and take back the throne.”
Daphne nodded. Derek looked up at her face. Looking at the woman who had become his own puppet, he wanted to say something more.
“Anyway, it’s ominous. Don’t let that kid near you. You never know what he might do.”
Daphne stared at Derek. She narrowed her eyes as if she was thinking for a long time. Then, she spoke cautiously.
“Then, Sir Pond, you will be the one to watch over Asherad.”
“...”
“I think that if anything happens, you will report it to me first before the Count.”
Derek realized that Daphne was giving him orders.
Could it be that Daphne believed in him? Derek's expression changed. He didn't know what she was thinking, so he thought she wouldn't do anything.
Derek still had feelings for Daphne. He still thought that this woman was a good match for the teacher who taught painting at Dense Harbor. It was certainly simple, but Daphne looked brighter and happier back then.
Will he ever see that bright smile again? When he sees it, he feels like he can do anything.
But that's not possible right now. Let's just give this person a little strength.
“Yes, I’ll have my people watch over him.”
“...”
“But, Your Majesty, don’t you intend to abandon him now?”
Derek, who had thought he would step back, raised his head and looked at Daphne's face. Looking at the face of the beautiful Emperor, Derek said earnestly.
“Ian, what are you going to say to Ian here? How are you going to tell him that his mother turned his father into a dog?”
At those words, Daphne's expression hardened, and she spoke coldly.
“That’s something I’ll take care of. It’s none of your concern.”
“...”
“You are free to feel whatever feelings you have for the Prince, but you do not need to use that as an excuse to tell me about it.”
“...”
“Ian thinks his father is dead. That’s all.”
Derek lowered his head with a miserable expression. It was a distorted relationship. A relationship that was connected to twisted emotions. Derek couldn't bring himself to say anything. What if he had moved the moment Daphne told him to help Ian?
What would have happened if he had saved Ian and taken Daphne somewhere?
He regretted not reaching out at that moment. There was no turning back. All he could do was watch Asherad as Daphne had ordered. After Derek stepped back, Daphne saw his back.
Derek was right. What would Ian think if he found out that she had turned his father into a dog? All she could do was to keep Ian and Asherad from meeting.
And then she thought.
Asherad. What if Asherad was just being a dog with other thoughts? She held back her heart from becoming weak. If that was the case, she couldn't just leave him alone. She bit her numb lips.
This was the perfect form. Daphne had no intention of letting go of Asherad. The one who could stay by her side and control her as he pleased. The one who had oppressed her so much. Putting him under her feet. This was just revenge. But what if even this bondage was a deception on his part?
“Call the dog.”
Daphne spoke to the knight standing outside, shaking the rope.
Asherad entered the room that was like a coffin today. He used to cover his bed, but now he slept happily. Since Daphne hated being dirty, he washed up neatly and went into the room to lie down.
Daphne was very beautiful today.
Daphne grabbed Asherad's neck for the first time. She looked down at him with those ice-blue eyes. How beautiful he looked!
"Don't think useless thoughts, Asherad."
"..."
"If you ever think of betraying me, I will kill you."
“No, Daphne. Why would I betray you?”
He chuckled. Asherad slowly stroked his neck, feeling Daphne’s hand. The moment he thought of the gentle pressure, he couldn’t help but laugh. Where would someone die? She was so cute. He remembered the thrill. Excitement surged through his lower body on its own. He tried to calm it down. He barely suppressed the heat that was rising. Asherad suddenly thought that he wanted to see Ian. The boy who had his face carved into him. Daphne would have a hard time if she faced that guy, right?
At that time, he also had to think about what to do. He had to explain it to Ian without hurting him... He had relatively normal thoughts. At that moment, a rustling sound was heard. Asherad asked absentmindedly without even moving his body.
“Who is it?”
An assassin? He's good at this small room. And there's probably a watchman. Asherad was too satisfied with his current life to think of dying, and he knew that this intruder wouldn't kill him. It would be normal to kill him when he got back to the room.
As Asherad slowly got up and sat down on the bed, a black shadow appeared. Asherad was able to recognize him right away.
It was the Duke of Turbol. The Duke of Turbol looked at Asherad and began to cry.
"Your Majesty."
A moist voice was heard. Asherad blinked and looked at his father and subject kneeling before him.
“Your Majesty, why are you suffering such a terrible humiliation?”
“...”
“You should have come to me right away when that son of a bitch committed treason.”
He shed tears at the sight of Asherad. However, Asherad blinked indifferently.
“How did you find me?”
“In the Duke of Turbol’s house, there is a secret passage that has been passed down through generations to rescue the Emperor in case anything happens to him.”
“That’s interesting.”
I see, you hid that passage so cutely. When Asherad saw Duke Turbol, he gritted his teeth and said.
“I couldn’t stand it when that wicked woman turned you into a dog.”
“Just tell me the conclusion. I’m being watched right now.”
Even though he was reunited with his father, Asherad was still an arrogant beast, more accustomed to being ruled by someone else. Duke Turbol clenched his fists.
“Let us reclaim the throne.”
“...”
“I have prepared a plan.”
Asherad opened his eyes wide at those words. Then he spoke with a dazzlingly bright smile.
"How?"
“I caught that woman’s father.”
“That woman’s father?”
“Yes. The father of that lowly thing.”
Asherad seemed lost in thought, then asked softly.
“What kind of man is he?”
“Oliver, he's a painter.”
“Oliver...”
Asherad mumbled. When Daphne was hiding in the Kingdom of Thalassa, she used the alias Olivia. Oliver, Olivia. There had to be some kind of connection.
Asherad raised the corners of his mouth. He wondered where he was going and what he was doing, and it seemed that he had planned to reveal Daphne’s lineage and turn things around. Maybe, if he revealed Daphne’s lineage, the situation would return to normal. It was really fun. Asherad's eyes sparkled in the blue night, in the moonlight.
Daphne saw Derek, who had come early in the morning. Derek had been appointed as the commander of the knights guarding the palace by the Count of Locania. She had heard that becoming a knight was extremely difficult. Daphne decided not to think about why Derek had become a knight. The Count of Locania was the one who had made the palace his residence and wielded absolute power in place of the Emperor. What could be difficult about making his son a knight?
“Daph... Your Majesty!”
Daphne tilted her head. Why did this person come to her? Daphne looked at Derek in wonder. Is there something important? He could have just told Count Locania, but why did this person come?
“Just throw that kid away now.”
“What kind of kid?”
When Daphne asked curiously, Derek shouted.
“Asherad, that son of a bitch.”
“...”
He came to say that. Let's watch what Daphne says. Derek sighed. Maybe it was because she ascended the throne, but Daphne had changed somehow. He could always tell what she was thinking, but now he couldn't tell what she was thinking.
The graceful gesture of moving the chin so naturally that he could not help but wonder if the person in front of him was someone else. The Emperor's appearance, which was so dazzling, seemed divine just by its appearance. Even the polished gestures made people lower their heads.
Derek flinched for a moment at the sight of the woman who lived an ordinary life next to him, who was different from him. He soon pulled himself together and said.
“I’m here with you on purpose.”
“...”
“It’s clear that this was all his intention!”
At those words, Derek thought Daphne would immediately abandon Asherad. Or at least listen to his story seriously. But Daphne asked with a curious face.
“So, what have you planned and what are you going to do?”
Derek was speechless at those words. Last night, when he had come to see Daphne, he had seen the presence of a man with cold eyes shining under Daphne's knees as she sat there.
He was clearly a dog, but he wasn't a dog. He saw those wet, rotten eyes of affection. As soon as he saw them, he knew. Oh, this man had intended it all. He had intended it to be this way.
Daphne was deceived.
So he has to get rid of him.
“He must have evil intentions. He might be by Your Majesty’s side, kill Your Majesty, and take back the throne.”
Daphne nodded. Derek looked up at her face. Looking at the woman who had become his own puppet, he wanted to say something more.
“Anyway, it’s ominous. Don’t let that kid near you. You never know what he might do.”
Daphne stared at Derek. She narrowed her eyes as if she was thinking for a long time. Then, she spoke cautiously.
“Then, Sir Pond, you will be the one to watch over Asherad.”
“...”
“I think that if anything happens, you will report it to me first before the Count.”
Derek realized that Daphne was giving him orders.
Could it be that Daphne believed in him? Derek's expression changed. He didn't know what she was thinking, so he thought she wouldn't do anything.
Derek still had feelings for Daphne. He still thought that this woman was a good match for the teacher who taught painting at Dense Harbor. It was certainly simple, but Daphne looked brighter and happier back then.
Will he ever see that bright smile again? When he sees it, he feels like he can do anything.
But that's not possible right now. Let's just give this person a little strength.
“Yes, I’ll have my people watch over him.”
“...”
“But, Your Majesty, don’t you intend to abandon him now?”
Derek, who had thought he would step back, raised his head and looked at Daphne's face. Looking at the face of the beautiful Emperor, Derek said earnestly.
“Ian, what are you going to say to Ian here? How are you going to tell him that his mother turned his father into a dog?”
At those words, Daphne's expression hardened, and she spoke coldly.
“That’s something I’ll take care of. It’s none of your concern.”
“...”
“You are free to feel whatever feelings you have for the Prince, but you do not need to use that as an excuse to tell me about it.”
“...”
“Ian thinks his father is dead. That’s all.”
Derek lowered his head with a miserable expression. It was a distorted relationship. A relationship that was connected to twisted emotions. Derek couldn't bring himself to say anything. What if he had moved the moment Daphne told him to help Ian?
What would have happened if he had saved Ian and taken Daphne somewhere?
He regretted not reaching out at that moment. There was no turning back. All he could do was watch Asherad as Daphne had ordered. After Derek stepped back, Daphne saw his back.
Derek was right. What would Ian think if he found out that she had turned his father into a dog? All she could do was to keep Ian and Asherad from meeting.
And then she thought.
Asherad. What if Asherad was just being a dog with other thoughts? She held back her heart from becoming weak. If that was the case, she couldn't just leave him alone. She bit her numb lips.
This was the perfect form. Daphne had no intention of letting go of Asherad. The one who could stay by her side and control her as he pleased. The one who had oppressed her so much. Putting him under her feet. This was just revenge. But what if even this bondage was a deception on his part?
“Call the dog.”
Daphne spoke to the knight standing outside, shaking the rope.
***
Asherad entered the room that was like a coffin today. He used to cover his bed, but now he slept happily. Since Daphne hated being dirty, he washed up neatly and went into the room to lie down.
Daphne was very beautiful today.
Daphne grabbed Asherad's neck for the first time. She looked down at him with those ice-blue eyes. How beautiful he looked!
"Don't think useless thoughts, Asherad."
"..."
"If you ever think of betraying me, I will kill you."
“No, Daphne. Why would I betray you?”
He chuckled. Asherad slowly stroked his neck, feeling Daphne’s hand. The moment he thought of the gentle pressure, he couldn’t help but laugh. Where would someone die? She was so cute. He remembered the thrill. Excitement surged through his lower body on its own. He tried to calm it down. He barely suppressed the heat that was rising. Asherad suddenly thought that he wanted to see Ian. The boy who had his face carved into him. Daphne would have a hard time if she faced that guy, right?
At that time, he also had to think about what to do. He had to explain it to Ian without hurting him... He had relatively normal thoughts. At that moment, a rustling sound was heard. Asherad asked absentmindedly without even moving his body.
“Who is it?”
An assassin? He's good at this small room. And there's probably a watchman. Asherad was too satisfied with his current life to think of dying, and he knew that this intruder wouldn't kill him. It would be normal to kill him when he got back to the room.
As Asherad slowly got up and sat down on the bed, a black shadow appeared. Asherad was able to recognize him right away.
It was the Duke of Turbol. The Duke of Turbol looked at Asherad and began to cry.
"Your Majesty."
A moist voice was heard. Asherad blinked and looked at his father and subject kneeling before him.
“Your Majesty, why are you suffering such a terrible humiliation?”
“...”
“You should have come to me right away when that son of a bitch committed treason.”
He shed tears at the sight of Asherad. However, Asherad blinked indifferently.
“How did you find me?”
“In the Duke of Turbol’s house, there is a secret passage that has been passed down through generations to rescue the Emperor in case anything happens to him.”
“That’s interesting.”
I see, you hid that passage so cutely. When Asherad saw Duke Turbol, he gritted his teeth and said.
“I couldn’t stand it when that wicked woman turned you into a dog.”
“Just tell me the conclusion. I’m being watched right now.”
Even though he was reunited with his father, Asherad was still an arrogant beast, more accustomed to being ruled by someone else. Duke Turbol clenched his fists.
“Let us reclaim the throne.”
“...”
“I have prepared a plan.”
Asherad opened his eyes wide at those words. Then he spoke with a dazzlingly bright smile.
"How?"
“I caught that woman’s father.”
“That woman’s father?”
“Yes. The father of that lowly thing.”
Asherad seemed lost in thought, then asked softly.
“What kind of man is he?”
“Oliver, he's a painter.”
“Oliver...”
Asherad mumbled. When Daphne was hiding in the Kingdom of Thalassa, she used the alias Olivia. Oliver, Olivia. There had to be some kind of connection.
Asherad raised the corners of his mouth. He wondered where he was going and what he was doing, and it seemed that he had planned to reveal Daphne’s lineage and turn things around. Maybe, if he revealed Daphne’s lineage, the situation would return to normal. It was really fun. Asherad's eyes sparkled in the blue night, in the moonlight.
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