#145. Last Hope
The surveillance on Asherad was initially strict, but gradually relaxed. However, Asherad somehow managed to escape the palace naked, rather than through the secret passage that Duke Turbol had told him about. The palace was his home, and he could easily escape.
As he went out to the rendezvous point, Asherad was able to meet his subordinates.
“Give me a sword, no, just one weapon that can protect me.”
"All right."
He handed one of the daggers in his bosom to Asherad without any suspicion. Asherad examined the sword and put it back in his bosom.
In the slums of the capital, a carriage stopped at a house that was about to collapse. Asherad went inside, guided by his servant.
There was a smell of oil paint. By the dim candlelight, the man was painting.
“This is the man.”
The Duke of Turbol suddenly appeared and spoke. The Duke pointed to the canvas and brought the lantern, and the painting appeared. It was a beautiful blonde goddess, smiling brightly and looking forward. At first, he thought it was Daphne. However, upon closer inspection, he realized that the woman the man had been drawing was Beatrice.
“They say he is deaf and blind.”
“How can you draw when you’re blind?”
“They said that his eyesight had miraculously recovered. He even lost it while drawing.”
“...”
“There is no way Belenus would leave the painter who painted Beatrice’s portrait alone. That crazy Emperor.”
“...”
“But this man and that woman are definitely related by blood. That painting is proof. So are the artist’s blue eyes.”
No matter what they said, the painter was painting. Asherad watched and observed the painter, who was burning his last artistic spirit.
“It must have been really hard to find.”
“No, Your Majesty.”
The Duke of Turbol spoke affectionately. Askeladd muttered.
“Daphne’s father...”
Asherad smiled, narrowing his eyes. He felt a sense of inferior kinship. Daphne, Asherad. Neither of them was the son of the Emperor.
“Sabrina was right.”
Duke Turbol's voice was filled with overwhelming joy. Yes, it is so. How happy would he be if his woman were not a liar? Looking at Duke Turbol's delighted face, Asherad smiled even brighter.
Asherad approached the painter. Looking at the face of the woman in the oil painting that resembled Daphne, Asherad picked up his dagger and stabbed the painter in the back.
“Ugh!”
Blood gushed out. The man fell forward. He looked at the canvas lying just below his face. The canvas was stained red, as if painted with red paint. Blood trickled down the lips of the smiling woman. The artist wiped the red droplets that had splashed on his goddess with blurry vision.
“Bae... Bae...”
The shabby painter wiped the face of the woman who was his everything. No. He must not let something as dirty as his own blood stain the face of an angel. The painter tried desperately to wipe it away.
The trembling hand instead left a mark and flowed away. The picture became even more of a mess. That was all.
Such was the miserable end of the painter named Oliver.
His life was one of longing for and missing the woman he loved so much, living a long life until he was murdered.
Asherad looked at it with a blank expression.
“What the heck, what the heck is this!”
The Duke of Turbol shouted. He lowered his head and examined the fallen man. He had been alive for a while, but he had died cleanly. There was no turning back. The Duke of Turbol let out a sigh of relief.
He looked at Asherad, who was looking down at the dead body with cold eyes. Duke Turbol watched his hopes crumble in disbelief.
“Why, why, why on earth!”
“...”
“Why, why are you doing this! This was our last hope!”
Last hope? Asherad tilted his head. What could be the last hope? He had no hope in the first place. What could be called hope? Asherad said as he looked at Duke Turbol.
“Yes, why don’t you just give up now?”
At Asherad's words, Duke Turbol took Asherad's hand.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”
“...”
“Why, why are you doing this? I tried so hard, why on earth!”
“...”
“It’s all because of that woman. It’s because of that woman, right? Because of that woman, Your Majesty is in a state of confusion!”
Looking at the face of Duke Turbol, Asherad looked tiredly at the face of the dead man. He was a worthless being, even if he lived. Asherad laughed and turned his eyes to the Duke, saying. His sparkling green eyes shone like jewels. It was the color of liquor.
“I didn’t know at all, but I was already crazy.”
The reason was too clear. There was no more room to squeeze in. Asherad could laugh even brighter as he said this. Amid that crazy scene, Duke Turbol shook his head. A warrior with a strong physique. The Duke of Peneus, the first warrior, willingly bowed down before this man who had fallen to the Emperor's dog.
“Asherad, Asherad, Asherad!”
“...”
“You shouldn’t do that. You, you shouldn’t do that!”
“...”
“I have always worried about you. I have always wanted you to do well. Now that Ioannis is gone, you are all I have! How much, how much I have worried about you!”
Asherad looked at his father, who was begging pitifully. He didn't seem to have any intention of hiding it anymore. It was a very strange experience. Asherad said quietly.
“Did you wish me well?”
“...”
“Let me ask you, were you ever my father?”
Asherad sneered coldly, the corners of his lips twisting upward. Yes, he had never acted like a father. So why should he try to act like one?
“Asherad... I have always loved you.”
Love?! This time, Asherad's smile disappeared. He shouted in anger.
“You knew that my body was full of wounds! You knew that I almost drank poison! You knew that the woman whom I called my mother strangled me!”
Asherad burst into rage as he looked at his father with bloodshot eyes. An unbridled rage that had never been properly expressed took control of him.
“I knew that too. That’s why, for your sake, I told the Empress...”
“You should have held my hand and run away then!”
“...”
“You should have taken my hand and taken me out of that hell!”
Asherad gasped. For my sake? Shit, this is something a passing dog would laugh at. He forced him onto the throne, knowing how much he would suffer. This man has seen how precariously he has lived.
He has seen how desolate his world is. He has seen how harsh the environment surrounding him as a child is, how his ego has been trampled by cruel abuse!
And then he kills the woman he loves and ascends to the throne.
Is that love? Duke Turbol and Ioannis were different. Ioannis had always seen him as a loving younger brother, but the love this man showed was different. It must be because he wanted his son to become the Emperor.
It is no longer pure love. How is it different from my mother, who was poisoned and killed by her husband? Asherad burst into laughter. That was why. That was why, even when he formed an alliance with the Kingdom of Pindus, he did not call the Duke of Turbol.
He was so scared that he would fall for this man's fake love.
If Asherad had a family by blood, it was only Ioannis. This man was not included.
"Father."
But Asherad looked at the man kneeling, willingly using the forbidden title. He smiled softly, his eyes widening. It was as if he were a saint offering forgiveness. In that bloody room, Asherad stroked his father’s cheek.
“I am happy now.”
“...”
“I am so happy right now.”
He laughed. Duke Turbol looked blankly at Asherad. The smile on his pale face was clearly happy. However, that smile pierced the Duke’s heart like a blade.
“I killed this kid because I thought you might lose your mind. This is the world I chose. So don’t destroy it.”
Living as a dog is a happy life.
How to do it...
Asherad told Duke Turbol clearly. Don't do useless things. Asherad was perfectly content and happy with this life. Being next to the woman he loved. What does it matter what form it takes?
Daphne takes revenge, he takes revenge, and they live together happily ever after.
“Asherad... Asherad, Asherad.”
“...”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. How can I repay my sins...”
Asherad saw the Duke break down and cry. The sight of him, who was as big as a cow, crying was disgusting to Asherad. This is a funny farce, Asherad thought.
Meanwhile, someone was watching the farce.
The place where Oliver was laid to rest was a house made of wooden planks. It was not soundproof, and one could see what was happening through the gaps.
Derek was watching it. He was trying to silence his presence as much as possible and was absorbed in the tragedy unfolding before him. Asherad had committed another sin. He had killed Daphne's father.
Just to maintain this lifestyle.
Because I am happy now.
Derek turned around in shock. This devilish bastard. Derek trembled. Killing Daphne's father? He had to tell this bastard about his atrocities right away.
He must get her away from this demon!
Derek went straight back to the palace. He was hasty and did not hear what Asherad said next.
“Get rid of this body quickly.”
“...”
“Father. If you really want to be a father...”
Asherad said to the kneeling, repentant man. Asherad had a duty to protect his happiness.
The surveillance on Asherad was initially strict, but gradually relaxed. However, Asherad somehow managed to escape the palace naked, rather than through the secret passage that Duke Turbol had told him about. The palace was his home, and he could easily escape.
As he went out to the rendezvous point, Asherad was able to meet his subordinates.
“Give me a sword, no, just one weapon that can protect me.”
"All right."
He handed one of the daggers in his bosom to Asherad without any suspicion. Asherad examined the sword and put it back in his bosom.
In the slums of the capital, a carriage stopped at a house that was about to collapse. Asherad went inside, guided by his servant.
There was a smell of oil paint. By the dim candlelight, the man was painting.
“This is the man.”
The Duke of Turbol suddenly appeared and spoke. The Duke pointed to the canvas and brought the lantern, and the painting appeared. It was a beautiful blonde goddess, smiling brightly and looking forward. At first, he thought it was Daphne. However, upon closer inspection, he realized that the woman the man had been drawing was Beatrice.
“They say he is deaf and blind.”
“How can you draw when you’re blind?”
“They said that his eyesight had miraculously recovered. He even lost it while drawing.”
“...”
“There is no way Belenus would leave the painter who painted Beatrice’s portrait alone. That crazy Emperor.”
“...”
“But this man and that woman are definitely related by blood. That painting is proof. So are the artist’s blue eyes.”
No matter what they said, the painter was painting. Asherad watched and observed the painter, who was burning his last artistic spirit.
“It must have been really hard to find.”
“No, Your Majesty.”
The Duke of Turbol spoke affectionately. Askeladd muttered.
“Daphne’s father...”
Asherad smiled, narrowing his eyes. He felt a sense of inferior kinship. Daphne, Asherad. Neither of them was the son of the Emperor.
“Sabrina was right.”
Duke Turbol's voice was filled with overwhelming joy. Yes, it is so. How happy would he be if his woman were not a liar? Looking at Duke Turbol's delighted face, Asherad smiled even brighter.
Asherad approached the painter. Looking at the face of the woman in the oil painting that resembled Daphne, Asherad picked up his dagger and stabbed the painter in the back.
“Ugh!”
Blood gushed out. The man fell forward. He looked at the canvas lying just below his face. The canvas was stained red, as if painted with red paint. Blood trickled down the lips of the smiling woman. The artist wiped the red droplets that had splashed on his goddess with blurry vision.
“Bae... Bae...”
The shabby painter wiped the face of the woman who was his everything. No. He must not let something as dirty as his own blood stain the face of an angel. The painter tried desperately to wipe it away.
The trembling hand instead left a mark and flowed away. The picture became even more of a mess. That was all.
Such was the miserable end of the painter named Oliver.
His life was one of longing for and missing the woman he loved so much, living a long life until he was murdered.
Asherad looked at it with a blank expression.
“What the heck, what the heck is this!”
The Duke of Turbol shouted. He lowered his head and examined the fallen man. He had been alive for a while, but he had died cleanly. There was no turning back. The Duke of Turbol let out a sigh of relief.
He looked at Asherad, who was looking down at the dead body with cold eyes. Duke Turbol watched his hopes crumble in disbelief.
“Why, why, why on earth!”
“...”
“Why, why are you doing this! This was our last hope!”
Last hope? Asherad tilted his head. What could be the last hope? He had no hope in the first place. What could be called hope? Asherad said as he looked at Duke Turbol.
“Yes, why don’t you just give up now?”
At Asherad's words, Duke Turbol took Asherad's hand.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”
“...”
“Why, why are you doing this? I tried so hard, why on earth!”
“...”
“It’s all because of that woman. It’s because of that woman, right? Because of that woman, Your Majesty is in a state of confusion!”
Looking at the face of Duke Turbol, Asherad looked tiredly at the face of the dead man. He was a worthless being, even if he lived. Asherad laughed and turned his eyes to the Duke, saying. His sparkling green eyes shone like jewels. It was the color of liquor.
“I didn’t know at all, but I was already crazy.”
The reason was too clear. There was no more room to squeeze in. Asherad could laugh even brighter as he said this. Amid that crazy scene, Duke Turbol shook his head. A warrior with a strong physique. The Duke of Peneus, the first warrior, willingly bowed down before this man who had fallen to the Emperor's dog.
“Asherad, Asherad, Asherad!”
“...”
“You shouldn’t do that. You, you shouldn’t do that!”
“...”
“I have always worried about you. I have always wanted you to do well. Now that Ioannis is gone, you are all I have! How much, how much I have worried about you!”
Asherad looked at his father, who was begging pitifully. He didn't seem to have any intention of hiding it anymore. It was a very strange experience. Asherad said quietly.
“Did you wish me well?”
“...”
“Let me ask you, were you ever my father?”
Asherad sneered coldly, the corners of his lips twisting upward. Yes, he had never acted like a father. So why should he try to act like one?
“Asherad... I have always loved you.”
Love?! This time, Asherad's smile disappeared. He shouted in anger.
“You knew that my body was full of wounds! You knew that I almost drank poison! You knew that the woman whom I called my mother strangled me!”
Asherad burst into rage as he looked at his father with bloodshot eyes. An unbridled rage that had never been properly expressed took control of him.
“I knew that too. That’s why, for your sake, I told the Empress...”
“You should have held my hand and run away then!”
“...”
“You should have taken my hand and taken me out of that hell!”
Asherad gasped. For my sake? Shit, this is something a passing dog would laugh at. He forced him onto the throne, knowing how much he would suffer. This man has seen how precariously he has lived.
He has seen how desolate his world is. He has seen how harsh the environment surrounding him as a child is, how his ego has been trampled by cruel abuse!
And then he kills the woman he loves and ascends to the throne.
Is that love? Duke Turbol and Ioannis were different. Ioannis had always seen him as a loving younger brother, but the love this man showed was different. It must be because he wanted his son to become the Emperor.
It is no longer pure love. How is it different from my mother, who was poisoned and killed by her husband? Asherad burst into laughter. That was why. That was why, even when he formed an alliance with the Kingdom of Pindus, he did not call the Duke of Turbol.
He was so scared that he would fall for this man's fake love.
If Asherad had a family by blood, it was only Ioannis. This man was not included.
"Father."
But Asherad looked at the man kneeling, willingly using the forbidden title. He smiled softly, his eyes widening. It was as if he were a saint offering forgiveness. In that bloody room, Asherad stroked his father’s cheek.
“I am happy now.”
“...”
“I am so happy right now.”
He laughed. Duke Turbol looked blankly at Asherad. The smile on his pale face was clearly happy. However, that smile pierced the Duke’s heart like a blade.
“I killed this kid because I thought you might lose your mind. This is the world I chose. So don’t destroy it.”
Living as a dog is a happy life.
How to do it...
Asherad told Duke Turbol clearly. Don't do useless things. Asherad was perfectly content and happy with this life. Being next to the woman he loved. What does it matter what form it takes?
Daphne takes revenge, he takes revenge, and they live together happily ever after.
“Asherad... Asherad, Asherad.”
“...”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. How can I repay my sins...”
Asherad saw the Duke break down and cry. The sight of him, who was as big as a cow, crying was disgusting to Asherad. This is a funny farce, Asherad thought.
Meanwhile, someone was watching the farce.
The place where Oliver was laid to rest was a house made of wooden planks. It was not soundproof, and one could see what was happening through the gaps.
Derek was watching it. He was trying to silence his presence as much as possible and was absorbed in the tragedy unfolding before him. Asherad had committed another sin. He had killed Daphne's father.
Just to maintain this lifestyle.
Because I am happy now.
Derek turned around in shock. This devilish bastard. Derek trembled. Killing Daphne's father? He had to tell this bastard about his atrocities right away.
He must get her away from this demon!
Derek went straight back to the palace. He was hasty and did not hear what Asherad said next.
“Get rid of this body quickly.”
“...”
“Father. If you really want to be a father...”
Asherad said to the kneeling, repentant man. Asherad had a duty to protect his happiness.
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