Episode 36. I Don't Have a Daughter
For the past three years, Daimon had treated his daughter, Rose, as if she didn't exist. He couldn't understand why she would turn her back on her parents and choose the enemy of her family.
“...It’s really at a level where you can’t find even an iota of dignity.”
A tremor was felt in Rivera's frail voice. When the Grand Duke of Artaeum tried to move his mouth to comfort her,
“This fucking shit... with a head full of pasta noodles. Damn, even if you hung him upside down and threw him at crows, I wouldn’t be able to stop being so angry.”
Rose's mother, Rivera, spoke in a calm, angry tone. She uttered a series of terrifying words in a low voice. Her eyes, as she spoke these terrifying words, were filled with murder.
“....”
Grand Duke Artaeum froze in place at the sight of Rivera, whom he had never seen before.
‘...what did I just hear?’
The Countess Serviat, he remembered, was clearly a woman of refined image.
'...It seems she was quite shocked to see her daughter return so battered. Count Serviat was probably even more shocked than I was.'
The Grand Duke worried about Daimon, who would be shocked by the sight of his wife, who had maintained her elegant appearance throughout her life. However, it didn't take long for him to realize his worries were unfounded. Instead of being surprised by Rivera's words, Daimon nodded in agreement.
“That’s just a drop in the bucket for those damned Count Wence who were verbally abusing my daughter.”
He interrupted Rivera, as if he were very familiar with her words. When the startled Grand Duke blinked at Rivera, she finally seemed to notice him, and her expression changed to a smile.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I showed you a rough side of myself. Please forget about what I just did."
Rivera, speaking shyly, was as elegant and refined as ever, just like the Grand Duke knew her. Her appearance, changing as if flipping a coin, only further confused the Grand Duke.
‘... Could that really be the appearance of Countess Serviat?’
The Grand Duke looked at her with a bewildered expression, without answering.
“Uh... Wh, water...”
At that moment, Rose's voice, now broken, echoed faintly.
“Water! Mom will bring it right away!”
Rivera rushed out the door as soon as she heard Rose's voice. Rose, who had been lying there for half a day, regained consciousness. She struggled to open her eyelids and blinked.
For the past three years, Daimon had treated his daughter, Rose, as if she didn't exist. He couldn't understand why she would turn her back on her parents and choose the enemy of her family.
Furthermore, Rose's future husband was the scoundrel Eric, leaving Daimon heartbroken beyond words. So, he erased Rose, thinking it was better to have no daughter at all. That's why he'd been furious whenever Rivera brought up Rose's story. He'd told her not to talk because he didn't care how Rose lived.
The Grand Duke had a vague sense of the Serviat family's situation. He'd told Rose, "Count and Countess Serviat are worried about you," but that was Rose's mother, Rivera's story.
“Huh, huff... Honey, let’s lay down Rose first.”
Rivera wiped away tears in Daimon's arms and spoke in a thin voice. The tips of Rivera's fingers, holding Daimon, were visibly shaking.
“...”
Daimon didn't respond to Rivera's words and just stood there silently.
“Daimon...?”
Her pupils shook anxiously, perhaps sensing something strange about Daimon's reaction.
“You... you’re not planning on just letting our Rose go, are you?”
It was Rose, his daughter, whom he had met after three years. She appeared not in good health, but as if she were about to die. How could he look at Rose so indifferently...? Rivera felt a pang of unease at the sight of Daimon, who seemed ready to cast Rose out at any moment. The Grand Duke shared Rivera's unease.
'I knew that Count Serviat had a sharp personality, but...'
How could he look at his collapsed daughter with such a cold gaze? ...He couldn't possibly be ignoring his own sick daughter and sending her away, could he? The Grand Duke's eyes crinkled involuntarily as uneasy thoughts raced through his mind.
'If they stop me, I have to force my way in.'
If Daimon didn't move, he planned to push it away and enter. It was more important to check Rose's condition than to try to persuade him politely.
"Ugh..."
At that moment, Rose let out a groan. The eyes of the three people surrounding her were fixed on her. The Grand Duke and Rivera, who were looking at her with concern, and even Daimon, whose thoughts were indecipherable.
“Excuse me.”
The Grand Duke thrust himself forward without even considering Daimon's response. However, Daimon stood before the Grand Duke, seemingly unmoved. Could it be that his heart wasn't softened by the sight of his ailing daughter? The Grand Duke's expression hardened fiercely at the sight of Daimon blocking his path.
“Count Serviat, what is this...!”
The Grand Duke of Artaeum finally let out a loud scream. Daimon, unconcerned with the Grand Duke, snatched Rose from his arms as if he were trying to steal her. With a loud crash, he rushed into the mansion. The Grand Duke froze in place upon seeing Daimon. The sight of Daimon running away with a miserable expression was heartbreaking.
“Huh, huff... Honey, let’s lay down Rose first.”
Rivera wiped away tears in Daimon's arms and spoke in a thin voice. The tips of Rivera's fingers, holding Daimon, were visibly shaking.
“...”
Daimon didn't respond to Rivera's words and just stood there silently.
“Daimon...?”
Her pupils shook anxiously, perhaps sensing something strange about Daimon's reaction.
“You... you’re not planning on just letting our Rose go, are you?”
It was Rose, his daughter, whom he had met after three years. She appeared not in good health, but as if she were about to die. How could he look at Rose so indifferently...? Rivera felt a pang of unease at the sight of Daimon, who seemed ready to cast Rose out at any moment. The Grand Duke shared Rivera's unease.
'I knew that Count Serviat had a sharp personality, but...'
How could he look at his collapsed daughter with such a cold gaze? ...He couldn't possibly be ignoring his own sick daughter and sending her away, could he? The Grand Duke's eyes crinkled involuntarily as uneasy thoughts raced through his mind.
'If they stop me, I have to force my way in.'
If Daimon didn't move, he planned to push it away and enter. It was more important to check Rose's condition than to try to persuade him politely.
"Ugh..."
At that moment, Rose let out a groan. The eyes of the three people surrounding her were fixed on her. The Grand Duke and Rivera, who were looking at her with concern, and even Daimon, whose thoughts were indecipherable.
“Excuse me.”
The Grand Duke thrust himself forward without even considering Daimon's response. However, Daimon stood before the Grand Duke, seemingly unmoved. Could it be that his heart wasn't softened by the sight of his ailing daughter? The Grand Duke's expression hardened fiercely at the sight of Daimon blocking his path.
“Count Serviat, what is this...!”
The Grand Duke of Artaeum finally let out a loud scream. Daimon, unconcerned with the Grand Duke, snatched Rose from his arms as if he were trying to steal her. With a loud crash, he rushed into the mansion. The Grand Duke froze in place upon seeing Daimon. The sight of Daimon running away with a miserable expression was heartbreaking.
***
Rose lay on a worn bed. A cold, wet towel rested on her head. Beside her, Daimon, his head bowed listlessly. Daimon couldn't leave Rose's side for even a moment. His heart ached as he gazed at Rose's limp hands.
“You idiot... It’s been three years since I last saw you... And yet you’re only showing me this side of yourself.”
Daimon's low, ringing voice was a mixture of resentment and sorrow. He carefully took Rose's hand. The once simmering heat had cooled, unlike before.
"Ha..."
Daimon's low sigh echoed quietly in the room. He stared at Rose's hand, caressing it. When had those tiny hands, barely a handful, grown so large? The moment he realized he was truly a father was when he held the newborn Rose in his arms. Rose, with a loud cry, was held in his arms.
“Ugh!”
Daimon was shocked by Rose's crying appearance as she left the mansion,
“Rose, it’s daddy.”
Surprisingly, Rose's crying stopped with just one word from him.
“Oh my, I think Miss Rose recognizes the Count.”
“You must be smart.”
The nanny and maid who helped with the birth spoke with gentle eyes. Daimon was equally surprised to see Rose's tears stop as if by magic. Rose, who had been trembling with fear at the thought of being born into this world, seemed to find solace in Daimon's voice, becoming remarkably calm.
“Oh my, oh my! Look at this!”
“How cute. The young lady is smiling at the Count.”
How could a newborn baby smile? Daimon stared blankly at Rose, who was still in his arms, writhing.
Unlike before, Rose's expression was calm, and she seemed to be truly smiling, just as they had said. The Count felt a pang of regret at seeing Rose grow so rapidly. She was so beautiful, so lovable. He couldn't possibly capture every moment of her with his own eyes. She was his only daughter, raised with the utmost care. To Daemon, Rose was more precious than life itself. When young Rose was on the verge of death, it was truly terrifying. It was the first time in his life that he had felt the urge to suffer for someone else. If only he could, he would endure the pain in her place. He prayed fervently every day, asking God to make him suffer in Rose's place. He loved his daughter so much. That's why, when Rose turned her back on him and left, he felt as if the sky had fallen.
“Instead of this weak thing... please make me sick.”
He prayed to God again today, asking him to let him suffer in Rose's stead. His desperate voice echoed hollowly in Rose's room. He had never abandoned Rose, his treasure. He waited for her to reach out first. Not a single day went by without Rose's thoughts. As Rose's father, not a single day went by without him praying for her happiness. The Grand Duke approached behind Daemon, who was mumbling in prayer.
“Don’t worry too much. The doctor said she’ll come to her senses soon.”
The Grand Duke placed his hand on the slumped Daimon's shoulder and spoke softly.
“...Thank you, Your Highness.”
Daimon looked up at the Grand Duke and said.
“By the way, what on earth happened?”
He was so busy laying down the fallen Rose and calling the doctor that he couldn't even think about asking why the Grand Duke had brought Rose, or why she was alone, without an attendant. The Grand Duke opened his mouth, as if he was struggling to find a way to speak.
'It's better to tell it as it is.'
Just before collapsing, Rose smiled bashfully and said, "I'm divorced." The Grand Duke decided to tell her everything he'd heard. Just then, Rivera, who had just seen the doctor off, entered. Rivera, too, seemed curious and silently listened to the Grand Duke.
“I met Rose by chance in the square.”
Normally, he would have said 'Madam', but now that she was divorced, there was no need to say 'Madam'.
“I asked her about the sight of her standing alone, and she said she was divorced.”
"Divorce?"
Rivera and Daimon answered the Grand Duke's words simultaneously.
“Is that true?”
“Our Rose... got divorced?”
They stared at the Grand Duke, as if they couldn't believe their ears. The Grand Duke fully understood the Serviat couple's reaction. He, too, had reacted the same way when he first heard the word "divorce" from Rose's lips.
“She came out naked, as if they hadn’t even provided a carriage, but she looked very relieved.”
“This rotten thing...!”
Daemon's expression crumpled terribly at the Grand Duke of Artaeum's words. To finally cast his own daughter away...!
“You idiot... It’s been three years since I last saw you... And yet you’re only showing me this side of yourself.”
Daimon's low, ringing voice was a mixture of resentment and sorrow. He carefully took Rose's hand. The once simmering heat had cooled, unlike before.
"Ha..."
Daimon's low sigh echoed quietly in the room. He stared at Rose's hand, caressing it. When had those tiny hands, barely a handful, grown so large? The moment he realized he was truly a father was when he held the newborn Rose in his arms. Rose, with a loud cry, was held in his arms.
“Ugh!”
Daimon was shocked by Rose's crying appearance as she left the mansion,
“Rose, it’s daddy.”
Surprisingly, Rose's crying stopped with just one word from him.
“Oh my, I think Miss Rose recognizes the Count.”
“You must be smart.”
The nanny and maid who helped with the birth spoke with gentle eyes. Daimon was equally surprised to see Rose's tears stop as if by magic. Rose, who had been trembling with fear at the thought of being born into this world, seemed to find solace in Daimon's voice, becoming remarkably calm.
“Oh my, oh my! Look at this!”
“How cute. The young lady is smiling at the Count.”
How could a newborn baby smile? Daimon stared blankly at Rose, who was still in his arms, writhing.
Unlike before, Rose's expression was calm, and she seemed to be truly smiling, just as they had said. The Count felt a pang of regret at seeing Rose grow so rapidly. She was so beautiful, so lovable. He couldn't possibly capture every moment of her with his own eyes. She was his only daughter, raised with the utmost care. To Daemon, Rose was more precious than life itself. When young Rose was on the verge of death, it was truly terrifying. It was the first time in his life that he had felt the urge to suffer for someone else. If only he could, he would endure the pain in her place. He prayed fervently every day, asking God to make him suffer in Rose's place. He loved his daughter so much. That's why, when Rose turned her back on him and left, he felt as if the sky had fallen.
“Instead of this weak thing... please make me sick.”
He prayed to God again today, asking him to let him suffer in Rose's stead. His desperate voice echoed hollowly in Rose's room. He had never abandoned Rose, his treasure. He waited for her to reach out first. Not a single day went by without Rose's thoughts. As Rose's father, not a single day went by without him praying for her happiness. The Grand Duke approached behind Daemon, who was mumbling in prayer.
“Don’t worry too much. The doctor said she’ll come to her senses soon.”
The Grand Duke placed his hand on the slumped Daimon's shoulder and spoke softly.
“...Thank you, Your Highness.”
Daimon looked up at the Grand Duke and said.
“By the way, what on earth happened?”
He was so busy laying down the fallen Rose and calling the doctor that he couldn't even think about asking why the Grand Duke had brought Rose, or why she was alone, without an attendant. The Grand Duke opened his mouth, as if he was struggling to find a way to speak.
'It's better to tell it as it is.'
Just before collapsing, Rose smiled bashfully and said, "I'm divorced." The Grand Duke decided to tell her everything he'd heard. Just then, Rivera, who had just seen the doctor off, entered. Rivera, too, seemed curious and silently listened to the Grand Duke.
“I met Rose by chance in the square.”
Normally, he would have said 'Madam', but now that she was divorced, there was no need to say 'Madam'.
“I asked her about the sight of her standing alone, and she said she was divorced.”
"Divorce?"
Rivera and Daimon answered the Grand Duke's words simultaneously.
“Is that true?”
“Our Rose... got divorced?”
They stared at the Grand Duke, as if they couldn't believe their ears. The Grand Duke fully understood the Serviat couple's reaction. He, too, had reacted the same way when he first heard the word "divorce" from Rose's lips.
“She came out naked, as if they hadn’t even provided a carriage, but she looked very relieved.”
“This rotten thing...!”
Daemon's expression crumpled terribly at the Grand Duke of Artaeum's words. To finally cast his own daughter away...!
It was a great thing that his daughter was free from Eric, but on the other hand, he felt bad. He hadn't treated Rose well until the very end. Daemon couldn't contain his anger, as if he had been humiliated. His face trembled, his fists clenched, bloodshot. The low, heavy atmosphere was incredibly heavy. Not only Daemon, but Rivera couldn't hide her anger. What on earth did her daughter lack to deserve such treatment? They'd been heartbroken when they'd been taken away, but he couldn't forgive the Counts of Wence for treating her this way.
“...It’s really at a level where you can’t find even an iota of dignity.”
A tremor was felt in Rivera's frail voice. When the Grand Duke of Artaeum tried to move his mouth to comfort her,
“This fucking shit... with a head full of pasta noodles. Damn, even if you hung him upside down and threw him at crows, I wouldn’t be able to stop being so angry.”
Rose's mother, Rivera, spoke in a calm, angry tone. She uttered a series of terrifying words in a low voice. Her eyes, as she spoke these terrifying words, were filled with murder.
“....”
Grand Duke Artaeum froze in place at the sight of Rivera, whom he had never seen before.
‘...what did I just hear?’
The Countess Serviat, he remembered, was clearly a woman of refined image.
'...It seems she was quite shocked to see her daughter return so battered. Count Serviat was probably even more shocked than I was.'
The Grand Duke worried about Daimon, who would be shocked by the sight of his wife, who had maintained her elegant appearance throughout her life. However, it didn't take long for him to realize his worries were unfounded. Instead of being surprised by Rivera's words, Daimon nodded in agreement.
“That’s just a drop in the bucket for those damned Count Wence who were verbally abusing my daughter.”
He interrupted Rivera, as if he were very familiar with her words. When the startled Grand Duke blinked at Rivera, she finally seemed to notice him, and her expression changed to a smile.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I showed you a rough side of myself. Please forget about what I just did."
Rivera, speaking shyly, was as elegant and refined as ever, just like the Grand Duke knew her. Her appearance, changing as if flipping a coin, only further confused the Grand Duke.
‘... Could that really be the appearance of Countess Serviat?’
The Grand Duke looked at her with a bewildered expression, without answering.
“Uh... Wh, water...”
At that moment, Rose's voice, now broken, echoed faintly.
“Water! Mom will bring it right away!”
Rivera rushed out the door as soon as she heard Rose's voice. Rose, who had been lying there for half a day, regained consciousness. She struggled to open her eyelids and blinked.
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