Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Collapse
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The man seated on the throne, Belenus's eyes scanned the seventeen-year-old girl from head to toe.
Her hazy blonde hair had deepened in color, and her large eyes, brimming with tears, now gleamed with a fairly beautiful light, having matured just right. Her small lips had become quite plump, as if she had a red fruit tucked in her mouth.
What about her facial contours? The baby fat had melted away, leaving a refinement that was a spitting image of her mother, Beatrice.
Daphne shrank back as much as she could under his appraising gaze. It made her feel filthy, as if he were peering right through her clothes.
Why were Asherad and his father Belenus so different?
The Emperor very occasionally summoned Daphne to this place and examined her inside and out. She hadn't understood why before, but now she did.
He was searching for traces of Beatrice in Daphne's face and body. He wanted to gawk at how wretched the daughter of his beloved, deceitful concubine had become.
It used to frighten Daphne, but now it disgusted her. The reason he hadn't killed her wasn't his mercy—it was his twisted amusement.
Whether he had loved her mother or not didn't matter. Daphne tried to endure by forcing herself to loathe that gaze.
"If only you were just past twenty..."
What did he just say? Daphne looked up. Why mention her age? And in such a regretful tone. It stirred a strange unease in her.
The Emperor approached Daphne and undid her tightly bound hair, not a single stray strand escaping. The blonde locks, reminiscent of her mother's, tumbled loose. Daphne clasped her hands together, trembling.
"This hair color is starting to look more and more like Beatrice's."
The Emperor's hand stroked Daphne's hair, then he lifted a few strands to his nose.
"It reeks of mold. I'll have some perfume sent to you."
Perfume? What did that mean? Daphne trembled as she watched what the Emperor was doing.
It was revolting.
She just wanted to escape this place quickly. Daphne squeezed her eyes shut.
"Your Majesty. The Thalassa Princess has arrived."
"Send her in at once."
The hair he'd yanked was finally released. But Daphne still felt pinned in place, as if it were gripped tight.
"You may withdraw."
His voice was a bit hurried. Daphne bowed and backed away. At the same moment, the attendant opened the audience chamber door.
"Your Majesty!"
A bright, coquettish voice rang out. The princess of the Thalassa Kingdom approached with a radiant smile. Her gold hair, tinged with red, was braided and coiled up, making her look even fresher than her age. Her snow-white skin and peach-blossom cheeks were utterly lovable.
Dressed in crimson like crocus flowers, she exuded a vibrant life force utterly unlike Daphne's faint vitality.
Somehow, Daphne felt ashamed of her own existence. Clutching the hem of her shabby skirt, she slipped out of the audience chamber.
Meanwhile, Calista glanced sideways at the blonde woman who brushed past her. She seemed familiar. Something felt off about it.
Maids all tie their hair tightly. So why was hers loose? And why was the Emperor acting so strangely?
Something was wrong.
"Who was that woman?"
Calista asked in her coquettish way. The Emperor smiled and replied.
"She's nothing."
"..."
It was a irritable smile telling her not to pry further. Even scatterbrained Calista could read that much. She steered the conversation to topics she liked while still mulling over that maid.
Ah. That maid—she remembered where she'd seen her. She was the one skulking around the Crown Prince Palace. One of those the Crown Prince occasionally glanced at, someone she'd learned about despite not wanting to.
What was that about?
She'd have to ask around the maids in the Crown Prince Palace. Calista recalled the sticky feeling of that woman's retreating figure.
* * *
"What the hell is that?"
Asherad lifted the corner of his mouth in disbelief. He could see Daphne and Fabian chatting amiably. Asherad narrowed his eyes.
"Th-this is..."
Lancelot, captain of the Crown Prince's guard, hurriedly stepped forward.
"Your Highness, that guy's still new, so..."
Lancelot ground his teeth. Serving as guard right beside Asherad meant knowing his temperament. He'd warned that fool, but he'd still approached the damned woman.
He had some backing, sure, and his circumstances were pitiful enough. He could wield a sword decently and was sociable.
Lacked steel, but no malice in his actions...
Fabian didn't know that a servant had been brutally killed just for speaking to Daphne once.
"Hmm..."
Asherad leaned against a pillar, watching Fabian and Daphne.
Daphne said something, and Fabian burst into laughter. Wariness still lingered on Daphne's face, but she looked at ease anyway.
Unlike when she looked at him.
"If I may, she's probably just being kind because he's lightheaded and not worth much."
"Yeah?"
Being cold to Daphne was an unwritten rule of the Imperial Palace. The Emperor had brought her here as a punchbag toy from the start.
Lancelot tried to downplay Fabian's character.
"That guy sees women as tools. She probably just looks easy to use."
At that, Asherad smirked. His emerald eyes frantically scanned the two.
* * *
Visiting the Crown Prince's chambers in broad daylight was rare. Sure, she was loitering because she had nothing to do and wanted to be noticed, but she hadn't expected to be spotted so immediately.
Daphne bowed to Asherad, seated in his chair. During the time she was turning eighteen, he had summoned her every late night.
A slight awkwardness hung in the air.
"What is it this time?"
A gentle voice reached her. When Daphne looked up at Asherad, his signature red lips curved upward.
At Asherad's gesture, Daphne knelt beneath his chair. She gazed up at the man looking down at her. Beautiful as a god, he softened as he regarded her stiff face.
"What is it this time that's making you so stiff around me?"
"Um..."
Daphne didn't know how to say it. Should she admit feeling distant after seeing him walk with the Thalassa Princess?
Arrogant to even think of distance. Daphne clamped her mouth shut on the words.
"Daphne, I asked, so answer me. You can't just trail off, can you?"
Asherad reached out and lifted her chin. His thumb caressed her red lips, ripe as fruit. Daphne parted her lips.
"It's..."
"Yeah?"
Asherad leaned in close. His green eyes seemed to suck in everything about her. Even her reason was drawn out without remainder.
Under a hypnosis she didn't even realize, Daphne spoke.
"It's... because the Thalassa Princess was there..."
"So?"
"She's the one you're going to marry."
Rarely, Daphne added while avoiding Asherad's eyes.
"You two look so good together..."
It was a low, melancholic voice that blurred the line between compliment and sarcasm.
"Ahaha!"
Asherad rarely burst into laughter like that. He seemed delighted. Daphne's face flushed red.
Somehow, he looked happy. He who always seemed chilling even when smiling—this time held only warmth.
"Ah, Daphne! I get what misunderstanding you've had!"
"..."
"Daphne, you thought I was going to marry that woman?"
Then you're not? Her eyes asked, but Asherad was still smiling.
"I wondered why you were avoiding me again... No one told you?"
"..."
"She's my aunt."
"I know, not a drop of blood..."
"No, that's not the point. The Thalassa Princess did come for marriage. But not to me—to my father, the Emperor."
"Huh?"
"I hear rumors spread because she's around my age, but everyone's got it wrong."
At those words, Daphne's face brightened. Ah, so that's it. Watching her, light touched Asherad's face too.
"You seem pleased."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Daphne clamped her mouth shut. Even without an answer, Asherad didn't mind.
"Good. If you're happy, I'm happy too."
Her face flushed at his daddy-like tone. Why say such things? Why did this man speak to her this way?
"Daphne. I really enjoy my time with you."
"..."
"Seeing you this happy comforts me too."
It was a kindness and affection unlike Fabian's.
Thanks to Asherad's soft smile, Daphne could forget her troubles for a moment. Like the Emperor's meaningful attitude, his glances, things like that.
Asherad, your father is strange.
Daphne wanted to say it but held back. Could Asherad do anything for her sake? Especially against his father, the empire's supreme ruler.
He absolutely couldn't.
"Daphne."
"Yes."
"You'll stay by my side, right?"
"Yes."
Daphne smiled faintly.
"You're mine. Right?"
She didn't question his seeking confirmation. The faint anxiety in his tone delighted her. It was simply endearing.
Daphne just gazed at the man she loved with flushed cheeks, red lips, and a warm expression.
Unsure what to do with her burning affection.
The moment she saw him beside the princess, Daphne realized her feelings were no ordinary crush. She liked this man.
She was grateful for his touches, his glances.
But she felt sorry. Asherad didn't know exactly what her sin was. If he learned she'd deceived the world by claiming to be of the same blood as him, what would he say?
Just thinking about it made her heart chill.
"Daphne. Why no answer?"
Daphne forced a smile.
"Yes, I'll stay by your side. If that's what Your Highness wants."
She didn't want to lose him. If her words changed the light in Asherad's eyes, she couldn't survive it.
"Good."
His warm expression and gaze returned. This was affection. Warmth unlike the Emperor Belenus. Then urgent knocking sounded.
"Who is it?"
At Asherad's words, the attendant hurriedly replied.
"Your Highness, the Thalassa Princess has come!"
"Let her in."
Daphne rose to stand by the wall, but Asherad grabbed her hand. For some reason, he showed no intention of distancing her in front of the princess. Unlike the Emperor. Daphne was troubled by it, but somehow didn't dislike it.
"What brings you here, Aunt?"
Asherad greeted the princess with a relaxed expression. She replied with a smile all over her face, then spotted Daphne beside Asherad.
"You're here too, you impudent criminal!"
"..."
Calista approached Daphne and slapped her cheek. Daphne clutched her stung cheek and looked up.
"Your Highness, what is the meaning of this outrage!"
"What..."
"Do you know what kind of wretch she is? She's the daughter of that seductress who tormented my sister so!"
Asherad's eyes widened.
Ah, it was all over.
Tears streamed from Daphne's eyes.