Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: The Owner of the Gift
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Every time she took a step, the pure white skirt fluttered softly. It flowed in elegant curves utterly incomparable to the stiff maid's uniform made of coarse fabric.
The dress was so beautiful that she felt guilty pairing it with her worn-out shoes.
Daphne straightened her back just as her mother had taught her long ago and walked with the poise of a noble young lady.
Walking like this made her feel as though she'd gone back in time. The dress wasn't adorned with jeweled precious metals, but the lace trimming its hem was dazzlingly ornate.
"Daphne, what's going on?"
"Hm?"
Fabian was startled by Daphne's appearance. She, who always wore black, was dressed so differently.
Her sparkling golden hair paired perfectly with the soft pink gown. Her hair was still tied back tightly like a maid's, but the bright outfit alone made her look like a nobleman's daughter.
Was it the pale tones of the dress? Her eyes, once seeming faded and wilted, now shone clear and vivid—pitiful yet blue. Just a change of clothes, and yet Daphne radiated a beauty incomparable to anyone else.
Her downcast, shy gaze and graceful smile. What difference was there between her and a noble lady? Damn it. Fabian ground his teeth.
Daphne spoke shyly.
"Sara told me to try wearing it and going out..."
"Sara?"
"Yeah. She said I never go outside anyway..."
Fabian was at a loss for words. It hit him like a blow to the head.
Come to think of it, Daphne always looked ambiguous whenever he asked her out. He'd thought it wasn't the right time yet and put in extra effort, but what if she'd been forbidden from going out from the start?
Servants in the palace weren't always free to come and go, but with prior permission, they could.
But Daphne?
"Daphne, have you never gone out even once?"
Daphne nodded. This was serious. Fabian fell deep into thought. Daphne tilted her head in confusion.
For her part, Daphne just smiled shyly. At least Fabian seemed to like it.
She was glad she'd followed Sara's advice. Was that why Sara had given her the dress? Sara, who had been the most amicable toward her, now seemed fully committed to taking her side. She offered "friendly" advice without holding back.
She even visited Daphne's dingy, rundown room—which everyone avoided—from time to time, bringing snacks.
'It's such a pretty dress you got for once. You should wear it at least once.'
'But if I wear something other than my uniform, I'll get in trouble.'
'Daphne, you're so pretty—it'd be a waste not to. And you can't even go out... The head lady-in-waiting is going out tomorrow, so just try it on for a bit.'
'......'
'You have to show that red-haired knight how pretty you look.'
Did she want to show this side of herself to Fabian? She wasn't even sure. Still, she'd put on the dress not just because she wanted to wear something pretty, but because it reminded her of her very early childhood.
Back when her mother's warm embrace had been her whole world, free of worries.
Back when everything had been as sweet and soft as sunlight.
She remembered being dressed up under her mother's hands. Daphne read fairy tales. She clutched at her mother's clothes.
'I want to wear pretty clothes like this too.'
The clothes Daphne wore were always childishly garish colors. Red, yellow, blue...
More than those loud hues, she wanted to wear the soft, flowing dresses her mother draped over herself. When her mother wore white, she sometimes looked like a fairy, or an elf guardian of the forest, or even a goddess of mercy.
'When you grow up, of course I'll dress you in them. But you're still a child.'
Daphne would throw a little tantrum, but that gentle stroking of her hair would calm her down.
'You cute little thing, when will you grow up?'
Her mother would stroke Daphne's hair and ask that.
'You tiny thing, when will you grow?'
'......'
'At your coming-of-age ceremony, I'll make you the prettiest dress.'
But now Daphne had grown up and was wearing a dress fit for her mother—yet her mother was gone. She wanted to go to her mother's grave wearing this dress.
To where her mother was...
"Daphne."
The voice pulled Daphne back to reality. Fabian was looking at her with concern. Daphne forced a smile.
"Ah, sorry. I was thinking about Mother."
"Your mother?"
"She used to wear clothes like this a lot."
"......"
"She'd tell me that when I grew up and wanted to wear them, she'd let me."
Oh no. Daphne's lips parted. Her mother, whom she loved, had been a seductress who deceived the world. A vicious concubine scheming to oust the virtuous empress. That was her mother's place in the eyes of others.
"You loved your mother."
His warm words felt like a gentle caress over an aching wound. Daphne swallowed the surge of emotion welling up.
She felt sorry toward Fabian. She was grateful for the man who followed her all winter, but while she liked him, she didn't crave him.
But Fabian was different.
Fabian always wanted something from her. He never pressed for an answer, but every time she met his eyes, Daphne felt both thankful and as if she were plummeting into an abyss.
Still, she couldn't push Fabian away. His affection made her realize how lonely she'd been, how much she'd craved people's love.
If even Fabian turned his back on her, she wouldn't be able to bear it.
Not even Asherad gave her as much affection as Fabian did. He treated her like a cute little sister, and sometimes even withdrew what little warmth he offered.
Just then, Fabian flinched and looked somewhere.
"Fabian?"
At Daphne's question, Fabian scowled.
"Daphne, you should go back and change."
"Hm?"
"......"
Fabian seemed lost in thought.
"You're... no, it's nothing."
Feeling uneasy at his expression, Daphne turned to leave.
"It suits you so well—why would you think of changing?"
"......"
Daphne flinched at the familiar voice. Goosebumps prickled her skin just from hearing it. No way. It couldn't be. When she turned, the emperor stood there.
Had he come specifically to see her? With only his two closest knights, he approached Daphne with surprising familiarity.
Since when were they close? That familiarity made her shudder.
"I greet Your Majesty."
Fabian knelt and bowed his head. Daphne bit her lip. A strange sense of powerlessness washed over her. Seeing Fabian on his knees only intensified it.
"And you are?"
"Fabian Pond."
"Ah, Pond."
The emperor's lip curled up. Humiliation flashed across Fabian's face. As Daphne looked on puzzled, the emperor continued.
"Under whose command?"
"Of the Crown Prince's Palace."
"I see... So, under Count Rocania."
The emperor stroked his beard as he eyed Fabian. Fabian looked troubled. Daphne fidgeted with her hands.
"Don't change out of it. Wear it if you want."
"......"
"It's such a shame—it was a gift I picked out with care, after all."
A gift? Daphne's lips parted. What did he mean...? Seeing her blank face, the emperor smirked. His lewd, base gaze settled on her.
"You're starting to look more like your mother. Beautiful."
Had those words ever been so horrifying? Daphne's heart pounded. The emperor strode closer. Her body trembled faintly.
He hadn't touched her, but his gaze alone felt humiliating. Like she was being toyed with. Why? Why had this man given her the dress?
Not Asherad?
"It suits you so well—I'm pleased. Beatrice used to wear things like that too."
The emperor's face wasn't looking at Daphne, but at a woman from his past. It was revolting, seeing him reminisce over someone else through her. He'd trampled even her small, precious memories.
But that realization was somewhat fortunate. She knew exactly what he was seeing, and it terrified her. Worse still, he had no intention of hiding his feelings.
Not even in front of Fabian.
Seeing Daphne's face drain of color, the emperor grinned ear to ear.
"Your Majesty, we wondered where you'd gone—why are you here?"
A woman's saccharine voice rang out. Daphne knew its owner all too well. It was Calista. The emperor cleared his throat awkwardly.
"What brings the empress here?"
"Have you forgotten? After the council meeting, you promised to meet my brother from Thalassa."
"Ah, I'd completely forgotten."
The emperor looked embarrassed. Daphne couldn't follow what was happening.
She just kept her head bowed. She didn't notice the emperor's gaze lingering on her before shifting away, nor Calista's face twisting at the sight.
The emperor left as if fleeing the scene. Daphne prayed this moment would end quickly. Assuming Calista had followed him, she lifted her head—only for a slap to strike her face.
"How dare you raise your head!"
"......"
Her cheek burned. Daphne stared at Calista in shock. The empress glared at her, grinding her teeth.
"Born lowly, and still pulling the same seductress tricks! What's that outfit? How dare a mere maid wear anything else?!"
Daphne couldn't speak. How could she say the emperor had given it to her? Seeing her silence, Calista spoke as if she'd expected it.
"Strip her."
The head lady-in-waiting behind Calista shot her a sharp glance. Daphne flinched. No way—was she going to do to her what Olga had...!
The maids lunged at Daphne, faces alight with glee. Daphne tried to kneel before the empress and beg, but it seemed the empress was set on humiliating her.
"Your Imperial Majesty, please restrain yourself!"
Fabian stepped forward. Calista bit her lip and eyed him up and down.
"Who dares block my path!"
"......"
"Aren't you a knight of the Crown Prince's Palace!"
"......"
"I'm trying to restore discipline in the palace—who are you to stop me!"
Calista bellowed. Fabian bit his lip. Daphne closed her eyes.
Should she bite her tongue? Better to just die and vanish. She was used to this treatment anyway—this humiliation wouldn't faze her.
But to suffer this in front of her friend Fabian... She didn't have the confidence to hold her head high after.
"Your Majesty, I was wrong. Please forgive me!"
Daphne cried out piteously. She prayed Calista would show her some mercy.
"Strip her now!"
At Calista's shout, the buttons of her dress tore off. The fleeting tenderness she'd felt evaporated like a mirage, revealing the harsh, rotten reality beneath.
No one could help her.
All she could do was show the man who claimed to love her exactly what she was to him.
She was a wretched, pathetic creature who couldn't protect even a shred of her dignity. Always trampled, crumbling, shattering...
"What is the meaning of this?"
In that moment, a leisurely voice rang out once more.