Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Secret Relationship
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"Drink this poison and die."
Asherad stared at the vial held out before him. It was a transparent glass bottle. Violet poison liquid caught his eye.
The fact that it wasn't even clear meant it would kill him instantly upon ingestion.
"That woman's son like you is unnecessary. You're in the way."
"Ah, Father."
"Take the vial at once! Otherwise, I'll have all your servants rounded up and executed!"
Asherad took the vial with trembling hands. If not for his mother, he would have died.
"You're supposed to be my light!"
Asherad looked at his mother, who was shrieking hysterically.
"Taking the vial for the sake of your servants? You should have endured it, whether you lived or died!"
Her brown hair was disheveled, and her dark blue eyes were as black as a sea that would never see morning light, an eternal night.
"You must always be perfect! You have to win your father's favor! It's all your fault!"
She, Sabrina, was always out of her mind in the abyss of despair. Upon learning the Emperor had tried to kill her son, she screamed in a fit once more.
"No, do we really need to live this painful life?"
"M-Mother!"
"Better we die together!"
Sabrina strangled Asherad. Even as his throat was constricted, Asherad thought.
My father tries to poison me, and my mother tries to strangle me. This hollow, worthless life—maybe it's better to die like this.
When Asherad didn't resist, Sabrina was startled and hastily released her hands.
"Ah, Asherad, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
Holding the coughing Asherad, Sabrina kept apologizing.
"No, no, Asherad, I'll save you. Your mother is sorry. You did nothing wrong."
The mother who soothed him in her warm embrace kept murmuring apologies.
"I'm sorry, but... Asherad, was it really that hard to win your father's favor!?"
The warmth lasted only a moment before Sabrina yanked Asherad away from her body. Asherad tumbled to the floor.
"You pathetic bastard who can't even beat a mere illegitimate child—get out! Get out, I said get out!"
Sabrina screamed like a banshee.
Outwardly, his mother was always a dignified and kind Empress, but she had a darker side unlike any other. The Emperor doted on his concubine and neglected her, viewing him as an obstacle.
"Your Highness, are you alright?"
The nanny and Olga lifted the pitiful Crown Prince into their arms. Bruises marked Asherad's face. The nanny and Olga took Asherad to a safe room and comforted him.
Asherad huffed and said.
"This is all that girl's fault."
"Yes, exactly. It's all because of that bewitching woman and her wench of a daughter!"
Olga chimed in agreement. She looked ready to kill the seductress and her daughter right then and there. Asherad ground his teeth.
"I'd like to see that face just once."
"Why do you want to see that wench's face?"
"So I can snap her neck the moment I meet her and kill her."
The young Asherad's eyes gleamed darkly.
"That girl is coming to the Imperial Palace—find out when."
The young Asherad crossed his arms and ordered his attendant.
* * *
Asherad woke from sleep. It was a deep slumber, and a filthy dream after a long time. He blinked slowly. Sunlight stabbed at his eyes.
He often dreamed when holding Daphne. Most were from his childhood. Asherad turned his head to gaze at the one sleeping beside him.
Daphne was gone.
Daphne...
"Where is she!"
He bolted upright and bellowed in rage. The door flew open, and an attendant rushed in.
"Your Majesty, what is..."
"Bring her."
"Pardon?"
"Find that woman quickly and bring her here!"
Asherad shouted, unable to contain his fury as he overturned the bedside table. How dare she, how dare she, how dare she!
"Shall I kill her? Maybe just kill her?"
Asherad gnashed his teeth. The next attendant cautiously spoke.
"Your Majesty... The Empress Dowager has come."
"What for?"
"She says you didn't attend breakfast..."
He irritably clawed at his hair with his hand. The black hair, neatly combed back even in bed, became disheveled.
"Tell her I'll change and meet her."
Murderous intent flickered in Asherad's eyes. He ground his teeth. She ran away again? With him right there?
He had no intention of letting Daphne off easy today.
* * *
"His Majesty summons you!"
Daphne, who had dozed off lightly, startled awake. An attendant of Asherad had flung open the door and bellowed.
"Come out at once! His Majesty is furious."
Was there really cause for such anger? Daphne rose from her seat. She tried to straighten her clothes, but was simply dragged away.
"Why did you recklessly slip out of the room! You're such bad luck!"
The attendant, perhaps having been scolded harshly by Asherad, cursed at Daphne. Daphne bit her lip. She had thought he would be upset if she returned to her room first, but not to this extent.
Only a few hours had passed. And yet... Wasn't the Emperor too busy to call for a mere sex doll to sate his lust?
The attendant left her before the Emperor's chambers and fled, fearing sparks might fly. Daphne sighed and quietly entered his room.
* * *
"Did he embrace that woman again?"
Someone asked the attendant emerging from the Emperor's bedchamber, which could become the eye of the storm. It was a voice heavy and firm as rock.
The attendant turned toward the voice and bowed. A man with black hair and golden eyes stood there. Angular face, stern lips. And the traces of years etched upon it. Even with age, his imposing build overwhelmed the young.
It was the Turbul Duke, head of the Empire's second military house.
"Your Excellency! How did you come to His Majesty's bedchamber?"
"I have a report for His Majesty."
His impeccable posture, as if revealing his character, and stern face instinctively put onlookers on edge even when he did nothing.
"So, did His Majesty embrace that woman again?"
"Y-Yes."
A faint displeasure crossed the Turbul Duke's eyes. The attendant dared not lift his head.
While Asherad had gone to war with the Turbul Duke's eldest son, Yohannis Turbul, the Turbul Duke had led Calista and managed state affairs.
The Turbul family, shield for the nation's protection and sword for its prosperity, always pursued impeccable integrity.
Thus, an affair with a maidservant would not sit well.
"He didn't mention anything about marriage separately, did he?"
"No."
"And now he's free to do so."
The Turbul Duke muttered in dissatisfaction. The attendant thought the same. Asherad had long failed to take a Crown Princess.
The Emperor had made every excuse not to appoint one. Likely to deny him a powerful maternal house.
"Are they still together?"
"...Yes."
In truth, Daphne had returned to her room and come back at Asherad's call, but the attendant omitted the details.
"I'll go see."
"Y-Your Excellency!"
Ignoring the attendant's plea, the Turbul Duke strode toward the Emperor's bedchamber.
* * *
Daphne wore a dazed expression. She didn't understand what was unfolding before her eyes. As she tried to enter through the open door, she witnessed a scene she shouldn't have.
"Oh dear, Asherad!"
Calista grasped Asherad's hand with a coquettish voice. Daphne's nerves stretched taut.
Nothing else mattered. That voice alone instinctively told her something. Daphne stepped back, but the angle only made the scene clearer.
"Why haven't you come to see me!"
"......"
"Do you know how hard it's been without you? Yet you won't even spend time with me."
"......"
"I'm sorry, truly."
Chills ran down her spine at that whining tone.
"Mother, people are watching."
"People watching? Hmph! Is there anything more fleeting? They ignore me no matter what I suffer, then tear me apart viciously when they find a flaw. Can that be an absolute standard?"
"Mother."
"Asherad. Show me your sincerity. You know what I've done for you."
"Of course... I know what you've done for me, Mother."
His voice grew deeper, softer. He lifted a finger to stroke Calista's beautiful face.
As Daphne stepped back, Asherad turned his head. Sensing her presence in the doorway, he slowly lifted the corner of his mouth.
His piercing gaze seemed to command her to watch. Daphne couldn't move.
Without hesitation, Asherad pressed his lips to the woman before him. His sharp jawline showed as he tilted his head slightly. His throat bobbed up and down.
She had to move. But her body stuck to the floor like glue, refusing to budge. I don't want to see. I don't want to know. Her mind whispered endlessly.
Asherad kept his eyes open, staring at Daphne the whole time.
Asherad was kissing the Empress Dowager. Weren't they mother and son? Did they love each other?
Or was Asherad merely playing along? She didn't know. What she did know was that Asherad had watched her until the kiss ended.
As she stood there watching, someone roughly shoved her. Daphne tumbled to the floor.
Lifting her head, she saw a hulking man standing there. Ignoring the fallen Daphne, the man bellowed.
"Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this outrage!"
His enraged voice roared like a tiger.