Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: I Love You
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“They say you caused quite a scene in the dining hall.”
At the blunt remark, Asherad paused while flipping through his documents and lifted his head. The man in black uniform stood before the desk like a stone statue.
The man with brown hair and eyes showed almost no change in expression. Watching the young man who mentioned the emperor’s private affairs without any embarrassment or shame, Asherad asked.
“You seem very interested.”
“I heard about it.”
The young man’s firm lips and angular jaw. His hawk-like sharp eyes, thick eyebrows—everything resembled his father, Duke Turbul, exactly.
“Did Duke Turbul jump up in outrage?”
“Yeah.”
Yohannis Turbul, the heir to the Turbul family, looked at Asherad, who seemed utterly indifferent.
“I’m not interested in your private life.”
“…….”
“But I don’t understand.”
Yohannis stared straight into Asherad’s eyes.
“What do you want? To ruin that woman’s life? Or is it love?”
Asherad deliberately looked toward the window. As if listening to music, a smile crept onto his red lips.
“I don’t care what you do, but I don’t want your reputation tarnished.”
When Asherad didn’t respond, Yohannis turned and left the office.
Yohannis Turbul, who had become the emperor’s close friend for participating in the war together. True to his status as the Turbul heir, he had an excessively upright streak.
It wasn’t so much that he permitted it because they were friends; it was simply what he believed he ought to do. Putting aside his thoughts on the Turbul Ducal House, Asherad moved his quill.
Daphne.
He scribbled the name Daphne.
“I love you.”
Asherad sweetly confessed his love to that name. It was as tender as if he were addressing a lover.
Stab!
He plunged the sharp nib into the name. Black ink spread over Daphne’s name like drops of blood.
“I love you.”
Asherad muttered expressionlessly as he watched the ink spreading.
* * *
“Daphne, get up and look out the window. The summer garden is really beautiful.”
Sara pointed to the window. Daphne didn’t even respond.
The chirping of birds echoed. Outside the window, beautiful green leaves sparkled softly. She had complained that plain green was boring, so crimson wistaria bloomed on her side. It was scenery one might enjoy, yet Daphne didn’t even glance that way.
Perhaps the time she had shown the most vitality was when she was thinking of ‘escape.’
She had pondered ways to flee from him, envisioned a new life, felt fear but confronted it. It was the first time Daphne had rebelled against the world that oppressed her.
But it had ended in failure. Her first attempt cost her Fabian, and the second only confirmed that she was in his grasp.
So what could Daphne do?
There was nothing she could do.
Thus, she would do nothing at all.
Daphne was truly a pet dog. She ate when fed, wore the pretty clothes given to her, and responded when he showered her with love.
A pet dog didn’t need a will of its own. No matter what the owner did, it just wagged its tail and welcomed them. No thought was required of its existence.
So she had no choice but to live like a dog, without a single thought.
Daphne lay in bed, lost in thought.
In truth, even this line of thinking wasn’t a proper decision she had made. She had simply become powerless first, then realized she was doing nothing. It was a life discarded anyway.
A life of toying with Asherad’s whims and growing accustomed to people’s pointing fingers. No matter what she tried, there was nothing to gain—just being pushed toward ruin like this.
Daphne lay in bed whenever she could. The bed always smelled good and was plush. She slept when sleep came, woke when she woke. When Asherad came, they mingled their bodies.
“How long do you plan to stay in bed?”
“…….”
“Daphne. Why aren’t you doing anything at all?”
Daphne didn’t answer Sara’s question. Did she have to do something? She had no right to do what she wanted, didn’t know what she liked, and felt no need to strive for the future.
“I don’t know what I should do.”
“Daphne…….”
Sara furrowed her brows as she looked at the lying Daphne. Then she let out a small sigh. With a somewhat complicated expression, she approached Daphne and stroked her hair.
Her blinking was even slow, making her look like a perfect doll.
“There’s so much you could do.”
Sara whispered quietly. When Daphne rolled her eyes, she continued whispering.
“If His Majesty cherishes you, then use him to climb to a high position. Wear the pretty clothes you couldn’t before, eat the delicious foods you couldn’t have, and get revenge on those who tormented you.”
“…….”
“Oh dear, why did I say that.”
Sara stuck out her tongue and sighed again. She seemed to think she had said something wrong.
“And then?”
“What?”
“What comes after that?”
Sara couldn’t answer that. Daphne closed her eyes, her emotions as dry and withered as dust, and said.
“I wish I could go to sleep and wake up dead.”
At Daphne’s whisper, Sara bit her lip.
“Daphne, you can’t say things like that! You have to live! For Sir Fabian’s share too!”
At those words, Daphne let out a scoff. Fabian’s matter did bring a huge sense of guilt. But that was the end of it. Even feeling guilt had grown tiring now.
Perhaps from too much self-reproach, that emotion had dulled as well.
“Why not think about revenge on those who did that to you! Don’t you have those thoughts?”
Daphne looked up at Sara. The always kind Sara seemed confused for some reason.
“It’s weird hearing you, the good one, say that. Would you do it?”
“Of course I would!”
At Sara’s words, Daphne looked at the ceiling and said.
“You would, but I won’t.”
“…….”
“I know it’s pointless anyway, so why bother with futile efforts……. Even breathing is hard now.”
It would be nice if she could just melt away into the bed. Sara bit her lip and said.
“If that’s too hard, then just try running away again.”
“Sara, you got fired once for that.”
“…….”
“What are you talking about. I barely saved my life the second time, but a third is out of the question.”
Sara looked exasperated.
“Then you’ll just keep living like this?”
“I don’t even know that.”
Daphne spoke weakly, gazing at the ceiling. Curiosity about new things had lasted only a moment; now, profound lethargy was consuming her.
Daphne didn’t look at Sara’s expression. She might pity her as pathetic or find her pitiful.
But Sara wasn’t Daphne. Paradoxically, ever since the late emperor died and all threats vanished, her fear had long since faded.
* * *
“Is it broken?”
The scent of Asherad’s perfume tickled her nose. Daphne didn’t turn her head. Daphne turned her head to look at Asherad.
Asherad was looking down at her. As if it were the most natural thing, Daphne untied the loose knot of the baggy dress she wore. It was something Asherad had provided, easy to remove at any time.
Watching her quietly, Asherad said.
“What are you doing?”
Daphne tilted her head. Hadn’t he come for this? This should be right…….
Daphne frowned as she looked at herself and Asherad. Seeing that, Asherad narrowed his eyes.
“Stop it.”
“…….”
“I called you a dog, and now you’re acting like a real one?”
Asherad sneered, but Daphne had no thoughts at all. Not even to his mockery and ridicule.
On the other hand, Asherad’s chest sank coldly. Daphne was strange. Nothing could be felt from her—not even the negative emotions that had once been so abundant, whatever they were.
The mechanical way she had just undone her clothes and tilted her head truly reminded him of a dog.
Like the dogs trained by noble ladies, who tilt their heads if not praised in the same situation—Daphne did the same.
He liked this woman’s moans. Taking her would make her exhale sweet breaths again. For that moment, vitality would return.
No, perhaps not even that now. Maybe even that had vanished…….
Asherad placed his hand on Daphne’s slender neck. If he applied strength here, he could snap it right away.
Asherad felt the pulse beating in Daphne’s neck. This spot. Just press here……. Daphne was looking at him with a puzzled expression.
A literally puzzled expression. Even if he strangled her, she might make a pained face but wouldn’t beg for her life.
He didn’t strangle her neck but looked down at her.
“Call me Big Brother.”
“……What.”
Asherad finally read the refusal on Daphne’s face. He felt elation. Blood rushed between his legs. He panted lowly and said.
“Why not? We could have been siblings. If your seed came from my father.”
At the mocking words, Daphne shook her head. It had been revealed as false long ago…… And they had already mingled bodies. What Big Brother now?
Reading that clear refusal, he finally pinned her arm and kissed her neck.
“Call me Big Brother.”
“No…… Ah!”
A shiver ran through her at the slimy tongue. Daphne twisted her waist. He had already undone the knot she tried to loosen and pulled the dress down.