Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Smile for Me
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They show an example. They kill just to set an example. No matter how kind they were to their inferiors, royalty was royalty.
Rulers, sovereigns—those who deemed the lives of underlings more worthless than the lives of flies.
It was not Daphne who decided whether it was a crime worthy of dismissal or not. It was Asherad.
A chill ran through her in that instant. The moment she felt that terrifying gap, one of the maids rushed in.
“Please spare me! Please, I beg you, spare my life!”
She desperately grabbed at the emperor’s trouser leg. Daphne bit her lip.
This place, which had turned from a dismissal into an execution ground, was horrifying. Even though they had ignored and tormented her, she didn’t wish for them to die. She just wanted them to get in trouble.
Asherad ignored the maid clutching and shaking his trouser leg, looking at Daphne’s face and smiling.
At that, the maid switched her target to Daphne.
“I was wrong. It was all my fault, miss!”
“…….”
“I was lacking in my service. Please forgive my shortcomings all this time, miss.”
To the young Daphne, this maid had been a senior servant, someone she couldn’t even dare to look at. Yet now, she was throwing herself at Daphne’s feet, begging for survival.
“Please, have mercy. Mercy, I beg you.”
She pressed her forehead to Daphne’s toes again and again.
To her—the emperor’s whore, they had cursed. The criminal’s daughter, the cuckoo, Daphne.
“Your Majesty. Please, forgive me.”
Daphne squeezed her eyes shut and spoke. This wasn’t the kind of submission she wanted. She had just wanted to know how far it went. Whether she could demand this much……
But then, a thought flashed through Daphne’s mind, and she opened her eyes.
Aside from toying with lives, what difference was there between her and Asherad?
She, too, was testing her authority with these people. Fundamentally no different from Asherad, who was setting an example.
“Finally begging forgiveness in the right place.”
Asherad’s voice was warm like salvation. At his words, all the maids swarmed toward Daphne.
“It’s my fault, miss!”
“I was wrong.”
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
“I was wrong, I’m sorry!”
They all crowded around Daphne, pleading with voices choked with sobs. Daphne looked down at them.
An ominous premonition gripped Daphne. She had felt a sense of kinship with them, but in this short time, she had undoubtedly become accustomed to looking down on them, just like Asherad.
“Forgive me…… Please forgive me.”
Daphne turned to Asherad and pleaded softly.
“Please, just dismiss them.”
She denied the thought in her head. No. She was different from Asherad. At least she wasn’t toying with their lives.
Seeing Daphne plead like that, a mischievous smile flickered across Asherad’s face—like a bratty boy playing a prank on an older person he adored.
Asherad met Daphne’s eyes and burst into laughter.
“Ahh, Daphne. That face was truly amusing.”
“…….”
“It was a joke, Daphne.”
Asherad said with a gentle expression. Daphne’s eyes widened, then she let out a sigh of relief. But then—
Pshk!
Blood sprayed across the room. Daphne was so shocked she couldn’t even scream. It all happened in the blink of an eye, like the time it took for light to travel.
As if taking a knight’s sword, Asherad slashed one maid’s throat in a single stroke.
The metallic stench of blood filled the air. The one who had been alive moments ago writhed madly, searching for her head. Warm blood spurted out, spreading a fishy smell and eerie heat.
“Aaahhh!”
The maids wailed at the nightmarish sight. Daphne was no different. Clutching her fragile sanity, on the verge of collapse, she stared at Asherad.
“Why…… why…… You said you’d forgive them.”
Her voice echoed weakly, like air leaking out. Asherad looked at the severed head that had rolled from the dead maid, his face refreshed. He gazed at Daphne as if savoring her shock, then lowered his head to inspect the hem of his trousers.
“I never said I’d forgive the crime of touching the emperor’s body carelessly.”
As if even filth had stained it. He stared at his trousers. Daphne’s breath caught in her throat. What kind of person was this? Looking at the wailing maids, Daphne’s lips trembled. Quick-witted Leon spoke to them.
“Consider yourselves lucky. Pack your things and get out now.”
The sobbing maids, terrified that Asherad’s sword might fall on them next, fled in haste. At Leon’s command, the servants cleared away the maid’s corpse. Tears streamed down Daphne’s face as she looked at Asherad.
“How was it?”
Asherad asked with a smiling face, innocent as a child seeking praise.
She tried to force the corners of her mouth up, but they wouldn’t budge. In that moment, Daphne realized this man was testing her. She didn’t know what exactly, but he was provoking her on purpose to see her reaction.
How could she pass Asherad’s test here?
Before an answer came to her, Daphne’s eyes closed. Her weakened body slumped naturally into Asherad’s arms.
“Daphne?”
“…….”
“Daphne!”
It was the right answer. Daphne steadied her trembling body as best she could and kept her eyes shut.
When she opened them again, the sun was high in the sky. Daphne blinked slowly. When had she fallen asleep?
She couldn’t remember. Daphne furrowed her brow. Then she noticed a foul smell assaulting her nose. The metallic stench of blood.
Daphne sat up.
Ah.
Right.
Overwhelmed by self-loathing, she covered her face with both hands.
“Why not lie down a bit longer?”
Turning at the gentle voice, she saw Sara beside her. Tears welled up in Daphne’s eyes. Seeing Sara’s face, they overflowed.
“Sara. What do I do?”
“…….”
“It’s so hard. I feel like I’m dying.”
She clutched her chest. Sara silently pulled Daphne into an embrace. Daphne felt peace in her arms.
“I begged them to spare her. I begged!”
Daphne cried out like a scream. Sara stroked her back as if she knew everything.
“It’s okay, it’s okay, Daphne.”
At those calm words, Daphne crumbled even more.
“I don’t want to breathe! Existing itself is a sin—just kill me, someone please!”
For the first time, she poured out her true feelings. She really wanted to die. She couldn’t bear it. Daphne kept bursting into sobs.
“Someone, anyone, just kill me!”
Daphne cried out in agony.
“What am I supposed to do with you.”
Sara’s voice was thick with tears. Listening to Sara’s comforting, Daphne drowned in self-hatred. Her body shook uncontrollably.
Even in Sara’s arms, amid her sobs, Daphne thought: I want to escape this place. I want to escape from Asherad.
From him—I want to run away.
* * *
Something brushed over the sleeping Daphne’s head. Daphne opened her eyes. It was Asherad. He was looking down at her with an inscrutable expression.
As Daphne opened her eyes, Asherad stopped stroking her. Their gazes met. Neither said a word.
Silence lingered for a long time. What had this beautiful man looking down at her wanted? Asherad’s thumb brushed over Daphne’s chapped, dry lips.
In the wordless moment, Asherad spoke.
“Are you okay?”
Daphne nodded.
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Her emotionless voice returned. The blankness on her face was like time faded of color. It was clearly different from the face she had when she was just an ignorant maid.
Back then, even in her darkness, her face always lit up when she saw him.
But that light was gone. As Asherad furrowed his brow, Daphne thought numbly: That monster’s about to kill someone again.
She was stunned by her own thought.
Once, she had been desperate to reach him. Now, only hatred and loathing for that man remained. Before, she had wanted him to see her pain. To ask if she was okay.
Looking at Asherad, Daphne realized now was the time to be honest.
“I told you not to.”
“…….”
“I told you not to kill.”
Daphne glared at Asherad, her face twisted. Asherad looked baffled.
“Killing them once seemed easier for you than just dismissing them.”
His attitude showed no regret for the lost life. Daphne suddenly thought of Fabian. Had he been like this when he killed Fabian? Emotionless, just like this?
“Especially since that woman tormented you a lot.”
“…….”
He was right. The dead woman had been one of those who mocked Daphne the most. She had stood right behind Daphne and hadn’t caught her when Callista pushed—sneering instead.
Even before Daphne became the official lover. They would laugh mockingly as she passed, jeering loud enough for her to hear.
Still, it wasn’t reason enough to die by Asherad’s hand. If judging by torment, shouldn’t this man be first?
At Daphne’s cold gaze, Asherad lowered his eyes and said.
“Got it. I won’t.”
“…….”
“This won’t happen again.”
What? Daphne was even more surprised. Why say something like that? The Asherad she knew would have mocked her: Aren’t you the same? Why was he being so compliant?
“This won’t happen again, so…….”
“…….”
“Smile for me.”