Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Assassination Attempt
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Calista forced a smile as she thought of Daphne. Just picturing the woman who had ridden in the carriage with her made her teeth grind. Asherad's eyes widened, and he beamed brightly.
“Mother, you think too highly of this son of yours. The best of my hunt will all be yours.”
A shy flush colored Calista's cheeks. Those watching reddened as well. It was obvious flattery, but Asherad's sweet talk never failed to melt hearts. Then, with a smile, he said,
“So, Mother, as an elder of the imperial family, I entrust my lady to your care.”
For a moment, Calista's radiant smile froze solid. The warm atmosphere stiffened at her change.
Some watched Asherad and Calista with intrigued expressions, glancing back and forth. Asherad's face remained unchanged, but Calista's lower lip trembled.
“You can do that for me, right?”
Asherad gripped her hand tightly as he asked. She wanted to scream that he was insane, that she had no reason to look after that lowly thing.
But Calista glanced around. This was a gathering of high society's ladies.
Even she, as the lady of the imperial house, wasn't foolish enough to foam at the mouth and throw a tantrum in such a formal setting.
“Of course.”
It was Asherad who had committed the faux pas. She would play the magnanimous imperial elder. But to watch over some mere lover?
He knew her heart, knew her love...!
“No one else but you, Mother, that I could ask this of.”
“…….”
“You know my feelings.”
With a subtle smile, Asherad caressed her wrist. His large hand briefly clasped and released hers. The callused palm brushed her soft skin. Calista's face twitched faintly.
That smile was bewitching.
You know my feelings.
What feelings? Yet his lingering, straightforward tone stirred another flight of fancy in Calista.
‘You know my true love is you.’
‘You know that woman is just a stand-in for you.’
‘You know the noble love I hold for you.’
You know. It was like that. Calista nodded like a girl receiving a confession. He was on his knees, flattering her by offering his hunt's spoils— she couldn't refuse and risk his disdain.
Enthralled by his face, Calista nodded again. After Asherad left, people alternated glances between his retreating back and Calista.
It was as if a spell had been cast and then broken. Clearly, it was an insulting demand to publicly ask an imperial elder to mind his lover, but Calista had fallen under Asherad's enchanting spell.
“Her Imperial Highness the Empress Dowager must be so pleased!”
“You two make such a lovely pair!”
“Truly, today's star is Her Imperial Highness the Empress Dowager.”
People approached Calista, showering her with bright flattery. She nodded with a bashful smile. It looked just like a lady receiving her lover's vow, leaving Artemisia exasperated at the sight.
Calista smiled radiantly. She was the queen of this hunt. Like a female awaiting her mate's spoils, she would reign above all women.
She would be the only woman. She would kill them all.
Her red lips curved upward. Asherad, leaving the women behind, whispered something to Daphne from atop his horse.
It was worlds apart from the courtesy he'd shown Calista. But suddenly, Asherad laughed and kissed Daphne's cheek.
Far away, flames sparked in Calista's eyes at the sight.
He grinned, stroked Daphne's hair, then rode off with the men.
* * *
‘Stay over there. The Empress Dowager will look after you.’
Asherad had pointed toward Calista and told the women to gather together.
‘I’ll be back.’
Daphne blinked at his words. No grand promises of bringing back game.
He had just vowed everything to Calista, after all. She didn't need any spoils anyway. Daphne felt more fear of bloodshed than romance in the hunt itself.
But to stroke her head and say ‘I’ll be back.’ When had he ever been so tender? No, he had been tender before. This was the kindness one might show a guard dog watching the house. Daphne tried not to dwell on that touch.
She was serious now. The Empress Dowager looking after her? For half a day until the men returned, it was the women's time. Daphne glanced toward Calista. Artemisia must be among those women.
She took a step forward. As Daphne approached the group, the giggling voices fell silent at once.
Under the stifled gazes observing her, Daphne swallowed hard. She smiled toward the seated Calista.
“Come closer, dear.”
Calista offered no greater courtesy. As a commoner with no title, it was to be expected.
“I greet Your Imperial Highness the Empress Dowager.”
Even at Daphne's polite greeting, Calista's expression didn't soften. Contempt, irritation, rage— her fury was palpable even through her skin, so Daphne averted her eyes.
“You've certainly come to a place beyond your station.”
“…….”
“Since you're here, rest with your friends. Take a stroll if you like.”
She waved her hand as if shooing away an annoying fly. Maids then led Daphne away. Treated blatantly as a servant, they burst into laughter.
Daphne ended up near where the maids stood in the corner, aware of the mocking stares laced with amusement.
She saw Artemisia looking at her with a pained expression. Daphne smiled inwardly at her.
She had no intention of becoming a laughingstock among noble ladies.
She had given her greeting. That should suffice.
Daphne quietly moved away from the women's tent. Just as Calista suggested, she decided to stroll through the woods.
Then, someone trailed after her and called out.
“Hey, wait!”
Daphne turned. A maid in uniform called to her with an anxious look. Daphne stopped and looked back.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
For some reason, this was the first kindness she'd received. The short-haired maid bowed her head shyly.
“Hey, they say that path over there is nice for walking. Don't stay here— go take a stroll.”
Whether pitying Daphne's humiliation, the maid's eyes glistened. Looking where she pointed, Daphne saw a small trail indeed.
“Thanks.”
“Don't go too deep. Need anything to eat?”
“No. I'm fine.”
Daphne was truly grateful to this kind maid. As long as she stuck to the outskirts, not venturing deep, it should be fine. No need for food then.
Walking the well-trodden path, Daphne thought. Entering the forest brought her a sense of peace.
The soft earth underfoot was comforting. The thick scent of trees, far richer than any garden, soothed her senses. Daphne spotted people approaching from beyond the trail.
People from another house out for a walk?
Should she greet them?
Without much thought, Daphne turned and fled in terror.
The ropes and knives in the men's hands looked far from ordinary!
Moreover, none wore house crests on their clothes. Ilun Forest allowed only permitted nobles and their retinues. These were intruders, all of them.
“Catch her!”
Like hunters pursuing prey that had bolted on animal instinct, they gave chase.
Daphne wished for death. But as they rushed to kill her, she hiked her skirts and ran full tilt, like a deer fleeing a predator.
Her silk slippers came off.
She feared those following her.
Those gazes, filled with murder, were real.
She had to reach the women's canopy. But at the path's end, another man from their group appeared, so Daphne plunged into the dense woods.
Her retreat was cut off. Lucky her slight build, perhaps. Slipping between narrow trees slowed their pursuit. No time to think of a way out.
She just ran. They were herding her, clearly. Daphne squeezed her eyes shut. She longed for Asherad to appear.
Wasn't she ‘running away’ right now, just as he hated so much? So he should show up any moment and...
Pffft!
“Ah!”
Something grazed her shoulder. Realizing it was a dagger moments later, Daphne ducked behind thick trees again.
Panting, her heart pounded wildly for a moment.
What if Asherad didn't come? What if he hadn't always been watching her? What if there were no watchers assigned to her at all?
A creeping despair rose. Footsteps crunched through underbrush. Tears welled in Daphne's eyes. Where was that man when she needed him most? Where...!
Daphne ran again. Her steps slowed as breath failed her. The killers smirked coldly. Daphne halted. More men in black appeared between the trees.
They drew daggers.
Daphne braced for death.