Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: If You Drive Me Mad, You Should Go Mad Too
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A sudden, powerful force pressed down on Daphne. Just as she was about to topple backward off her chair, a strong arm caught her.
Daphne could only part her lips and accept it. One hand trapped by the arm wrapped around her chair, the other seized at the wrist.
He devoured her lips frantically. He gave her a moment to breathe, then kissed her again. Gazing at her face, he savored the inside of her mouth.
The wet, slurping sounds filled her ears. Daphne gasped for breath and looked up at Asherad.
“How do you plan to handle driving me this insane?”
“…….”
“Right, Daphne?”
He panted against her neck, pressing his lips there. Daphne swallowed a short cry.
The lips nuzzling her nape bared teeth and bit into her neck. The sharp thrill and his ragged breaths set Daphne's body aflame too.
Asherad knelt and toyed with her ankle. He looked up at her face. But Daphne's cheeks were flushed with arousal, her expression gleaming seductively. Even a saint who had lived a life of abstinence would falter at that sight.
Her skirt hem was hiked up, exposing her undergarments. Wait, not on the bed? Daphne tried to say something to Asherad but soon arched her back in shock. A beastly groan escaped her.
Her mind went blank, and her breaths grew even rougher. She trembled all over, gazing powerlessly at Asherad.
When she looked at him with tear-filled eyes, he lifted the corner of his mouth and wiped his glistening lips.
“My beloved Daphne.”
“…….”
“If you drive me mad, you should go mad too.”
He whispered tenderly into her ear. Asherad lifted Daphne to her feet. Her shaking legs refused to hold her, so he scooped her into his arms. He was carrying her to the bed.
Even standing before the bed, Asherad didn't set her down. He simply gazed at her.
“Daphne, to be honest…….”
He whispered affectionately.
“I don't think this is so bad.”
This? Puzzled by the vague reference, Daphne received his answer in a voice laced with amusement.
“You injured your ankle and have to stay in my arms wherever you go.”
“…….”
“Not bad at all. It means you need me everywhere.”
At those words, her body twitched involuntarily. But Asherad tightened his hold around her.
“Should I just break your ankle then?”
A chilling voice echoed. Before Daphne could struggle, her body was laid upon the bed.
Eyes like verdant forests darkened once more into a midnight wood, ready to devour the woman within them. It was less lust than a desire for destruction.
For a moment, Daphne felt fear. The price of tempting this man was far too great. He toyed with her uninjured ankle.
“Y-Your, Your Majesty!”
She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. Asherad gazed at her face and lifted the corner of his mouth.
His woman, squirming in his arms with tears wetting her eyes.
He stroked her cheek soothingly, then pulled down her clothes. Daphne's garments were difficult to remove properly, so Asherad simply tore most of them away.
Nude beneath him after so long, goosebumps rose on her skin from the cool air.
Asherad savored the sight of Daphne's naked body, unseen for so long. He had no intention of ending this moment quickly, overcome by mere impulse.
Like rekindling a flame he had already ignited, Asherad kissed every inch of her body. Daphne writhed, emitting familiar moans.
Daphne thought of herself as a dog.
A tool to vent his desires. But what was this now? The way he tried to arouse her somehow was surely not treating her like a dog.
He was delighted. He truly wanted to satisfy her.
And so, to her wounded pride, she always grew aroused whenever their skin met. Like a dog salivating at the sight of food.
“Eung!”
So Daphne deliberately let out even sweeter sounds, twisting her body more. Hoping he would see it as reward for his efforts. As if she hadn't been this aroused before.
Pleasure surged over her, and Daphne's eyes widened.
The coquettish voice she had exaggerated until now turned into the moist cry of a beast. As her legs trembled, Asherad whispered in her ear.
“Didn't you like it?”
“Eut!”
The sound of flesh meeting flesh rang out. Daphne nodded.
“You don't like me with other women?”
She nodded again at his words. The slow movements began to quicken bit by bit. Ah, just a little more……
Ecstasy lit Asherad's face.
Daphne opened her mouth to him.
“You with other women—eut! Loving them! Even meeting their eyes!”
“…….”
“Ah, eut! Sleeping with them! Kissing them—aaah!”
“…….”
“Marrying them too—I hate it!”
Daphne couldn't remember what she said after that.
Because his movements grew rougher. Her head felt like it was boiling. Lights flashed like flickers, over and over. Every sensation in her body sharpened.
“I hate it…… I hate it, hate it!”
Whether she hated being held in his arms, hated marriage, or hated the man himself—Daphne kept meeting his eyes and saying she hated it.
“You hate it?”
“I hate it!”
He let out a low chuckle. Even she no longer knew what exactly she hated.
***
“Please, come in.”
At the gentle voice, Daphne raised her bowed head. Hesitating at the entrance, she stepped inside. Veronica's maidservant smiled kindly and pulled out a chair for her.
“Have some tea.”
Steam rose invitingly from the hot cup, carrying a pleasant aroma. As Daphne sipped the sweet tea, Veronica smiled warmly.
“Surprised by the sudden summons?”
“No.”
“I figured you'd be awake around now.”
Daphne glanced at Veronica at the subtle implication in her words. Veronica was still smiling.
“How's the tea?”
“It's good.”
“Fruit teas are popular with everyone. Nothing complicated about them.”
Daphne flinched at Veronica's words. She recalled what Yohannis had taught her.
The speech of those in the Imperial Palace is never as direct as Calista's. Grace lies in how prettily one delivers insults.
Beware that tongue, sharper than any blade. Daphne felt that blade graze her several times. A chill ran down her spine.
“Yes. I'm delighted to enjoy such delicious tea, thanks to Your Highness's consideration. As you know, coming from humble origins, I know nothing of tea.”
But Daphne lacked the courage to fight back against the blade. She didn't even have one to wield.
All she could do, as always, was bare her belly in surrender and submission.
‘I’m no match for you.’
Veronica's eyes widened at Daphne's response. At the very least, it meant Daphne understood her sarcasm.
Moreover, Daphne had drunk her tea without major breach of etiquette. Proof she had been properly educated.
“Quite unexpected, Miss Daphne.”
“…….”
“When people act so humbly, it's usually one of two things. First, they truly see the other as beneath them and signal submission…….”
“…….”
“Or they already feel superior and are simply yielding.”
Her voice rang cold on the second option. What did that mean? Daphne wanted to grasp the true intent. But Veronica smiled brightly.
“I think we can get along well.”
“What…….”
Veronica smiled softly. She gazed at the Emperor's foolish concubine.
“Miss Daphne. I don't particularly want His Majesty's love. What I want is to become Empress here.”
Daphne gripped her skirt hem tightly at Veronica's words.
“His love, his heart, his body—if you want them, take them. Ah, of course, I'll have to bear the heir, so be generous and yield that much.”
“…….”
“I'll minimize beddings. If His Majesty desires it, I won't refuse. You know I can't refuse, right?”
Such…… such words. Veronica took Daphne's hand. Her voice brimmed with warmth, but her hand was as cold as a snake's.
“Help me. I'm in a position to rely on your affections.”
Ah, seeing that earnest gaze, Daphne's resolve weakened. If a noble princess had to beg even a lowly Daphne for help, shouldn't she live up to those expectations?
“I have someone I love too.”
“…….”
“Someone I left behind in my homeland.”
As Daphne moved to reply, the door burst open.
“Still deceiving people with that snake-like tongue of yours!”
A crash echoed. It was Calista, grabbing the hair of the blocking maidservants as she stormed in.