Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Calista's Mistake
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Calista's face turned paler than Asherad's, who had ingested the poison. Why? Why was the Emperor still alive? Why was he...?
The poison she had prepared was so lethal that a single sip would send anyone straight to the afterlife.
"I, I..."
"Are you planning to make excuses, Mother? I have eyes and ears too."
Asherad smiled faintly. Calista's entire body trembled.
"It's, it's a misunderstanding right now..."
"A misunderstanding? What misunderstanding are you talking about?"
When Asherad turned the question back on her, Calista was at a loss for words. As if sensing this, Asherad spoke for her.
"Attempting to poison my lover?"
"..."
"Or was it that I ate it?"
"..."
"Or maybe framing the Thalassa Princess for it?"
He had heard everything correctly. At Asherad's words, Calista's body shook even harder.
"No, no! It's a misunderstanding!"
Calista screamed like a banshee, but Asherad's expression didn't change in the slightest.
That was even more terrifying. If Asherad had at least gotten angry, she might have sensed some humanity in him. As he approached the quivering Calista and placed a hand on her shoulder.
He gripped her shoulder tightly for a brief moment. Before she could scream from the pain that felt like her arm might be torn off, Asherad released his hold.
"But, Calista."
Calista's eyes widened. It was because he leaned in close to her ear and whispered sweetly.
In her line of sight appeared Asherad's dizzying Adam's apple and jawline.
"I'll let it slide."
"..."
Asherad brought his face close to Calista's turned head. Calista held her breath. Was it because of the poison making him pale? Asherad's face looked even more sinister.
Yet Calista found herself captivated not by that gloomy darkness or his innate danger, but by the intoxicating beauty of a man who had survived the poison. His pale skin and lips. The fragility emanating from this once-robust man.
"Ah... Asherad."
Tears welled up in her eyes unbidden. Seeing Calista's tears, Asherad lowered the corners of his mouth that he had lifted.
"Oh dear, why waste such precious tears."
Was it relief? Calista burst into sobs. Something had gone wrong, everything was a mess, ruined. But she couldn't pinpoint what exactly had been ruined.
"Why... why will you let me off?"
She had thought she was done for. So why was this man showing her mercy now?
"...Isn't that obvious?"
"..."
"Because I quite like you, Calista."
Why say something like that? What was the reason...? What could the reason be? At that moment, Asherad answered.
"After all, aren't we comrades?"
"..."
"I've always felt sorry toward you. For making you give up your life..."
Ah. Oh... Tears streamed from Calista's eyes. It was because he had pinpointed the sticky resentment she harbored toward him.
Yes, she must have been mistaken about something. Asherad didn't despise her. He might not love her, but he pitied her and held affection for her.
"In exchange for keeping quiet about this matter, grant me one request."
When he continued speaking, Calista cried out as if in scream. She couldn't bear it.
"Th-this...!"
"I believe you will."
Asherad gazed coldly at Calista's wide eyes and said.
"Mother, I beg you—do not lay a hand on my lover again."
"..."
"As long as you don't do that, you can enjoy your glory until the end of your days."
Asherad touched Calista's cheek. She bit her lip.
"Can't you love me?"
"I already like you."
"I meant, can't you love me like you love that woman."
The moment she decided she could lean on Asherad, she began to cling desperately.
She didn't even consider that because of her, the Emperor had nearly died, and she had barely escaped a punishment that would require ten lives.
"Asherad, we could make this work."
"..."
Instead of answering, Asherad nodded curtly and brushed past her. Watching his retreating back, Calista gnawed on her fingers.
"Aaah!"
She let out a hysterical scream. The one thing she didn't want to grant was Asherad's request. She didn't want to, but she had to!
* * *
Over the course of a week, the political situation in the Empire and neighboring countries shifted rapidly. The investigation into the Emperor assassination attempt concluded that Veronica was the culprit. The youngest Thalassa Princess denied the charges to the end, but the maid who had served the poisoned tea confessed to the Princess's guilt after brutal torture.
Asherad expressed his regrets over the incident. As a result, relations between the Thalassa Kingdom and the Pheneios Empire became delicate. The one who mediated it was Calista.
With Asherad's tacit approval hiding her own crime, she had nothing to fear. She condemned the youngest Princess's immaturity, soothed the Thalassa Kingdom—or more precisely, the Queen—and secured the Empire's most needed resource, the cornerstone material, at a cheaper price in exchange for releasing Veronica.
Naturally, she also reduced the exclusive supply of cannons.
Thanks to this, Thalassa's military power, which had been poised to challenge the Empire, stalled. The neighboring Pindus Kingdom welcomed this with open arms. After all, the second strongest military power after the Empire had been checked.
Pindus, which had been somewhat insolent toward the Empire, had recently undergone a change in rulership, and they began acting far more favorably toward Pheneios.
They even stepped up to firmly deter Asala, which was always eyeing their borders.
Rather than subjugating countries through war, Asherad was effectively defending the Empire's threats using carrots and sticks with neighboring nations, along with checks and balances.
Of course, such threatening and serious political maneuvers were distant events from faraway lands to Daphne.
For Daphne right now, eliminating the predicament before her eyes came first.
"Why, why on earth..."
She wanted to cry. Asherad pointed to the box on the table. It gave her a sense of déjà vu with Calista and Veronica.
"Should I at least try it on?"
Daphne asked Yohannis. He let out a low sigh.
"It's His Majesty's command."
"What exactly is that Majesty of yours doing?"
Yohannis burst into laughter at Daphne's words. It sounded just like Asherad had gotten into some mischief somewhere. The moment he woke up, he had vomited blood several times while pressuring Thalassa Kingdom and securing the conditions he wanted.
Calista was a favorable card in diplomacy with Thalassa. And relations with the previously lukewarm Pindus had improved too.
"State affairs keep him busy."
"...But he's ill."
After that incident, Daphne had visited Asherad to nurse him. However, he spent more time away from his chambers, and it had been days since she last saw him.
"Is His Majesty attending the ball?"
"No. His Majesty plans to recuperate and appear only on the final day..."
"Then why on earth...!"
Yohannis smiled at Daphne's protest. She seemed like a little bird chirping indignantly. Yohannis supported Daphne and Asherad. As expected, Asherad had dismissed Daphne's escape attempt, and their relationship appeared harmonious. If things continued like this, the two wouldn't be a bad match.
"Do you dislike the dress?"
"It's not that I dislike it."
"It might be good to attend the party. Aren't you the Emperor's lover, Miss Daphne?"
Daphne looked at it. She thought of the Raphael Art Festival. She was curious about the reception of her painting and wanted to see the masters' works up close once more.
"Aren't you happy?"
Daphne didn't answer Yohannis's question. His face hardened. Why was this woman so unhappy?
He couldn't understand.
* * *
The ball was a masquerade. According to Yohannis, a masquerade ball was a place where slight breaches of etiquette weren't a big issue.
With faces hidden, moral inhibitions vanished too? Relying on anonymity, it became a place where people indulged their instincts more freely—the masquerade ball.
He also warned that there were many men on the prowl for women, so she should be careful. Why did she have to go to such a place?
Daphne fell deep in thought. What was she supposed to do there? She couldn't dance alone; she'd have to grab someone else to dance with...
Did Asherad not mind if she danced with other men? She couldn't understand this side of him, even as he obsessed over her.
'Maybe I should just go back.'
As she thought that and turned her head, Daphne realized that all the masked figures were looking at her.
They were all men. Their gazes were stolen by the woman with fine golden blonde hair and a pure dress.
Her slender neckline, exposed collarbones. The slightly revealed skin—not pure white but alluring—was captivating.
It was a body that whetted their appetites.
Daphne flinched at the sight of them licking their lips like predators eyeing prey. Naked desire peeked through their masks.
Of course, they wouldn't drag her off recklessly. But an instinctive revulsion rose within her.
"The night is truly beautiful, isn't it?"
'Artemisia!'
At the welcome voice, Daphne nearly burst into tears. Artemisia, wearing a lavender cat mask, linked arms with Daphne and whispered.