Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Can't Kill You
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“Therefore, I bestow upon you this title. Serve His Majesty with utmost diligence.”
Only imperial women could confer titles upon other women. Thus, it was Callista who granted Daphne her barony.
Looking at Callista, who was deliberately avoiding eye contact, Daphne felt an inexplicable revulsion toward the woman.
What had become of Veronica?
She’d heard that Veronica had been tortured. Callista had framed her.
Daphne found Callista’s cunning nature utterly chilling. Not to mention, the woman had tried to kill her, and Asherad had even ingested the poison in her place.
Daphne had no right to disdain anyone, but she truly loathed the woman standing before her.
It wasn’t that she liked Veronica. However, unlike Callista, Veronica had never harmed her. At base, there was disdain, but Veronica had at least seen her as an equal in negotiation—that was the difference.
Callista had tried to kill Daphne, nearly killed Asherad, and framed Veronica. Was that all? When she thought Asherad was dead, Callista had tried to kill Daphne too. That alone was enough for Daphne to hate her.
And yet, despite all that, the woman faced no punishment and calmly bestowed the title upon her. Daphne couldn’t understand Asherad.
“Baron Liter! Are you even listening to me?”
“Yes.”
Daphne bowed her head meekly. Callista fixed her with serpentine eyes, glaring at Daphne. It was the face of someone who wanted to kill their target.
“I thought you were ignoring me already, with no response.”
“No, Your Imperial Highness, Empress Dowager.”
“Let me give you one piece of advice. Don’t forget that your presence here is due to sheer luck.”
“……”
“You’ll likely be a great burden to His Majesty.”
It was fortunate there were no nobles present. Asherad had already declared at the ball that he would grant her the title, making Callista’s ceremony merely a formality.
In the audience chamber with only Daphne and Callista, contrary to her expectations of outright curses, Callista never properly looked at Daphne’s face until the end, offering only bearable “advice.”
“I thank you for Your Majesty’s guidance.”
After delivering the formal, perfunctory imperial courtesy, Daphne rose from her knees and moved to leave the audience chamber.
“Shall I give you a warning as well?”
As expected, she wouldn’t let it go so easily. As Daphne turned back, Callista lifted the corner of her mouth.
“It might be wise to consider what will happen to you once His Majesty’s favor runs out.”
Favor. Daphne turned to leave without responding, then paused. She hesitated briefly before looking at Callista. Daphne lifted the corner of her own mouth and said,
“Your Imperial Highness, Empress Dowager.”
“……”
“I know my place well.”
“……”
“When His Majesty’s favor ends... he won’t discard me. He’ll kill me.”
For some reason, Daphne wanted to say it. She looked at Callista with clear contempt in her eyes. She knew this was that “insolent” behavior.
But after nearly dying herself—and nearly causing Asherad to die because of it—she felt no inclination to be deferential to this woman.
‘Perhaps I’ve come to realize it now.’
As long as Asherad loved her, she held the advantage over Callista. Watching Callista grovel to prevent Veronica from becoming empress, Daphne had thoroughly grasped that point.
Now officially Baron Liter, Daphne exited the audience chamber.
“That... that insolent wretch!”
Callista’s eyes blazed as she watched Daphne’s retreating figure. It felt as though Daphne had toyed with her, as if she were nothing.
“I’ll kill you first!”
Callista ground her teeth. She couldn’t touch Daphne while Asherad had her weakness in his grasp. If only she’d had the chance, she should have killed her.
Then, perhaps Asherad might have looked her way. That was Callista’s conclusion.
‘He said he liked me too.’
Without Daphne, she would be the only one Asherad liked. If only that woman were gone...
Callista savored the familiar murderous intent. Then, surging with rage, she clenched her teeth tightly.
She should have been more careful. More cautious...
She shouldn’t have rushed off excitedly to find Veronica. If she’d been more meticulous, she never would have made that woman a noble herself.
‘In exchange for burying it, grant my request.’
‘Mother... make that woman a noble. Be her strongest patron.’
Even though he held her weakness and had seen through her heart, he’d asked her to back another woman.
Her heart still trembled at that sense of responsibility. Callista wanted to eliminate Daphne, but for now, she’d have to leave her be.
Callista was not a woman prone to self-reflection; she believed her actions were justified. Even knowing the gravity of her mistakes, she didn’t consider them wrong, making her a willful creature who never examined herself.
People become better through their errors.
But that assumes “people reflect.”
Callista hadn’t improved at all, and thus, she was about to commit the worst mistake of her life once more.
* * *
That winter was exceptionally harsh. Temperatures plummeted below average, freezing even the seawater in murderous cold.
The colder it got, the more they huddled together indoors like beasts sharing warmth, clinging to each other.
Thus, Daphne’s winter was warmer than any other.
The room was warm...
“Eut!”
The pressing warmth was scorching hot. The Daphne who once had cold hands and feet, a runny nose keeping her awake, was nowhere to be found.
Asherad burned like firewood. He’d pull Daphne close, shower her with kisses, and take her body. It was almost an addiction.
Whenever he had a moment, he’d embrace her, inhaling her skin’s scent. He seemed utterly mad for her. To be precise, he was utterly in love.
The bed, warmed by a hot water bottle, blazed with heat. As Asherad gripped her shoulder, a sweet sound escaped.
Her golden hair cascaded like a waterfall across the white sheets. Daphne lay beneath him, gazing up at the man looking down at her. Immersed in their union, the man who had fallen so deeply was clearly hers.
As his fierce movements ended, Daphne trembled in the afterglow. Asherad lay beside her, toying with her hair.
“You’ve improved quite a bit.”
“What?”
“Your hair texture.”
He pulled a few strands close and inhaled their scent.
“It used to smell musty. I like it now.”
Daphne chuckled softly. Asherad brushed her hair behind her ear, stroking her cheek repeatedly. Flushed cheeks and dewy eyes. He kissed her forehead.
“If you hated my scent, why did you keep holding me?”
Daphne said it like a petulant whine. Asherad twisted her hair playfully.
“It didn’t matter, really.”
Daphne buried her face in Asherad’s chest. He continued stroking her hair and murmured,
“No matter what you smelled like, you drove me mad.”
The warm room, his bare skin enveloping her like a heated stone. It was truly paradise.
Perfect for blurring her purpose of escaping him...
“So, what did the Empress Dowager say to you?”
“She asked what I thought would happen once your favor fades.”
Asherad snorted at Daphne’s words. What did that snort mean? Mocking Callista? Or mocking Daphne for saying it? Asherad kept stroking her hair.
“And... what did you reply?”
A hint of drowsiness crept into Asherad’s voice. Daphne was starting to feel sleepy too.
“Of course, I said you’d kill me when your favor ends.”
The stroking hand paused. Thinking he’d fallen asleep, Daphne lifted her head to look. Asherad stared down at her expressionlessly. Puzzled, she widened her eyes.
“You think I’d kill you?”
“You said so yourself.”
“……”
Asherad chuckled softly, moving the hand from her nape to her throat—as if to strangle her. As Daphne tensed unconsciously, he lifted the corner of his mouth.
“I can’t.”
“......Pardon?”
“I can’t kill you.”
Asherad kissed her forehead as he said it. The hand on her throat had already dropped to clasp hers.
“I can’t kill you.”
He buried his face in her shoulder. It almost seemed like sobbing. Daphne felt a strange sensation. His words rang true. She felt glad. Or was it gladness?
Daphne composed herself.
This fragile, beautiful paradise would end someday. She had to flee to find her own.
Snow fell outside the window.
That winter was cold. Yet warm.
But cold again.
This was a few days before Asherad’s inspection tour.