Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: You Were Lovely Even Then
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As winter drew to a close and spring approached, the Emperor set out to inspect the nobles' territories. Naturally, the destinations were left unspoken. It was all to monitor whether they harbored disloyal thoughts or had neglected the management of their lands.
Asherad was no exception; he never shirked his duties. Even while spending time with Daphne, he completed all his preparations.
The closer his inspection drew, the more Daphne's expression grew subtly strained. His departure would create an opportunity. A chance to escape from him completely.
And yet, why did the thought of him leaving fill her with unease? Once he left the Imperial Palace, he wouldn't return until the spring blossoms had fallen and full summer had begun.
The idea of being apart for so long left a bad taste in her mouth. He was the man who had ruined her life, after all. Why on earth was she feeling this way?
"What a dog."
Daphne muttered to herself in self-mockery. She'd thought herself submissive like a dog to him, and now she truly had become one.
Like a foolish beast anxious at its master's departure, Daphne restlessly awaited that day. And then the eve of his trip arrived. The greenhouse door opened, and Asherad entered.
"Why the long face?"
Seeing Daphne's sullen expression, Asherad spoke with a smile. Daphne said nothing.
He reached out and tied the white fox-fur muffler around her neck. Asherad looked around the greenhouse he had built for her.
"Do you like it?"
"Yes."
The greenhouse was far too lavish for her. It was filled with the scent of the lost trees, and the vivid hues of spring had erased any trace of the colorless winter.
Gazing at the swing hanging from a tree branch, as if in a forest, Asherad beckoned her.
Daphne sighed and sat on the swing. Asherad pushed it gently. She should have been enjoying it, but her face remained grave.
"Aren't you busy?"
"Hm?"
"You're leaving tomorrow."
At the petulance in her words, Asherad's smile deepened.
"So that's why you've been making that face?"
"......"
Daphne didn't deny it. Glancing over, she saw Asherad was clearly pleased. A ripple spread through her heart.
"You don't want me to go?"
"......"
"You'd rather I stay?"
Gripping the swing's ropes, Asherad leaned down. His face looked sly. Daphne turned her head away without answering. Her pride wouldn't let her lie. Or was it? If "I want you to go" was the lie, then why would her pride sting?
Daphne shook her head vigorously, trying to dispel the realization dawning on her.
"Oh ho, so you do want me gone?"
Asherad pushed the swing. Daphne's body swayed. Her long hair, tied up in a half-bun, fluttered in the air. Surrounded by the green forest, Daphne looked for all the world like a woodland fairy.
"You know the answer, so why ask?"
"......"
"Your Majesty is so strange."
Asherad laughed at Daphne's words. His innocent smile was boyishly pure. He stopped laughing and spoke.
"Daphne, do you remember?"
"......"
"When we first met."
"You mean when I had that bucket on my head?"
"No. You know."
Asherad smiled wistfully. He meant his boyish self on his first visit to the Imperial Palace. Daphne gazed at Asherad's face. That innocent boy in the tree had grown up and turned her life upside down.
"Your Majesty came down from that tree. What were you doing up there?"
"Hmm."
He lifted the corner of his mouth in a playful expression. Asherad looked at Daphne, but his eyes saw the Daphne of long ago.
"Did you know back then that I was my mother's daughter?"
The question slipped out cautiously from Daphne. Asherad didn't answer. He simply reached out and brushed her eyelashes.
"I was just bothered by your green eyes."
Instead of answering, he said something else.
"Blue suits you better."
She remembered the time she'd disguised her eye color with the magical necklace her mother had given her.
Recalling that sinful moment, Daphne lowered her eyes.
Asherad lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze at her clouded expression.
"But Daphne."
"......"
"You were lovely even then."
Daphne's cheeks flushed red. If he'd known she was the daughter of the woman threatening his throne, he surely would have hated her. And yet, he'd found her lovely.
"You just didn't belong in that hell. Or in heaven, either. Just..."
"......"
"Just so purely white and lovely."
Should she be glad to hear that? Daphne grabbed Asherad's arm.
A lie.
Daphne already knew Asherad was lying. He had known who she was. Lovely? She should count herself lucky he hadn't wanted to wring her neck and kill her.
"I wanted to keep you there longer."
"......"
"Back then, if I'd gone just a little further through those trees, there was the swing. I wanted to put you on it. When I was very young."
"......"
"Yes, when I was very young, Mother used to push me on it."
At the mention of his mother, Asherad's expression darkened. Daphne bit her lip.
Asherad looked at her with fervent eyes. She felt like she might be drawn into them, but Daphne steadied her heart.
Asherad gazed at the swing ropes, his face nostalgic like the boy from back then.
Like the boy who hadn't wanted to let the girl go. He opened his mouth very carefully.
"If you tell me not to go, I won't."
"......"
"I won't leave you alone anymore."
Asherad stroked Daphne's hair. His touch brimmed with affection.
Looking at his face, feeling that gentle touch, Daphne suddenly had a profound realization. She distrusted Asherad's feelings while trusting them at the same time. It was a contradiction.
She thought he didn't love her, yet believed he was obsessed with her.
But Asherad had changed.
From some point on, he no longer deceived her. Only sweet things had reached her since then.
That scared her, and she spoke quickly.
"What are you saying? You have to go."
"......"
"I don't want people saying Your Majesty ruined the empire because of me."
Daphne took Asherad's hand from her hair and kissed it.
"And I don't want them calling me a seductress either."
Asherad chuckled at her words. His face struck her as oddly unfamiliar.
Why had this man, who once treated her like a dog, become like this? He'd been devoted to tormenting her, dragging her to ruin.
But now he acted in ways that confused her. As a result, her venom had faded. Callista couldn't torment her, and Asherad provided her with the best of everything in his own way.
She almost wished he'd torment her instead.
Tie her down and rage at her like before.
Then she wouldn't have these worries.
"I'll miss you."
Asherad whispered. Daphne bowed her head, clutching her knees tightly as she listened.
Someday, before he left for the battlefield, she'd wanted to hear those words from him. Leaving without promise, she'd thought he might fully...
What was she thinking!
Daphne's eyes widened.
It hadn't been long since Fabian died! Asherad had ravaged her body. Like punishment for her escape, he'd licked her tears as if they were honey! He'd indulged in her grief and anger, using her only as a means.
How could he!
"I'll miss you too."
Daphne forced herself to reply calmly. Asherad pulled her head into his embrace.
Her forehead pressed against his firm abdomen. Tears welled in Daphne's eyes. She couldn't hold them back amid the humiliating realization.
"I love you."
Hearing Asherad's whisper, Daphne burst into even louder sobs.
She didn't want him to leave. She wanted to stay here. Asherad had created her entire world.
So she'd thrown away her pride and fallen in love. Whether he knew her heart or not, Asherad whispered softly.
"When I return..."
"......"
"When I return, I'll make you my Empress."
Daphne looked up. Empress. She knew even the previous Emperor hadn't made his mother Empress.
The opposition from the Empress and nobles had been fierce. The Sun God worshipped in Pheneios also followed the doctrine of monogamy.
"Your Majesty."
"......I've already thought of a way."
The man smiled as brightly as the midday sun. In this romantic greenhouse, Asherad proposed to Daphne. At that moment, she thought:
Can a person marry a dog?
Asherad was saying he'd gladly marry her.
Ah, she could no longer deny it.
Daphne abandoned her forced negativity, her attempts to flee her feelings, and thought coldly.
No human would marry a dog.
To Daphne, Asherad was human.
A human she wanted to marry, worth loving.
Asherad loved Daphne.
That was the one unassailable truth.
Tears streamed from Daphne's eyes. Asherad gently wiped them away with his hand.
Yes.
Someday, she'd wanted to hear this.
From her youngest years, suffering neglect in the desolate Imperial Palace. From the time he'd become her sole salvation, her paradise, Daphne had dared to hope for this man's love. But why whisper it only now? Why only now?
"You're too late."
Daphne sobbed.
"No, it's not too late."
Asherad declared firmly. Daphne shook her head, weeping.
It's too late. Far too late. She could no longer love Asherad fully. Fabian's death, his hatred. It had all dragged her into the abyss.
"It's too late."
"I'm sorry."
Asherad was the kind of man who could apologize so easily.
The kind who could offer sweet confessions of love.
But why now, of all times?
The woman who wanted to flee his embrace sobbed sadly.