Chapter 94
Translator: uly
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: Illusion
When Daphne, who had awakened, called his name, Asherad was momentarily speechless. What should he call this? Amazement at the miracle? Joy that his god was alive? He gladly became Daphne's believer and gazed at her with her hazy eyes fixed on him.
"Ah, that's a relief. What a relief."
Asherad smiled brightly. Had his remorse worked? Daphne blinked vacantly. There was no hatred or fear toward him visible.
"Why am I here...?"
Daphne lowered her gaze to look at herself. Confusion settled in her eyes. Then Asherad took her hand.
"It's okay. Nothing happened."
Daphne looked at the hand Asherad was holding and startled violently, gazing at his face again.
"Wh-who are you?"
"......"
"You're not Asherad, right?"
What was this? Amid her confused eyes, Asherad tried to speak calmly.
"Are you not in your right mind right now?"
His green eyes trembled faintly. Why didn't she recognize him? Daphne wasn't normal right now. Had she gone mad? But Daphne was even more shocked. She blinked her eyes slowly.
"Then you've grown since then?"
"What are you talking about?"
Some measure was needed. Asherad thought so and tried to call the physician.
"You've grown. Compared to when I saw you at the imperial palace last time."
"......"
Asherad's face hardened. This was the imperial palace, and they had always been in the imperial palace. So why was she saying that? Why tell Asherad that he had grown? Realizing Daphne's mind had finally gone mad, Asherad's eyes trembled.
"What are you trying to do?"
His voice sank eerily. Then, Daphne pulled the sheet up to cover her mouth, peeking out only her eyes. It was just like a child.
"Are you pretending to forget this time? Did you hit your head when you woke up?"
What a pathetic ploy. Asherad stroked Daphne affectionately while speaking coldly. The fact that she had tried to escape him by taking poison was now just a lame trick. Yet, strangely, he had no desire to kill her. He was angry at Daphne for deceiving him even after coming this far, but he decided to understand.
"Pretending to forget?"
"Daphne."
Daphne's face was filled with confusion.
"Did I... do something wrong?"
Her voice trembled. Asherad tilted his head. Daphne wasn't good at hiding her expressions. Even when she had sweetly whispered pretending to love him, there had been awkwardness that Asherad had sensed. But this innocent appearance now was clearly genuine.
"Um, Asherad. Why am I here? Where is this...?"
Asherad observed Daphne's face closely with a frozen expression. Then, he asked with a sigh.
"How old are you?"
* * *
Yohannis quickened his steps. It was because he had heard that Daphne had awakened. That maid had said she couldn't guarantee there would be no aftereffects.
Surely nothing had happened to Daphne? His steps sped up even more. What was Daphne doing? Was she despairing again that even dying had failed?
Had Asherad changed his mind? He couldn't know.
"Your Majesty?"
"He is at his meal."
"Understood."
Yohannis headed to the dining hall. After skipping meals, he finally had the energy to eat. Yohannis felt relieved at Asherad's recovery.
As he stepped into the dining hall, strange voices reached him.
"Daphne. Say 'ah.'"
"Ah."
The affectionate voices of a man and woman. Clearly Daphne and Asherad. But why were they being affectionate? Had Daphne given up? Or had she gone mad?
"It's delicious."
"Right?"
But the tone was strange. As Yohannis drew closer, he saw Asherad and Daphne hidden behind a curtain.
"Come on in."
Asherad smiled faintly as he looked at Yohannis, who stood awkwardly. Yohannis stared at Asherad's happy face. Something was off. As Yohannis turned his head, Daphne grabbed Asherad's clothes and tried to hide her body.
"What in the world is..."
Asherad laughed and stroked Daphne's hair. Daphne was strange. Not acknowledging Yohannis and hiding like that...
"Understand. She keeps hiding like this whenever she sees strangers."
Asherad said with a smiling face.
"Strangers?"
Yohannis understood even less. Had Asherad made her do something? Yohannis asked Daphne.
"Miss Daphne, is something wrong?"
But Daphne buried herself deeper into Asherad. Asherad raised his arms to embrace her. He said with a beaming face.
"Daphne is nine years old right now."
"What?"
As Yohannis made a face of incomprehension, Asherad chuckled.
"She lost all memories after the age of nine. All of them."
Yohannis looked at Daphne with a shocked expression. She seemed too busy clinging to Asherad's chest to look at Yohannis.
"Why in the world..."
"That medicine helped us."
Asherad's eyes gleamed strangely. He stroked Daphne's golden hair and smiled brightly. Yohannis recalled the medicine's side effects. Daphne had lost her memories. He sighed.
"Yohannis. God hasn't abandoned me."
He stroked Daphne with a triumphant face.
"See, it's like nothing happened. Memories can be built again."
His face full of ecstasy was clearly the old Asherad. Was he going to live in the way convenient for him again? Had God truly pitied Asherad's misfortune?
Asherad should have regretted desperately. Yet his sins were erased, leaving only days convenient for him.
"Daphne. Say hello to Yohannis."
Daphne flinched and slowly turned her head.
"It's okay, he's my friend."
Daphne turned her head, then slowly emerged from Asherad's embrace. She stood and greeted Yohannis. Those gentle eyes were clearly those of a child.
"Hello."
The curtsy she made by holding her skirt was exceedingly graceful. As she looked at Yohannis, who didn't return the greeting, with a face full of fear, Yohannis nodded slightly.
"Nice to meet you."
What a ridiculous play.
"I am Yohannis of the Turbul family."
Daphne nodded. Asherad chuckled as if she had done well and stroked her hair. Then she beamed.
"See?"
"......"
"Daphne just needs to follow me well."
Yohannis couldn't respond to Asherad's words. In his devastated heart, he couldn't say anything. Daphne and Asherad smiling as if happy.
As Daphne continued eating, sauce got on her face. Then Asherad personally took a napkin and wiped her lips.
Daphne grinned broadly.
That immature, fragile appearance was clearly endearing. Asherad, happy at that smile, was dazzling too.
But Yohannis knew.
That was an illusory love.
Had he gone mad from love, craving love so much that he needed even the childish love of a sickened Daphne? Was he that starved for even that abnormal love?
"Asherad."
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry."
That was all he could say to Asherad. Looking at that pitiful being, tears fell from his eyes. It was the curt, cold Yohannis shedding tears for the first time in twenty years.
* * *
"Here, your clothes."
"Yes."
Daphne smiled brightly and spread her arms. Sara, handing over the clothes, momentarily looked choked. It was because seeing Daphne's innocent face was painful. She suppressed the surging emotions.
"Daphne."
"Yes?"
"You're not acting, right?"
"Acting?"
Daphne tilted her head. At that, Sara's anger surged. She scrutinized Daphne closely over and over, but Daphne truly seemed to have regressed to a child.
"You're not. You're just pretending to be nine years old."
"But I am nine years old."
At those words, Sara sighed. She had kept tormenting Daphne hoping she would be unhappy. She had arranged meetings with the late emperor and put her in predicaments with the Pindus prince. But without even needing Sara's help, Daphne would grasp at happiness only to become unhappy.
And the end of that misfortune had been poison.
She had barely awakened, and now she called her "sister" with such innocence. That innocence was hateful. Wasn't it too cowardly?
Now that she had finally told her of her sins, she didn't suffer and had forgotten them all. Truly cowardly.
"I really hate you."
"......Pardon?"
"I really hate you. I won't let it slide! How can you forget all the wrongs you committed?!"
Seeing Daphne's frightened face, Sara shouted and cried. Daphne patted the crying Sara in front of her.
"I'm sorry."
"......"
"I'm sorry... for forgetting everything."
At those words, Sara cried even louder. She hated Daphne. She couldn't bear the hate. She should have just died. Why appear in such a foolish state? Sara cried and cried. The place where she had lost her finger throbbed.