Chapter 97
Translator: uly
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: I Know
“Argh! What is this! What have you done!!”
The Pindus Prince screamed as he stared at his severed flesh. That was his manhood, his pride. The spear that would pin down any woman, the vital part responsible for Pindus’s future.
He would never be able to fulfill a man’s role again! This noble body meant to sire royal heirs and serve the kingdom! His pride!
Asherad watched the screams impassively before glancing at the bloody chunk and saying,
“It doesn’t look like much was lost. You’re overreacting, Prince.”
At the mockery, red veins bulged in the Pindus Prince’s eyes.
“Guards! This bastard cut off my manhood! Pindus’s future! Get in here and— that guy, that guy!”
The prince shouted, but no one came. He suddenly thought about how Asherad had even managed to barge in here.
No way, no way… .
Seeing the prince’s eyes widen, Asherad looked toward the door and said,
“I killed them all.”
The Pindus Prince let out a wretched scream. In this moment, he was left utterly alone in a foreign land with no protection. Under that violence, he was pathetically powerless. As the prince backed away, Asherad approached with slow, deliberate steps.
Then he lifted his foot and crushed the severed flesh that had fallen from the prince. Blood spurted with a splat.
“Urgh!”
The Pindus Prince writhed in agony and retched. Only now did he realize the situation he was in. That beastly man was going to kill him. Finally sensing the killing intent beneath that expressionless face, the Pindus Prince clasped his hands together and begged.
“P-please spare me!”
Asherad stood like the grim reaper. The prince felt crushed by his presence. Then Asherad, towering over him, smiled and said,
“Did you think I’d let you off easy?”
“…….”
“You already tried to kill me.”
The reaper’s smile was chilling and wicked. The prince’s face drained of color at the emperor’s attitude, devoid of any hesitation. He was going to kill him? Why? There was no reason. Sure, he’d mocked the guy a few times because the crown prince title was an eyesore. It was true he’d never respected him since they were kids.
But kill him? Me?
For something like that?
“If you go around laying hands recklessly, you’ll lose them.”
Asherad raised his sword, blood dripping from it. When the Pindus Prince reached out a hand, Asherad mercilessly sliced it off.
“Argh! Ack! Aaaargh!”
The prince screamed in agony.
“Please spare me! Spare me, I’ll do anything! Anything!”
It hurt, it hurt so much! He didn’t know how much more pain was coming. He was terrified. He’d never imagined the always quiet, dutiful Crown Prince—no, Emperor—Asherad would be this insane. To kill him so openly! What about the aftermath!
“Anything? You don’t need to do a thing.”
“……Argh!”
“If you insist, just be a good corpse.”
What? Asherad smirked at the prince’s outburst. He sat down, locking eyes with the prince, and spoke softly.
“You’ll successfully conclude the trade agreement with me and safely depart for your country with the diplomatic delegation.”
“Hic!”
“Between the Thalassa Kingdom and the Pindus Kingdom, you’ll be miserably slaughtered by bandits, reduced to a corpse.”
“Argh! Haaargh!”
“No need to be so scared. With an enemy nation they hate as the culprit, your father will be thrilled. If your kingdom’s king declares war on Thalassa and requests an alliance, I’ll gladly help.”
“I-I’m sorry…….”
“Your father will revere me as a benefactor.”
“…….”
“For avenging you after they tortured you to death so miserably.”
“Euuung!”
At the words “tortured to death so miserably,” the prince thrashed. Asherad had just revealed the end he’d meet. Tears streamed down his face as he shook his head. The one who had always bullied and tormented others, making them cry, was now paying a heavy price.
“What if it goes wrong! What if the kingdoms unite!”
He screamed in a last desperate struggle, hoping this madman would regain his senses. But Asherad tilted his head curiously.
“So what?”
“Euuung!”
The kingdom would be reduced to ruins. Even an empire wouldn’t survive unscathed if the kingdoms allied… . Was the emperor unafraid of the future?
“You tried to lay hands on my Daphne twice.”
Asherad muttered. All this over that woman. Just for trying to have her once… . Tears flowed as the prince regretted it. He shouldn’t have touched that woman. This man was even more obsessed with her than he’d thought, willing to let the kingdom burn for war.
Asherad passed the prince and rang a bell. When knights entered through the door, he smiled and said,
“Treat him quickly.”
The knights supported the prince. Gone was the arrogant, cunning, cruel prince of before—only a man in despair over his future remained.
The prince regretted it wretchedly, but it was too late. His final words were, “Please just kill me.”
He held on for quite a while.
* * *
Daphne was frowning. The medicine smeared on her body smelled awful. Fortunately, it was just bruises, so only ointment had been applied.
Daphne calmed down surprisingly quickly. Was it because Asherad had come to protect her? While being treated, she felt certain Asherad wouldn’t sell her out or believe the prince.
The reason was simple. The dead knights.
Asherad had already killed them, clearly for her sake. With them dead, conflict between nations had already begun.
As Daphne thought calmly, her eyes widened.
Huh? Why am I thinking like this?
When adult thoughts clashed with a child’s, her head throbbed. She clutched her head for a long time, panting as she tried to think of something else.
Right, no more complicated thoughts.
Perched on a chair, Daphne turned to other matters. First, what puzzled her most was the “emperor’s” identity.
“His Imperial Majesty!”
That strange man had clearly called Asherad that, and Asherad had responded. Was he the emperor?
Why?
Her fake father, the emperor, was supposed to be bedridden.
As Daphne grew confused, there was a knock. She said to come in, and the door burst open. It was Asherad.
“Daphne.”
He was very tall. He’d changed clothes into a light blue shirt and black vest. Tall stature, solid build. His body had grown massive compared to his little boy days—unrecognizable. The youth who’d been a boy now felt so unfamiliar.
The imperial boy of old had grown into a man gazing warmly at Daphne.
Daphne observed him closely. Seeing her slightly wary expression, Asherad paused.
“Why?”
He looked hurt. Seeing that softened Daphne’s heart. She bit her lip and asked outright.
“Asherad. Are you the emperor?”
Asherad lowered his eyes. As Daphne started to rise from her chair, he sat beside her on the sofa.
“Yes.”
Daphne stared at him, speechless. She knew it too. The emperor’s child was the emperor’s.
I’m the emperor’s fake daughter, Asherad is the real son.
Just that made Daphne too ashamed to lift her head before him. She recalled her mother saying the crown prince excelled at everything, so she had to beat him.
So that’s how Asherad was. The one she had to beat. Did Asherad know? If he knew she was the fake daughter, what then?
She grew afraid of Asherad. She already knew her “father” the emperor had a wife. How much would the real wife’s son hate the fake wife’s daughter?
“Daphne?”
Daphne imagined Asherad coldly rejecting her. It terrified her. What if he looked at her with disgust? Clutching her skirt, she bowed her head.
“Daphne, still hurting? What’s wrong?”
At the gentle words, Daphne squeezed her eyes shut in pain. No more hiding. Right, no lies. She’d apologize honestly.
The nine-year-old her hadn’t fallen into the abyss yet, so she had no fear and could be more upright. Back when Asherad’s kindness wasn’t her only salvation. Before she’d truly experienced conflict, when she still believed in justice purely and beautifully.
Returned to that time, Daphne looked up and said.
“Asherad. I’m sorry.”
Tears welled in her eyes.
“I, that… um… .”
Tears burst out, her voice trembling. Still, Daphne thought she had to say it straight. Even if it meant earning Asherad’s hate. His expression was blurred by her tears.
“That is, I. I was His Imperial Majesty’s fake daughter… .”
“…….”
“So I shouldn’t have lied… . I’m sorry. I was, you know, His Imperial Majesty’s fake daughter.”
Her earnest, jumbled words struck the man’s reverse scale. Seeing that cruel innocence, Asherad stood silently for a long time. Complex emotions flickered across his face.
“You’re the real son… . I… .”
Daphne cried. She couldn’t understand why a fake daughter and real son had become lovers. Unable to grasp the tangled bonds, she apologized. As the fake daughter, she’d lied, so she was wrong. Asherad placed a hand on her shoulder, then let it fall limply.
“I know.”
“…….”
“I know, so it’s okay.”
His chest ached. He kept feeling this strange emotion. A sharp pain like being sliced with a knife. Like someone squeezing then releasing his heart. How to describe it?
Why did this apology stir such feelings? The once arrogant Asherad couldn’t put it into words. Instead, in a hoarse voice, he said,
“No need to apologize.”
Being born wasn’t a fault.
Not you, not me.
He pulled her into his arms and held her tight. Something welled in his eyes and trickled down. He thought of the “what if” he’d never considered.
What if, just what if.
Our past had been like this.
If we’d both revealed only truths, not lies.
Could you and I have been happy?
His sins might not have happened, and he could have forgiven Daphne. He couldn’t hate that innocent being.
“Daphne, I’m the one who’s sorry.”
Daphne flinched at his words. Asherad hugged her tighter.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Daphne… .”
If his foolish heart could melt at one apology, their ending might have been different. He gave the apology he couldn’t before.
An apology possible only because he’d lost his memories.
Asherad buried his face in Daphne’s hair. Daphne, whose body had stiffened, lifted a hand and placed it on his back.