Chapter 6. Swamp

-I love you, Daddy!

-Daddy, I love you.

Caelius’ head, cut from the guillotine, is the last thing Aria sees before she dies. She’ll never forget it.

The torn skin, the horribly squinted eyes. The head of her father, the man she once loved, lay motionless in the mud.

“Huhhhhhhhhh!”

Aria nuzzled her neck groggily as she awoke.

“……Dream?

It was an odd dream.

This was her last day at Caelius.

Her heart was pounding, and just thinking of it sent chills down her spine. She squeezed her eyes shut and blinked dry.

[If you want to live, you’re going to stick by my side and whimper and s*ck my c*ck or lick my feet].

[If you want to run away, you’d better pull out all your hair, gouge out your eyeballs, and disfigure your face until I don’t recognize you.].

Caelius’s words still echoed in her mind that day.

Aria took a slow, deep breath and steadied her shaking hands. Her pounding heart finally slowed. She sipped cold water from a nearby table and rubbed her eyes.

‘I’m exhausted’

‘I just want to give up everything. If I die here, I can’t go back to Korea.’

She buried her face in her pillow.

‘I wasn’t happy with my life right now.’

* * *

Time flew. The moon changed, bringing in a new year. Aria had no choice but to accompany Caelius to the Imperial New Year’s Eve celebration.

“Daughter.”

She looked up at the voice calling her. She saw Caelius in his colorful robes, smiling and holding out his hand.

“Come, I’ll escort you.”

Caelius still treated her as if nothing had happened. She no longer had any hope of winning his heart back. Now she could only hope that his treason would succeed.

He wore his usual black uniform, but today, on a whim, he wore a pure white uniform, and the gold embroidery on it was breathtaking.

As she followed him out of the mansion, she glanced at the portrait of Caelius hanging in the foyer. Blond and golden-eyed. It was a far cry from the man he is now.

She stared at the portrait for a moment, looking at Caelius in his best, and then looked away. She forced himself to take a heavy step.

For the first time, Aria and Caelius would be attending the New Year’s Ball together, where Caelius would be drinking poisoned champagne.

Being a swordmaster will not kill him or endanger his condition, but…’ He slashed the servant who brought him the champagne on the spot.

This had tarnished the reputation of the Emperor and the nobles of the Emperor’s faction, but regardless, it was difficult for Aria, who knew the whole story, to remain calm when she saw the poisoned champagne in Caelius’ hand.

“Hah…” Aria sighed in dismay. “I’ll just have to pretend to drink it for him.”

Caelius, a swordmaster, stands in stark contrast to his skills. Still, an unexpected spark catches her off guard as she indulges in amusing pastimes. Her mind races as her head begins to hurt.

In the original story, Caelius downplays the incident, dismissing it as insignificant. Instead of investigating the details, he quickly deals with the guilty servant and buries the issue without further investigation. Even when an assassination attempt on the royal family occurs, he handles it with cold efficiency.

Despite Caelius’ casual behavior, rumors of a hidden puppet master circulate among those in the know. The Emperor himself becomes the target of suspicion.

Since Caelius revealed the presence of his daughter with imperial powers, the Emperor’s associates have stepped up their efforts to discredit Caelius. Azekrisis was already irritated by the acquisition of Adama’s ring, but the discovery of a daughter with imperial powers heightens the political intrigue.

In the face of these actions, he refuses to play the fool and allows their manipulations to go unchallenged. A heavy sigh escapes Aria’s lips, drawing Caelius’ attention.

“Feeling uneasy?” he inquires.

Aria hesitates before responding, “Oh, no, just a bit nervous…”

Caelius reaches for Aria’s hand with his usual affectionate manner. “Let me ease that,” he says gently.

Caelius applies gentle pressure to Aria’s hand, similar to acupressure. Despite his good intentions, his contact startles Aria and makes her stiffen even more.

Her resentment grew as she watched her blonde hair hang loosely around her waist. The fact that Caelius continued to smile and maintain an outward sweetness only fueled her hatred for him.

* * *

Upon entering the ballroom, Aria’s tension rose even higher. An unpleasant thought crossed her mind: who among them could be delivering poisoned champagne to Caelius?

Despite her inner confusion, Aria decided to mimic the silence and indifference she displayed in the original story. By doing so, she hoped to avoid arousing suspicion.

The atmosphere in the ballroom was buzzing with the excitement of the new year, and many of her peers were eagerly awaiting the imperial banquet. Aria, however, refrained from mixing with them, sticking steadfastly to Caelius’ side like a chick to its mother.

Despite the festive atmosphere, Aria remained alert, her attention focused solely on Caelius. When Azekrisis offered a simple New Year’s greeting, the banquet unfolded, but Caelius still had no champagne in his hand.

“Daughter,” Caelius called out.

“Yes, Father?” Aria responded.

“Eat this. It’s a strawberry tart—Daddy’s favorite among all the palace foods,” Caelius urged.

He chuckled softly and presented her with the cake on a small plate. The spectators, including the nobles, were amazed at the obvious care Caelius showed for his daughter.

Aria looked at the strawberry tart in her hand, a lingering doubt crossing her mind. “I hope this isn’t poisoned,” she muttered to herself, eyeing the tart with suspicion. Unimpressed, Caelius took the first bite.

“Why, do you think it’s poisoned or something?” he whispered in her ear, ensuring no one else could overhear.

“Don’t worry, daughter. I’m not going to do that just yet,” he reassured, a large hand gently stroking her hair.

“Not yet,” she thought, a sense of anticipation hinting at the possibility of something ominous in the future.

In a moment of racing thoughts, Aria hesitated before speaking, “If you don’t mind, I was wondering if I could have a glass of champagne.”

“Haha, champagne for the holidays,” Caelius replied in a light-hearted tone. The nobles readily obliged and bowed as they offered Caelius a glass of champagne. Aria watched in surprise, her eyes widening.

A servant was already approaching them with a glass of champagne. Aria’s eyes flickered at the array of champagne glasses on the tray, a seed of suspicion planted in her mind. “Could one of them be…?” she wondered.

As expected, the servant discreetly handed Caelius a cup of his choosing. The others, seemingly indifferent to their choices, showed no concern as to which glass they took, as if to signal that only Caelius should take part.

The sight sent Aria’s heart sinking. Though determined to remain as silent as a mouse, an internal scream urged her to protect Caelius. An involuntary thought echoed in her mind: “I don’t want to see him bleed,” as if she were under some form of influence.

“Ah, Dad…!” Aria exclaimed involuntarily, trying to wake him up. The words slipped out before she could stop them. Caelius turned slowly as if stunned, holding a poisoned champagne glass.

“I, uh, I’d like some champagne, too,” she said quickly, trying to divert attention from the potentially deadly situation.

Aria couldn’t understand what was forcing her to speak. Her body seemed to move on instinct as if guided by an external force.

Aria continued, “I’ll have those things, and Dad will have a new glass,” she said, her words rushing out. Her words rushed out, and her face showed mild pain as she disturbed the routine, but she persisted.

“I’ll take that glass from Caelius,” she said urgently. “Then I will drop it or spill it.” She was trying to avoid the risk.

Aria took the champagne glass from Caelius in front of the gathered nobles and aggressively snatched it from his hand. He didn’t react, but instead studied her actions without surprise.

Despite the tension, Aria quickly retrieved a fresh glass of champagne from the servant’s tray and handed it to Caelius. The champagne, which may have been poisoned, was now in Aria’s hands.

“Hmph, then, let’s raise a toast to His Highness the Archduke of Wittelsbach,” Aria said confidently. The nobles were taken aback by her boldness, but out of respect for Caelius, they refrained from objecting. Instead, they reluctantly raised their drinks to lighten the mood.

 Caelius smiled wryly and declared, “To you and yours for another year.” The crystal goblets clinked as Caelius and the nobles made a toast.

Aria trembled noticeably. She was the only one who did not drink. Caelius, who now held an empty glass, turned to face her. She almost spilled the champagne accidentally before noticing his gaze.

Caelius gently covered her hand with his to keep her from dropping the glass. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered into her ear, “Daughter.”

“Drink all of it,” the threatening voice instructed, his voice tinged with malicious intent. “Don’t throw it away.”

Aria sensed something was wrong the moment she heard the voice, feeling a sense of foreboding.

Aria’s hand holding the glass trembled, yet Caelius’s firm hand prevented her from letting go of the champagne. Her heart raced with fear as his hand tightened, making it almost painful to hold the glass.

“Oh, Dad…” Aria’s voice quivered with fear. Her intense emotions were obvious, leaving those around her confused and worried.

Aria wanted to cry; she wanted to know what the hell was going on in his mind,” she sobbed, her voice filled with despair. She repeated to herself, ‘Not this, not this, not this…’

“Drink it,” the commanding voice insisted, its menace leaving no room for refusal.

A stern voice cut through, dropping into Aria’s ear. “You won’t die, so drink it all.” Caelius fixed her with a serious look, emphasizing, “Drink it all because you won’t die.”

Aria was shocked by the revelation. Did you not know it was poisoned? Her complexion paled, and she looked trapped and helpless like a deer in a trap. Although sympathy arose for him, Caelius’s expression remained the same.

“My daughter, I’m not a patient man,” he said gravely, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

Every word he spoke felt like a death threat. Aria stared blankly at the pale yellow liquid in her hand.

Caelius took action when Aria didn’t move. He pulled the glass from her palm and forced her to drink. Aria blinked back tears as she felt the poison spread throughout her body.

Caelius smiled and spoke to the nobles now, in stark contrast to the moment when he had coldly forced her to drink the poisoned champagne.

“You just turned 18 this year, and you’re already insisting on drinking champagne,” said Caelius with a playful tone.

“Haha, isn’t that what all children do at her age?” chimed in one of the nobility.

“I’m sure she’ll be fine. It warms my heart to see you so close to your daughter,” someone else said.

The nobility continued to stare at Caelius, unaware of Aria’s pain, until she finally withdrew her hand, allowing her to drop the glass if she so desired. Her bright eyes, however, contained a warning, cautioning her against any abrupt movements.

Aria accepted that not drinking could have negative consequences and quickly downed the champagne. She held on to a tiny glimmer of hope even as she drank.

“Maybe it’s not poisonous,” she said. But before she could finish the champagne, a burning pain rushed through her throat, killing that hope as quickly as it had arisen.

The glass in her hand fell to the floor with a resounding “Bam-.”

Aria continued to cough painfully, her white dress stained with blood. The unbearable pain coursing through her body left her unable to even scream.

“It hurts. It’s like my body’s on fire,” she cried, tears streaming desperately from her eyes. Her pain was unlike anything she had ever felt before.

The scene starts with the sound of broken glass and a terrifying scream, accurately conveying the terrible reality of the situation.

The ballroom fell silent as Aria convulsed and struggled to maintain her balance.

‘You said I wasn’t going to die, as$hole. I’m going to die, f*ck, I’m going to die,’ she cried, her eyes filled with desperation. She begged him for help as she stared up at him. She was overcome with fear as their gazes connected.

Caelius looked at her with a confused and almost mirrored expression of insecurity, rather than the expected arrogant expression. The unexpected turn of events left them both in shock and disbelief.

He seemed confused and called out to her in a faint voice, “Daughter?”

Aria’s spine tingled as she heard his agitated words. ‘Am I going to die like this?’ she wondered, the truth of the situation dawning on her.

Her trembling body reached its limits, and she collapsed onto the cold marble floor. In an instant, Caelius rushed to her side, lifting her from the ground.

“Lily,” he whispered her nickname, his voice filled with an unmistakable tremor. Aria could only respond with painful coughs, blood staining her white dress as she struggled with the pain.

“Lily-!” Caelius cried out in fear, his face etched with the gravity of the situation.

Only Caelius’s desperate cries echoed through the banquet hall. The nobles quickly snapped to attention as someone shouted:

“Summon the imperial court at once!”

“The princess has fallen! Get the imperial physician!”

The once joyous banquet hall, now devoured in panic and distress, echoed with urgent cries and the hurried footsteps of those rushing to seek help.

Someone had poisoned the Grand Princess of Wittelsbach’s champagne, and a wave of dismay washed over the nobles.

Aria stayed in Caelius’ embrace, breathing heavily with blood on her lips.

Caelius shook her gently and ordered the lords to seize the servant who brought her the champagne and drag him away. “Bring him before me, now!”

Caelius’ voice grew hoarse, and his usually smiling face became cold and hard, reflecting the gravity of the situation.

Caelius wiped the corner of Aria’s mouth with a trembling hand. His uniform, once crisp and white, was now stained with blood.

“Wake up, daughter,” he implored, shaking Aria. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Caelius spoke to Aria, hesitating as he looked at her pale face. The New Year’s Eve party descended into chaos. Some nobles searched the ballroom for the servant who had brought the poisoned champagne, while others could only look pitifully at the enraged Caelius.

He shook his head, dismissing the thought.

“Could it be the Emperor’s sect?” he wondered.

“Who the hell would believe this kind of nonsense for the new year?”

Caelius howled as he grabbed Aria from the ground. “Daughter, wake up”

He begged her to wake up and open her eyes, gently touching her cheeks.

Amidst the commotion, one of the nobles arrested the servant who had carried the poisoned champagne. The noble accused the servant of poisoning the drinks and pointed a finger at him, saying, “Your Majesty, this is the man who gave you and the princess poisoned champagne earlier”.

As the servant was carried away, Caelius grabbed his blade from his waistband. He didn’t need to hear anything else. The razor-sharp sword cut through the servant’s body before the noble could continue.

“How dare you try to kill my only daughter?”

He unsheathed his blade and swung it at the servant, spilling blood on the white marble floor.

“How dare you……, how dare you……!”

Caelius continued to slash at the servant’s already lifeless body in a rage. Blood splashed everywhere, and the once-human body had become shredded beyond recognition.

The nobles could not bear the shocking sight, so they turned away and sighed in resignation.

“She was my only child?”

“I don’t know who her mother was, but…”

“From the Emperor’s side again…”

“She’s… trying to keep His Highness in control.”

The nobles exchanged whispered thoughts in the confusion, trying to make sense of the sad events unfolding before them. The party had become a display of sadness and dismay.

After the New Year’s party tragedy, the nobles exchanged hushed murmurs, their lips twitching.

“The Grand Duke has already renounced his imperial power…”

“Did he not also take an oath in front of all the nobles, swearing never to contest the throne?”

“This is overkill.”

“When he was a crown prince, he went to dangerous battlefields on behalf of his Majesty, but was ungrateful.”

With every word spoken, public sentiment shifted in favor of Caelius.

“Poor Archduke Wittelsbach. Poor Emperor Azekrisis,” many murmured, their eyes turning to Caelius with sorrow. The once-joyous atmosphere had given way to a solemn meditation on the catastrophe that had unfolded before them.

After renouncing the throne, the Archduke had shown no sign of lust for power. As a crown prince, he bravely fought in multiple conflicts, risking his life for his younger brother.

The imperial court, once dormant, had eagerly awaited the ceremonial introduction of his daughter into society.

The nobles present at the gathering shared a common sentiment, although it was not explicitly stated. A small number of Imperialist nobles appeared uneasy and exchanged confused glances.

He was a battle-hardened warrior. In the next moment, he became the pitiful King Wittelsbach, fighting in his younger brother’s place. Those who remembered his martial skill and courage on the battlefield found the sudden change ridiculous.

Caelius surveyed the lords as he stood amid the Chamberlain’s demise, exhaling sharply. He spoke fiercely, warning those present, bloodied and with tears streaming down his cheeks.

“If you think I’m going to take this lightly, you’re sorely mistaken.”

The imperial physician appeared suddenly and hurried to deliver the antidote to Aria. They also checked on her condition. Caelius pulled a grimace, his fear evident at the sight.

“How could you do this to my daughter?” he screamed. His words were filled with both sadness and rage, reflecting the immense betrayal he felt after his precious child had been poisoned.

He tightly held his blade, showing his anger. His intense presence was palpable. His intense aura was filled with such malicious intent that it wouldn’t have been shocking if he had used the weapon to slaughter all the nobles in the banquet hall at once.

Caelius turned to face Azekrisis in the distance and spoke forcefully.

“I have sworn that I will never, in my lifetime, take to the throne again.”

The present nobles gasped at the mention of those two words, realizing the importance of the oath.

The pronouncement’s weight echoed through the hall, leaving a lasting impact on the solemn atmosphere.

“And yet, if my family suffers…”

Caelius grimaced and remarked, “I, too, must struggle to survive,” making the implication clear to the nobles.

He then directly addressed the emperor in a threatening tone, saying, “I hope it doesn’t come to that, brother.”

Caelius made ominous remarks that caused the room to fall silent. Despite the emperor’s direct challenge, no one dared to say anything offensive to the bereaved Archduke Wittelsbach. The air was tense, indicating the dangerous situation that had occurred during the New Year’s Eve party.

* * *

She woke up and found herself under the familiar ceiling.

“No, wait…”

“I’m not dead?”

Aria sat up, rubbing her eyes and feeling as if nothing had happened. She felt better than she had in a long time. A familiar voice burst through her thoughts as she looked around the room in surprise.

“Are you awake?”

Caelius was the one. She shivered instinctively. He sat by her bedside once again, staring at her.

“Oh, Dad…?”

Caelius was silent. Aria felt a touch and turned to see him holding her right hand. She was confused by his unusual gesture of holding his sleeping daughter’s hand.

“What is…?”

He seemed tired, but she didn’t know why.

“How are you feeling?”

Aria responded to the repetitive question, sounding a bit foolish, “Oh, I’m fine…….”

“Good, better than before you drank?”

He asked, his face filled with curiosity, wondering what she knew. Caelius smiled approvingly as she nodded.

“Well, then. Get some more rest, daughter.”

He then let go of her hand and got to his feet. He disappeared as the door closed behind him. A genuine sense of peace has settled in. Aria took her time recalling the events, hoping to calm her worried thoughts.

‘I did not die from drinking poisoned champagne, as Caelius claimed.’ But I saw his expression right before collapsing.’

 Caelius looked surprised by her collapse, but then his expression turned to anger and rage as if he was about to let out a primal scream. Aria was left feeling confused.

“Did he instruct her to drink it without realizing it was poisoned? Or was that expression on his face fake?”

Although she tried hard, she couldn’t find the truth. It became evident that only Caelius held the keys to understanding his true intentions.

* * *

Caelius had spent the entire day alone in his room on the day of Aria’s awakening. Aria was intrigued. However, she chose not to ask any further questions. During this time, she concentrated on self-care—eating, sleeping, and regaining his health.

“Your Highness.”

Caelius opened his eyes, previously shut, at the sound of his voice.

“You’re tired.”

He spoke quietly, causing Goshen to ask if everything was okay.

“Did you use too much energy?”

“Not that much.”

Caelius closed his eyes again, feeling the dark energy pouring through his body.

I didn’t realize that woman’s body was so weak.

“That’s typical of the human body,” came the brief reply, causing him to think better of it.

“It doesn’t make sense for me to live with my head down under my weak daughter.”

Caelius spit a curse and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

“So, have you identified anyone who might be the culprit?”

“Yes, Count Elton seems like a good fit.”

“Very well, then make it Count Elton.”

“Understood.”

Caelius briefly closed his eyes before reopening them when he had a thought.

“But how did my daughter know?”

Goshen blinked at the unexpected question.

“She noticed the champagne in my hand and shook it vigorously as if she had seen a ghost… and she could see right through it.”

Caelius’ hands punched the desk continuously, tsk, tsk.

“She knew that my drinks had been poisoned, plain and simple.”

“That’s ridiculous. It was done covertly to avoid detection by the Emperor’s faction.”

Cold eyes stared into the distance.

“I want you to take care of everyone who knows about this.”

“…Yes, sir.”

* * *

The story of the Archduchess of Wittelsbach’s attempted assassination had gone viral.

Aria wonders if that is true.

A letter arrived for Aria.

[Aeryn Lestent]

It was from Aeryn.

“Is that from my mom?”

Aria scratched her head as she opened the letter. It was the first letter she’d gotten since moving into the Wittelsbach mansion. As she opened it, she found a New Year’s greeting as well as a note of care for her well-being.

He asked about her experience at the New Year’s party, asked if she was feeling well, asked about her enjoyment of life at the palace, and expressed curiosity about whether anyone was bothering her.

She expressed a desire to give her a birthday present and a desire to help her if she was interested in getting married.

Marriage. It was the only way Aria could get away from Caelius. However, no noble dared to oppose Caelius and marry Aria within the empire.

Aeryn’s letter suggested that the only reasonable option was to seek marriage abroad. Aria paused to consider this.

“Yes, even Caelius…”

‘If I am going to marry a powerful nobleman from another country, I can’t rush into it. I should ask him to find me a suitable match, just in case, so I can run away at any time.’

Aeryn’s letter expressed her care for her. She mentioned arranging a dowry if she were to marry. Her mother’s concern was evident in her words. Aeryn reviewed the message multiple times before responding with a feather pen. Without warning, the door flew open.

“Daughter.”

A familiar voice. Caelius was there. She attempted to hide Aeryn’s letter in a hurry, but Caelius was quicker.

“Aeryn sent you a letter?”

He moved forward, snatching the letter from her hand.

“Oh, Dad…!”

Aria went out for it, startled, but he wouldn’t let go. Caelius frowned as he read Aeryn’s letter.

Aria’s eyes twitched as she read the letter, which hinted at a foreign marriage. Caelius beamed with delight when he finished reading.

“How far do you think Aeryn will be able to protect her daughter?”

It was a statement rather than a question. The phrasing was abrupt.

“I don’t think Aeryn will be able to get you away from me.”

Aria shouted the words in fury after realizing the implication.

“Dad…”

Caelius bowed his head as if waiting for an answer. Aria kept her eyes on her toes, muttering.

“I want to live a long life.”

“Live a long life, but please don’t betray me. Your betrayal will fail anyway.”

Aria held back the words she wanted to say and swallowed hard. Caelius, unaware of her thoughts, smiled down at her.

“So, all you want is to live longer and marry someone from another country?”

He laughed mockingly.

“You want to live long?”

Aria gave a small nod in response to Caelius’ question.

“Then say that again.”

Aria emitted a perplexed sound at the unexpected command.

“It’s…?”

“Something my daughter used to say.”

Aria knew a favorite saying all too well. She had forced herself to say it the last time, but she didn’t understand why he wanted to hear it. Aria furrowed her brow, and Caelius encouraged her to speak. Finally, she opened her mouth reluctantly.

“Lily is…….”

“……”

“……Daddy’s  favorite.”

In a soulless voice, she said the words he wanted to hear. Caelius then patted her on the shoulder, as if acknowledging her compliance.

“Yes, daughter. If you want to live long, you’ll live longer this way.”

Aria stammered because she did not understand his words.

“I mean, if you want to marry out of the country, run away, and get torn to pieces before you even cross the border, you’re going to stick by my side and keep that nonsense to yourself.”

Caelius’ threatening words returned. She felt helpless and hung her head. He stood up as if he was going to leave the room. Aria reached out and grabbed him in a dazed state as if remembering something.

“Dad.”

Then he stopped.

“That day… champagne.”

Caelius turned around, locking eyes with Aria as if inviting her to ask more.

“Why do you want me to drink it? Did you know it is poisoned?”

Aria couldn’t say the words she wanted to ask. She collapsed and felt unsure about the sincerity of the expression on his face. She felt compelled to ask.

“And you daughter?”

“What?”

“Why did you take my cup?”

Aria was unable to answer. He turned and left the room without expecting a reply. Alone, she cleared her throat awkwardly, suddenly remembering the pain of that day.

* * *

After that day, Aria became noticeably lethargic. It seemed as though she had adopted a pessimistic outlook on life.

She was tired of observing Caelius. He seemed resistant to change regardless of her efforts, and now she held out the faint hope that if she ended her life here, she might somehow be able to return to Korea.

Maybe if she hadn’t heard the maids talking, she would have accepted her life here completely.

“Is Your Majesty still sleeping?”

“Yes, he’s been in his room for the past few days. Even if he comes out in the middle of the day, he goes to visit the princess.”

“Is dispensing a sword such an arduous task?”

While strolling around the garden, Aria overheard a conversation and paused. It was the voices of the maids hanging out of the laundry.

“I heard that he saved the princess who was on the verge of death, so he must have used a lot of physical strength.”

“My goodness… he is so sweet. He would go to such lengths for a princess.”

“Yes, I was surprised. His Majesty is always smiling, but it doesn’t feel like he’s smiling, so I always felt some distance between us. Now that I’ve heard about this, I realize that he’s a human being too.”

The conversation was clearly about Caelius.

Aria stood and thought about what they had said.

“Lost so much energy? and slept for days? Caelius seemed to have used his powers to save her life.”

“By the way, I heard they caught the culprit?”

“They say Count Elton ordered it.”

“The horse’s name is Earl Elton.”

“Please be quiet, watch your words.”

Aria furrowed her brow as she listened. In the original story, they only punished the servant for delivering the champagne and did not investigate the real culprit. However, now they have caught the real culprit. Aria wondered if this meant they were investigating. The more she listened, the more confused she became.

“Why…?”

The only difference between the original and now was that she was the one who drank the poison, not Caelius. With a puzzled look on her face, she walked away. She unconsciously headed for Caelius’ bedroom.

Aria stood in front of his bedroom and debated knocking, but instead opened the door. This was a timid revenge for his barging into her room so long ago. The bedroom was empty except for Caelius lying on the bed.

Aria walked softly to his side. She caught a glimpse of his slightly disheveled black hair, his beautifully closed eyes, and his handsome, mesmerizing face.

Certainly, it was hard to believe that Caelius was the father of a 17-year-old daughter.

No matter how early he got engaged.

Aria found herself studying his face for a long moment. It was handsome and intriguing to sit still and stare at, but then he pursed his lips.

“cold.”

Aria cocked her head slightly, struggling to hear his faint voice.

She asked, “Cold…?”

Caelius’s room was heated with magic stones, making it toasty even in winter. He wondered if the blankets had slipped a little when he felt hot, not cold. He pulled them up to his neck at the base of his chest.

At that moment, Caelius grabbed her hand in the blink of an eye.

“…!”

It happened so fast that she didn’t even have time to scream. Her vision spun, and her body jerked. When she regained consciousness, she was being strangled and pinned down by Caelius.

“…….”

A raspy cough escaped her throat as she struggled. Physiological tears rolled down her cheeks. Caelius, who had regained consciousness, immediately released his hold, somewhat embarrassed at the sight of Aria on the ground beneath him.

“daughter?”

As his hand dropped, Aria let out a long, gagging cough.

“Ahhh… ah, dad, what’s this…….”

Panicked, she opened her mouth to ask what he was doing but then closed it. How dare she complain to him in the first place.

She is an ant. She is lucky if she does not get stepped on.

“What are you doing here without knocking?”

Caelius was the one complaining. He stared at Aria in disbelief.

“Well, I just wanted to ask you something…….”

Aria looked at him, still on top of her, and struggled to speak.

“I’m sorry, I’m just a little tired right now.”

Caelius appeared different. His face lacked its usual smile, and his eyes were closed as if he were tired. The puffiness around his eyes confirmed the truth of his words.

Aria watched Caelius’s pensive face and asked.

“Why are you tired?”

Caelius looked at Aria, appearing surprised that she would suddenly ask such a question. He did not seem to mind the question very much. Despite this, Aria persisted and asked him again, curious about the source of his confidence.

“I heard that you saved my life.”

“So?”

“Why did you do that?”

Caelius sighed at the direct question.

“Did you want me to kill you?”

“Oh, no. I didn’t mean that.”

Aria lowered her eyes quickly. She glanced at him and wondered if she had made a mistake, then Caelius spoke.

“Because I wasn’t planning on killing you yet.”

“……”

“I told you, drinking it won’t kill you.”

Once again, he knew the champagne was poisoned, and he told her to drink it. Aria was confused.

Caelius would have drunk the poisoned champagne if she had not interfered. Why didn’t she get that? To bring Aria back to reality, Caelius spoke in an irritated tone.

“If you’re done here, I’d like you to leave.”

He behaved differently than usual, hiding his true feelings and only saying what sounded good. His tone was also different.

Aria narrowed her eyes momentarily at his apparent honesty. He looked at her blankly, as if to tell her to get lost.

“Are you not going out?”

It was a look she’d never seen before in her life. Aria looked at Caelius, who was grumbling with a hint of curiosity.

Dealing with him this way is much easier.

She wants him to be more honest.

She thought, ‘I don’t want you to be rude; just be honest, please.’

If he told the truth, the future wouldn’t be so miserable. He raised an eyebrow, sensing that she was thinking about him.

“Daughter.”

“……”

“Daughter.”

“Yes?”

She answered a beat behind his shout, lost in thought. He then murmured and pressed against her.

“I said go out; you don’t want to leave?”

“Oh…….”

“Why? Is it so we can get in bed together?”

Even a child could understand that he was referring to more than just rolling over.

Caelius rubbed his C*ck against Aria’s thigh, his stiff p*nis pushing against the delicate flesh, and Aria squirmed in surprise.

“okey, I’m coming!”

She needed to escape before he could harm her more. Aria stood up, attempting to get off the bed, but Caelius gently held her shoulder, as if taunting her.

He threw her off of him, and she was unable to move.

“You’re late.”

“Hmph…….”

“You should have gone when I said you would.”

His gaze went over her, and his face relaxed.

“He was already standing.”

Aria’s face fell as she realized what he meant by standing.

She was confused as to how this idiot could look at her and get up without even trying.

Aria carefully pushed herself out, trying not to offend him.

“Oh, Daddy, wait.”

A tiny hand pushed Caelius aside, and he watched with amusement as Aria acted.

“I didn’t come here for this.”

Caelius smiled as she stammered.

“Most people don’t plan s*x.”

“…….”

“It is simply the mood.”

The tone of his voice made her tense. He had a secretive tone. She turned to leave, sensing danger in his lingering look.

Caelius was not willing to let her go easily.

“The sun has changed, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Aria furrowed her brow. It should not be because they were father and daughter.

However, Caelius was openly disdainful of the problems that came with relationships.

“I’ve heard that you’ve been kept in a mansion without receiving a proper s*x education.”

Aria’s cheek was softly caressed in his hand.

“Did you ever get any s*x education?”

The mention of s*x education made Aria shiver.

“Yes, yes..?”

“That’s one of the basics of nobility.”

She stiffened in surprise. No, when was s*x education a required element of becoming a noble?

Aria pursed her lips, not knowing what to do. Caelius sneered at that.

“Never mind.”

He grabbed Aria and fell on top of her, causing her to let out a whimper.

Caelius buried his face in Aria’s neck. His black hair caught her attention.

“You’re tired.”

“…….”

“You’re Cold.”

Aria asked, perplexed.

“Cold?”

There was no reaction. The air in the room was still warm. Caelius’ body was also warm.

It was a little odd. He must be tired but why did he act like this, he lowered his charming face.

“Drip, drip, drip.”

He muttered, “Shiver.” Aria rolled her eyes at his tone, but she didn’t dare say anything.

To mask her annoyance, she patted him on the back. She sang a lullaby to put him to sleep.

“Lullaby, lullaby, it’s not my baby…… but Daddy…… lullaby, lullaby, good night…….”

Her voice trembled. She thought he told her to shudder instead of singing a lullaby.

Aria’s eyes widened. She wondered if she had made the right decision. Caelius remained silent and closed his eyes.