Chapter 6. Swamp (2)

* * *

Upon opening her eyes, she found herself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling. It was then that she realized she was in Caelius’ room, not her own.

“Huh.”

Aria was startled and tried to sit up, but someone grabbed her hand.

“Are you awake?”

Caelius looked as if he had just woken up, his face slightly relaxed.

“Oh, Dad……?”

“Yes, daughter.”

 He smiled brightly at her, wrapping his hand around her waist and pressing his kisses to the back of her neck.

Her body stiffened due to the unexpected action.

Aria smiled innocently and gently pushed him away, not wanting to offend him.

“I’m sorry, I must have fallen asleep.”

“That’s okay, it could be.”

“Oh, and did you… sleep well?”

“Yeah.”

She sounded completely terrified. Caelius laughed a little, insignificant laugh when he saw her.

“I didn’t touch you.”

“…….”

“So relax.”

Would you want to relax?

Aria coughed, trying to hide her emotions. Caelius smoothed her tangled hair, fixing it.

“Daughter.”

“Yes, Dad.”

If you want to live a long life, do something nice on the side like you’re doing now.”

While lightly pinching Aria’s cheek, he said this. Aria couldn’t help but ask, looking up at him apologetically.

“Was that pretty?”

Caelius broke out laughing after a perplexed look.

“My daughter is really…”

He hugged Aria tightly and laughed.

She has an unnecessarily cute side.

Doesn’t she play the fool to live long? Doesn’t she take away the lovingly prepared champagne?

The options were not great, but it was entertaining to watch her fumble. Watching the underdog fight to survive was also entertaining.

Aria was perplexed as she looked at him. She had never seen Caelius laugh like that before. She muttered softly.

“I’ve never seen you smile like that before.”

She had always seen people fake their laughter and smiles, but with him, it was different. He made her laugh with genuine emotion. She couldn’t recall ever seeing anything like this, not even in fiction.

“Maybe he’s opening up to me a little bit……?”

She wondered, shaking her head slightly.

“But there was no reason to open it at all……?”

Aria looked at Caelius. He still had a smile on his face that looked genuinely amusing.

“I don’t know; I guess a good thing is a good thing.”

Aria slid deeper into Caelius’s embrace. She was unaware that his gaze had shifted from viewing her as a ‘tool of treason’ to that of a ‘rabbit trying to survive in a tiger’s den.’

* * *

Caelius came to visit Aria without even attempting after that day.

“Daughter, are you busy?”

Just like now.

“Oh, no! I’m not busy…….”

Aria replied coldly, and Caelius smiled as if she’d done a good job.

Aria caught his interest by referring to herself as ‘Lily’ in a friendly way. She continued to call herself Lily whenever she could, under his watchful eye. This was a secret way to show that he liked it, and she was happy.

Today, Caelius was unmistakably different from the Caelius she met when she arrived at the mansion.

He used to act as if he wore a tightly knit mask, but now it was removed. He laughed a little more and mocked Aria a little louder. The shift was drastic.

Is it because she was drinking champagne at the time?

There was only one logical explanation for Caelius’ unexpected weight gain. Aria decided to go along and do what he asked, even though she was suspicious. Whatever it was, it didn’t seem like a bad thing.

“The palace is hosting a small banquet next week for a few high-ranking nobles and foreign envoys.”

“Is this another banquet?”

Aria tilted her head, feeling a bit rash since there had been a New Year’s banquet recently.

“Yes. Usually, at this time of year, we have one more banquet for the envoys from the warmer countries. It’s nothing special, just a different crowd.”

Caelius was quite kind, filling her in on the details.

“There has been some unpleasant activity recently. You may skip it if you wish. If you go, I will go. If you do not go, I will not go.”

He showed no reaction and pretended to sympathize with Aria, even though he was the one who started the unpleasant incident.

“Um…….”

Aria looked troubled, and Caelius put a hand on her shoulder.

“You can take your time and decide.”

“Okay, then I’ll think about it for a bit and… tell you.”

“Okay, or you can ask Aeryn.”

Aria cocked her head at the sudden mention of Aeryn’s name.

“I haven’t seen her since you came to the mansion, and if you attend the banquet, maybe Aeryn will be there if I say to her you’re attending the banquet.”

He sounded concerned that he hadn’t seen her since I came to the mansion.

“Yes, I see. I’ll ask my mother then.”

“Yes, dear.”

After finishing, he remained seated and stared at Aria, as if expecting something. Understanding his gaze, Aria spoke up with a determined expression.

“Lily.”

Caelius called out Aria’s nickname, but she was not responding. He spoke in a muffled voice. Eventually, Aria sighed in frustration and said the words that Caelius wanted to hear.

“Thank you for caring.”

“…….”

“You’re still my favorite dad.”

Aria said, the corners of her mouth turning up in amusement.

“You do this all the time, so I’m used to it by now.”

Caelius found her adorable when she bashfully laughed, with her slightly crinkled round eyes and the way she smiled, and when she laughed, Caelius laughed in return.

“Yeah, you’d better stick to that.”

He left a comment that was surprisingly meaningful and got up from his chair.

Aria watched his back as he left the room, and then, without anyone noticing, she raised her middle finger.

“Son of a bitch.”

* * *

“You seem to be spending a lot more time with the princess lately.”

While Goshen asked, Caelius, still holding the drug in his mouth, tossed it into the ashtray.

“That’s funny.”

“…….”

“Watching a small rat bend over backward to save you.”

He laughed as if he found it amusing.

“So you’ve decided to keep her alive?”

“Well…….”

He blinked his eyes and turned over a few papers.

“You see?”

While reading, Caelius thought of Aria. He remembered her waist-length blonde hair, her eyes sparkling like golden jewels, and the facial features that marked her as one of the most beautiful girls in her age group. Caelius couldn’t help but curl the corners of his mouth into a disdainful smile..

He wondered, in a moment of survival and a sudden desire to grab Aria by the throat, what expression he would wear when he did. He mused that she promised to provide an entertaining diversion for a while.

* * *

Aria immediately wrote a letter to Aeryn, as Caelius suggested. It was brief, asking if Aeryn would be attending the forthcoming banquet and expressing a desire to meet with her. Aria purposefully avoided mentioning marriage overseas to avoid attracting Caelius’ interest.

Aeryn responded quickly, prompting Aria to quietly retrieve the letter when no one was looking. Aeryn stated that she would not attend the banquet and expressed a general feeling of withdrawal from social contact as well.

The letter expressed Aeryn’s understandable point of view, as she had been unmarried since her divorce from Caelius and had missed the ideal time for a second marriage. She faced societal scorn at the age of 35 for not having married by that point in her life.

Aria believed that entering society would subject her to criticism and mockery, which she found undesirable. She reflected that it was regrettable but unavoidable.

The letter’s final sentence, cleverly placed in small print, offered a mysterious message: “[P.S. I’ll tell your story to a nice foreign nobleman].” Aria quickly deduced that this was a disguised reference to a scenario involving a foreign marriage.

* * *

“Daughter, would you like to take a walk?” From that point onward, Caelius would frequently initiate friendly interactions with Aria, eliminating the need for her to take the first step. It seemed as though he was acting on a whim.

“I’m not afraid of you,” he said. “Even though you look like a mouse,” she even fed him with a smile.

“I didn’t attempt…”

“Well, then, is it a burden?”

“Oh, no, Dad, it’s not like that…!”

“Did you just start screaming?”

“Oh, no, it’s not like that. Lily wouldn’t do that to Daddy.”

Caelius smiled mischievously and asked, “Isn’t that right, daughter?” His smile was distinct, noticeably lighter, and more genuine.

“Honest?” Caelius playfully pressed the top of Aria’s head, a head shorter than his own.

“Don’t press me. I’m not that tall,” Aria grumbled, pushing him away. He then focused on Adama’s ring on her hand, still in its silver state.

“Daughter, the ring…”

“Yes, Dad?” Aria’s body visibly stiffened at the mention of the ring.

Luckily, he kept his thoughts to himself and simply played with the ring as he gently placed it on her finger.

“I don’t mind acknowledging that my daughter no longer possesses imperial power, but…”

He leaned down to meet her at eye level and asked, “Do you know Azekrisis?”

The words he spoke carried a distinct tone of threat and warning, a departure from the pleading look in his eyes.

The message was a warning not to disclose the loss of her imperial power. Aria felt nervous and locked gazes with him.

He cryptically encouraged her, saying, “You’re clever, so I’m sure you’ll handle this.”

He smiled and let out an annoying laugh that sent shivers down Aria’s spine. Without a second thought, she pulled the ring from her finger and tried to return it to him. However, he just stared at it, refusing to take it back.

After a brief moment of hesitation caused by his look, Aria broke the silence.

“Can I keep it?”

“You still have your blonde hair and golden eyes, so perhaps… you can regain your powers?”
Caelius said, softly stroking Aria’s hair. Despite his apparent friendliness in expression, a cold air surrounded him.

Aria clenched her hand tightly and slid the Adamas ring deep into her fingers. Time seemed to stretch out in that intense moment.

A soothing voice called out to her from the silence. She looked up and was surprised to see Caelius’s confused face.

“Do you want to stay with me for a long time?” the question slipped out unintentionally. Aria remained silent, unwilling to respond immediately.

“Will you be my regular companion?” His black eyes pierced into hers, creating an intense stare that hung in the air.

Aria’s face held a forced smile, hiding any inner turmoil. “Yes, I’m going to live a long life with you.”

Caelius can overcome any challenge as long as they avoid committing treason. Treason is the core issue, specifically failed treason and the impending threat of the guillotine.

Caelius gently touched Aria’s cheek. His eyes showed affection as if he were looking at something precious.

He said, “You better keep your word,” adding a touch of seriousness to the moment.

* * *

“Princess, how are you feeling?”

“Oh my, what happened at the last New Year’s Banquet scared me so much… I couldn’t even get a good night’s sleep because I was worried about you.” However, at this banquet, her peers approached her with gentle words.

At the last banquet, Caelius mourned Aria’s fall, and he was initially mistaken for Princess Wittelsbach. However, despite expectations, Caelius defied them and showed that he cherished Aria deeply. Caelius was easily recognizable as himself, unlike a toothless tiger. Aria’s position in the world had changed.

Aria glanced at Caelius, hoping for help in this unusual situation, but he seemed busy, absorbed in receiving greetings from other nobles.

Because it was New Year’s Eve, the nobles were focused on making a good impression by exchanging greetings with Caelius. Aria, feeling frustrated, made her way through the obligatory greetings and engaged in small talk with the nobles.

Aria attended the gathering because of a note in her mom’s letter. She searched for the “nice foreign nobleman” mentioned in the letter, rolling her eyes in the crowd.

However, no noble approached to greet her despite the passing time. Growing weary of waiting, Aria went back to the terrace, seeking a brief moment of peace and solitude.

A stranger’s voice came from beyond the terrace curtains.

“Princess Aria von Wittelsbach.”

His Imperial accent was slightly stilted, suggesting that he was not of Imperial origin, even though he was only uttering her name.

“I’ve heard much about you, Her Royal Highness.”

The curtain parted, revealing a man with dark skin and dark brown hair—undoubtedly a foreigner. His distinctive features and unfamiliar attire marked him as distinctly non-imperial.

“A foreigner…!” Aria gasped.

The man confidently stepped onto the terrace, drawing the curtains closed behind him. He knelt in front of Aria and executed a respectful bow.

“I am Marquis Eben Amerin of Repta.”

Even without speaking to each other, Aria could tell that the foreign nobleman Eben was referring to was Iza.

The man appeared younger and more handsome than she expected. She had initially wondered if he might be an aging Midget, but he proved to be far from it.

“Wow, Eben Amerin, you’re quite charming,” Aria expressed, a bit surprised.

Although initially surprised, she warmly responded to his greeting while rolling her eyes. ” It’s a pleasure to meet you; I’m Princess Aria von Wittelsbach.”

“Yes, I’m familiar with you,” he said with a smile. “Lord Lestrange informed me about your situation.” There was a brief pause.

“I wanted to ask the Princess to dance, but the Archduke’s presence made it difficult. Please forgive me for greeting you instead..”

Eben smiled, casually positioning himself beside Aria. He looked at her with a blank expression, captivated, and engaged in conversation.

As Eben had mentioned, he seemed to be a respectable man, fitting the image of Repta’s high nobility.

‘A Marquis of Repta should be plenty…’

Caelius would never dare to interfere with him.

However, it occurred to her that if Caelius chose war, Repta could be destroyed in an instant. Even without the assistance of the Adama’s Ring, he was currently the Empire’s solitary Sword Master.

However, he had no reason for initiating a war. Decimating a nation for personal motives would draw international scrutiny from other continents, putting him at a diplomatic disadvantage. Unless, of course, he aimed to unify the entire continent.

Aria reflected that it seemed unbelievable.

She wondered if she could marry this man with her mother’s help without getting involved in treason.

Suddenly, Caelius’ words flashed into her mind.

Caelius remarked, [If you plan to marry someone from another country and want to avoid a terrible fate before crossing the border, stay close to me and don’t believe that nonsense.]

The mere thought of it sent shivers down Aria’s arms, prompting an involuntary eye roll.

[It appears like my daughter intends to stay with me for a long period.]

[You’d better stick my hand for that.]

She couldn’t figure out why that conversation came back in her head. Eben gently offered Aria a handkerchief as she began to break out in cold sweat. She glanced at it shyly before regaining her composure.

“Alright, just as a precaution. I’m just trying to keep the conversation light.”

The two were joking around.

Eben refrained from using Aria’s situation to force her into marriage. He even went so far as to offer her assistance in “escape” to Repta without any commitment to marry him. He even proposed phoning Repta’s royal guards for extra security if she felt apprehensive.

Despite Eben’s kind offers, Aria found herself unable to respond, and the reason escaped her. A strange sensation lingered as if a voice within her warned her not to leave Caelius behind.

“Strange… compared to the last time,” she reflected. Though logic told her to forsake Caelius and take the safer route, an internal conflict remained, a sense that her other self begged her not to abandon him.

Aria tightened her hand, trying to recover control of her crazy mind. She began by going over Eben’s suggestions but soon realized something.

“Why would this man want to help me?” especially after hearing my mother’s story. Even if he is the Marquis of Repta, she can’t imagine any positive outcome from turning her back on Caelius… There’s something strange about this entire situation.”

“Marquess Thorne,” Aria cautiously addressed him. The Marquis responded with a smile, saying, “Yes, my lady.”

“And why are you trying to help me?” Aria inquired, prompting Eben’s eyes to widen at the unexpected question.

“If you intend to help me, it seems like you might end up causing more harm than good… I don’t understand,” Aria expressed with a perplexed tone.

Eben looked at Aria with a blank expression, then offered an odd smile. “Well, I’m not entirely sure what I’d gain from it either,” he admitted.

Aria’s brow wrinkled at the evasive statement, realizing that he was hiding something. There was a strange atmosphere in the air between them. Eben was the first to break the silence after a lengthy wait.

He said, “I think the princess has no intention of leaving.”

Aria was confused by his remark because she had not mentioned leaving. He said, “Your expression… your expression doesn’t look like someone who would leave.”

“……?”

“No, you don’t look like someone who wants to leave in the first place,” Aria said with skepticism, and Eben reacted with a laugh.

My friend knows you, but she hasn’t heard from you in a while.” Aria immediately thought of Aeryn when he mentioned her friend.

“Are you close with my mom…?” she inquired, raising an eyebrow. In response, Eben smirked.

“I was hoping for something funny,” Eben said. His statement left Aria puzzled.

“May I be allowed to be grumpy, Princess?” questioned the young man.

“Marquis, I don’t understand what you were saying earlier,” Aria said to him. Instead of clarifying, Eben responded with a wry smile and a shrug of his shoulders.

“It was a pleasure to meet you,” he murmured, leaving Aria in thoughtful stillness.

“If you ever need my help in the future, I’d be happy to help you,” Eben offered before adding, “So don’t hold it against me.” The remainder of what Eben said was unintelligible as he walked off the terrace.

He left Aria with the impression that he was indeed a strange man.

* * *

“Carl,” Aria called out using the nickname. Caelius turned, furrowing his brow, as Eben smiled and waved upon drawing the terrace curtains.

“Your daughter is the complete opposite of you,” Eben remarked.

Caelius remained silent but lit a psychedelic in his mouth. A thick cloud of smoke emerged before he turned to Eben, appearing serious, as if contemplating something he wanted to ask.

“Did you say you were going to marry… right away?” Caelius’ tone was sarcastic. Eben said immediately, “Yes.”

Caelius came to a stop in the middle of breathing the hallucinogen, his attention drawn. “She said she’d get me out of the mansion this weekend,” Caelius replied, a strange expression on his face. With his brow furrowed, he took another sip of the hallucinogen, almost as if anticipating this revelation, before slumping helplessly onto the outdoor couch.

“[Lily is going to live a long time with Daddy],” he heard her voice suddenly, empty of emotion. “Tsk.”

Clever.

Caelius was fierce, though. He closed his eyes, as if he had not been expecting it.

Somehow, she didn’t like it. It wasn’t just that he was leaving me.

He looked at her as if he knew she would fail, and that bothered her.

“What are you going to do?” whispered Eben, but Caelius remained silent. The hallucinogens were causing his head to throb.

“I’m going to kill her……” A cold sweat broke out on his brow, and blood began to drain from his body. Eben went to his aid, sensing something was awry.

“Carl, are you okay?” he asked, grimacing and breathing raggedly.

“Where did you put your pills?”

Eben asked, searching through his robes, but he couldn’t find his usual vial. His vision became blurry as a familiar voice whispered in his ear.

*”Dad, you know what, when you become the Emperor, will I become the Empress?”

*”I like you best, I do. There’s no one cooler than you.”

*”The Emperor should have been Dad from the beginning. The Emperor was stupid and incompetent. A pathetic man.”

*”I’ll make Dad the emperor.”

*”Dad, I love you.”

His head throbbed, and he felt like he was going to vomit. A voice, which was both familiar and unfamiliar, entered his mind with excruciating pain.

“Hehe…….”

‘I am sure that Aria and I have had this conversation before, but I cannot remember when. It is too vivid to be a memory.”
“I’m sure we’ve had this conversation before, but when was it…?”

*”Dad, I love you too.”

*”Really?”

*”Yes.”

There was an unintelligible beeping sound, and then silence. The throbbing headache that was threatening to consume him just moments ago was gone.

“Aaahhh…….”

He waited while his mind cleared, popping the psychedelic into his mouth, the bittersweet flavor rushing through his blood.

He took a couple more rapid sips, enjoying the fuzzy sensation. Caelius’ body was warmed by excitement, even though he wasn’t any better at it than he was at ringing people.

“How long are you going to do that?” Eben asked, his brow wrinkling. Caelius didn’t answer.

“Carl.”

“…….”

“Seek stimulation elsewhere.”

Caelius arched an eyebrow at the term ‘elsewhere.’

“Elsewhere where?”

“Something healthier, like horseback riding or swordsmanship…….”

It seemed ridiculous. A snort of laughter escaped Caelius’ lips.

“I never thought I’d hear my best friend talk like a bunch of quack doctors.”

Eben, who knew better than anybody why he lived with hallucinogens in his mouth, spat out a few embarrassed giggles when Caelius told him.

Caelius had not forgotten them. The intense thrill and stress of World War I. It had all begun with horror. But then it changed into something else, a state of tremendous euphoria that no normal person could experience.

Twelve years old. A child, barely into adolescence, Caelius had slashed and killed hundreds of people in a half-hearted attempt to stay alive.

Initially, guilt and self-loathing overpowered him. But there was no time to ponder those thoughts. Nothing awaited him on the battlefield. He needed to attack without pausing to ponder.

As he swung his sword more and more, he became numb to his remorse and self-hatred. Only exhilaration is left in the blood-red snow. It was the kind of exhilaration that eluded regular life, the kind that made you wonder when he’d be a part of it. It didn’t matter if the exhilaration was negative or positive.

Caelius would never forget the euphoria that numbed his reasoning and caused him to lose control of his emotions.

A feeling that could only be felt amid a bloodbath and screams. Once tasted, it never allowed him to return to his usual life positively.

The clash of swords, the screams of the injured, the ripped bodies, the red blood and gore everywhere.

It was difficult for a 12-year-old child to be sane in an environment where even adults struggled to stay sane.

Caelius felt more disappointed than relieved after the first combat. He was surprised that he could no longer experience the dizzying sensation of blood racing through his veins and nerves like craziness.

As a result, he sought out stimulating activities.

He began drinking, smoking, and having s*x at a younger age than most.

They were, of course, worse than war.

He eventually returned to the battle after a little period of roaming. It was the most thrilling location he had ever been, and he had no idea when he would die.

Caelius drew a strange smile as he watched the hallucinogens burn away.

“How about we have s*x with my daughter.”

“what are you crazy?”

“I think that might be a little too stimulating…….”

Eben’s face crumpled with embarrassment.

“I’d rather you stick to hallucinogens.”

“I knew you’d say that.”

It was a little off-putting, though, that he’d made such a cold offer to marry her.

Caelius gave his typical phony smile. He then got to his feet.

“I’ll give you what you asked for, with the best of the best.”

“The compensation is small for being such a sleepy little bitch.”

* * *

As he searched for Aria in the spacious ballroom, Caelius recalled the contents of the letter—or, more accurately, the letter he had written pretending to be Aeryn.

Blond hair and golden eyes, the symbols of royalty, made her easy to find. She blended right in with the other youngsters. Caelius strode up to her with a flourish.

She was mingling with her peers. Caelius strode briskly over to her, and the youngsters who had been gossiping and giggling around him bowed in greeting.

“I, Caelius von Wittelsbach, Sword of the Empire, greet you,” Caelius proclaimed. His expression briefly hardened.

“Greetings, Your Highness Caelius von Biern, the Little Sun of the Empire,” the reply went on to say. He clenched his hands, remembering the days before his dismissal.

Wittelsbach is revolting. Wittelsbach is revolting. He’s nothing but an imperial sword.

The sound of teeth grinding was too low for anybody to hear, but Caelius instantly smiled. “My daughter seems to have made a lot of friends.”

Aria’s waist was encircled by a wicked hand. She stiffened and shivered.

“Oh, where have you been, Dad?”

“Just, uh, getting some air.”

Caelius removed his robe and put it over Aria after noticing her n*ked shoulders. Some of the kids snickered and gave him envious looks.

“Shall we go?”

The man who was formerly referred to as a warrior. And now he’s doing this with kindness to his daughter.

How interesting.

Maybe in a few days, a parenting novel involving him and Aria will be released in the capital.

Aria went into the carriage with his escort, but Caelius was acting strangely today. They didn’t say anything the entire way back to the mansion. The air was suffocating.

The weird vibe continued as they arrived at the mansion. The main lobby was deserted as if it had been ordered that way.

Aria’s eyes widened in confusion.

“Daughter.”

“You’re ……?”

“Can I talk to you for a minute?”

He gave her a friendly smile and showed for her to follow him. An unidentified touch warned her as she caught eyes with him.

Caelius should not be followed.

“I’m a little tired…….”

Despite his protests of exhaustion, he merely smiled and gazed at Aria.

It was an indirect request to follow him.

Aria had no choice but to follow him in the end.