Dark Dad's Rebirth - Chapter 10. The Real Aria (5)

Chapter 10. The Real Aria (5)

* * *

From that day forward, Caelius sought out Aria whenever it snowed. Although his expression was vacant and he would often desire her body like a person under the influence of drugs, Aria was content.

At least in this way, it seemed he was relying on her.

She couldn’t suppress her feelings for him, but it didn’t deter him from wanting to be with her for an extended period.

She wanted to be with him for a long time, so she spread her legs for him anytime he wanted, but she didn’t show it.

Last winter, they spent so much of the day together that it was safe to say they shared a bedroom.

“Lily.”

My nickname’s low, bassy tone had become all too familiar by this point. When did his voice begin to take on a weird slowness that had always been present?

“Come here.” Caelius said.

One by one, a genuine expression began to appear on the face that had always been filled with lies. It was genuine, even if it wasn’t a positive emotion. Annoyed, bored, tired—all of them were expressions carefully concealed in front of others.

“You seem to be in a bad mood today.”

Aria caught a glimpse of him and came over to hug him like a dog. Then, as if to compliment her, Caelius grabbed her up and placed her on top of him.

The difference in their sizes made her fall into his arms. Aria was happiest when her whole body was enveloped by him. So she closed her eyes and let out a long, soothing breath.

Living with him, she had come to understand him better. Things like the real reason Caelius had brought her there and the ultimate goal he was trying to achieve. Aria looked at her golden hair as he stroked it. It was exhilarating, this time to feel Caelius’ touch completely.

“But Dad often strokes my hair because it’s… It’s blonde.”

That’s okay. If this doesn’t make him abandon her… then it’s okay.

 Caelius held her in his arms for a moment, then picked up his pen to get back to work. Aria blinked, staring at the tip of his pen moving in a square motion.

She wondered if he trusted her. Caelius could have just as easily held her in his arms and continued his work, just as he usually did. The dossier was filled with information that she would likely find excessive. Yet, he didn’t hide it anymore.

“Daddy, Daddy,” Aria said.

“……”

“I want to have black hair like you,” Aria added.

The tip of his fast-moving pen halted at her words.

“You’ve crossed the line.”

Aria knew she shouldn’t have uttered those words, but she did it anyway.

Just in case, just in case. Hoping her value wasn’t solely tied to being blonde with golden eyes. Hoping against hope.

And, as expected, her hopes were shattered, and his response was cold.

“……You’re talking nonsense,” said Caelius.

“But my dad is cool, right?” Aria responded.

Even as she spat out the words, Aria recognized that it was a close call. Right now, he was being generous with her, but if she took one step out of line, he’d call her on it without hesitation.

“You’re as handsome as the night sky, even sparkling in the moonlight,” Aria said.

“……”

Aria didn’t stop talking, even though she knew he didn’t like the way she had fallen apart in an instant.

“In Lily’s eyes, you’re the most handsome man in the world,” Aria said to him.

Caelius thought her gaze was demanding. The way she deliberately pressed herself against him and acted like a child, the teasing smile on her lips, and the desperation in her eyes for his affection.

If someone other than Aria had uttered those words, he might have silenced them. As he observed her through clenched jaws, Caelius had a peculiar suspicion: the words she spat out were foolish, yet strangely, they didn’t infuriate him.

Perhaps it was because there wasn’t a hint of falsehood in those eyes that stared blindly at him, so he playfully responded.

“Other women do, too,” Caelius said.

“What?” Aria responded.

“I’m not just the most handsome man in my daughter’s eyes,” Caelius added.

Aria didn’t grasp his meaning right away. She blinked like an idiot for a moment. Then, after a few more moments, she realized that Caelius was joking.

“Pooh…….”

She burst out laughing in a series of small chuckles. His half-moon eyes crinkled pleasantly, and he let out a series of purrs, purrs, purrs.

“Then, what’s about me?” Aria asked.

“……”

“Is Lily the most beautiful girl in the world, even in your eyes?”

It was a tongue-in-cheek question. He arched an eyebrow, wondering if she was trying to play a joke on him, and her golden eyelashes fluttered up and down as if to say yes. The way she looked at him was one of blatant anticipation.

“Well.”

Objectively speaking, Aria fell on the cute side of the spectrum, but she wasn’t remarkably beautiful. When he was still a crown prince, he had encountered women of what was considered folkloric beauty, and there was no way she would be the most beautiful thing in the world to Caelius, who had seen them all his life.

When he didn’t answer, the corners of her eyes drooped. It reminded her of a nobleman’s pet dog she’d seen on the street one day. The transparent reaction was endearing, so she deliberately remained silent. Then her tiny lips pouted out in a pout.

“Chi.”

He looked up from his papers and pondered for a moment, wondering if he should call her pretty or not. Suddenly, he realized he was spending his time in the wrong place. He chuckled at the absurdity of it all, contemplating whether he should tell her she was pretty or not.

“It’s okay, Dad, I’m popular even if I’m not pretty in your eyes,” Aria grumbled, her voice strangely grumpy.

“When we go out to the banquet, I’ll have a whole ballroom full of young men lining up to ask me to dance,” Aria said.

“Really?” Caelius responded.

“Yeah, that’s what happened at the Marquis of Araven’s party I went to last time,” Aria responded.

“Hmmm…….”

“The Marquis told me I was the prettiest of all the young ladies my age,” Aria added.

Caelius paused for a moment to recall the Marquis of Araven, then he remembered the scruffy-faced man. His eyes furrowed as he felt with his arms for Aria’s inner thigh.

Caelius asks, “So?”

“So, what?” Aria asks.

“So he s*cked your p*ssy?” Caelius inquires.

The suddenness of the question caused Aria’s cheeks to flush bright red. She’d never gotten used to such overt language, no matter how many times she’d shared a bed with him.

Aria responds, “No, that’s not true…….”

“Don’t you think it can’t be?” Aria added.

Aria hurriedly shook her head. It was a strong denial.

“If I did, my father would have gone all the way to the Marquis of Arraben to cut out my tongue.”

Aria’s heart skipped a beat at the chilling yet strangely possessive and exclusive tone of his words. She bit her lip in embarrassment and shook her head. Then Caelius whispered in her ear, his voice soothing.

“You’re beautiful.”

“……”

“You’re my daughter, so of course you’re pretty.”

Aria’s ears flushed red, even though she knew he didn’t mean it.

“But I didn’t realize my daughter was so popular,” Caelius added.

“……”

“That’s not very pleasant, I don’t make a habit of sharing what’s mine.”

Caelius stroked her with the puffed-up apron. Aria took in a breath, winced.

“Daughter, what did you say?”

Aria stammered, trying to evade Caelius’ stare. He shook his head at her, pleading with her to respond. She spoke in quiet tones after a long gap.

“Lily is…….”

“…….”

“Only for daddy’s c*ck…….”

Whenever he utters words like that, even when they’re complimentary, she wants to bite her tongue in shame. There’s a gleam of amusement in Caelius’ eye, as if he’s relishing her reaction.

“You only eat daddy’s c*ck…… and…….”

“And?”

“Oh, I’m gonna eat my daddy’s c*ck only, and nobody else”

Aria’s voice sounded more and more like an ant crawling, and Caelius couldn’t help but relish the pleasure of being in control of the relationship, akin to a snake before it turns and devours its prey. He held the upper hand in their relationship, possessing the leash that could drive her to despair at any moment, while she held nothing in her hands.

And yet, she was happy.

“Daddy.”

“…….”

“I love you.” 

“I love you too my daughter.”

Suddenly, he wasn’t lying when he told her he loved her too.

It was the first thing Caelius had ever done for Aria.

* * *

“Goshen.”

After leaving Caelius’ office, Aria spoke to Goshen with a different look on her face than before. Goshen stopped and nodded to show he heard her.

“What do you need?” Goshen asked.

“I want to talk to you about something,” Aria said.

“……”

“Is it about your dad?” Goshen asked.

Goshen felt embarrassed when Caelius was mentioned, but Aria ignored it. She signaled for him to follow her, and Goshen had to go along. It was strange to see her act differently now that Caelius wasn’t around. Goshen felt uneasy and realized she truly was Caelius’s daughter.

“Why does Dad hate snow?” Aria asked straightforwardly. Goshen looked uncomfortable with the unexpected question.

“Is it something you’re not allowed to talk about?” Aria inquired.

“It’s… Well, I think it’s better for you to hear it directly from your father,” Goshen responded cautiously.

“No, you tell me,” Aria insisted. She smirked, but it wasn’t the usual smile she showed when Caelius was around. “I’ll keep your secret. Just please tell me.”

Aria was in charge, and Goshen had no choice but to follow her command. After a moment of hesitation, Goshen finally spoke.

* * *

-“Your Majesty was only twelve years old when he first fought in the war.”

-“The battlefields were in the north, and I think he was affected by that.”

Aria walked towards Caelius with an unusually light step.

She tapped on his door, and upon entering, he stood up from his desk, completing his tasks.

“Dad, are you done with your work?”

“I was just wrapping it up,” Caelius replied.

Casually, he embraced Aria.

“Without taking a nap first?”

Aria calmed her racing heart, smiling shyly, her innocence radiating through her smile.

“I want to sleep with Daddy.”

She was truly ecstatic. She was so excited that she couldn’t sleep.

“He, like me, has experienced trauma.”

Aria still hated confined, dark spaces, owing to how she was raised in the Marquis’ attic.

But there was something about Caelius, who seemed to have nothing to fear and everything going for him.

Her heart leapt for excitement at the realization. She wasn’t afraid of him, of course, but she felt like the gap between her and him, which seemed so insurmountable no matter how hard she tried, had shrunk a little.

What he desired: The the throne

What he hated: The Snow.

What he likes: Someone useful.

Aria looked down, contemplating Caelius, and then nestled even more into his arms.

“Daddy,” Aria said.

“…” Caelius remained silent.

“You are my favorite daddy in the world,” Aria added.

Aria believed she could understand his shortcomings, though it was a baseless certainty. Somehow, she felt she could.

“You should make more effort to be more helpful,” Caelius responded.

She aimed to be a helpful daughter who could secure the throne for him, or more precisely, she desired to earn his unconditional love. She wanted to spend the rest of her life by his side, even if it meant being a father and daughter.

Aria never wanted to be the one left in the middle, so she purposely concealed her intelligence from the world. She crafted an image of a restrained and transformed figure, like a Cinderella overnight.

She intentionally stirred trouble within Wittelsbach’s camp to prevent opposition from the Emperor’s faction against Caelius. In her view, the emperorship should have rightfully belonged to him from the start.

It was a kind of unconditional love. Like a newborn bird that regards the first person it sees as its mother, Aria felt a similar attachment.