Dark Dad's Rebirth - Chapter 11. Staggered Times (2)
Chapter 11. Staggered Times (2)
* * *
Caelius thought, ‘What a mood,’ and clicked his tongue at the change in Aria’s behavior. She had longed for his affection one moment, and now she was setting boundaries to prevent him from taking advantage of her.
“What was wrong with her?” he pondered, unable to pinpoint the reason for her change.
After that day, Aria and Caelius eventually decided to sleep in separate bedrooms. Although Caelius had the power to insist on sharing a room, Caelius did not. Aria was curious to see how far this rebellious streak would go.
Life resumed its normal routine. Caelius rose early, working until evening, while Aria immersed herself in her room, studying history, social graces, and military tactics as she had done before. Yet, whereas her previous studies aimed to please him, now she pursues knowledge to be independent of him.
While much of the information was familiar to her, the combination of her past knowledge and what she had learned before her regression presented a fresh and practical perspective.
“Hah…” Aria sighed and dried her face. She tried to appear casual around Caelius, but a hint of nervousness remained.
The memory of the last day before her regression is brought back as vividly as if it had happened only a few days ago. She once believed that being by his side until her last breath would be enough, even if her feelings were not reciprocated. So, why does she feel so bitter now?
Fate seemed undeniably cruel.
“Why did I have such a deadly and cruel father?” she wondered. She struggled with the weight of her emotions.
Aria had many questions on her mind. She wanted to know if he had ever meant anything, taken any action against her, or felt guilty in his final moments. However, she hesitated to ask him these questions.
She knew that if she heard his cold responses, she might collapse under the burden she was carrying.
“I’m tired. I need a break,” Aria said wearily, falling onto the bed like a puppet with its strings cut, the lingering scent of Caelius’ body surrounding the soft blankets.
‘It can’t be.’ As she left the bedroom, which they had once shared, and entered an unfamiliar room, she muttered. It seemed as though she was seeking shelter in a place without the memories she shared with Caelius.
The scent of flowers entered the room through the slightly open window, reminding Aria of the rose garden Caelius had once created for her in the past.
She forced herself to sit up and promptly closed the window, hating the smell of the nostalgic flowers.
* * *
They had been avoiding each other for nearly three weeks.
Aria isolated herself in her room, and Caelius didn’t attempt to console or stop her, seemingly testing how long she would endure.
Aria appreciated his hands-off approach; not seeing him allowed her thoughts to clear a bit.
“Princess,” a maid knocked on the door.
When Aria responded, the maid cautiously opened the door.
“I’ve come to inform you that the rose garden is complete.” Aria’s three weeks of labor have concluded.
As the realization hit her, Aria’s mind momentarily went blank. Mesmerized, she opened the window and looked at the finished rose garden. However, the sight of the blue roses covering the entire garden caused her expression to fall.
Blue roses symbolize unattainable love and unwavering commitment. In the past, she believed her love to be miraculous.
“Come to think of it, you said you’d make me a rose garden out of thin air,” Aria murmured. That realization prompted her to swiftly turn away from the window and instruct the maid to close the blackout curtains. The maid, anticipating Aria’s joy at the surprise rose garden, found herself confused.
In all the years the maid had worked, she had never seen him make such a kind and generous gesture to any other girl.
“Princess, it is a gift from the king; why don’t you go downstairs and take a look?” the maid cautiously suggested after closing all the blackout curtains. Aria remained silent, chewing on her lip. Eventually, the maid met Aria’s lack of response and carefully exited the room.
Aria felt nauseous. She exclaimed, “Disgusting.”
False hearts, false love, false behavior—a man whose entire existence was a fake. The pure love that once illuminated Aria’s golden eyes has now changed into hatred. The emotion that used to flush her rosy cheeks had gone.
Aria looked up at the chandelier above her, dumbfounded. This feeling was summed up as numbness.
She didn’t want Caelius to be defeated by Azekrisis. She wanted to grant him the Biern he desperately sought and wished for him to sit on the throne as Emperor. She envisioned Caelius arrogantly seated on his golden throne.
But it wasn’t love.
Her gaze lowered, fixating on the watery ceiling. Aria closed her eyes, deep in thought.
Why did she want to make Caelius the emperor?
The answer crystallized in her mind: seeing him as Emperor would help her release the lingering bitterness in the depths of her thoughts.
Yes, it was as simple as that. She no longer wanted to harbor a love for Caelius.
* * *
Aria couldn’t understand why he had created the rose garden. In the past, he had only made them because he enjoyed them. However, this time, the reason was unclear.
Aria couldn’t resist any longer and decided to visit. The mansion’s gardens were in full bloom, filling the air with the scent of spring, an unusual sight in the Wittelsbach household. Aria furrowed her brow instinctively.
After standing in the garden for an indeterminate amount of time, Aria muttered, ‘So much for rebellion.’ Eventually, a familiar voice spoke from behind her. Aria recognized the voice without turning around.
“You’ve been gone longer than I thought,” the voice said. It remained unchanged over the years.
‘I didn’t want to run into you,’ Aria thought to herself, her unwillingness obvious.
Aria tightened her hands and tried to walk away, pretending not to notice, but Caelius grabbed her hand.
“I am talking to you; at least answer me.”
“I don’t have anything to say,” Aria responded, struggling to free her wrist and brushing his hand away.
“You never considered me your daughter,” she said, the words stinging.
“Don’t be so cruel as to call me your daughter.”
“Then tell me when I should.?”
“In bed?”
“You piece of sh*t,” Aria replied in frustration.
Caelius was surprised by the unexpectedly bitter statement. But he didn’t seem to be offended.
Caelius replied in frustration, “And I thought you were in love with such a bastard.
Aria wondered about Caelius’ sudden mood swings. Aria felt a tingling sensation in Caelius’ grip. He sensed her discomfort and gently released her hand. Then he leaned in close and wrapped his arms around her waist instead of letting go completely.
“Tell me what made you sick.”
“I’m not sick.”
“Then you’re having a rebellious moment,” he said uncharacteristically, refusing to let her go.
“I just don’t like you anymore.”
“Why?” Caelius persisted. “You said you’d help me take the throne.” Aria’s eyes widened.
“I’ll do whatever you want,” Aria said. Caelius’s expression soured.
“If you had done what you were supposed to do, I would have strangled the life out of my cowardly daughter.”
“Oh! Please do that.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Caelius wrinkled his brow to a breaking point.
Aria nervously said, “I don’t know what’s wrong with you either.” She observed Caelius, who showed no signs of letting her go.
“Oh, is it because I didn’t sleep with you?” Aria added.
“What?”
Aria said, “It’s been a long time since you’ve seen me, and you’ve been too busy jerking off.”
After a while, Caelius spoke furiously. Aria sensed no doubt in his voice.
“Don’t cross the line,” he warned Aria with fierce red eyes. “I have my limits.”
Aria remained silent in response to the anger in his eyes. She shrugged off Caelius’s arm around her waist and turned to escape.
* * *
“Princess, you have an invitation to a dinner banquet from the Marquis of Berha.”
“Ohh”
Aria was surprised by the unexpected invitation from the Marquis of Berha and accepted the small letter handed to her by the maid. Leon Berha was the sender, as stated in the message. It seemed he wanted to host a small gathering with his closest friends in anticipation of his succession to the throne.
However, Aria was not one of Leon’s close friends. Usually, such events were only reserved for friends who had a comfortable relationship, which left Aria confused.
She wondered, ‘Was I close enough to him to be invited to something like this?’
Berha made a one-sided request, inviting Aria. Aria would have declined the invitation without hesitation. Aria thought about the invitation before responding.
“Do you know who sent that assassin?”
“Leon Berja.”
As expected, the day’s events concluded awkwardly at the hands of the Emperor’s faction, and the true culprit was not revealed.
‘Dad doesn’t lie about simple things like this.’
She wondered why Berha Youngsik would send an assassin and if he had intended to betray her from the beginning. Her mind was spinning, but she had no one to discuss it with. If she showed this to Caelius, he would advise her not to go, not knowing what had happened before the regression.
‘I should go to find out what they’re up to.’
Aria grabbed a quill and quickly wrote an affirmative response. Leon Berha was an impressive player, and he was worth watching closely.