Dark Dad's Rebirth - Chapter 12. New Tools(2)

Chapter 12. New Tools (2)

* * *

She expected her steps to be heavy, but they felt surprisingly light as Aria pulled on a rough indoor cardigan and made her way to the dining room. Just before she reached it, she heard a chillingly familiar voice.

“There you are.”

It was a voice that never lost its familiarity, no matter how much time passed. Slowly, Aria looked up to see Caelius, as distant as ever, sitting next to an unfamiliar girl.

Her heart sank at the sight.

‘That seat…’

It was a seat she hadn’t taken since her regression, right next to Caelius. A place once reserved for the foolish. Aria chewed nervously on the soft flesh in her mouth.

The woman, about her age but slightly more mature and seductive, had unruly golden hair and eyes to match. Aria didn’t need to ask; she knew she was the new Princess of Wittelsbach.

Dizzy, Aria had prepared herself for this moment, but seeing them sitting together brought up emotions she couldn’t quite define. As Aria stood and stared at them, Caelius gestured arrogantly.

“Sit down.”

“I’m not feeling well, and I only came because you said you wanted to see me,” Aria managed to say calmly, even though her mouth felt like it wanted to close. Who did she think she was to stay calm in this situation? It was annoying.

Aria tightened her grip so tightly that her bones showed and tried to turn away casually.

“I’m not going to force you to eat, but sit down,” Caelius insisted, his voice firm. At his commanding tone, Aria bit her lip and looked at him.

“Why should I?” she said.

“Leria, who will take your place from now on? You should at least say hello to her,” Caelius remarked casually.

Aria couldn’t control her expression and let out a small laugh. It was clear what this meant—she would now accompany the new her in public.

Though younger than Aria, Leria’s br**sts and seductive eyes caught the attention of many men. Aria stared coldly at the woman at her father’s side.

Undaunted by Aria’s behavior, Leria smiled widely and greeted her, “Good to see you, sister!”

‘Sister? That’s not even funny. On a fake topic…’ Aria thought, twisting her mouth in annoyance. She felt a wave of unease, but the woman continued happily.

“I am Leria von Wittelsbach, your sister as of today,” she said innocently.

Aria couldn’t find an answer. The sight of Leria resembling her like a replica, made her feel sick to her stomach. She could hear her own heart pounding in her ears as she forced herself to take slow, deep breaths.

‘It’s okay; it’s for the best. She’ll be far away from her father soon, and when the day comes… When Leon Berja completely defeats him, she can leave. He won’t bother her anymore because he’ll have something new to do,’ Aria reasoned with herself.

Aria ignored Leria’s attempt to engage her. She turned her attention to Caelius.

“Now that you’ve seen me, can I go upstairs?” Aria asked. Aria was afraid she would snap and lash out in anger, but to her surprise, she remained calm. Aria turned away, trying to compose herself and feeling strangely collected. Then, without a word, Caelius suddenly grabbed her, his voice insistent.

“Lily.”

Aria didn’t resist. Instead, she closed the door to the large dining room behind her, leaving the seemingly united couple behind.

In the days that followed, Aria was hit with disturbing news. The arrival of a new Princess Wittelsbach, the supposed replacement for her. The old Princess Wittelsbach, Aria herself, was slowly fading from the public eye. It was easy for others to throw these changes in her face.

Feeling helpless, Aria stretched out on her bed and closed her eyes. She felt an unusual sense of tiredness and sadness. She tried to convince herself that this was a positive change, but it was difficult.

Too afraid to face Aria directly, Caelius had avoided seeking her out. Left alone in his room for days, Aria’s sense of time had become blurred. Even when she was lying still, the chandelier above her seemed to spin unpredictably.

“Why am I feeling so depressed?” Aria wondered aloud. She despised the feeling of uncertainty and longed to start anew, to cut out the painful parts of her life and begin afresh.

Still, Aria’s mind wandered through the broken and worn memories of the past. She knew she should stop thinking about them now and really let them go. But no matter how hard she tried, the ghost of the past, embodied by the Caelius she once knew, refused to loosen its hold on her.

She hesitated to lower her heavy eyelids. She heard a knock at the door.

“Princess, the Marquis of Berha, Youngsik, has an invitation for you,” the maid announced.

At the unexpected mention of the name, Aria struggled to her feet. “Come in,” she replied.

The maid entered, bearing a letter sealed with the Marquis of Berha’s crest. “The messenger asked me to tell you that the Marquis wishes you to attend the banquet,” she told Aria, her concern obvious.

Aria sighed at the thought of another banquet. She was tired of them, sick to her bones. She had no desire to attend another one.

‘But I have to go,’ Aria sighed resignedly.

“It’s from Leon Berha. Tell him I’ll be there,” she instructed the maid.

With those final words, Aria forced her eyes closed, wishing she could remain in that moment forever.

‘I’m exhausted,’ she whispered to herself.

Her stomach was churning, and she felt strangely hungry. It was a sensation similar to the wind blowing through her body—a loneliness she had grown accustomed to.

* * *

“Has His Highness been out with Lady Leria again today?”

“I believe so. I heard he even bought her a whole dress shop recently.”

“Oh my… then what about Princess Aria?”

“I don’t know. Maybe she’s like the stone that got stuck in the rolling stone.

The sound of chattering echoed down the hallway, interrupting Aria’s sleep once again. It had become a regular occurrence since Leria’s arrival. Caelius showered her with endless luxury, and Leria, draped over him, behaved as she always had.

Occasionally, Leria would send Aria invitations to tea, apparently to show Caelius’ affection for her. Aria found the act absurd and couldn’t help but think that Leria was delirious.

‘If you’re a tool, you should stay by your father’s side,’ Aria thought bitterly. She resented Caelius for being so gentle with Leria, despite his past promises to her. Though she hid it, she felt torn and sorry for herself.

She was the one who wanted to leave Caelius, yet she felt hurt seeing him embrace another woman as his daughter.

“Selfish,” Aria muttered, feeling a pang of guilt.

Her time spent indoors had made her already pale skin even paler. Aria clenched her hands in disappointment at her haggard appearance.

‘I am tired of this. I just want to move on,’ she thought, longing for release from her anxiety.

Concerned that Aria remained motionless in bed, her maid approached and spoke quietly.

“My Lady, the weather has been lovely lately, and the garden flowers are in full bloom.”

Aria remained silent, indicating her refusal. She was also afraid of encountering them if she left her room unnecessarily.

“I don’t like it.” Aria’s voice sounded grumpy, making the maid wince. Aria was already thin, but she seemed to be losing even more weight lately. She looked so thin that the maid wondered if she might collapse.

Covering her head with the blankets as if to block out any further conversation, Aria had requested that all the curtains be closed, leaving the room in darkness. Even though it was daylight, there was no sunlight coming through. Alone in the darkness, Aria could only blink at the familiar surroundings.

She could almost hear Leria’s lively voice from outside. The only sounds in the silent room were indistinct footsteps and the ticking of a clock.

Desperate to sleep, Aria forced herself to close her eyes and block out any noise. She hated herself for still dwelling on the past.

Aria thought and thought, but there was no answer to how things had ended up like this.