Dark Dad's Rebirth - Chapter 12. New Tools(3)
Chapter 12. New Tools (3)
* * *
She struggled into the dress and slipped on the high heels. The maid couldn’t help but sigh at the sight of how much weight Aria had lost, causing the dress to hang loosely around her body. Nevertheless, Aria completed her makeover and ventured out of the house for the first time in a long time to visit the Marquise de Berha.
With a glimmer of hope that being around people might improve her mood, she cautiously walked down to the lobby of the mansion, where the carriage was waiting.
“Daddy, I’d love to have tea in the rose garden! Are you in a hurry, or do you have work to attend to after lunch?” a gravelly voice called out from behind her.
Aria didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
‘Leria,’ she muttered under her breath. The similarity of the name to her own felt deliberate. Furthermore, the rose garden had been a gift from Caelius to her.
Ignoring the situation, Aria headed towards the carriage, determined to leave.
“I’ll see if I can arrange something for my daughter. It may take a while, and I’ll have them prepare some refreshments.” Caelius’ sweet voice reached her ears, causing her cheeks to blush. Without the help of the knight escorting her, she would have stumbled embarrassingly as she entered the carriage.
The banquet was unbearable even before its start.
* * *
“Princess……!”
The carriage door opened, and Leon Berha greeted Aria, slightly out of breath. Her flushed cheeks indicated the amount of alcohol she had just consumed.
“I apologize for being late,” Aria said.
“I thought you weren’t coming,” Leon replied.
“Of course not. It would have been rude of me not to show up without informing you,” Aria replied with a hollow joke. Leon laughed softly and escorted her away.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that,” Leon quickly added.
“I’m just running late,” she explained.
In truth, she was on the verge of tears, but she managed to pull herself together before Leon could notice. She didn’t want to appear weak, especially in front of him.
“It’s windy. Let me take you inside,” Leon offered.
“Thank you. Oh, I should call you Marquis now,” Aria said.
“Marquis? No, that’s not appropriate. I haven’t fully inherited the title yet,” Leon replied shyly, scratching the back of his head.
The Marquis’ ballroom was already crowded with nobles, a sharp contrast to the smaller gatherings they had attended in the past.
“If you’re tired, we’ve prepared a restroom,” Leon informed her, leading the way to a quiet guest room.
“I understand you must be going through a lot, and I am afraid I may have invited you here for the wrong reasons,” he added sympathetically.
It was clear what he meant. Aria was sure that rumors and gossip about the new Princess of Wittelsbach and herself were already circulating in social circles.
Aria remained silent, her lips tightly sealed, until Leon, who was standing next to her, looked at her nervously.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
Aria’s carefully maintained calm began to crumble once again. She furrowed her brow.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have spoken out,” Leon muttered.
“No, it’s alright,” Aria responded gently.
Aria struggled to speak, her voice breaking as if she were holding back tears. She wished she had stayed silent the whole time. Leon smiled bitterly and spoke.
Hoping to lighten Aria’s gloomy mood, he suggested, “Would you like to tour my mansion?”
Aria shook her head slightly in response.
* * *
After touring the mansion with Leon, Aria felt slightly uplifted. In the ballroom, they shared a brief dance and sipped champagne in a private corner.
“I hope you enjoy this banquet, Princess, but I’m afraid you won’t be satisfied,” Leon remarked.
Aria responded with a weak laugh. “It’s pleasant enough,” she lied, forcing a smile despite the darkness that remained in her expression. Leon poured himself another glass of champagne, his disapproval evident as he watched her.
As they mixed with the noisy crowd, Aria found comfort in his presence, though she couldn’t tell how much time passed as they sipped their champagne in silence.
“Leon, the boys are all here; let’s play chess for a while.” A young man casually approached Leon.
At first, hesitant to leave Aria alone, Leon looked at her for confirmation. Aria gestured that she was fine and urged him to leave. Still, Leon hesitated, reluctant to leave.
“I’m fine; you can go,” Aria assured him.
“No. How could I leave you?” Leon responded, his lips pursed with concern.
“Why don’t you come and play chess with me, Princess?”
Aria’s eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly agreed, hoping a game of chess would help ease her troubled mind.
“Okay, I’d love to play. Thanks,” she replied, grateful for the change of pace.
* * *
Having something to focus on, like chess, proved to be a welcome distraction. Aria became so absorbed in the game that she lost track of time, and thoughts of Caelius and Leria faded into the back of her mind.
“Isn’t it difficult?” Leon asked.
“It is, but it’s worth it,” Aria replied, adjusting her chess pieces. Leon, who had taught her the game, smiled slightly as he put a white object into his mouth. It looked too familiar to be a cigarette.
Aria’s eyes widened in recognition as she realized it was a hallucinogen, similar to the ones Caelius used to take. As Leon lit it, Aria felt a wave of discomfort.
“I apologize, Princess. It’s just a habit,” Leon said sheepishly, noticing Aria’s reaction.
Feeling insulted, Aria reached for the light to turn it off, but Leon stopped her.
“No, you don’t have to turn it off,” he said firmly, surprising Aria with his disapproval.
Caught off guard, Aria paused, trying to collect her thoughts. Then, to everyone’s surprise, she made a shocking request.
“Do you think I could have one instead?”
Leon was surprised at Aria’s words.
“Princess, what is…?” he began, but interrupted himself, realizing the seriousness of her request.
“That’s a hallucinogenic drug. It’s illegal, not permitted in this country, and I must firmly decline,” he declared firmly.
She wasn’t bothered. Since Caelius used it all the time, Aria was well aware of it.
“I know,” she responded calmly.
Leon was about to ask why she wanted it, but he stopped himself in mid-sentence, stunned into silence. A wry smile played on Aria’s lips.
“Why? Did you think I didn’t know?” she retorted.
It was an impulsive request, but Aria saw no reason why she couldn’t try psychedelics. Lately, every time she closed her eyes, she wished she wouldn’t wake up. She longed for an end to the torment of the past year with Caelius—the betrayal, the whole torture. She wished she could just disappear, tired of enduring such a miserable life.
It was a natural thought. A brief curiosity crossed her mind, wondering if it might provide some relief. After all, Caelius had relied on drugs to maintain his mind in the past, so there was a part of her that believed it could work wonders.
“Princess.”
Aria’s thoughts were interrupted by Leon’s stern voice, bringing her back to reality. He looked at her gravely, his eyes piercing.
“You shouldn’t,” he said firmly.
Aria fell silent, absorbing his words. Leon continued, his tone serious.
“Anything else works, except hallucinogens.”
“Leon,” Aria interjected, cutting him off, her gaze intense. Leon bit his lip and averted his eyes.
“Anything else?” she pressed, but Leon remained silent. A tense atmosphere settled in the room, with everyone watching the conversation closely.
Feeling the weight of the moment, Aria posed a question, her voice tinged with bitterness.
“Should we just give up and die?”
Leon hesitated, his confusion evident as he tried to make sense of Aria’s words. He seemed lost, unable to answer her question.
Aria smiled knowingly at Leon’s confused expression. Determined, she stood up and reached for the hallucinogen in Leon’s hand across from her.
‘The only thing that bothers me is Leon Berha’s betrayal,’ Aria thought, her voice tinged with longing. “Without him, my father’s betrayal would be much easier to bear. If only I were capable enough to take care of him,” she added wistfully.
Leon, however, was known as one of the most skilled knights of his generation and a fearsome warrior on the battlefield. Despite her determination, Aria knew she stood no chance against him in battle. It would be foolish to attempt an assassination, only to warn him and possibly put herself in danger. It seemed wiser to wait and refrain from any hasty actions that might come back to haunt her.