Dark Dad's Rebirth - Chapter 12. New Tools(5)

Chapter 12. New Tools (5)

Aria’s eyes widened with curiosity as Caelius urged her to try on Adama’s ring. Time seemed to slow down as she reached out to take the ring, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if she couldn’t wield the ring, perhaps secretly hoping for that outcome. So she remained rooted to the spot, her eyes fixed on Leria, who seemed to be the center of attention.

Chewing nervously on her lip, Aria’s eyes remained fixed on the ring as it slid onto Leria’s finger. While the ring had been a dull silver color on Aria’s hand, it now glowed with a golden hue as it found its rightful owner. The sudden transformation sent a shiver down Aria’s spine, a chilling realization sinking in.

“Dad, look! The ring turned gold!” Leria exclaimed excitedly, displaying her hand to Caelius, who responded with a smile, seemingly unsurprised.

“Of course, it’s expected with your imperial power,” Caelius remarked casually, as if it were a matter of course.

Their conversation continued in a friendly manner, and Aria finally retreated, feeling unnoticed and unimportant. Leria, now preoccupied with the ring, turned her attention to Caelius, leaving Aria to walk away unnoticed. It was as if she had never been there at all, her presence ignored by both Caelius and Leria as she left the room.

Caelius merely stared after her for a moment before quietly closing the door behind him.

* * *

Alone in her room, Aria leaned back on her bed and swallowed another hallucinogen, finding comfort in the smoke as she lit the end of a rolled-up piece of paper. The billowing clouds seemed to ease her discomfort, and her golden eyes glinted in the darkness as she stared into the swirling designs.

Gradually, the unpleasant sensations melted away, leaving her mind blissfully empty as she closed her eyes wearily. Through the drug-induced haze, memories flooded her consciousness, and she found herself speaking softly to someone named Lily, a figure from her past whom she held dear.

The hallucinogens heightened the intensity of the vision, and a faint smile tugged at Aria’s lips as she recalled the familiar voice echoing in her mind.

But in the comforting embrace of the drugs, Aria’s thoughts turned dark. She acknowledged the lies and betrayals that had marked her life, especially those perpetrated by Caelius. Despite the pain, she found herself longing for love, for a connection that would fill the void in her heart.

She longed for a love so deep that it consumed her, yet she feared its overpowering intensity. Memories of happier times mingled with the smoke, lifting her spirits momentarily before dissolving into a melancholy haze. In the drug-induced euphoria, Aria found a temporary reprieve from the weight of her reality, floating on a cloud of fleeting contentment.

‘Why do I have to endure this?”

She wondered how much longer she could endure the pain, the sickness, the loneliness, and the emptiness.

Negative emotions consumed her, like a ravenous beast devouring her past happiness, threatening to erase every joyful memory. The Caelius she once knew seemed like a faraway echo, leaving her feeling disillusioned and longing for the version of him that existed only in her memories.

Even now, the sight of blue roses brings back memories of their sweet moments together, accompanied by the scent of wildflowers and bergamot. But time had changed their relationship, overshadowing their shared past with new complications and regrets.

She wished she could let go of her longing and regrets and free herself from the burden of unfulfilled love. Memories of Caelius’ promises echoed in her mind, tempting her to believe in a future that might never come.

‘Dad, what am I going to do?’

Aria asked silently, struggling with the pain of betrayal. She longed for the loving whispers and caressing gazes of the past and accused Caelius of deception and manipulation.

‘You’re a liar,’ she whispered bitterly, facing the painful truth that the love she once believed in might have been nothing more than a facade.

“If you loved me, you would remember.”

He would remember every moment they shared, every word they exchanged, and every season they endured together. He would explain that his actions, even the desire to end her life, were driven by reasons she couldn’t fathom and that he never really meant to hurt her.

But as she dug into her memories, she realized that he remembered none of them. The precious moments that she cherished, he seemed to have completely forgotten.

‘It’s a matter of the heart,’ she mused bitterly, now understanding that his lack of memories was due to a lack of love.

While she remained anchored to the past by her love for him, he seemed unaffected, indifferent to the memories they once shared.

The sudden realization hit her hard. Leria’s appearance in this life, absent in her previous existence, now makes sense.

‘It’s because I lost my imperial power,’ she concluded bitterly. Unlike in her previous life, she needed another child capable of wielding the Adama’s Ring, rendering her useless in that regard.

As the harsh reality sank in, her thoughts became confused, her head spun, and her throat burned. She couldn’t deny the truth any longer. The weight of reality washed over her like relentless waves, leaving her unable to hold on to the denial.

She wondered if time would eventually erase her memories and allow her to move on and find freedom in a new relationship. However, she doubted that she could ever love another man enough to truly free herself from her current pain.

‘If sickness is my destiny, I’d rather end it,’ she thought, considering the possibility of falling into a deep, eternal sleep where pain would no longer exist.

The memories that once brought her joy now felt like sharp blades, tearing her apart with their cruel reminders of lost love. She wondered if the pain was worth it or if eternal rest awaited her at the end of the agony.

***

“Leon, shouldn’t you interfere with the princess?” Antion’s concern was evident as he played with the hallucinogens he had provided Aria.

“You know this stuff is dangerous. It can lead to addiction and madness,” he warned, noting Aria’s excessive consumption.

Antion sighed, frustrated with the situation. He knew it wasn’t too late to intervene and save Aria from further harm.

“This isn’t right,” he muttered to himself, returning the hallucinogens to their container. He refused to be a part of Aria’s potential downfall, regardless of the money involved.

Leon, noticing Antion’s confusion, reached out to him gently.

“Antion…”

“Why.”

“How much of the drug is in this?” Leon asked, pulling out one of the psychedelic pills Antion had hidden. Antion, sensing the curiosity in Leon’s eyes, answered quietly.

“Thirty grams. I decided to reduce the dosage for the princess because I deemed it too risky. Typically, a hallucinogen contains fifty grams.”

Leon frowned at the revelation, pondering the implications. There was a short silence between them, during which Leon seemed to think about something. Finally, he broke the silence with a firm statement.

“Don’t lower the dosage.”

Antion was stunned by Leon’s unexpected request, frozen in disbelief as the words left his lips. He made a confused sound and stared like a fool at Leon, who seemed unaffected by his reaction.

“Don’t decrease the ingredients. Increase them to 80 grams,” Leon reiterated, his expression serious and resolute.

Antion’s mind raced with confusion as he tried to understand Leon’s reasons. He could not understand why Leon would want to suggest such a dangerous step.

“Are you… out of your mind?” Antion finally managed to say, his voice trembling with disbelief.

But Leon remained firm, his eyes betraying no hint of a joke. “Just enough to prevent deaths, and mix in other drugs if necessary,” he instructed calmly.

Antion’s mouth dropped open, unable to form a coherent response for several seconds.

“Increase the dosage? What are you thinking?” he exclaimed, his words trailing off in disbelief.

Leon’s unwavering look met Antion’s panicked expression. “I understand the risks,” he replied simply.

Antion’s confusion turned to alarm as he realized the seriousness of Leon’s intentions. “Leon, you can’t be serious,” he began, his voice trailing off in concern.

Antion stood rigidly, his eyes locked with Leon, who seemed lost in a distant memory, and his hands closed tightly as if struggling with inner anger.

“Leon, calm down. It was an accident,” Antion urged, trying to reason with him.

“An accident? That’s ridiculous. The Archduke could have interfered,” Leon replied sharply.

Antion replied, “Are you saying that the Archduke should have risked his life to save a soldier on the battlefield?”

Leon’s silence spoke volumes as he glared back at Antion with intensity.

“You are acting recklessly, and if the Archduke discovers this, we will be in grave danger!” Antion shouted, his voice filled with great urgency.

In a calculated move, Leon declared, “I will handle the distribution of hallucinogens from now on. Antion, you’re out.”

Antion’s confusion grew as he processed the sudden decision, his eyes shifting between Leon and the bag of drugs on the table. With a heavy sigh, he rose to his feet, his mind swirling with uncertainty.

“I… I don’t know,” Antion murmured, his instincts warning him to get out of the dangerous situation.

As Leon took the pouch of hallucinogens, a dark note slipped into his voice. “It will be quite a show to watch the Archduke’s daughter fall into madness,” he remarked darkly, his behavior very different from the manner he had presented to Aria moments before.