Dark Dad's Rebirth - Chapter 12. New Tools(6)

Chapter 12. New Tools (6)

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The effects of the drug were surprisingly mild. Aria felt a sense of relief wash over her, easing the stinging pain in her chest and even bringing a faint smile of amusement to her lips. Though she wasn’t truly happy, the drug managed to lift her spirits for a moment, and she found herself thinking that maybe this wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

With a sigh, she opened a drawer and noticed the dwindling supply of psychedelic pills she had purchased for Antion. Realizing that she needed to replenish her supply, she decided to visit him as soon as possible.

Forcing herself upright, Aria made her way to her desk to write a letter, feeling weak from the effects of the pills she had taken without proper nourishment. Despite her best efforts to move forward, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being broken.

Just then, a knock interrupted her thoughts. Surprised, Aria raised an eyebrow, puzzled by the unexpected visitor. She had instructed her maid not to call on her unless there was an urgent matter.

“Lord Berha has come to see you,” the maid announced, catching Aria by surprise.

“Berha?” Aria repeated, her voice hoarse and strained. Coughing dryly, she confirmed, “Leon is here at the mansion.”

“Yes, he’s waiting for you in the living room,” the maid replied.

“I’ll be right down,” Aria replied, hastily gathering some money from her drawer and putting on a slip and a thin cardigan. Despite her unkempt appearance, she was eager to see Leon, expecting that he might have brought more of the drug with him.

Without bothering to fix her hair, Aria rushed out of her room, causing some of the maids to startle. Ignoring their reactions, she hurried to the living room, where Leon was waiting for her with a warm smile, gracefully sipping tea.

“Princess.”

Aria took a deep breath and got right to the point. “You’re here to give me more medicine, aren’t you?” she asked, her tone direct and to the point.

Meanwhile, Leon had to forcefully clench his hands to keep from laughing. He had been worried that the reduced dosage might not have the desired effect, but it seemed that the situation was already bad.

“My apologies, Princess. My visit may have taken you by surprise,” Leon replied gently, subtly acknowledging Aria’s paleness.

“I wanted to inform you in advance, but I was running low on drugs,” Aria admitted, her usually clear voice sounding strained and her lips appearing dry and cracked—a common symptom of psychedelic drug addiction—indicating impatience and an inability to wait.

“Thank you for bringing more.” Aria expressed her gratitude, her eyes widening as Leon produced the LSD from his pocket. Without hesitation, she popped the pill into her mouth.

Leon watched her silently, refraining from intervening as she consumed the drug.

“Princess.”

Leon’s attempt to rouse Aria went unnoticed, as she quickly took the hallucinogen. Alone in her room, its effects were less noticeable, but when she stepped outside and faced others, the last few days’ toll on her mental state became obvious.

Aria’s assessment of her condition was uncertain. Breathing heavily, she took slow, deliberate drags of the hallucinogen, her breathing gradually steadying as if she had finally found some peace.

“Are you alright?” Leon inquired, his concern evident in his tone.

“Thank you, Leon,” Aria responded her once sharp and intelligent golden eyes now unfocused and clouded. Without bothering to correct her hazy gaze, she eagerly accepted the psychedelic from Leon’s outstretched hand.

The effects of the drug seemed to manifest more quickly than usual, inducing a sense of foolishness and careless oblivion. It clouded her awareness of reality and provided a temporary escape from her problems.

As Leon handed her the hallucinogen and prepared to leave, Aria looked disappointed at the smaller amount he had brought compared to Antion’s previous supply.

“Wait, this isn’t enough. It won’t last me,” she protested urgently, her desperation for the drug palpable.

Leon’s hands trembled slightly as he grasped her collar, his gaze meeting Aria’s with a mixture of despair and sorrow. It was a harsh reminder of how far they had fallen, from the glory of Caelius’ reign to the depths of addiction that now held his daughter.

With a soft laugh, Leon whispered a touching reflection of their current situation.

“Don’t worry, Princess. I’ll be back for you soon,” Leon reassured Aria with a tender smile.

“Are you sure, truly?” Aria questioned, seeking confirmation.

“Yes, I’ll be back in three days,” Leon affirmed, cupping Aria’s thin cheeks in his hands.

Satisfied with his response, Aria’s tense expression softened slightly. “Let’s consider it settled then.”

“I truly… truly need you to return, Leon,” Aria pleaded earnestly.

With a gentle gesture, Leon brushed Aria’s disheveled hair away from her face, his touch sending a tingling sensation through her cheeks. Still wearing his friendly mask, Leon planted a kiss on the back of her hand. “May your future be peaceful, Princess,” he wished her as he left.

Left alone, Aria returned to her room, but her attention was drawn by the sounds of cheerful laughter coming from Caelius’ nearby office.

“Wow, Dad, look! I made ice! It’s incredible; I just wanted it to freeze, and it did!” a cheerful voice exclaimed.

“I can see you’re becoming quite proficient at it,” Caelius replied warmly.

“Hehe, am I a quick learner?”

“Not bad. I’m relieved. I was worried that you wouldn’t be able to use the ring like your sister,” Caelius admitted.

Aria’s curiosity was aroused, and she unconsciously turned toward the source of the conversation, drawn by the sound of their growing conversation.

“That is highly improbable. You undoubtedly have imperial blood, so such a scenario is improbable,” Caelius reassured Leria.

“But, Dad, then does that mean my sister doesn’t have imperial blood?” Leria pressed further.

Caelius hesitated before responding, his words stirring a whirlwind of emotions within Aria’s previously calm mind.

“Could it be that she’s not my biological sister?” Leria’s question hung heavy in the air, causing Aria to bite down hard on her lip, her head swimming with dizziness. It was a daring line of questioning, but Caelius surprisingly entertained it, much to Aria’s scorn.

“Considering that she lacks the ability to use her powers, it is reasonable to assume that she may not be my sister,” Leria remarked, a hint of amusement in her tone. Caelius, for his part, offered no retort, allowing the statement to linger in the silence that followed.

“You’re right,” he finally admitted, his voice measured and calm. “She’s not you, and there’s no reason for you to think of her as family.”

“Really?” Leria’s eyes sparkled with intrigue, seizing upon Caelius’s affirmation.

“Yes, for blood ties alone do not define family,” Caelius affirmed, his tone unwavering.

As Aria watched the conversation from the doorway, her impenetrable eyes narrowed into sly slits, while Leria’s smile widened at Caelius’ words. The moisture in the corners of Aria’s eyes revealed the anger she was feeling.

Moments ago, she had experienced a fleeting sense of happiness, though induced by hallucinogens. But now Aria finds herself falling into despair. Her emotional state resembled that of someone struggling with bipolar disorder, with irregular highs and lows, and her breathing came in ragged gasps as if her lungs were being suffocated.

As Leria made yet another foolish request, Aria couldn’t help but feel a twinge of bitterness. Despite the immaturity of Leria’s request, Caelius responded with a gentle smile and a casual stroke of her hair, indicating his willingness to accommodate her every wish.

But Aria’s stomach twisted with jealousy as she watched Caelius show affection for another woman. The interaction only increased her pain, causing tears to flow uncontrollably down her cheeks. Unable to bear the sight any longer, she fled to her room and found comfort in the familiar embrace of the hallucinogens.

Sealing herself off from the outside world by closing all the windows, Aria lit the end of the white paper once more. With each drag of the hallucinogen, she drowned out her haunting thoughts and found temporary relief from the burning hatred she felt for Caelius.