Dark Dad's Rebirth - Chapter 14. Madness (2)

Chapter 14. Madness (2)

Caelius apologized briefly and did not expect an answer from Aria. The apology appeared to be more of a casual comment than a genuine expression of regret.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever thrown away something with potential usefulness,” he continued, his tone casual.

Aria sighed. She felt tired after the conversation.

Caelius pierced Leria’s breastbone with his sword. Blood splashed onto the floor with a loud and gruesome sound, and Leria let out a final scream before dying.

“……!”

“Lily, if you’re upset by this…” Caelius acknowledged Aria’s potential discomfort by shifting his tone.

Half a day ago, they were talking affectionately. But now, Caelius’ sword is dipped into her body, and Caelius’ behavior is severe.

“The importance of this… is no longer relevant to me.”

Caelius quickly withdrew the sword from Leria’s body, causing blood to spill and stain the room.

Aria’s head spun as she tried to understand the situation. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

Caelius apologized to Aria. Aria was stunned by Caelius’s unexpected apology. It was even more surprising than witnessing Leria’s death.

Caelius, who is different from his past self, apologized, leaving Aria confused.

She questioned whether she was still dreaming. However, it seemed impossible. “Is Leria dead?” she asked, seeking confirmation of the cruel reality she was witnessing.

Aria struggled to accept Leria’s death, even in the midst of the chaos. The whole thing had happened so fast that she needed confirmation.

Aria wasn’t surprised. She knew that she and Leria were never meant to be together.

Both lacked imperial blood. With only one throne to claim, their paths were destined to diverge.

While Leria’s joke temporarily defused the tension, the underlying power struggle would inevitably lead to conflict.

As Aria looked at Leria’s lifeless body on the floor, she felt a twinge of pity. Here was an ordinary girl caught in the crossfire of a power battle.

A month ago, Aria wouldn’t have even known she existed. But now, amid the chaos, she couldn’t help but feel a small pang of sadness for Leria’s tragic fate.

Aria remained calm despite the horrific scene before her. While most children her age would have panicked, she maintained a calm expression as she looked at the blood-stained floor and Leria’s lifeless body.

Deep down, Aria felt a sense of relief at Leria’s death. It wasn’t just hostility or jealousy that drove her emotions. As someone born into the Imperial line, Aria knew that their survival often depended on eliminating potential threats, including Leria. The crown would always be between them, forcing them into conflict, whether they liked it or not.

Although Aria was relieved that she wouldn’t have to take Leria’s life herself, her relief was short-lived. The disturbing look in Caelius’ eyes as he raised his bloodied sword to her own made her uneasy. It was a reminder that, despite his calm appearance, Caelius could still be unpredictable and dangerous.

Aria noticed a subtle softness in Caelius’ usually deep voice, but it didn’t ease her unease. When their eyes met, she saw an unsettling twitch at the corners of his lips, making his smile seem out of place and eerie.

Caelius spoke of a past conversation in which he had mentioned his willingness to kill his own children without hesitation. Aria’s heart sank at the memory of his merciless nature.

Had he remembered their previous interactions? She couldn’t tell.

Her mind was racing with questions, but she dared not speak them aloud. Instead, she cautiously acknowledged Caelius’ words, unsure of what to make of his puzzling explanations.

As Caelius’ eyes remained fixed on Leria’s lifeless form, Aria realized that he hadn’t regained his memories. Despite his eerie behavior, there was no indication that he remembered their past encounters.

Aria worried that Caelius might regain his memories and turn against her. The thought of him remembering their past sent shivers down her spine.

The memory of Caelius wielding his sword at her lingered in her mind, serving as a chilling reminder of the danger she faced.

The room was filled with tension. Caelius surprised Aria by asking her to confess her love. His words made the atmosphere even more suffocating, weighing heavily on her.

Aria felt trapped and confused. She hesitated, unsure of how to respond to Caelius’s request in this delicate situation.

Caelius smiled at Aria, but she remained silent and tense. She clenched her fists and trembled like a frightened animal. She wanted to confess her love for him, but she feared it would only further entrap her.

“Please,” Caelius urged again, The tension between them felt like a stretched thread on the verge of breaking. Caelius urged Aria again, but she felt overwhelmed and took a step back to create some distance between them.

“No, I…” she began, her voice shaking with fear, but she found the courage to push Caelius away.

She said, “I want to be with someone else, someone other than you, with another man.”Caelius was visibly taken aback by her words but casually dismissed them.

“So, you’re going to marry another as$hole?”

Aria nodded silently. She feared that Caelius, the merciless man from her past, would soon draw his deadly sword on her, just as he had done to Leria.

“Who asked for this?” Caelius’s voice, though typically casual, carried a sharp edge.

“I want my daughter to stay,”

“I just want a normal life. I want to be loved like any other woman.”

Her voice sounded sad, as if she longed for a life free from the turmoil of their current situation. Caelius, however, seemed unaware of her feelings.

“Yes, Lily, I made a mistake,” he admitted abruptly.

“A mistake,” he clarified, catching Aria off guard. She looked at him with confusion, unable to understand his sudden change in tone. After a brief pause, Caelius continued with newfound resolve.

“I once said I didn’t love you,” he confessed. Aria’s eyes widened in disbelief. She was unsure what to think. After a moment of silence, Caelius spoke again.

“I take it back.”

Caelius spoke. Aria bit her lip, feeling a sharp pain. His words stirred up conflicting emotions within her.

“Lily, I can’t forget how you cried before me,” Caelius said. His words echoed in Aria’s mind.

“I don’t want to see you cry anymore. Instead, I want to give you all the best things in the world and have incomparable power in my hands. If this is love…”

Aria’s complexion paled. Her heart beat uncontrollably. She knew what Caelius was going to say next. Instead of anticipation, she felt a hollow pain of refusal.

Aria protested, “No, no, no.” Her voice trembled with despair.

“You cannot love me. You are incapable of it. You will deceive me, profess your love, and then abandon me once more. I would rather you treat me as you did before, as a worthless tool, and throw me away. This isn’t like you, so why?”

“Why did you do this to me in the past, only to do it again now?” Her voice cracked with fear as she poured out her heart. Why are you making me feel foolish? Why are you subjecting me to feelings of abandonment and misery?”

Then, like a crushing blow to her heart, Caelius’s selfish declaration of love echoed in her ears.

“I love you.”

Aria’s breath caught in her throat. Her face contorted in pain. The words were a clear confession of affection.