Dark Dad's Rebirth - Chapter 14. Madness (6)

Chapter 14. Madness (6)

After the doctor left, Caelius fell silent and gazed out of the sunlit window. The room had been tidied up so well that sunlight streamed in through the clear glass.

-“I will come back for you.”

-“Didn’t I tell you before: You… are too greedy to change the topic!”

-“You’re always changing the subject!”

-“Sometimes it’s better to try than to do nothing,”

-“You’re such a jerk! Who knows what effect you’re having on the child!”

-“Have you finally realized that I am an idiot? My apologies, Aeryn,” Caelius replied, a hint of regret in his voice.

“I didn’t know power transference could happen this way.” He laughed softly.

Caelius let out a weak laugh, brushing aside a strand of Aria’s overly sweet hair.

“I’m finally convinced. Aria may not be my daughter. No, I’m sure she isn’t.”

As he chewed on his lower lip, Caelius’ mind wandered back in time.

Before giving up his imperial powers when he felt his influence fading, he had transferred half or more of his imperial power to Aeryn.

At first, he had only intended to transfer the power to her body temporarily, with plans to reclaim it later. It was a desperate move, much like grasping at a fraying rope, but it didn’t go as smoothly as he had expected.

Though he could no longer use his power as effortlessly as before, Caelius was determined not to lose it entirely. Even a fraction of his power would serve as a reminder of his royal lineage.

So he came up with a plan to transfer some of his power into another person’s body and then retrieve it later. He attempted to use Aeryn’s body as a vessel, but the plan ultimately failed.

‘I thought that power was lost forever, but perhaps…’

Perhaps…

As Caelius thought, he clenched his hands so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and he lowered his eyes.

It occurred to him that if the doctor’s story was correct, the power might have been transferred to Aria.

Her habits, personality, and appearance bore an incredible resemblance to his own.

While her eyes may have been Aeryn’s, her slender fingers, flared nostrils, and well-shaped mouth were unmistakably his.

Confusion filled his mind, his heart raced with doubt, and his thoughts swirled like a turbulent storm.

He pushed open the high wooden door and entered the room to find Aria lying on the bed, looking helpless. Caelius stared at her for a while, sensing a strange atmosphere in the room. The servants had already left, leaving Caelius alone with his thoughts.

‘Lily…’

‘If you’re not my daughter…’

Caelius paused and thought for a moment. ‘If you are not my daughter, then who are you?’

‘But maybe that’s not important?’

‘We could still live happily ever after, with our beloved child, the one you’ve always wanted, in the warm south where it never snows, surrounded by pets.’

Caelius shuddered at the unfamiliar thought that crossed his mind. He could vaguely remember saying something like that before. But it felt surreal, he couldn’t understand it.

‘When have I ever engaged in this kind of romantic fantasy?’

The thought of living in the south, where snow never fell, lingered in his mind, even though it had no real meaning to him. It seemed to linger, to haunt him.

-“Dad, I love you.”

-” My whole life has been about you, and I want to be the one who always supports you and makes you shine.”

A strange voice echoed in his head, accompanied by a sharp headache.

-“No matter what, no matter how I change, you’re the one who always believed in me.”

-“Lily, everything I’ve ever done, I’ve done for you. If I ever made you feel lonely or insecure, it’s because I wasn’t good enough. I’ll try harder. So please don’t leave me.”

-“Aria, you are the only woman in my life. Whether you’re my daughter or not, I love you enough to give up the throne for you.”

Unfamiliar memories flooded Caelius like a tidal wave.

‘Actually, I wouldn’t call them unfamiliar.’

-“I wanted to share laughter with you and embrace a new era.

-“I longed for a life free of power, wealth, and fame, where all we had to do was cherish our love for each other.”

He wonders if this is a memory.

“Aria…”

Caelius whispered her name—a woman much younger and visibly troubled.

“Aria, Aria, Aria…”

“Aria von Wittelsbach.”

“The woman I once loved, no, loved so much that I would sacrifice anything for her. The woman I still care for so much that I fear my presence will only bring her pain.”

After a moment in the hallway, Caelius returned to Aria’s room. Inside, he found her asleep, her breathing irregular, and her eyes closed, lost in dreams.

Her thin cheeks accentuated her weakness and made him feel sorry for her. Caelius studied her face thoughtfully, then sighed softly and wiped her face with his hand.

The memories remained vivid.

The day his release was confirmed. What he had done to Aeryn.

-“You’re crazy! Trying to give imperial power to someone who doesn’t even have imperial blood—what do you think will happen?”

-“Quiet, Aeryn. I’m tired of your loudness.”

-You will not meet a pleasant end, mark my words.

Looking back on it now, it was a strange sight.

The Emperor was both proud and afraid of Caelius, who had shown exceptional skill with the sword from a young age.

The greatest power was a double-edged sword.

While it had allowed him to conquer numerous kingdoms and expand the Empire, as Caelius matured, the Emperor lived in constant fear that this powerful weapon would one day turn against him. This fear was shared by Azekrisis and his mother, the Empress.

Thus, even though he had taken power for a trivial reason, the Emperor was always anxious. He was afraid that some outside force would take control.

His fear of the unknown made him wish Caelius did not exist. Even now, the occasional night visitor served as a reminder that Azekrisis was no exception.

The Emperor’s failure to fully realize Caelius’ potential had initially been due to similar concerns.

Civil wars often lead to external conflicts, making them easier to conquer in times of internal strife.

The sudden change in the Imperial heir threw the nation into chaos. The Emperor and Empress must restrain Caelius until stability is restored, or their son will fall prey to the opportunistic enemies who await the downfall of the Imperial family.

In response, she demoted him to the title of “Grand Duke,” expelled him from the palace, and restricted his movements.

Despite this setback, Caelius continued to explore potential alliances with other lands. One such opportunity arose when the Marquis of Eben expressed interest in forming a partnership with him.

However, neighboring kingdoms had little interest in challenging the Empire’s power. Bjarne’s formidable power acted as a powerful deterrent and mediator in minor conflicts between nations. While there were occasional disputes and unreasonable demands, they were usually resolved without escalating into full-scale conflict. Thus, maintaining peace on the continent meant maintaining certain boundaries and avoiding provocation.

As Caelius thought about his life, he wiped his face and watched Aria, pale and fragile, in her deep sleep.

Her once radiant smile was now gone, replaced by a weariness that weighed heavily on her. It pained him to see her in such a state, drained of her usual vibrancy. Aria seemed burdened by something, her exhaustion was obvious, and her spirit diminished.

Witnessing her condition brought an unfamiliar mix of emotions to Caelius. His heart ached and his stomach churned, causing him to clench his hands tightly until his nails left marks on his palms. Reflecting on his actions, he realized that Aria’s distress ran deeper than he had initially realized.

But there was something else, a nagging feeling gnawing at the back of his mind. Caelius’ expression darkened as he struggled with his thoughts, unsure of how to ease Aria’s pain and restore the brightness to her smile.

Moments ago, he had seen Aria’s smile, but now all he could remember was her angry frown.

‘What if… if Aria is the one inheriting my powers?’

‘Would she still consider me her father?’

A child who inherits his abilities and resembles him, even though they’re not related by blood.

Caelius struggled to hide his bitter expression. Though he usually kept his emotions in control, around Aria, his true feelings came out.

“Lily…”

That little figure, with her slender body and her belly that seemed to stick to her back, was truly his child.