Dark Dad's Rebirth - Chapter 14. Madness (8)

Chapter 14. Madness (8)

She wanted to free herself from his grasp and escape his world forever.

He could give her everything else, but not that. He didn’t want her to just listen, he wanted her to hurt with him, to cry and rage with him.

That was what Caelius wanted.

Their arguments over food lasted an hour or two, often ending with Aria’s stubbornness and a few reluctant spoonfuls.

Guida had carefully gathered herbs from all corners of the continent and prepared meals at Caelius’ request, knowing that Aria would be annoyed.

Seeing Aria force herself to take a few bites gave Caelius a small sense of relief.

As soon as Aria had put down her utensils, Caelius cleaned up after her. The clatter of dishes filled the room as Aria watched him intently.

Despite his unfamiliarity with such tasks, Caelius managed to complete them without assistance, refusing help from the servants outside the door.

After this tense meal, Caelius suddenly found himself drifting into a strange dream.

-“But… I wanted to try the chicken skewers too,”

-“Dad, I want ice cream too!”

Caelius knew that street food wasn’t the healthiest choice for her, but he couldn’t get rid of the memory of Aria in his dream, begging for a taste. Maybe that’s why he felt compelled to give in.

If I can find something to make her mouth water,” Caelius said to himself, biting his lip as he stood up.

* * *

Haunted by his dreams, Caelius found himself riding alone through the bustling market streets. Despite his uncertainty about leaving Aria behind, he was determined to purchase some of the finest street food he could find.

He decided to do the buying himself rather than hire help, as he didn’t want to risk buying from questionable vendors.

Preferring the cleanliness of a respectable establishment, Caelius ignored the surprised reactions of the commoners around him. Though rumors circulated about him, he paid no attention to them, focusing on his mission to find “clean” street food.

He made his way through the crowded streets of the Commoner’s Market to a street lined with vendors that resembled the exclusive shopping districts of the nobility. There, he was able to purchase some appetizing fried chicken and ice cream.

With a satisfied smile, Caelius rode back on his horse, holding the skewers and ice cream tightly in his hands. He hoped that maybe, just maybe, Aria would enjoy the treats.

As the sun dipped low on the horizon, the streets were filled with citizens enjoying their evening meal. Families gathered around improvised tables, sharing laughter and smiles.

In the crowd, Caelius spotted a couple having their portrait painted by a cheap street artist. The sight triggered a strange memory.

-“Dad, can’t we get a portrait of you and me, too?” Aria’s voice echoed in his mind, a request she must have made sometime in the past.

But such a portrait had never been done. The blonde hair and golden eyes, once symbols of power, had long since faded to gray, leaving only youthful portraits of Caelius adorning the walls of the mansion.

‘I was stupid then, but…’

Caelius feels the same longing for Aria now. If she allowed it, he would have a portrait done of them together, regretting that he didn’t have any pictures to remember their time together.

In a moment of madness, Caelius imagined that a simple piece of paper could capture the essence of himself, Aria, and the child she was carrying. But he quickly realized it was just a fantasy.

* * *

When Caelius arrived at the mansion, he smiled unexpectedly, hoping to see Aria’s smile that reminded him of his dreams while enjoying street food.

However, upon entering, he sensed an unfamiliar tension in the air. His brow furrowed in concern.

“Your Majesty!!!”

Goshen’s panicked voice reached Caelius, who felt a sudden sense of fear filled him. Before he could ask further, Goshen’s next words stopped him in his tracks.

“The princess…….”

At the mention of Aria, Caelius felt a surge of panic. The food he had bought fell to the floor, forgotten.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Your Grace…”

“Please spare my life…”

The cries of the servants begging for mercy echoed around him, but Caelius was focused on Aria’s motionless body. The doctor had arrived and was attending to her, while Caelius watched with a pale face

Anger boiled inside him, not only at the servants but at the fear that Aria might never wake up.

“I, Your Grace.”

The doctor, sensing Caelius’ cold expression, hesitated before speaking.

“Fortunately, Your Grace, the child is unharmed.”

Hearing this, Caelius’ expression changed to a cruel grimace, and he grabbed the doctor by the collar.

“Do you truly understand the importance of the child?” he demanded.

The doctor, visibly nervous, stammered, “Yeah, of course.”

“How dare you talk to me about the importance of a child? My daughter, Lily, is everything!”

The doctor, eager to reassure, quickly interjected,

“The princess’s life is not in danger. Fortunately, her attendants have handled the situation well.”

Caelius’ voice trembled, but when he heard that her condition was not life-threatening, he felt a wave of relief wash over him.

He struggled to his feet and motioned for the guards to stand back. Once they were gone, he kneeled beside Aria as she lay peacefully. He reached out and gently took her hand, finding it as cold as ice.

“Lily…”

A soft grunt and painful moan escaped her lips as he nudged her gently with his cold hand. Hearing her ragged breathing and faint moans, Caelius felt a surge of relief, knowing she was still alive.

-Your Majesty, forgive us… The princess expressed her desire to take a walk. It had been some time since our last outing, and we had become complacent.

Caelius didn’t quite agree. He had assumed they could keep her away from danger, but they had let their guard down, allowing her to wander into the garden pond during their walk.

“You don’t enjoy spending time with me enough to avoid such things.”

Caelius found it hard to understand. Yet, amid his confusion, he felt a pang of sadness.

For a brief moment, he regretted his eagerness to go out alone to buy fried chicken and ice cream.

He wondered how long they had been waiting for his return.

The realization left Caelius feeling confused and depressed. For a brief moment, he had eagerly anticipated her smile, only to discover that she had probably thought he was gone and had considered leaving his side. This realization weighed heavily on him, filling him with sadness.

Caelius gently squeezed Aria’s hand and held his head in her hands. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he swallowed them back and let them fall silently, one by one.

His typically proud appearance seemed drained and worn today.

He didn’t know how long he remained in this position, lost in his thoughts. Suddenly, he heard a rustling sound and felt a slight movement.

“Dad.”

Aria spoke in a neutral tone, breaking the silence. Caelius looked up and noticed her staring at him. Her face remained pale from her earlier experience.

Aria’s complexion appeared slightly off, but she did not show any signs of serious injury or lasting effects. Caelius felt relieved, despite the doctor’s earlier warnings.

Her appearance was unchanged, but her calm didn’t last long.

Aria smirked and avoided eye contact with Caelius before asking, “Are you crying?” 

She spoke sarcastically, intending to mock rather than comfort.

-“Daddy, why are you crying? Aw, don’t cry. I don’t want you to cry.”

Caelius remembered how she had comforted him with her voice and touch. Her small hand had brushed the corners of his eyes.

-“Don’t cry.”

This version of Aria was different.

“I didn’t want to die.”

“Lily…”

“I hated you and the baby, and I wished they didn’t exist.”