Dark Dad's Rebirth - Chapter 17. Annihilation

Chapter 17. Annihilation

The knights were bustling about, making the palace seem more chaotic than usual. Aria had a feeling that something was wrong.

As she approached the Emperor’s office, she felt the tension in the air increase. Surprisingly, no one questioned her presence or asked for an appointment, which only added to her unease.

Aria entered the throne room and was shocked to see Caelius lying on the floor, surrounded by a pool of blood and pierced by several swords.

Aria felt a mix of emotions upon seeing him. He was the man she had shared two lives with—her light in the darkness. She never expected him to meet such a tragic end.

Aria effortlessly ran into the throne room, surrounded by countless knights. The knights were unable to approach her due to the golden power flowing around her.

“Daddy, Daddy!!!” Aria screamed desperately, embracing Caelius. She could feel his faint body heat, but his arms remained motionless.

Aria wanted to leave Caelius because she was exhausted from everything. She held him responsible for breaking her heart and causing chaos in her life.

Seeing Caelius before her, about to be consumed by the cold steel of betrayal, Aria finally knew the truth.

She did not want this type of freedom—the sudden end of their relationship. Although she had resented him before, she truly desired a relationship based on trust and love to provide for her.

Trust, once shattered, is difficult to repair, and even when it is, it never quite resembles its previous self. Aria realized that she could no longer trust Caelius as she did before, especially after enduring her suffering alone without his declaration of love.

She had longed for something more, something real, but now, faced with the imminent loss of Caelius, she understood the depth of her feelings and the pain of their broken bond.

Aria felt the pain and longed to escape from the pain Caelius had inflicted on her.

Deep down, she longed for something simple: to be loved like any other woman. She wondered if this was too much to ask, or if it was presumptuous.

If she had the opportunity to confront God again, she would plead, ‘It can’t end like this.’

“It’s not supposed to end like this…”

Aria cried and held on tightly to Caelius. Unknown to her, the imperial power emanating from her began to transfer to Caelius, gradually infusing him with her energy. However, lost in her anguish, Aria remained unaware of this exchange.

“No, not like this… Dad… Caelius…”

She couldn’t bear to see him in that condition again. Memories from her past flooded back—memories she had struggled to forget.

“Please… please…”

As Aria cried, drowning in the dark depths of her past, Caelius moved. Caelius heart began to beat again and his eyes fluttered open.

Aria transformed herself. As Imperial power returned to its rightful owner, her once radiant hair began to darken, and her once bright eyes became dull and clouded.

Aria’s relief washed over her when she saw the spark of life return to Caelius’s eyes.

As she looked into his eyes, she realized something unsettling about herself. Her once radiant golden locks had transformed into a dark, jet-black color. She understood that the essence that had bound her to Caelius was now gone.

Aria felt sad amidst the chaos.

She feared that Caelius would return to his old self, making the same excuses he had made in their past lives when she was at her weakest. She tried to hide her fear, but her arms involuntarily loosened their grip on Caelius.

She felt a strange sensation engulf her mind, even though she knew it wasn’t possible. Her understanding of why this change had occurred was hazy, adding to her anxiety.

Caelius opened his eyes slowly and fixed his eyes on her. He remained silent for a moment, gradually regaining focus. His black pupils began to glow. He seemed unsure whether what he was seeing was real or a dream.

As the imperial power around them weakened, Aria became more nervous. She expected the imperial knights to arrive soon.

Just as her fear reached its peak, Caelius spoke. He called her by her nickname in his familiar voice, as he always did.

“Lily.”

Then, as if anticipating a sudden attack, he gently lifted Aria from her seat and held her in his arms.

“I love you, yesterday, today, and tomorrow,” he whispered with a sense of disbelief.

Aria’s eyes widened in shock at his unexpected confession. “What did you just say…?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Caelius repeated his words. His tone was determined. “I have always been faithful to you,” he said. “Even in my previous life, my love for you never faded.”

Caelius’s sincerity took Aria by surprise. It appeared that he had regained everything he had lost.

“This can’t be real,” she muttered incredulously.

“I regret lying to you to protect you. I apologize, Lily. Even if I ask for forgiveness now, I know it’s too late, but… I am truly sorry.”

“You lied…”

“It wasn’t a lie.”

He kissed Aria’s blushing cheek briefly.

“I have said it before. If you want it, Lily, I will give up the throne to you. I will be loyal to you as your knight and give you everything. I will swear an oath of loyalty, one I’ve never sworn to any emperor, to serve you as my only master.”

These were words Caelius had spoken to her in the past. Aria nodded silently, remembering them well. Then Caelius raised his eyebrows and asked.

“Do you remember what you said next?”

Aria was captivated by the question.

“I said to trust you unconditionally.”

As she spoke, tears welled up in Aria’s eyes. Her once bright eyes, now dull and moist, looked at Caelius with the same affection as before.

“I’m sorry for being late.”

Aria burst into tears, unable to contain her emotions.

It felt like stepping back into the past. Caelius warmly embraced her, whispering sweet words and looking at her with tender eyes. Aria couldn’t help but recall those precious moments.

Aria was no longer afraid. Knights filled the chamber in the absence of the protective imperial power, but she remained calm.

“Let’s head south,” Caelius whispered to Aria, a casual smile playing on his lips as he retrieved a sword from Azekrisis’ body.

“We will find a comfortable home and fill it with as many dogs and cats as you wish.”

Caelius remained calm despite the numerous swords pointed at them, and Aria felt reassured.

Aria suddenly trusted him. The trust had taken root deeply and firmly, just as it had in that first moment.

Aria smiled at how ridiculous their situation was and then turned to Caelius.

“I’d love to have a goat too,” she said.

“Anything you wish,” Caelius replied.

They knew they had to leave the palace quickly before the Emperor’s knights caught up to them. They had to escape the palace, the capital, the country, and beyond its borders. Yet, despite the urgency of their escape, they wore carefree smiles on their faces.

With one arm holding Aria gently, Caelius wielded his sword confidently as they made their way out of the palace.

It reminded him of the day he found out Aria was weak, the day he rescued her from the cave on the Hevitz estate.