2
3. Let's Run Away
Daphne looked at the narcissus Fabian held out to her. A flower taken from her mother's grave. As she stared at it, Fabian spoke.
"I've been thinking about how to comfort you. The only thing I could do was stop by your mother's grave, pick a flower, and bring it here."
Fabian said this with an awkward smile. A gift suddenly pressed into her hands—a flower that had bloomed by a grave.
"I……."
Fabian sank to the ground and looked up at Daphne. When he saw her face, tears fell from his eyes.
"I'm sorry."
"……."
"I was confused. I didn't know how to treat you."
"……."
"I should have held you then, but my own confusion came first."
"……."
"Honestly, I was afraid too. Because, His Majesty—no, the Emperor, you……."
He repented through his tears. Slowly, tears welled up in Daphne's eyes.
No one had ever apologized to Daphne so sincerely. To her, who had tried to live on without emotions, Fabian kept giving something back.
"So, Daphne."
"……."
"Let's run away."
And with that, he awakened Daphne's soul one last time. Running away. It was a word she had never even considered. Fabian, seeing her look so naive, said it again.
"Let's run away from all of this. With me."
Fabian looked utterly desperate. Daphne shook her head.
"What are you talking about? Why would I run away?"
"You know, don't you? You know the Emperor is after you."
Daphne nodded.
"That's exactly why I can't run."
Daphne knew her situation all too well. If the Emperor was after her, what would happen if she fled? It was obvious that not only she but Fabian would be hurt as well.
She still remembered the tragedy that had befallen her home. He had mercilessly killed so many people for the single reason that her mother had deceived him into believing Daphne was his daughter.
"Fabian, I appreciate the words, but I'm fine."
Daphne was truly grateful. She had been hurt by Fabian, but the wound had already healed. Having him say these things to her was enough.
"Daphne, you have to get out of this mad place!"
When Fabian raised his voice, she found it strange. This was her life. Why was Fabian trying so desperately to persuade her?
"This place is insane. This place, it's simply hell for you."
"……
I know that."
"Then why won't you run!"
At Fabian's shout, Daphne blinked. Why wouldn't she run?
"Well, I have no strength, no money, and I might not even do well out there……."
"I said I'd help you."
"Why, though?"
"Because I can't just stand by and watch!"
When he shouted, Daphne flinched.
"Sorry, Daphne. Did that startle you?"
He said, catching his breath.
"You're acting like this because you're not certain my life will get better, right? Because I don't know what life will be like after I escape—what this freed life would even look like."
"……."
"It won't be a life of luxury, but I could sleep in a room with sunlight, not some place like this storeroom."
"……."
"I wouldn't have to watch anyone's moods. No one would hate me. No one would even know I'm a criminal."
"……."
"There would be so many enjoyable things. Whether hiding in a city or a village, there really are so many pleasures to be found."
"……."
"I'll make that happen for you. I promise."
Fabian said, taking Daphne's hand. Daphne tried to picture that life. It was a life she had never once even imagined.
It would be a complete change of circumstances. But like an animal that had been captured and caged, Daphne was afraid. And besides, if she left, that man……. the man who had cherished her as a little sister…….
"Thank you, but Fabian, I……."
"Is it because of the Crown Prince?"
At Fabian's question, Daphne flinched. Fabian had long since read her thoughts.
Rather than facing an unfortunate future by running away, it was better, at least, to stay by his side.
Fabian looked at Daphne. She was refusing change. She had already been tamed.
"Listen to me, Daphne. The Crown Prince doesn't see you as a little sister, and he doesn't particularly love you."
"What are you saying!"
As Daphne cried out, Fabian gripped her shoulders tightly.
"The Crown Prince you adore is enjoying tormenting you."
"……."
"You still don't get it? That bastard says he likes you, then works hard at toying with you. You…… your whole life has been one long deception."
Daphne didn't believe it. Of course she didn't. Fabian knew nothing. Asherad had been with her since they were children. Why would he work hard at toying with her?
He had cherished Daphne so much.
"Fabian, if you're going to say things like that, please leave."
Daphne and Asherad had spent long years together. Asherad could be capricious at times, but he always came to find her.
Even if he couldn't save her from the Emperor's grasp, she still wanted to be by Asherad's side.
"You're lying to me."
At the conviction in Daphne's voice, the look in Fabian's eyes changed. Nothing he said could persuade her. Then, he would tell her only part of the truth.
"The Crown Prince knew from the very beginning that you were the sorceress's daughter."
"……."
"He must have known everything. He's the Crown Prince, after all—how could he not know?"
That didn't really matter. It was puzzling why he had pretended not to know, but if he had known and still treated her kindly, she was actually grateful to Asherad.
"That's not the big problem."
"Daphne, it is a big problem. The Emperor tried to strip the Crown Prince of his position exactly once. Because of you."
Daphne blinked. Because of me?
"Even a passing dog knows it, if they're a noble! The Emperor loved your mother, and he insulted the Empress—the Crown Prince's mother."
Was it really that much? Daphne slightly parted her lips. Fabian squeezed his eyes shut.
"Think about it. While you were in the imperial palace, haven't the people who were kind to you either disappeared or suddenly turned cold to you?"
"……."
"You know it too."
At Fabian's words, Daphne fell silent. It was true. Everyone who had been kind to Daphne had disappeared. Or had suddenly turned cold to her.
"It was all the Crown Prince's doing."
Daphne's eyes flew wide open. Fabian realized that breaking her shell would require a certain amount of lies.
The Emperor must have given those orders, but the Crown Prince would have contributed to some of it as well. Then wouldn't it be better for her to resent the Crown Prince? He had to shatter her trust in the Crown Prince.
"He wanted you to suffer. He wanted you to be lonely. As an outlet for his anger."
Only then could Daphne run away. Even if it meant her comfort would vanish. The Crown Prince had surely toyed with her, after all.
"Please open your eyes and face reality! You know it too. The Crown Prince enjoyed tormenting you. After all, you tormented his mother and nearly dragged him down to rock bottom himself."
"No."
"Then look! Why has he left you like this? As Crown Prince, he had every right and power to change things! Why did he make you live in a room like that?"
"……."
"Could you let a little sister of yours live in a place like that? Could you let her live being scorned and mistreated by everyone?"
"……."
"I never could! If that were happening to Merbel, I'd make her run away even if it killed me!"
"Stop talking, please."
Daphne shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears. Fabian's throat tightened.
"You're going to wither away. This isn't how things should be. You deserve to be loved!"
"……
No, no!"
Daphne shouted. She panted for breath.
"He saved me over and over."
"Because if he didn't, you would have died. And if he saved you, you would follow him."
"He asked me to stay by his side."
"Because that's the only way he could torment you."
"He called me to his room every night to read him books."
"Because he was curious about what you were doing."
Daphne bit her lip, swallowing her sobs.
"He stroked my hair."
"He sat in a chair, and you knelt down—like that?"
Fabian asked, as if he already knew. She flinched.
"H-how did you……."
Fabian forced the corners of his mouth upward.
"Daphne, Daphne…… poor Daphne."
He said, his eyes brimming with tears.
"Do you really not understand?"
For a moment, Daphne wanted to cover Fabian's mouth. Whatever it was, those words would destroy her. But perhaps it was because she had already stood there without stopping his mouth that she knew it could not be stopped now.
"That's exactly how you'd dote on a dog."
Crack, crack—the unhappy yet peaceful world surrounding her began to shatter.
"Daphne, you were treated like a dog. By that bastard."
The tears that had been welling up streamed down her face.