Chapter 25
No Entry to Heaven
The golden bullet had only grazed her skin; Daphne’s body had no significant issues.
That was the doctor’s assessment. Even so, Daphne didn’t wake. The previous night, she had gone into shock after experiencing breathing difficulties that nearly stopped her heart.
Celestian felt dizzy as overlapping images of Daphne’s increasingly gaunt face filled his vision.
Damn it.
He closed his eyes—those golden eyes that had once been full of life now shut and dull.
―If you stay by her side, Daphne will continue to be in danger.
As much as he wanted to deny it, the words weren’t wrong.
―If you’re near Daphne…!
Leaning against a red brick wall, Celestian covered his mouth. A dry heave escaped him.
A low rumble echoed from the distance—it seemed like it was going to rain again. The damp smell of wet earth was nauseating.
Unable to hold back, Celestian braced his forearm against the wall and began retching.
“Your Grace?”
Misha emerged from the shadows, leading a black horse. When Celestian’s bloodshot eyes turned toward him, Misha instinctively held his breath.
“Here, take this…”
Misha quickly handed over a toy-sized whiskey bottle that he always kept ready for Daphne. Celestian gave a faint, crooked smile, took the bottle, rinsed his mouth with the whiskey, and spat it out.
Mounting the horse in one smooth motion, Celestian steadied the startled animal with a soothing touch, calming it until it snorted softly in submission.
“You’ll come back, won’t you?”
Misha offered him a black cloak, repeating the question several times.
“If you’re so worried, let’s call off the deal.”
“I’d prefer not to, but the task you suggested is urgent for me as well.”
Misha’s reply was quick. He had a massive debt he needed to settle without Daphne knowing, and the job Celestian had asked for wasn’t particularly difficult. Still, Misha’s secret was absurd the more one thought about it.
“Real estate speculation?”
Celestian let out a short, mirthless chuckle, clicking his tongue right after.
Misha had grown a lot, but his slim figure, ash-gray eyes, and neatly tied black hair remained unchanged. The rimless glasses he wore were probably something Daphne had…
The Misha Celestian remembered hadn’t been this narrow-minded.
“If our boss gets angry, she’s terrifying.”
As soon as Misha finished speaking, heavy raindrops began to fall, landing with a dull plop, plop.
“Then it’s your fault for sneaking around and getting involved in such things.”
Misha’s expression darkened noticeably.
“I can’t help but wonder why you’d borrow money from someone like that, especially with her around.”
Celestian raised an eyebrow. Even in the dim light, Misha’s face turned ghostly pale.
“…I had unavoidable circumstances of my own. What I’d like is an answer. Are you coming back or not? If not, I’ll need to make my own arrangements…”
“Misha.”
Celestian’s golden hair, unkempt and untamed, fluttered lightly in the breeze. The drizzling rain grew steadier, creating small puddles on the ground. Misha stepped under the shelter of an awning to keep from getting drenched.
“Yes?”
“I’ll come back, whether I want to or not.”
“What?”
Celestian made a soft, determined sound and pulled the reins hard. The horse reared, then surged forward, hooves pounding into the sodden earth.
“What in the world… Ugh!”
A mud splattered across Misha’s face.
*****
Daphne regained consciousness after three days.
“Ah, damn it. Amen. God, thank you.”
Relieved to be alive, Daphne cleared her throat.
She struggled to open her eyelids. Her head felt heavy, the unpleasant sensation of having overslept lingering.
“It hurts so much.”
She inhaled through her nose, catching the faint scent of antiseptics. Blinking, she tried to focus her vision. It was a hospital room.
After a few minutes, it was as if a switch had been flipped—her senses gradually returned.
“It’s itchy.”
Golden strands of silky hair were scattered across Daphne’s hand, tickling her skin. It was Psyche.
“Psy…”
The “-che” didn’t come out. When Daphne’s hand twitched slightly, Psyche quickly sat up. Her blue eyes spilled tears that fell like raindrops.
“An angel is crying. Angel, is this heaven?”
Her voice was pitifully hoarse. Daphne cleared her throat with a small cough.
“You’re not going to heaven.”
Psyche’s face showed relief, but her tone was laced with a casual curse, delivered with unnerving sweetness.
“So, it’s reality. Did I get shot? My side feels numb.”
“It just grazed you.”
Daphne shook her head in disbelief. “Just grazed me?” How could she have been unconscious for three days from something so minor? Getting shot should come with more dignity!
“It felt like my side was completely blown out.”
Daphne added with a serious expression. She glanced down at the area near her left chest, where the bullet must have grazed. Her side was tightly wrapped in pristine white bandages, and she felt no sensation there.
“Or maybe it nicked my heart.”
It was a joke meant to lighten the mood.
“Your nerves, muscles, and bones are all fine.”
Psyche, oblivious to the humor, answered firmly. Daphne scrunched her nose and nodded.
“Honestly, you’re…”
Psyche sighed, pressing a handkerchief to her tear-streaked face. She sniffled before picking up a bell on the table and ringing it.
A nurse with a pale, haggard face entered immediately, bowing politely in front of Psyche.
“Lady Daphne.”
“Yes?”
“We’ve been waiting for you to wake up.”
The nurse seemed like she’d been the most eager person of all for Daphne’s recovery.
With practiced efficiency, the nurse shone a light into Daphne’s eyes, unwrapped the layers of bandages, and revealed a handspan-long stitched wound near her side.
“Didn’t I almost die?”
“You almost did last night, but you seem fine now~”
The nurse responded in a kind voice before tending to the wound and vanishing as quickly as she came.
“Help me sit up.”
Psyche approached without hesitation, propping up the bed’s headrest and tying Daphne’s hair neatly into a ponytail. She then resumed her seat with perfect posture. Through the window behind her, the fresh green of the garden came into view.
“It’s a color similar to Celestian’s eyes.”
Daphne sipped water through a straw, her eyes darting around. Kisha was likely outside, and Misha was probably at work with a sour expression.
“Where is he?”
“Who?”
It was nice to wake up to such a beautiful face. Psyche was undoubtedly the leading lady of this place, with her blonde hair and all. Daphne figured Celestian had avoided her.
“If it were me, I’d stay close no matter what. If you like someone, go for it! What good is being shy?”
But the blonde she wanted wasn’t Psyche. Daphne didn’t want to bring up Celestian and upset Psyche, so she shook her head.
“I told you this would happen.”
Psyche spoke softly. Daphne instantly understood what she meant.
“You said it just grazed me.”
Daphne rubbed her temple with the palm of her hand.
“You woke up after three days.”
“That’s strange. My birthday isn’t Christmas.”
“Daphne, stop dodging the subject. Last night, you went into shock and almost died.”
Daphne licked her dry lips with her tongue.
“Shock? No wonder my dreams were so restless.”
Psyche seemed genuinely angry. She’d likely ask again how and when Celestian was going to be dealt with.
“At the end of the day, I survived, didn’t I? You’re acting like you got shot instead.”
“It was you who got shot. Daphne, you took the bullet meant for that man.”
“And yet I didn’t die. It’s just my first time being shot. I’ve been overworked lately, so I treated it as a chance to rest.”
“Daphne, how can you say that? You were hurt—”
When Psyche realized she wasn’t getting through, she seemed ready to resort to tears. Daphne had seen countless people, men and women alike, fall for Psyche’s teary face. She’d been one of them once.
“Your Highness, the Crown Princess-to-be, turn off the waterworks~ Romeo isn’t here to comfort you.”
But Daphne, now thoroughly immune, smirked and tossed a corner of her blanket at Psyche. She swung her legs over the side of the bed to escape.
“Ah, it hurts.”
The moment she stood, a wave of dizziness hit her. Psyche’s words sounded distant but gradually returned to clarity.
“Lie down!”
“No. You hate him, but I’m going to see the prince you like so much.”
The damned prince. Or rather, the ruined prince.
Considering they’d faced life and death together, wasn’t it only fair he watched her wake up?
Truthfully, just before waking up, Daphne had secretly hoped the gaze fixed on her would be Celestian’s.
“…Looking like that?”
Still, she wasn’t disappointed. After all, the prince had treated her kindly these past few days, even knowing she liked him. That was more than enough.
Psyche’s concerned face appeared again.
“I see.”
If the woman who’d risked everything to love him felt uncomfortable, then of course that polite prince would leave.
―Daphne.
Hearing her name in that deep voice had left goosebumps all over her.
“Why did he pretend not to know my name? Was it because I didn’t introduce myself properly?”
When Psyche left, Daphne would have to ask him directly.
“You’ve been awfully blunt with me, Psyche.”
Daphne looked at her reflection in the sink’s mirror.
Even Psyche, who rarely criticized anyone other than “him,” had called her appearance pitiful. It really must be something.
Before she could retort, Psyche said coldly, “Celestian Theriosa has left.”
Daphne froze at the icy tone, goosebumps rising on her arms.
“I told you, that man isn’t trustworthy.”
Before Daphne could respond, Psyche cut her off again, her voice sharp.
“This time, Daphne, you were wrong.”
