IAVAGVH Chapter 18

Chapter 18

 

 

It felt like her heart was burning and freezing at the same time, as if it would stop at any moment.

With a gag in her mouth, she couldn’t breathe properly and gasped for air. The unbearable pain tearing through her body made Daphne scream.

“Mmpphh!!!”

Whenever the pain eased slightly, an unbearable itch, like insects crawling over her skin, tormented her.

Daphne felt like she was losing her mind. She didn’t even want to live anymore.

If only she could just die like this.

But then, an image of Jacquette’s face appeared in her mind, and tears streamed down her face.

‘Please… someone… save me…’

Daphne, who had been enduring for so long, finally reached her limit. Her mind became hazy.

It felt like she was drowning—her ears ringing, her senses fading.

Then suddenly, she gasped for breath, as if she had been pulled out of the water.

Blinking, she slowly regained her senses.

“Where… am I?”

As she looked around, she noticed a strange warmth spreading from her palm, flowing throughout her body.

Curious about the warm sensation in her hand, she lowered her gaze.

A jewel?

It was a pale pink gemstone, sparkling beautifully in the light.

She felt like she had seen it somewhere before.

Holding it up to the moonlight, she examined it closely.

Even in the dim light, she could see its details.

Inside the gemstone, golden smoke swirled gently.

“It looks… alive.”

She had never heard of a gemstone that radiated warmth.

It felt full of life as if it were breathing.

As she stared at it in a trance and clenched it in her hand, she suddenly sensed a presence behind her.

Daphne flinched and turned toward the source of the sound.

A man was lying on the ground.

Seeing him, Daphne’s eyes widened in shock.

It was Theophanes Anaxi, the Duke of Anaxi.

‘Why is he here?’

Blood dripped from his lips.

“……”

She wanted to call out to him, but no sound came from her mouth.

The Duke had left for the capital—so why was he here? It felt like a dream.

On the table in the room, two teacups sat as if someone had been having tea.

Steam still rose from the cups, meaning the tea hadn’t cooled completely.

“Cough… ugh…”

Theophanes coughed, and more blood spilled from his mouth.

With great difficulty, he pushed himself up and leaned against a nearby sofa, his lips moving weakly.

“Why…?”

Daphne tried to move toward him, but her body wouldn’t obey her.

It was as if she was being controlled as if her body wasn’t her own.

Her gaze was suddenly drawn downward again.

The gemstone was still in her hand.

But instead of its beautiful glow, it was now soaked in dark red blood.

Daphne quickly looked up again.

Theophanes’ condition had worsened. His clothes were stained with blood, not just his lips but his entire upper body.

He needed treatment immediately.

Daphne tried again to move, but her body remained frozen.

Instead, her lips moved on their own.

“I’m sorry. You can hate me if you want.”

She had no idea what was happening, but the voice that came from her mouth was cold and emotionless.

“I… I promised to help you…”

The man’s weak voice was barely a whisper.

“You can’t help. This is something I must do.”

“That can’t be… ugh, no, Prina…”

At the sound of his agonized voice, Daphne—or rather, the person whose body she was in, Prina—flinched.

But only for a moment.

Suppressing the emotions that surged up, Prina spoke firmly, as if making a final decision.

“No, I must end this.”

Theophanes’ breath grew ragged. After a long pause, he finally whispered:

“I love you… I gave up everything because I love you.”

At those words, a storm of emotions swirled deep inside her.

Resignation, hope, fear, guilt… and love.

A single word couldn’t describe the suffocating weight pressing against her chest.

Prina felt as if she were the one with a wounded heart.

“I’m sorry, Ber.”

Swallowing the words she wanted to say, Prina spoke in a barely audible voice.

The moment she finished speaking, Theophanes’ body collapsed to the side, lifeless.

Prina carefully moved toward him, kneeling beside his fallen form.

But just as she did, Daphne was suddenly pulled back as if something had forcefully ejected her.

She staggered, looking down at her hands.

The gemstone was gone.

And her body—she was translucent.

Daphne could only watch.

Prina whispered something softly into Theophanes’ ear.

“…If you… meet me… then… run….”

She looked like she had more to say, but instead, she stood up.

Then, as she turned around, Daphne gasped.

Prina looked exactly like her.

Their eyes met. Prina’s gaze was cold and piercing.

Then, Prina spoke.

“Go back now. Do what you must do.”

“What am I supposed to do?!”

Unlike before, Daphne’s voice came out clearly.

“I can’t tell you. But I can give you a hint.”

“What—?”

“There’s no time. Go back.”

As soon as Prina finished speaking, the ground beneath Daphne crumbled.

A powerful force yanked her down into the darkness.

And then—everything went black.

Meanwhile, in the imperial palace…

The Emperor had grown weak due to illness, and the Crown Prince had taken over his duties.

It was mostly minor illnesses caused by aging, but it was also a way to give the Crown Prince experience in ruling.

“The Crown Prince will see you now.”

“So, this is the infamous Duke of Anaxi?”

Meeting the Crown Prince directly was the quickest way to settle important matters.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I’d like to have a longer conversation with you.”

Three days had already passed.

Even using teleportation, it would take at least two more days to reach his destination.

“I’m in a hurry.”

Crown Prince Halio Athanasius observed the man before him.

Despite his simple, rugged attire, the Duke’s charisma was undeniable.

Theophanes pulled out two documents from his coat.

“I need your approval.”

His tone suggested that refusal was not an option.

“Let me take a look.”

Helio smiled confidently as he examined the documents.

One was a marriage certificate.

The other—a family registration paper.

“Daphne Himonas?”

Helio muttered the name.

Daphne Himonas—he had met her briefly at an orphanage.

He remembered her pale silver hair, delicate face, and deep purple eyes filled with despair.

“You know my wife?”

“Ah… we met briefly.”

“I see.”

Theophanes raised an eyebrow.

“She had a daughter?”

“She adopted the child of a noble family she was close to.”

“She told you that?”

Theophanes set his teacup down.

“She is not just a noblewoman. She is the Duchess.”

Helio examined the Duke again.

Rumors surrounded him—people speculated he was ugly or disabled.

But the reality?

He was breathtakingly handsome, like a sculpture carved by the gods.

If he had appeared in high society, every noblewoman would have fallen for him.

“Are you done staring?”

“Ah, well…”

“You should stop. My wife rather likes my face.”

At those words, everyone in the room, including Helio, was speechless.

Helio quickly composed himself.

“How old are you?”

“It’s rude to ask a gentleman that.”

An awkward silence filled the room.

Realizing he wouldn’t get more information, Helio sighed, grabbed the documents, and stood up.

“I need the Emperor’s seal. Wait here.”

“Of course.”

The documents were soon approved, and Theophanes left the palace without further delay.