Chapter 06
A flash of silver hair and clear gray eyes.
That strikingly handsome face.
Immediately, a name surfaced in my mind—Asil.
“…Who are you?”
To be honest, I wasn’t completely sure.
In the original story, Asil was a pitiful character who evoked sympathy.
He had lived as a slave for a long time because he was a beastman, so he didn’t know proper etiquette.
But the man before me was dressed neatly, standing with perfect posture like a young noble.
That didn’t quite match the Asil I remembered.
Yet a face like that… not being a main character?
That also felt strange.
“It seems I was late in introducing myself. I am Asil Raphman—a distant relative of Lord Raphman.”
“Ah!”
So it was Asil!
Hey, Asil! When did you become a relative of imperial nobility?!
Wasn’t your original setting that you suffered in the slave market until Daphne saved you?!
I was inwardly stunned.
Then I thought of someone else.
‘Cesia!’
It must be that Cesia interfered and changed the story!
I didn’t hate the idea of the original plot changing.
Cesia probably did it to avoid her own ending.
I could understand that—I also wanted to change the original story.
But Asil coming here like this?
To me, with no connection at all?
I guided Asil to the sofa and sat across from him, smiling.
“Nice to meet you, Asil. Why did you come to see me?”
“Please call me Asil, Daphne.”
Asil smiled softly, and my own smile cracked.
A huge shock struck me like a hammer.
Ahhh! Dear readers, listen!
The adorable, sympathetic little beastman who once stole all your affection is flirting with me! He’s radiating unfamiliar adult charm!
I cleared my throat to calm myself and looked at him again.
“Alright, Asil. Then answer my question.”
“I heard the Seain family was in debt. And that Daphne had won the lottery.”
“How do you know about that? It only happened yesterday…”
“I have rather a lot of ears.”
Asil smiled leisurely.
Suspicious.
Just then, there was a knock, and Nana entered the reception room.
“I brought tea.”
She rolled in a tray and set out cookies, cake, and tea.
Oh, Nana—she remembered I hadn’t eaten breakfast!
I looked at her with grateful eyes, and she subtly gave me a thumbs-up before leaving.
Nana really is the best!
Happily, I started eating the cake.
I didn’t usually like sweets because they felt too heavy, but here they tasted strangely light.
Had my tastes changed?
Sunlight and spring breeze flowed in through the open window, and delicious desserts sat in front of me.
I focused on eating in the peaceful atmosphere.
After I’d eaten two slices of cake and two cookies and sipped tea to finish, I finally remembered—
“Oh, sorry, Daphne. I came in a hurry and didn’t make an appointment. I must have arrived before you ate.”
Ah! It had been so quiet I forgot Asil was here!
Had he really waited while I ate?
Feeling more relaxed now that my stomach was full, I smiled.
“No, it’s fine. The timing was a bit awkward anyway.”
“Thank you for forgiving me.”
Asil smiled along with me.
“Please allow me to escort you as an apology.”
“Excuse me?”
What is he talking about now?
Frowning slightly, I looked at him.
He spoke with confidence.
“You have to go to the dark district to pay your debt and retrieve the promissory note. If I go with you, it will be easier.”
“I was planning to hire a professional.”
“No one can do it better than I can.”
I stared at him with half-lidded eyes.
“It’s fine. It’s not like I’m doing anything dangerous—just paying back money.”
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning.”
“Excuse me? I said I’m fine.”
“Then I’ll take my leave. Have a good day.”
“Hey? Wait—just a moment!”
Before I could finish speaking, he left the reception room.
I stared at the closed door in disbelief.
So stubborn. Just like the male leads in romance novels.
“Is being self-willed a common trait of romance heroes?”
I muttered while sipping the remaining tea.
The Next Morning
“Good morning, Daphne.”
“You really came?”
“Of course. Ever since we parted, I couldn’t stop thinking about seeing you.”
When I opened the front door, Asil was waiting.
He smiled brightly at me.
Nana, who saw Asil, asked, “Miss, is he your friend?”
“I am Asil Raphman. I will be Daphne’s escort for the day.”
“I see! I’m Nana, the maid serving the young lady. Please take good care of her!”
They exchanged greetings.
“It’s good that you have an escort. Have a safe trip, miss!”
Earlier she insisted on coming along, but now she changed her mind so easily?
I hadn’t planned to take her anyway, but I felt a little disappointed.
“Daphne, your hand.”
Asil extended his hand.
After a moment’s hesitation, I placed mine in his.
Asil was not a bad person.
He was the most loyal and devoted male lead to Daphne.
And he was incredibly strong, so I felt reassured.
It was strange that he suddenly acted so familiar, but…
People’s core nature doesn’t really change, right?
More importantly, I wanted to leave before Rosanna and Maria noticed.
Fortunately, they had returned late last night and were still sleeping.
I should escape before they asked what my relationship with Asil was.
“I brought my carriage.”
“Alright. Where are we going?”
“I already told the driver.”
Asil guided me to a sturdy-looking carriage.
After I climbed in with his help, the carriage set off.
I looked at Asil across from me and spoke.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I appreciate the favor. I’ve never hired an escort before, so I wasn’t sure what to do. Thank you for helping.”
“…I’m glad you accepted it, Daphne.”
Asil blushed slightly and smiled, looking genuinely happy.
There he was again.
That obedient side of him from the novel.
I looked at him with mixed feelings—amusement and confusion.
Whether I understood him or not.
Asil continued chatting with me in a friendly way, bringing small things and speaking casually.
I answered lightly and kept the conversation going.
At one point, curiosity struck me.
“I won’t ask how you found me. You probably wouldn’t answer anyway.”
“I really do regret that.”
Asil nodded with a smile.
What? Was he actually regretful?
I studied his face.
Especially the right corner of his mouth.
“Do you know someone named Cesia Eos?”
At that, Asil nodded.
“I know of her. She’s currently the most famous person in the empire.”
“Are you close with Lady Cesia?”
“…Unfortunately, we have no personal relationship.”
He answered with a smile.
Then he looked directly into my eyes.
“Do you know her, Daphne?”
“I know of her.”
“Since you asked me like that, does it mean you are close to her?”
“…No. I don’t really know her.”
Tch. I didn’t expect him to turn the question back on me.
I scratched my cheek awkwardly.
Asil chuckled softly.
His mouth curved into a neat smile—no twitch of the right corner.
That was the tell from the novel: when he lied, the right corner of his mouth would twitch.
It hadn’t happened.
So it was true?
He really didn’t know Cesia?
I still felt doubtful, but without proof I decided to believe him.
Then the carriage, which had been moving smoothly, jolted.
“We’ve entered the dark district.”
I peeked through the curtain.
A person was lying in the street, convulsing.
I flinched, and Asil gently covered the window so I wouldn’t look.
“The dark district is full of drugged vagrants and thieves. You don’t need to see it, Daphne.”
The worst and most crime-ridden area of the capital.
A place where screams never ceased.
Even a brief glance matched the description from the novel, so I didn’t feel good.
Asil also looked at the window with a dark expression.
No wonder his mood was bad.
This was where he had once lived as a slave.
I had thought he would be fine since he volunteered to escort me, but trauma doesn’t disappear easily.
In the original story, Daphne would heal Asil’s wounds—but I was Daphne now, so that wasn’t likely.
Still, that wasn’t my responsibility.
I had enough trouble dealing with my own wounds.
The carriage finally stopped.
“We’re here.”
Asil stepped out first and looked around the dark district before turning to me.
“Be careful—the path is uneven.”
He smiled gently, the same beautiful smile he had when I first met him.
In the novel, Asil was saved by Daphne but never fully escaped his trauma.
So whenever he had to enter the dark district, it was painful for him.
Yet the man before me looked calm and composed.
…Had he healed his trauma on his own, without finding his savior?
“You did well, Asil.”
“Excuse me?”
Even with help, healing wounds was hard.
To overcome it alone—how admirable.
You really are the Asil I used to root for!
Asil’s eyes widened at my sudden words.
He quickly composed himself, but it was too late.
I had already seen his expression.
He liked the compliment.
Some things never change.
I smiled and took his hand as I stepped out of the carriage.
Ahead of us stood a gloomy building, looming like a presence.
