Dark Dad’s Rebirth - Chapter 12: A New Tool (5)

The effects of the drug weren’t bad at all. For the past several days, Aria had practically replaced her meals with hallucinogens, and the dull ache in her chest had subsided, leaving her feeling strangely light. A faint smile lingered on her lips—an involuntary reaction the drug coaxed from her, even though she didn’t feel truly happy.

This isn’t so bad, she thought idly.

Sighing, she opened the drawer to find that the supply she had bought from Antion was nearly gone.

I’m almost out…

She would need to meet Antion soon to replenish her stock. With effort, Aria forced herself to her feet and stumbled toward her desk to write a letter. Her body, weakened by days of neglecting food and sustaining herself on drugs, protested with dizziness. She staggered, her movements unsteady, as if her body no longer obeyed her commands.

I’m so tired…

A sudden knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

“Lady Aria,” called a voice from the hallway.

It was unusual for anyone to disturb her these days, as she had instructed the maids to forego unnecessary visits for cleaning or bathing preparations. Aria frowned in confusion.

“Young Lord Verha has come to see you.”

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Verha…?”

Her voice was hoarse and rough from disuse. She coughed to clear her throat before speaking again.

“Young Lord Verha is here? At the estate?”

“Yes, he’s waiting in the drawing room.”

“I’ll… I’ll be right down.”

Scrambling, Aria grabbed a handful of gold coins from her drawer and threw on a thin cardigan over her indoor slip. She barely noticed how unsuitable her attire was for receiving guests—her thoughts were focused entirely on one thing.

He must have brought more.

Without even brushing her disheveled hair, she hurried to the door. Maids gasped at her unkempt appearance, but Aria paid them no mind as she rushed toward the drawing room.

“Young lord…!”

She threw open the doors, and there he was—Leon Verha, sitting gracefully, sipping tea with an elegant smile. At the sight of her, his face lit up with practiced warmth.

“Lady Aria.”

Breathless, she wasted no time getting to the point.

“You’ve brought more, haven’t you? More of the drug?”

Leon tightened his fist discreetly, suppressing the smirk threatening to surface. He had worried that Antion’s decision to lower the dosage might reduce its effectiveness, but clearly, Aria was already falling apart.

“Ah, forgive me, my lady. I must have caught you at an inconvenient time,” he said, subtly remarking on her disheveled state.

Aria, oblivious to the slight, didn’t even flinch.

“I was about to write to you—I’m running low,” she replied, her voice raspy and uneven.

Her once-clear and melodious tone had become coarse, and her once-plump, hydrated lips were now dry and cracked. She didn’t even attempt to hide her desperation, speaking quickly and erratically. It was the first and most obvious sign of addiction: impatience, a constant sense of urgency.

“Fortunately, I anticipated this,” Leon said smoothly, guiding her to sit beside him. From his pocket, he produced a small bundle of hallucinogens. The moment he revealed them, Aria’s eyes glimmered with a mixture of relief and craving.

“Thank you, young lord,” she said, a faint smile crossing her lips as she reached for one and immediately lit it.

Leon watched silently, making no effort to stop her.

“Lady Aria,” he said softly, but she was too preoccupied to listen. She inhaled deeply, her frantic breathing slowing as the drug took effect. Her shoulders relaxed, and for the first time since she entered the room, she seemed calm.

“Haa…”

“Are you all right?” Leon asked, feigning concern.

“Thank you, young lord,” she muttered again, her words slurring slightly as the drug dulled her senses.

Her once-brilliant golden eyes had lost their focus, glazing over as she stared blankly at nothing in particular. She drew in another drag, her lips trembling slightly as the smoke filled her lungs.

This batch seemed more potent than usual, pulling her deeper into the drug’s grip with alarming speed. Her thoughts grew hazy, her mind pleasantly empty, free from the burdens of reality.

Leon rose from his seat as Aria continued to lose herself, oblivious to his movements.

“It works quickly, doesn’t it?” he murmured under his breath, more to himself than to her.

The sight of the once-proud Wittlesbach lady reduced to this state brought a cruel smile to his lips, so unlike the warm, courteous expression he wore in her presence.

Without another word, he left the room, leaving Aria alone with her spiraling descent.

Leon’s soft, measured voice pulled Aria from her spiraling thoughts.

“My lady, I only stopped by briefly… I’m afraid I must take my leave now.”

Her disappointment was visible as she stared at the small bundle of hallucinogens he’d handed her. It was far less than what Antion had provided before.

“Wait… this isn’t enough. This won’t even last me a few days,” she said urgently, her trembling hands clutching at his sleeve.

Leon gazed down at her, observing how desperation had consumed her. She looked no different than a common vagrant, clinging to the scraps he gave her. The daughter of Caelius, once called the sun of the empire, had fallen to this.

He smiled warmly, his voice soothing. “Don’t worry, Lady Aria. I’ll return soon with more.”

“Really? You promise?”

“Yes, within three days.”

He gently brushed his hand along her gaunt cheek, his expression one of tender concern. The sight of her frailty seemed to please him.

“So please, take care until then.”

“Please… please don’t forget,” she murmured, her voice trembling as his hand combed through her disheveled hair. Starved for affection, Aria instinctively leaned into his touch, like a child seeking comfort.

Leon, his kind mask firmly in place, brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.

“May your days ahead be peaceful,” he said softly before taking his leave.

Aria watched him go, her gaze lingering on the door even after he disappeared. Slowly, she turned and began stumbling back toward her room, but her steps faltered as she passed Caelius’s office. From within came the sound of laughter—light and carefree.

“Wow, Father! Look at this! I made ice! Isn’t it amazing? I just thought it should freeze, and it did!”

“You’ve grown quite adept at it.”

“Hehe, am I a fast learner?”

“You’re not bad.”

“Phew, that’s a relief… I was worried I might not be able to use the ring like Sister.”

Aria’s feet moved of their own accord toward the source of the voices, bringing her closer to the door.

“You had no reason to worry,” Caelius replied evenly. “You have the blood of the royal family. It was always certain.”

“Then… does that mean Sister doesn’t have royal blood?”

“Who knows…”

Hearing Caelius’s voice made Aria’s chest tighten painfully.

“Then… she might not really be my sister?”

Leria’s question made Aria feel as though the floor had disappeared beneath her. Her hands clenched into fists as she fought to suppress the nausea rising in her throat. Despite Leria’s bold, almost reckless line of questioning, Caelius didn’t seem inclined to rebuke her.

“Seeing as she can’t use the power, she may not be your sister after all,” Leria said smugly, her tone light and mocking.

Caelius remained silent for a moment before speaking.

“You’re probably right.”

His voice was calm, almost indifferent.

“You and she are different. There’s no need to think of her as your sister.”

“Really?”

“…Yes. You were never truly sisters to begin with.”

Standing in the shadow of the slightly ajar door, Aria stared blankly at the scene within. Her vision blurred as her tears gathered.

Just moments ago, she had felt a fleeting semblance of happiness, even if it had been drug-induced. But now, that feeling was gone, replaced by a cold, hollow ache.

I’m so sick of this.

Her emotions swung wildly, and she struggled to keep up with them. It felt like someone had placed a heavy weight on her chest, making it hard to breathe.

“Father, you know… I want another dress shop besides the one you got me last time,” Leria said, her tone bright and carefree.

Caelius merely chuckled and patted her head. “Who did you take after to be so greedy…?”

“Hehe.”

“We’ll have to go shopping again soon.”

Watching them, Aria couldn’t tell if Caelius’s affection for Leria was genuine or feigned. But seeing him act so tenderly toward someone else twisted her insides in knots.

“And tomorrow,” he continued, “we’re attending the Empress’s tea party.”

“Yes!”

“Good. You’re still not used to etiquette, so have you prepared properly?”

“Don’t worry! I’ll work hard so I don’t embarrass you, Father!”

Aria couldn’t bear to listen any longer. Tears rolled freely down her cheeks, and she didn’t have the strength to hide her expression of pain. Without thinking, she turned and ran to her room.

Once again, the only solace she had was the hallucinogen.

Closing all the windows, sealing herself in darkness, she lit the end of another white stick, watching the faint ember glow before inhaling deeply.

She hated Caelius.

She hated how he had once made her feel like the most important person in the world, only to replace her so effortlessly. She hated the warmth he now showered on someone else, the gentle tone he once reserved for her alone.

As the acrid smoke filled her lungs, Aria exhaled shakily, her tears still streaming. The familiar haze began to cloud her mind, dulling the sharp edges of her anguish.

But no matter how much she smoked, the ache in her chest wouldn’t entirely fade.

Why… why does it hurt so much?

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