Dark Dad’s Rebirth - Chapter 9: Jealousy (2)

Horseback riding turned out to be far more intense than Aria had imagined. She had pictured leisurely rides through open fields, but the reality was entirely the opposite. The royal competition was being held in the mountainous terrain behind the palace, which meant navigating treacherous trails at a gallop.

Aria silently prayed to any deity who might listen. At this rate, she figured she was more likely to die falling off the horse than face any guillotine.

Clinging desperately to the horse’s mane, Aria tightly shut her eyes. Even though Leon was holding her firmly by the waist, the fear didn’t abate.

What kind of insane race is this?!

Having never ridden a horse in her life, Aria was terrified, paying no attention to the scenery around her and simply wishing for the race to end. But the forested mountain behind the palace was vast, which meant the course was equally lengthy. They had only just started, and the finish line was still painfully far away.

This is way too fast…!

Her entire body stiffened as fear gripped her, causing her to tense up. Leon, sensing her discomfort, slowed the horse and leaned closer to her ear.

“Lady Aria, are you all right?”

As the horse’s pace slowed, Aria cautiously opened her eyes and glanced back. Leon was watching her with a concerned expression.

“Oh, yes… I’m fine,” she lied, though every fiber of her being screamed otherwise. Please, for the love of all that’s holy, stop running!

“My apologies,” Leon said, a hint of guilt in his voice. “I didn’t consider your comfort and went too fast.”

“No, it’s… fine,” she stammered, though her trembling hands on the reins betrayed her words.

Leon tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her closer against him for stability. Their bodies now pressed even closer together.

“How is this pace? Is it more manageable?”

“Yes, it’s fine. But if we keep going like this, won’t we come in last?”

“That’s all right,” Leon replied with a warm smile. “Coming in last is fine.”

His gentle grin was so disarming that it was hard to believe he was a traitor.

How was Aria’s relationship with Leon in the original story again…?

If memory served, Leon had also tried to engage with Aria in the original story. However, the original Aria had shown little interest, and over time, Leon had grown disinterested as well. By the end, their relationship amounted to polite greetings in passing and nothing more.

They were certainly never close enough to ride a horse together like this.

Now that the pace had slowed, Aria’s pounding heart began to calm. For the first time, she noticed the surrounding scenery and took a deep breath to steady herself.

Where’s Father, though?

Had he already passed them?

Feeling slightly more composed, Aria started glancing around to find Caelius. It seemed the riders had split into two groups: one aiming to win the race by galloping ahead, and another taking their time to enjoy the ride with their partners.

Somehow, Aria and Leon had ended up in the latter group. Around them, women’s laughter rang out, and some riders were so leisurely that they appeared to be out for a casual stroll.

“Well, at least we won’t come in last,” Aria said with a sheepish smile after assessing their position.

Leon returned her smile. “That’s true.”

The rhythmic clopping of the horse’s hooves filled the silence that followed, though the close physical proximity made Aria acutely aware of every point of contact between their bodies. Her face felt warm, and she tried to focus elsewhere.

“Truthfully,” Leon began, breaking the quiet, “I came to this competition hoping I might see you again, Lady Aria.”

“…Pardon?”

“I regretted not having more chances to speak with you at the last banquet,” he explained, his voice earnest.

“Oh…”

Aria opened her mouth to respond but faltered, unsure of what to say. Sensing her hesitation, Leon continued with an easy, reassuring smile.

“If you hadn’t attended today, I wouldn’t have participated in the competition. But when I saw the Wittelsbach carriage, I was overjoyed. I doubt you realize how much it meant to me.”

Caught off guard, Aria’s eyes darted around, unsure of how to respond to his sudden confession.

“I apologize if I’ve made you uncomfortable. I didn’t mean anything by it,” Leon said, his tone light yet sincere. “I just… wanted to get to know you better. That’s all. A selfish wish of mine.”

Selfish wish? Traitor’s wish, more like.

The thought surfaced immediately in her mind.

Why is it that everyone in this world—Father, Leon Verha—always seems to have hidden motives beneath their polished exteriors?

Aria cast a sidelong glance at Leon, who was smiling harmlessly beside her. She couldn’t fathom why he was being so friendly now, knowing he would eventually betray both her and Caelius.

“Um… Sir Leon?”

“Yes, Lady Aria?”

“May I ask why you want to become close to me? It feels a bit sudden, that’s all.”

Her direct question made Leon’s eyes widen briefly before he let out a hearty laugh.

“Haha, I’ll be honest with you.”

The soft breeze carried the scent of flowers and grass, tickling her senses. His voice, mixed with the rustling air, reached her ears in a gentle tone.

“Perhaps you don’t know, but I once fought alongside Grand Duke Wittelsbach.”

The word “fought” made Aria’s eyes grow round with surprise. This wasn’t something she’d read in the original story—completely uncharted territory.

“Seven years ago, during the war with the Principality of Lepta, I had the opportunity to meet His Grace up close for the first time.”

Aria’s golden eyes fixed on him, filled with curiosity.

“At that time, the Grand Duke saved my life. He likely doesn’t even remember me, but I have never forgotten.”

Father saved someone’s life in a war? The revelation made Aria tilt her head, her expression skeptical. It seemed so unlike him.

“And that’s why,” Leon continued, “His Grace has always been my idol. When I heard he had a daughter, I naturally became curious about you as well.”

“So, it’s not that you’re interested in me, but because you admire my father, you became interested in me by association?”

“Honestly, you could say that.”

Then why did you betray him? He saved your life, for goodness’ sake! Aria wanted to blurt out but held her tongue, knowing she couldn’t ask outright.

“Honestly, I was quite surprised to hear you call him ‘Father.’”

It made sense—most noble children used formal titles like Father or Mother, while “Daddy” and “Mommy” were reserved for very young children.

“The difference between the Grand Duke I met on the battlefield and the man by your side now is so stark, it’s almost disorienting. Sometimes, I wonder if they’re the same person,” Leon said, chuckling softly as if recalling a fond memory.

But then his laughter ceased, and he leaned closer to murmur quietly.

“Still… don’t trust him too much.”

“…Pardon?”

Startled, Aria turned to him, but Leon’s face had returned to its usual cheerful smile, as if he hadn’t said anything at all.

With their bodies pressed close, the slow pace of the horse, and Leon’s relaxed demeanor, they could have been mistaken for any other couple enjoying a quiet ride together. The conversation dwindled, and a faint silence settled between them.

They continued on for some time until the finish line came into view. Several teams were already resting there, having arrived earlier.

Where’s Father?

Aria looked around, expecting to spot him ahead, but there was no sign of Caelius. It was strange—she had assumed he would arrive well before them.

Then, suddenly, a piercing scream broke through the air.

“Kyaaaah—!”

The scene at the finish line erupted into chaos.

Aria whipped her head toward the commotion and froze.

Walking toward the finish line, drenched in blood, was Caelius. In each hand, he carried a severed head, their features unrecognizable beneath the gore. On his black horse, the woman who had ridden with him lay unconscious, draped limply across the saddle. His expression was cold and unyielding, as though the carnage was nothing out of the ordinary.

With slow, deliberate steps, he crossed the finish line, still clutching the heads. The noisy crowd fell silent, the air thick with tension. Not even a whisper could be heard.

Aria’s mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. She was just as paralyzed as everyone else, unable to comprehend what had happened.

What in the world is going on here…?

Before she could process it, Caelius stood directly in front of her, filling her vision entirely. His bloodstained chest loomed close enough for her to feel the metallic tang of blood in the air.

In his usual calm and affectionate tone, he addressed her.

“Daughter.”

With a sickening thud, the heads he had been carrying fell to the ground. The path behind him was streaked with dark crimson, the blood of his victims marking every step he had taken.

“It’s too dangerous. This won’t do.”

“…Pardon?”

“From now on, you’ll ride with me,” Caelius said. His words were accompanied by a grotesque smile, blood dripping from his face and hands. Even Aria, who was rarely at a loss for words, found herself unable to respond.

Some bystanders rushed to the unconscious woman on the black horse, pouring cold water over her and slapping her cheeks. Thankfully, she regained consciousness quickly, though her face was as pale as a ghost.

Aria’s mind raced, struggling to make sense of the situation.

No, no, what is even happening right now?

Hadn’t they said this event was safe because it was hosted by the palace?

She kept her head stiffly upright, avoiding the sight of the severed heads that lay on the ground. Her wide eyes remained locked on Caelius, whose calm demeanor contrasted jarringly with the violent chaos around him.

But her thoughts were interrupted by Leon’s shout from behind.

“Fred!”

Turning around, Aria saw that the white horse they had been riding was now collapsed on the ground, its body limp. Just moments ago, the horse had been the picture of strength and health, yet now it lay motionless.

“W-What… What’s going on?”

Caelius crouched slightly, lowering himself to meet Aria’s gaze. His sharp, upturned eyes carried a calmness that felt strangely out of place.

“There were assassins scattered throughout the forest,” he explained matter-of-factly.

“…Assassins?”

“Judging by the symptoms, the horse was likely fed a muscle-relaxing agent.”

“But… but this is the palace grounds!” Aria stammered, disbelief clear in her voice.

At the mention of the palace, Caelius’s gaze shifted momentarily to another part of the gathering—the area where Azecresis and his faction of nobles were seated.

“Yes,” Caelius murmured, his voice chillingly calm. “This is the palace.”

Who in the empire could have the audacity to plant assassins in the royal forest? Caelius didn’t elaborate further, but the implication was crystal clear to everyone present. The nobles, particularly those aligned with the emperor’s faction, exchanged uneasy glances.

The competition descended into chaos. The discovery of assassins during an event attended by nearly all the empire’s high-ranking nobles was a catastrophe. Adding to the outrage, even the horses had been drugged—a calculated move meant to incapacitate.

This wasn’t a mere prank or a minor act of rebellion; it was a declaration of intent.

Though the immediate targets had been Caelius and Aria, the gathered nobles couldn’t ignore the fact that the blade could easily be turned toward any one of them next.

The murmurs among the nobles grew louder, the tension palpable. Meanwhile, the emperor’s loyalists remained conspicuously silent, their expressions uneasy as they gauged the room.

To diffuse the situation, Azecresis hastily announced the formation of a special investigative unit to handle the matter.

But no one put much stock in his words.

Everyone knew the likely culprits were tied to the emperor’s faction itself. Any investigation would be superficial at best, and before long, some expendable pawn would be sacrificed to sweep the matter under the rug.

Aria watched the scene unfold, her mind buzzing with unanswered questions. The cheerful spring equestrian event had turned into a horrifying display of blood, politics, and power.

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