Golden Melody

Chapter 173

Chapter 173

Blue City – Damian's Office

The door slid open automatically the moment Ashel knocked.

Inside, the usually imposing Damian sat behind his desk, shoulders slightly slumped, his gaze unfocused.

The vast office—lined with glass panels overlooking Blue City—felt unusually heavy.

Ashel stepped in and took the seat across from him.

"You look terrible," Ashel said bluntly.
"That's not the face of someone who just completed a successful mission."

Damian let out a slow breath, leaning back in his chair.

"I'm... grateful I went to the capital personally," he said.
"If I hadn't, I wouldn't have seen her."

Ashel's expression sharpened.
"Her?"

"My daughter."
The word lingered in the air.

Damian's voice dropped, rougher now.
"The one taken from me since she was born... I saw her again."

For a moment, the conqueror king was gone—replaced by nothing more than a father.

"I never abandoned her," Damian continued quietly.
"But no matter how many times I tried to explain... she refused to forgive me."

His hands tightened slightly on the armrest.

"And yet... last night... we fought side by side."

A faint, conflicted smile appeared.
"I even got to hold her."

He exhaled shakily.
"I was happy... and miserable at the same time. I don't even know what I'm supposed to feel."

His glowing green eyes lifted toward Ashel.
"Tell me... as a human... what should I feel?"

Ashel shook his head immediately.

"Don't pull that 'pure human' nonsense on me," he said.
"If that happened to me, I'd feel the same."

He leaned forward slightly, voice steady.

"Joy and pain don't belong to one race. They're part of being alive. You don't need permission to feel both."

Silence settled for a beat.

Then Damian smiled faintly.
"...You really are my only friend I can count on," he said.
"Thank you."

Ashel waved it off, then narrowed his eyes.

"So," he said, shifting tone,
"why was she there? Don't tell me she's one of the enemies."

Damian shook his head, his expression tightening again.

"Worse," he muttered.
"She's Zaren's mysterious hybrid agent."

Ashel blinked, caught off guard.

"That... agent?" he said.
"The one who handles all of Zaren's... delicate operations?"

Damian nodded slowly, clearly struggling with the thought.

"My princess... serving under my own subordinate," he said bitterly. "I can't accept it."

Ashel leaned back, exhaling.

"...Yeah," he muttered. "I get it."

He rubbed his temple briefly.

"I wouldn't want my daughter to tangle up with someone who already has a complicated life either," he added.
"Especially not as... anything secondary."