Darius Zeferon Ashet

Emperor Darius Zeferon Ashet is the Emperor of the Ashet Empire. Darius is the husband of Isabelle Rusty Ashet, the father of the crown prince Maximilian Kasin Ashet and princess Beatrice Evelyn Ashet. He is the main antagonist of Father, I Don’t Want To Get Married!

Original Novel
Darius is the catalyst of the original novel, as it was his actions that caused the original plot of the story to take place. After being crowned Emperor of Ashet, his country went to war with the Tezeria Kingdom. When the kingdom’s knights invaded the capital, Darius cowardly ran for his life, using his guards as his shields. Darius was eventually rescued and protected by his loyal subject Regis Adri Floyen. Despite risking his life to save him, Darius held no gratitude for his actions and placed a curse on Regis to be his unwilling puppet.

Darius would father his son and first child Maximilian Kasin Ashet with his first wife the former Empress Seon Ashet. He would go on to father another child, his daughter Beatrice Evelyn Ashet from his concubine Isabelle. Despite knowing of the abusive treatment he received, Darius cared little for his son or wife and instead watched as they were tormented by Isabelle and her followers. After the death of his wife, Darius quickly remarried Isabelle, crowning her the new empress.

After his daughter Beatrice was poisoned at her coming of age ball, his future son-in-law accused his former fiancé Jubellian Eloy Floyen of attempted murder and had her arrested. When Jubellian’s pleas of innocence was ignored, she took her life to avoid any unjust punishment. Devastated at the loss of his daughter, her father Regis went on a murderous rampage and murdered Darius.

Synopsis
After an assassination attempt orchestrated by his son Maximilian, Darius called for his royal guard Regis Adri Floyen to protect him and weed out any remaining assassins as the first one committed suicide upon capture.

A week after, Regis reports there being no sign of any assassins, which Darius scolds Regis for. Believing Regis is becoming too lackadaisical, Darius has Regis stay for one more day while he calls for his son Maximilian to return home in an effort to keep Regis under his thumb. Maximilian however refused to come when summoned by his father, further enraging Darius.

Weeks later, Darius has Regis return to the Imperial Palace. After learning that Lord Lennox, a nobleman and commander of a large military, has amassed more power to invade the neighboring country Lagoon Darius instructs Regis to monitor the nobleman under suspicion of conspiracy. Regis counters this by reminding Darius that Lennox is just as loyal to the Empire as he is, and has been defending the Empire from the nation Lagoon, but Darius dismissed Regis’s words as Lennox “does not have a leash” like Regis does, mocking his royal guard who could barely contain his hatred for the Emperor. Their conversation is then interrupted by the arrival of Maximilian, surprising and infuriating Darius, as Maximilian did not return when asked.

Seeing the Emperor intimidated by his son, Regis intervened between the father and son, demanding Max to leave the room while he and the Emperor discussed private affairs. Relieved that he has Duke Floyen at his side, the Emperor changes his mind and has Duke Floyen remain in the capital.

Personality
Befitting of a tyrant; Darius is selfish, power hungry, arrogant, cowardly, and cruel. Ruling his Empire with an iron fist, and basking in the suffering of his people with sadistic glee. Darius is manipulative, ungrateful, and traitorous; willing to betray and discard even his most loyal citizens should they pose the slightest threat to his rule. Darius is a man devoid of love, and unable to understand the act of caring for someone other than themselves. He held no attachment for his first wife, nor did he mourn for her passing, only seeing her as a means to an end, and is willing to use even his own children as expendable pawns. Darius is also hypocritical as while he detests seemingly weak willed people, his cowardice proved most prominent when he was faced with the prospect of death and seemingly abandoned his people when his life was threatened.

Appearance
Darius is a mild aged man who appears slovenly and embellishes himself with the finest silk and jewels on his coat and rings. He has slicked back black hair and red irises. He also sports his crown whenever making public appearances.

Abilities
While he has no combat abilities, Darius holds absolute authority in the Ashet Empire. Darius also possess a ring that has some magic capabilities, and is seemingly able to control Regis against his will.

Relationships
Seon Ashet- Seon was the first wife of Darius as well as the mother of his son Maximilian Kasin Ashet. Their marriage was not one of love as he also had a concubine at the time who gave birth to his daughter Beatrice not long after Maximilian was born. Darius held no attachment towards his late wife nor did he mourn for her upon her death, believing her to be too weak to be the Empress. Seon was also cautious of her husband as she feared he would use her to harm her son Maximilian.

Isabelle Rusty Ashet- Isabelle is Darius’s second wife following the death of his first wife Seon. While he is not seen interacting with her, Darius seems to favor Isabelle above his late wife, allowing her to abuse and discredit Max as an unstable child. Despite his favoritism, he does not allow her daughter to take the position as crown princess.

Maximilian Kasin Ashet- Maximilian is Darius’s son through Seon and first born child, as well as his arch enemy. Their relationship is one of mutual hatred for each other due to Darius’s abusive treatment towards his son and Max’s many attempts at murdering his father. Growing up in the imperial palace, Max was ignored by his father as he saw his son as weak and disposable. When his concubine at the time Isabelle began framing Max as a violent and unstable child Darius did nothing to help his son and left him to fend for himself. Over the years after Max grew stronger in reputation and swordsmanship, Max soon became an enemy to his father who he began to fear would retaliate against him for all the years of Darius’s abusive treatment. While they are not close, Darius still allows Max to retain his title as the heir to the Ashet Empire though it’s more likely for political means and fear of his son than any respect for Max.

Beatrice Evelyn Ashet- Beatrice is Darius’s daughter through Isabelle, and his second born child. While they are not seen interacting, Maximilian has stated that Darius has no love for either of his children, and only sees them as tools to further his goals and entertainment. Beatrice admits that she struggles to get her father’s attention.

Regis Adri Floyen- Regis is Darius’s most loyal knight and royal guard in the Ashet Empire as well as Darius’s unwilling slave. Despite rescuing the Emperor from the Tezeria Kingdom, Darius is ungrateful to Regis for his heroic acts and only sees Regis as a tool and shield to protect himself from what he considers threats to his empire. His most dangerous enemy being his the crown prince, constantly trying to put the two against each other to keep them both from rebelling, unaware that Regis and Maximilian Kasin Ashet are allies. Darius seems to have a “tight leash” over his royal guard, forcing Regis to go on long missions and neglect his daughter Jubellian Eloy Floyen. In the original novel, Regis fell into despair after the death of his daughter, going on a murderous rampage in the Imperial Palace and finally murdering the Emperor.