Darius Zeferon Ashet

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

## 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 and the former Empress Latisha 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 first 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 Mikhail Albert Hessen 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 Kasin Ashet, 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 a selfish, power hungry, arrogant, cowardly and cruel man. 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 Latisha Ashet, 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.

Maximilian Kasin Ashet 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 Evelyn Ashet admits that she struggles to get her father’s attention.

Darius' incompetency is the main reason for his downfall, he never understood how to care for others nor preserve his dignity, leading to the decline of those once supporting him (e.g. Duke of Elios). This also leads to another cause for him being overthrown as he underestimates the others, typically Regis and Isabelle's love for their daughter. Additionally, Darius never questions himself on why people call him cowardice and only condemns them for calling the Emperor so, later attempts to kill Jubellian, blaming her for his downfall while in truth, it was his tyrannical actions and crimes towards the innocents and his whole family that made everyone turn against him.

## 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.

In the past, Darius used to have mid-back length or waist-length hair that is half tied up in the back as first seen in **Chapter 82**.

## Abilities

While he has no combat abilities, Darius holds absolute authority in the Ashet Empire. Darius also possess a ring called 'Circe's Eye' (**Chapter 80**) that has some magic capabilities and is seemingly able to control Regis Adri Floyen against his will.

## Relationships

### Family

#### Latisha Ashet

Latisha was Darius' first wife, but their marriage was not one of love as he also had a concubine named Isabelle at the time who gave birth to his daughter Beatrice Evelyn Ashet not long after Maximilian Kasin Ashet 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. Latisha was also cautious of her husband as she feared he would use her to harm her son Maximilian.

#### Isabelle Rusty Ashet

Isabelle is Darius’ second wife following the death of his first wife Latisha Ashet. While he is not seen interacting with her, Darius seems to favor Isabelle above his late wife, allowing her to abuse and discredit Maximilian Kasin Ashet as an unstable child. Despite his favoritism, he does not allow her daughter Beatrice Evelyn Ashet to take the position as crown princess. Similar to his relationship with Latisha Ashet, their relationship is devoid of love and Darius only favors Isabelle for bearing an archmage but later casts her aside with the Empress position when he learns that Beatrice possesses no magical abilities. Darius does not seem to care about Isabelle cheating on him but nonetheless, still threatens her with this truth to do his bidding in killing Beatrice.

> DIE DARIUS!!!
>
> Isabelle final words to Darius, Father, I don't want to get married chapter 118

Their relationship turns from worse to toxic when Darius and Mikhail threaten the Empress to kill Beatrice. However, they underestimate Isabelle's maternal instinct as she drinks the poisoned glass instead of her daughter. Not only did she successfully protect her daughter and foil their plan but also brought Darius' sins to the public, ending his status as the Emperor. Before succumbing to her death, Isabelle shouted at him to die.

#### Maximilian Kasin Ashet

Maximilian is Darius’ son through Latisha Ashet and first born child, as well as his arch enemy. Their relationship is one of mutual hatred for each other due to Darius’ 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.

Max in return has no love for his father as he views him as an incompetent man and Darius also takes responsibility for his mother's death. As Max learns of Darius' sins towards the innocent archmages and his actions of accepting bribery during the war Rhagon, he becomes furious with the Emperor. After gathering enough evidence, Max ordered Darius to be captured and after Isabelle publicized all of the Emperor's sins, Darius was finally overthrown.

Despite their antagonistic relationship, both father and son have some similarities in terms of being tyrant. However, while Max learns to care about the others, including lowest people as he did not abandoned the mercenaries in the war, Darius care for no one but himself while viewing others as tools. This leads to the Emperor's downfall as not only did he loses his power but also because everyone choose to support the Crown Prince instead.

#### Beatrice Evelyn Ashet

Beatrice is Darius’s daughter through Isabelle Rusty Ashet and his second born child. Despite being a father he did not see her as his daughter but as a tool for him. It is revealed that when he learned that the unborn Beatrice might be an archmage makes him have more expectations of her since if he could steal her mana, he could regain his pride as an emperor since, after the war, everyone in the empire mocks him as a cowardly emperor. However, after Beatrice was born but the archmages can't sense any mana from her which makes him very disappointed and cast her aside as a 'useless brat' and it is shown that he did not care about her as shown when he agrees to Mikhail plan to awaken the princess's power by putting her into a life-threatening situation. By collaborating with Mikhail, he deliberately allows Mikhail to put the princess in danger by freeing a magical beast to attack the hunting festival just to see if she unlocks her ability as an archmage. Later, after the magical beast attack, he did not care about her safety but only think about how useful Beatrice can be for him now.

In **Chapter 82**, Darius is excited as a doctor explains that "I can feel the fetus' magic power." at the time when Beatrice was still inside Isabelle Rusty Ashet's womb. However, when she was born, he becomes enraged when the doctor reveals that Beatrice had no powers at all and considers her 'useless'. When Mikhail Albert Hessen tells Darius that he can awaken her powers by getting her into danger and starting a 'relationship' with the princess, Darius agreed to Mikhail's plan.

In **Chapter 91**, upon learning that Beatrice has eventually awoken her powers, Darius takes the opportunity to use her powers for the sake of the Ashet Empire.

### Rivals

#### Regis Adri Floyen

Regis is Darius’ most loyal knight and royal guard in the Ashet Empire as well as Darius’ 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.

### Mikhail Albert Hessen

In **Chapter 82**, when Mikhail explains the origin of the archamge, their appearance (red hair and eyes) similar to Beatrice Evelyn Ashet and how he can awaken her powers through danger while also asking permission to be a 'relationship' with the princess, Darius allows this and proceeds for this to happen at the hunting event.

## Etymology

* Despite being a tyrant, the name **Darius** ironically means "rich and kingly, possessing goodness, maintains possessions well, preserver" in Greek and Persian.