HDBMTD 09

Chapter 9

Aria moistened her throat with the water brought by the maid, then opened and closed her hand.

‘I’m still alive…’

She wanted to believe her eavesdropping hadn’t been discovered. But that couldn’t be true. Even if Padva hadn’t seen her that day, if an Eshafe had read her memory while she was unconscious, everything would’ve been exposed.

So why had she been left unharmed? What was his motive?

While she was lost in thought, the maid brought her a meal. A watery soup—clearly a patient’s diet.

“I don’t have an appetite. I’m fine.”

“You haven’t eaten properly for three days. You must be terribly weak. Your complexion is poor too…”

The nagging maid was the same one who had taken her to the study three days ago. The people who used to serve as her hands and feet were no longer in the imperial palace. This maid was likely planted by Padva, making even her care feel uncomfortable.

As Aria picked at the soup, she asked,

“Where’s Nocturne?”

The maid’s expression twisted slightly before quickly returning to normal.

“Sir Bendrix is in the western annex.”

“…He’s still in the palace?”

Just as the maid was about to say something, a visitor arrived.

“Arie, how are you feeling? You were sick for three days… It must’ve been quite a shock.”

It was Minette, who had arrived unannounced.

Aria didn’t even have the energy to deal with her and ignored her, but Minette nonchalantly sat down on the bed and whispered in a concerned tone.

“You saw everything, so you must know by now—the duke loves me now. He’s broken off the engagement with you and is going to be engaged to me.”

“…You think I saw and know?”

“Yes, you saw us making love. You might be upset, but try to understand. You know how dangerous it is for combat types to be without a partner. And you’re not even an Eshafe anymore…”

At that, Aria let out a hollow laugh. Minette narrowed her eyes.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing. Just… the way you ‘make love’ is kind of unusual.”

“Unusual? What do you mean?”

“What I saw was Nocturne pushing you away so hard you fell on your butt.”

Minette’s jaw dropped at the unexpected reply. Aria, seeing the soup bowl was now empty, got up and set the tray aside.

“You—why are you sneaking around spying on people’s private lives? And besides, there’s more between us than you know!”

Ignoring the alcohol-tinged yelling, Aria left the room.

Then she turned to the maid who had followed her.

“What were you about to say earlier?”

Startled out of watching the chaotic scene behind them, the maid quickly answered,

“Oh—His Highness the Prince is also in the annex. He said to inform him as soon as Your Highness wakes up, because he wants to meet with you.”

“I see.”

Whatever reason Padva had for waiting, it certainly wasn’t just a get-well visit. Aria felt uneasy, but she didn’t turn back.

No matter what Padva was plotting, meeting Nocturne came first.

‘Never appear in front of me again.’

When she heard those words from Nocturne, with hatred in his eyes, Aria had felt like crumbling.

She’d been in a precarious physical and mental state at the time.

But lying in bed, she had the chance to view everything more objectively.

Things she’d missed in the moment due to her emotions: Nocturne pushing Minette away, the strange way he had obediently responded to a whisper, and even the fleeting look of concern in his eyes—it all seemed off.

‘Don’t worry. I’ll stay by your side until your last breath.’

She remembered his whispered words as he held her in the ruins of a collapsing building.

‘Would someone who once swore to die for me really abandon me just because my body is broken?’

Aria clenched her fist.

Even in this situation, she considered herself lucky. She had the ability to confirm Nocturne’s true feelings.

‘Let me read his heart.’

Though unstable and temporary, her psychic ability would reactivate when she saw fire. If she saw fire again—she might be able to read Nocturne’s heart.

With that in mind, she entered the annex, and a familiar voice called out to her.

“Arie!”

She looked up and saw familiar blond hair. Wearing silver-rimmed glasses and a white shirt, Padva, flanked by knights, rushed toward her.

“Brother, you…”

Before she could ask why he had waited for her, Padva suddenly pulled her into a hug.

“Why would you come all this way when you’re still sick? I said I’d come see you when you woke up!”

“…Maybe I wanted to come myself.”

“I see. Brave of you, my sister.”

Tears welled in Padva’s green eyes.

“You’ve worked hard these past weeks to recover. It’s been so long since I saw you walk like this.”

“…This is the first time I’ve been praised just for walking since I was a baby.”

“Ahahaha!”

Only Padva laughed loudly at her remark, while Aria, the maid, and the knights remained silent.

Wiping his eyes, Padva said,

“But you really don’t know how to live like a ‘Normer.’ In that sense, you’re still one year old.”

“Normer” referred to a non-Eshafe. Aria knew how much Padva despised that word.

“If you keep getting treatment, you’ll improve. You were sick again, but now you’re up.”

He patted her shoulder reassuringly. Aria studied the hand on her shoulder and the seemingly kind smile.

His words felt genuine.

The Padva who’d had secret meetings with the Empress had once been consumed with inferiority and contempt for her. But now, there was no trace of hostility or wariness in his expression. Which made it all the more unsettling.

‘…Did he hate the S-class Eshafe and heir to the throne me, but now that I’m broken, he finds me acceptable?’

“Luckily, the timing is perfect. Sir Bendrix just returned, and you’re back on your feet.”

“…Returned?”

“While you were unconscious, a large monster appeared in the capital. Good thing I asked Sir Bendrix to stay in the capital. Even a large monster was powerless before him. But… he overused his power, and the madness…”

“Take me to him. Now.”

Aria’s voice turned urgent. She turned toward the corridor but was stopped by Padva grabbing her wrist.

“Wait, Arie. You’ve been unconscious for three days.”

“So?”

Frowning at him, Padva gave an awkward smile.

“Uh… so… you kind of smell.”

“…Oh.”

She hadn’t thought of that. It made sense—she hadn’t bathed in three days.

“A bath is ready. Wash up first. I doubt Sir Bendrix will go berserk this very minute. Even if you’ve known each other since childhood… there are still boundaries between lovers.”

“……”

Aria missed the moment to argue and was dragged off to the bathroom by the maids Padva had brought.

They placed her in a tub filled with rose petals and thoroughly washed and polished her.

“Your skin is looking wonderful, Your Highness.”

“With this rose scent, what if the duke mistakes you for an actual flower?”

As their gentle hands cleaned her body, Aria’s emotions grew increasingly tangled.

The maids combed her hair, applied fragrant oils, and adorned her.

And then came the dress—so thin it was nearly transparent. Embarrassed by the revealing outfit, Aria blinked in shock at her reflection.

The maids giggled as they draped a black veil over her head. With the lace veil, her short hair and scarred cheek were now hidden.

“Oh my, it suits you beautifully. It’s a nightdress and accessories made by the capital’s top designer. Even Duke Bendrix won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”

If Nocturne saw her walking the halls practically naked, he probably wouldn’t be able to look away.

Aria felt like some offering being presented to a powerful man.

She wanted to tear the veil off and throw it aside, but she settled for asking for a robe instead. Because she now understood why Padva had kept her alive.

“Everything going well?”

As if summoned by thought, the man himself walked into the room.

Aria was relieved to at least be wearing a robe when Padva entered. He looked her over like he was appraising an object, then nodded in satisfaction.

“You look truly beautiful. Just like you did before the accident.”

Aria clenched her teeth to endure the humiliation. Padva stepped closer and handed her a secret vial.

“Something nice for the evening. It works especially well on Eshafes, apparently.”

Naturally, his words from the study resurfaced in her mind:

‘How well I control the duke will be the true measure of my ability. To tame him like a loyal guard dog, Aria must marry him.’

Padva was methodically executing his plan. Perhaps he thought Aria, now too weak to move on her own, couldn’t do anything even if she figured it out.

That was a good thing. His lack of caution might one day offer her a chance. For now, it was best to play along and avoid raising suspicion.

So despite her disgust, Aria quietly accepted the vial. She simply wouldn’t use it.

Under Padva’s orders, the maids escorted Aria to Nocturne’s room.

“Have a lovely evening.”

As the door opened, a wave of unease swept over her. Before she could say anything, the door slammed shut behind her in the darkened room.