HDBMTD 15

Chapter 15

Bendrix Territory

Nocturne stood still, staring at the portrait hanging on the wall.

Ariadna, immortalized on canvas, smiled down at him like an angel. Her pale cheeks were unmarred by burns, golden hair fluttered like halos, and the butterfly-shaped core beneath her collarbone shimmered like a jewel.

Her pink eyes, holding what felt like all the world’s happiness, curved gently as they gazed at him. Crimson in darkness, but pink in sunlight—those eyes that made it impossible not to fall in love upon meeting them.

The moment that portrait had been painted felt vividly close.

“My lord, please stop talking to Her Highness! Every time you speak, she smiles and ruins the pose we finally managed to settle!”

“But if she has to sit still until the painting’s finished, Aria will be bored.”

“Then we’ll paint her smiling. But you’ll have to keep talking to her until the end.”

“Fair enough.”

“Nocturne, don’t push yourself too much.”

The spring sunlight brushing her cheek, the breeze tugging her hair, her clear, ringing laughter—

Nocturne clenched his eyes shut as if to block out the haunting remnants of that joy.

“Ariadna…”

Knock knock.

A quiet knock broke the silence.

“Come in.”

With his permission, a butler entered cautiously.

“My lord, a messenger has arrived from the palace.”

Nocturne shifted his gaze past the butler to the messenger.

“Another monster?”

“No, Your Grace. A summons from the imperial family.”

“What’s the matter?”

“His Highness the prince wishes to discuss the matter of the engagement directly.”

Sitting in the corner of the study, Nocturne’s closest aide Willow suddenly burst out, face red with anger.

“What nonsense is this? Our Duke returned only yesterday after defeating a calamity-level beast! And now they summon him over this petty matter? Nocturne, don’t agree to this.”

But Nocturne simply waved a hand to silence him.

“We leave tomorrow.”

Three hours later, Imperial Palace

Aria’s eyelids fluttered open.

“Your fever finally broke, Your Highness.”

Tita quickly handed her a glass of water. Aria took a sip and blinked slowly. Her reflection in the water—crimson eyes—became clearer.

Tears welled and dropped suddenly from Aria’s eyes.

“Ah! Are you okay, Your Highness?!”

Seeing her weep, Tita panicked, fearing her fever had returned. But Aria didn’t respond—her thoughts were elsewhere, still on Nocturne watching her portrait.

He was calling my name… Gazing at my portrait with that aching voice, remembering the past…

Recalling the way Nocturne had said “Ariadna,” each syllable laced with longing and guilt, her eyes stung with warmth again.

You acted so cruelly when we met—but all the while, you were the one hurting the most.

She hadn’t known if Nocturne could act. Now, with her powers back, she was grateful she could confirm the truth. Even without her empathic powers, she wouldn’t have fallen for a lie like that.

All her lingering doubts disappeared, replaced by a deep ache in her chest—and warmth.

I wasn’t the only one longing for the past. You were holding onto it too.

Despite seeing her beloved suffering so much, what she felt first wasn’t concern—but relief.

She smiled bitterly.

I must not be the angelic lover you thought I was.

“What do we do, Your Highness? You keep falling ill. Should we change your physician?”

Tita’s concern was sincere as she laid a cold towel over Aria’s eyes. Aria enjoyed the cooling sensation and reflected on the last few days.

It had taken four full days just to read fragments of Nocturne’s memories.

Why? Because every time she used her empathy, she blacked out.

She’d repeated the process to pinpoint the moment she lost consciousness. Eventually, her fever began to spike.

It must be a side effect from the damaged core…

When she first used empathy after waking up, the resulting three-day illness hadn’t been due to mental stress or physical weakness, but the side effect of using her power.

Once I leave the palace, seeing a doctor is my top priority.

The only silver lining was that she was learning how to control it better each time. Though still far from her peak strength, she’d managed to extract the information she needed.

Nocturne’s tender feelings as he gazed at her portrait. His instant loathing at the mention of Padva.

It was almost hatred—pure hostility.

Before the accident, Nocturne and Padva had been fairly amicable. Nocturne respected her brother, and Padva saw promise in the young duke.

Clearly, something had happened during the half-year Aria had been unconscious.

My theory is holding up—he’s rejecting me to shield me from my brother’s manipulation.

She still didn’t know what had transpired—but that would be Tita’s job to uncover.

For now…

“Tita, prepare a bath.”

Aria pushed herself up, and Tita rushed to help.

“Already? I don’t think your fever’s completely gone yet… maybe you should rest another day.”

“It’s fine. It’s gone.”

Aria gently patted her head with a smile.

“I have to prepare for a guest.”

It was time to greet the fiancé… who’d come to break their engagement.

Three hours later

Tita stood behind Aria, facing the “guest” seated across from her.

Perfectly combed black hair, eyes like pools of shadow that absorbed light. The Duke wore a tailored formal uniform that outlined his well-sculpted physique—no doubt tailored to fit perfectly.

He was an ideal painting of a man, a harmonious masterpiece. Yet few knew of his beauty.

Because when you looked into his frozen expression, all you felt was fear—not admiration.

How did Her Highness know the Duke would come today?

Aria, who had barely gotten out of bed, had cleaned up and dressed immediately—then the prince came with news that Nocturne would arrive to finalize their breakup.

Aria had calmly said she would try to speak with Nocturne—and that meeting became this one.

Tita, full of curiosity, had been secretly observing Nocturne. When their eyes suddenly met, she panicked and lowered her gaze.

H-how does Her Highness stay so calm in front of this man?!

Just meeting his eyes for a moment made her heart pound from the cold pressure.

“Lance.”

The Duke spoke briefly, and his aide stepped forward to present a document to Aria.

Tita glanced at the title—and her eyes widened in horror.

[Engagement Annulment Certificate]

She couldn’t stop herself.

“Th-tha-that’s…!”

That bastard! After everything Her Highness has done for you!

Tita wanted to jump up and scold him on the spot, to point at his face and scream.

But unaware of her inner rage, Nocturne calmly explained:

“This isn’t the usual process, but since Her Highness wished for a formal discussion, I’ve prepared a written document. Matters like this are best handled thoroughly.”

His expression remained cold, but the document radiated hostility toward Aria.

It wasn’t just paper—it was imbued with the power of a mental-type Eshafe. The moment she signed it, a powerful Influence would activate, binding her from acting against the agreement. This artifact was known as a “Persuasion Contract.”

Is he punishing her just for summoning him here?!

While Tita reeled from shock, Aria took the document and looked up.

“And what do you want me to do with this?”

“I made only one request, didn’t I?”

The moment he said it, Tita realized what he meant—and turned pale.

“You asked me never to appear before you again?”

“So you do remember.”

Nocturne muttered, surprised.

“And yet you summoned me again. Does Your Highness always find joy in deceiving others like this?”

His words were sharp enough to make even his aide and the unfriendly maids flinch.

In the tension-filled office, only two remained composed: the Duke, who had handed over the contract without a flicker of emotion—and Aria, who didn’t even blink despite the insult.

Tita bit her lip, tears pricking her eyes.

Your Highness… is this really okay?

Gone was the kind, dog-like man Aria had described. In his place sat a cold-blooded bastard.

That bastard opened his mouth again.

“But if you sign this, our ties will be cleanly severed. No more uncomfortable encounters. No more humiliation over someone like me.”

He even helpfully pointed to the signature line.

“You may sign here.”

“I see.”

Even as he spoke such cruel words to his fiancée, Aria showed no hint of displeasure. She simply nodded politely and picked up the pen.

Then—in an instant—she tore the contract in half while looking him dead in the eyes.

Rip.

A crisp sound echoed as the document shredded. Someone gasped audibly in shock.

She’d said she would try to persuade him. Did “persuasion” mean tearing the document to shreds?

Tita began to doubt her own understanding of the word “negotiate,” but then she caught a glimpse of Nocturne’s widened eyes.

The Duke, who until now had shown no expression at all, finally displayed emotion.

Seeing that—Tita forgot her indignation and felt strangely satisfied.