HDBMTD 21

Chapter 21

Nocturne, after carefully studying Aria’s face, let out a sigh and stepped back.

“How can you dance in this condition? Please go inside and rest.”

“I’m fine. I can at least enjoy the ball.”

“You are aware your complexion is poor, aren’t you?”

That couldn’t be true. Tita had worked so hard on her makeup.

Aria unconsciously touched her cheek. Nocturne sighed again.

“Willow.”

At his call, the aide waiting behind him stepped forward.

“Willow will accompany Your Highness in my stead.”

“Nocturne, you’ve already broken our contract for two days. We agreed on daily dates, remember?”

“You’ve seen plenty of me today. We were in meetings all day.”

Aria stared in disbelief.

“Let’s be honest — that was not a date.”

“I’ll come see you tomorrow. That’s it for today.”

His tone was firm.

Still, at least he wasn’t completely ignoring the contract. Aria was quietly relieved, but outwardly she stood her ground.

“That goes without saying. You’d better fulfill your obligations properly today too.”

“Willow, make sure Her Highness doesn’t overexert herself.”

Nocturne didn’t give in.

Maybe he really was busy. Watching his unhesitating retreating back, Aria turned her head at the sound of approaching footsteps.

It was Willow, Nocturne’s aide, who reached out a hand to her.

“Shall we, Your Highness?”

Willow had a solid build and warm brown eyes — a young heir to a viscount’s family. His good looks and courteous demeanor were already drawing the attention of many women at the ball.

Aria gave him a polite smile.

“You don’t have to force yourself, Sir Willow.”

“That’s a bit formal. Please call me Willow, like before.”

“…Will, I’m really sorry about Roaster. And thank you for staying by Nocturne’s side.”

Roaster, Nocturne’s closest aide, had died in battle — and Willow, his younger brother, had taken his place and become the heir of the Rixen family.

“It’s what I should be doing. Shall we dance?”

“I appreciate the gesture, but I really am fine.”

“You might be misunderstanding — I’m not doing this just because of the Duke…”

Before Aria could answer, a familiar voice cut in.

“Princess Ariadna.”

A man with golden hair and a charming smile approached. Prince Lucien.

Aria greeted him warmly.

“Lucy.”

“It’s been so long, I thought you’d forgotten my name. It’s Lucien.”

He gently corrected her with a formal tone. Aria laughed.

“Lucy” was the childhood nickname his family used. But combined with his pretty face and the queen’s love for ornate things, it once led to a rumor that Lucien was the “Princess of Elysia.”

Young Lucien, convinced the nickname — not his looks — caused the rumor, threw a tantrum and begged his family to call him “Sien” instead.

Aria had heard this story from Lucien’s father and had teasingly continued calling him Lucy ever since.

That same old protest from Lucien brought a wave of nostalgic affection.

Lucien smiled and politely extended his hand.

“Would Your Highness honor me with the first dance?”

“Of course, Princess Lucien.”

“Okay, you win.”

Lucien chuckled and accepted defeat.

Aria took his hand, and after greeting Willow, Lucien led her to the center of the ballroom.

As the soft notes of a string ensemble floated through the air, they began to dance.

Despite her worries about her physical condition, Lucien moved gently to match her pace, and it wasn’t too difficult to keep up.

Aria expected him to make conversation, but Lucien remained oddly quiet. She focused on not missing a step and waited.

“Ari.”

His voice, slightly husky, called her name.

Surprised, Aria looked up.

His golden eyes — like sunlight — were slightly wet.

“I’m so glad you’re alive. After the war ended, the imperial family kept you hidden away… I thought you might never…”

The music ended just then, and they came to a stop near the edge of the ballroom.

Aria gently patted his back in comfort.

“When I saw you in the meeting room…”

“You were surprised?”

“I don’t even remember how I finished the meeting.”

“You did great, though.”

When Aria praised him, Lucien smiled, his teary eyes crinkling.

“Your family must be so happy.”

“…”

“Lady Minette and your retainers too — they must’ve been really worried.”

“Yeah… they were.”

Aria answered with effort, hiding her bitterness.

“But where’s Cerberus?”

“Cerberus?”

That hellhound? Aria tilted her head in confusion, and Lucien clarified.

“Duke Bendrix.”

“…Why are you calling someone’s boyfriend a monster?”

“His job at these parties is guarding you and making sure no one dances with you. He should’ve jumped out to block me by now.”

Seeing him glance around warily, anxious even in Bendrix’s absence, Aria recalled old memories.

Lucien, as Elysia’s crown prince, had once visited the imperial capital as a child. There, he had met Aria and apparently developed a crush.

The story of the 8-year-old prince having a crush on the 6-year-old princess had amused the royal court, though Aria never noticed.

Later, teenage Aria’s relationship with Nocturne became public knowledge — except Lucien never heard about it.

So when Aria visited Elysia for military support, Lucien had looked forward to reuniting with his first love after 10 years — only to find her slaying beasts in perfect sync with Nocturne in a desert lit with golden sand.

Lucien fell for her again — and Nocturne noticed.

Later, at a ball, when Lucien tried to approach Aria, Nocturne blocked him.

To Aria, young Nocturne’s jealousy was endearing and childish. To Lucien, it was terrifying.

Aria waved her hand lightly.

“He went outside earlier.”

“What? He left you here?”

“Maybe something urgent came up.”

Lucien made a baffled expression.

Aria quietly studied him and asked:

“Why are you pretending not to know?”

“…Know what?”

“Didn’t you get a report from Tita?”

Lucien was the one who planted Tita in the palace.

It wasn’t hard to deduce, given the clues Tita had dropped — a southern psychic noble, supportive of Aria, who had welcomed Aesape immigrants four years ago.

Judging by your reaction, I guessed right.

Lucien tried to keep a neutral expression, but Aria saw right through him.

— I won’t deny it…

His voice didn’t come through his lips but in her mind — Lucien had used telepathy.

— But I didn’t ask that to provoke you. I haven’t even received a report yet.

“Ah…”

Aria realized Lucien hadn’t had time to meet with Tita today. Bound by non-disclosure contracts, even letters were difficult.

He knew almost nothing.

Her body relaxed.

“Sorry. I misunderstood.”

— I don’t mind… but what’s going on between you two?

“Nothing serious.”

She shrugged. The whole brainwashing and cold-shoulder thing would be resolved soon enough — it was practically a non-issue.

Lucien scanned her face briefly and asked:

— Sure doesn’t seem like nothing. You seemed distracted during the meeting.

“I’m no longer a successor to the throne — I lost my right to speak.”

— You still gave a soulless answer when asked your opinion.

How did he know it lacked sincerity? She’d wrapped it in so much polish.

“The people leading the nation should be the ones making decisions now. My opinion doesn’t matter.”

— Of course it does, Ari. You’re the one who ended the war.

Lucien spoke calmly.

— The official meeting’s over now, so tell me how you really feel. If you were still the crown princess, would you have signed a medical agreement with Cambiata?

“Cambiata’s advanced medicine?”

Aria’s eyes flashed red.

“You dare call the aftermath of human experimentation advanced medicine?”

Suddenly, she could feel the phantom sensation of a dried foot twitching on her forehead.

She closed her eyes tightly, forcing down the revulsion.

Turning back to Lucien with a softened voice, she said:

“Please understand. To you, that war ended long ago… but to me, it feels like it just ended last month.”

— Of course I understand. You should’ve said that in the meeting.

“Hmm…”

Lucien probably didn’t know — she didn’t have the power to overturn the meeting. While she was unconscious, they had already held three sessions. Intervening now would’ve only jeopardized her escape plan.

Besides…

When she first heard the treaty, she was shocked — but if she was going to give up the throne, she’d have to give up control too.

“Maybe my brother is right. He never saw Cambiata’s labs — so he can judge the technology without bias.”

— Do you really believe that?

“I do. You said your opinion changed after touring the rehab center, didn’t you?”

Aria spoke quietly.

“Maybe this is an inevitable tide of the times. If I were still in charge, it would’ve taken me a long time to accept it…”

Lucien looked at her sadly.

Despite the makeup, Aria’s fatigue was showing. The weariness couldn’t be hidden.