HDBMTD 32

Chapter 32

Nocturne thought for a moment before speaking.

“When exactly did Prince Lucien leave the country?”

“I received word that he crossed the border around 7 a.m.”

The prince’s official schedule had already ended, and he was due to return home. But the timing was strange.

And on top of that, the prince had even proposed to the clone.

A sudden thought passed through Nocturne’s mind.

‘Don’t tell me… she accepted his proposal?’

Nocturne recalled the conversation he had with the princess two nights ago in the imperial garden.

When he asked if she had accepted the prince’s proposal, she replied:

“Hmm… what do you think would happen if I did?”

“……”

Seeing Nocturne’s face stiffen, she gave a small smile. With Aria’s face. With Aria’s voice.

“I’m not going anywhere, so don’t worry.”

She played her role perfectly.

If Prince Lucien had gotten involved in this incident, then it was probably because he believed the clone was the real Aria. Once Nocturne told him the truth, he would surely cooperate. The woman the prince loved was the real Aria—not the copy.

“Why are you asking about the prince? Did something happen between him and the princess?”

Padva asked at that moment. There was suspicion and caution in his voice.

That attitude was strange. Nocturne had thought Padva was informed of everything that happened with the princess. But now he was acting like he didn’t know her at all.

Wasn’t Padva in full control of the clone?

Or was this part of another scheme?

“I have no special reason. Is the bedroom being investigated?”

Nocturne gave a short answer. Either way, there was no reason to reveal his thoughts to Padva.

While receiving reports on the way to the princess’s bedroom, Nocturne thought about the missing princess.

He had first learned about the cloning experiment five months after Aria’s death.

When his informant told him, it felt like his blood was boiling in reverse. Fueled by rage, he had rushed to the palace, but Padva denied everything.

Aria had died in Nocturne’s arms. Over a hundred soldiers had seen her body. And yet, Padva insisted that the clone was the real Aria—even to Nocturne.

Nocturne felt a murderous urge toward Padva.

Padva seemed to believe the only reason Nocturne hadn’t acted was out of respect for the royal family or duty as a duke. As if Nocturne was just a noble who followed the rules.

But the truth was, Nocturne had been quietly gathering information, waiting to take down everyone involved in the cloning experiments all at once.

Even after Cambiata had been destroyed, the fact that this technology continued proved that someone had carried on their research. Padva wasn’t the only opportunist trying to use those cursed scientists.

Nocturne had no intention of forgiving even one of the people who had insulted Aria’s memory. They were like cancer—he had to root them all out.

So in a way, this disappearance was an opportunity.

‘If she escaped on her own, Lucien likely helped her. He was the only one she had a personal connection with.’

If Nocturne could secure her first, he could end this unpleasant situation and capture everyone involved in the experiment in one move.

…Though that would mean telling Lucien that Aria was dead.

His mouth tasted bitter. He had believed Lucien would see through the clone before he did. He hadn’t expected Lucien to be completely fooled.

‘How perfect was that copy?’

To Nocturne, the clone was nothing but a cunning trap designed by Padva.

Whenever rage surged, Nocturne recalled something Aria once said:

“Nocturne, what do you think makes revenge successful?”

“It’s when what you gain outweighs what the other person loses. Got it?”

It sounded calculating, but Aria was always someone who put others’ feelings first—even in revenge.

To her, a successful revenge was taking away what mattered most to the enemy while gaining something valuable for herself.

That’s why her uncle, who had murdered Nocturne’s parents for power, had been exiled to Antar, where slavery still existed. He was now living as one of the lowest-ranking people, working to death every day.

That revenge had restored Nocturne’s honor, reclaimed his family name and title, and most importantly, gave him Aria’s love. It had been a perfect example of success.

But now that Aria was gone—what could make revenge successful?

According to her philosophy, he should gain something of value. But the only thing that had ever held value for him no longer existed in this world.

Nocturne let out a low sigh. The soldier and aide beside him looked at him nervously.

“Duke, if something in the report—”

“It’s nothing. Continue.”

Nocturne glanced around. Something felt off.

“Willow isn’t here.”

“Ah, he returned to the estate last night.”

“Suddenly?”

Nocturne stopped walking.

“Yes, his chronic illness flared up. He said he informed you in advance…”

“I see.”

Willow had been unable to serve in the war due to a rare illness. A few days ago, he had said he’d request leave if his condition worsened, and Nocturne had told him to go ahead if needed.

Still, the timing felt too coincidental. Just like Prince Lucien’s departure.

Pushing aside the suspicion for now, Nocturne continued toward the princess’s bedroom.

He saw a woman lying on the bed, her hair spread out across the pillow. The sunlight made her hair look almost golden. Nocturne hesitated, then frowned and approached her.

“…What are you doing here, Lady Minette?”

In the morning, the maids had reportedly mistaken Minette for the princess while she was asleep in the bed. That explained the delayed report of the disappearance.

Minette brushed back her messy hair and sat up.

“Oh, Duke. You’re as handsome as ever.”

She smiled weakly. She seemed hungover and out of it.

“I was being questioned until recently, and just lay down to rest a bit. I was the last one with the princess… so I guess this will go on all day.”

“So, what did you do with her?”

“Ah… I guess break time is over.”

Minette adjusted her posture.

“Around 1 a.m., we played chess and talked.”

“What kind of talk?”

“Just normal girl talk. Stuff about friendship and love.”

“…So you talked about me again.”

At Nocturne’s words, Minette turned her head, avoiding his gaze.

Minette was currently Padva’s lover. But that relationship hadn’t formed easily.

At first, Padva had been wary of her—thinking Aria’s close friend would surely hate him.

So Minette targeted his weakness: his inferiority complex.

Padva was the son of the S-class Emperor of Eshafain, but was born a powerless “norm.”

Meanwhile, Nocturne—though not royal—was an S-class combat-type Eshafain and was seen as the strongest in the Empire. Padva had always been insecure about that.

So Minette spread rumors about a romantic affair between her and Nocturne.

When Aria died, Minette’s act of seducing Nocturne immediately after was seen as shameless, even by the palace. People gossiped that she had no real loyalty to Aria.

Even the clone, who looked just like her dead friend, was seen as a rival in Minette’s eyes.

All of this moved Padva’s heart. His wariness turned to curiosity, and he began to welcome Minette’s approach.

When Minette finally chose him, Padva felt proud—like he had stolen Nocturne’s lover.

In the end, it was all part of Minette’s plan to get close to Padva. Nocturne knew everything and still cooperated.

Because Minette’s final goal was similar to his.

And the cooperation paid off. Now, Minette was in the perfect position—right at the prince’s side, with a knife ready.

But even after achieving her goal, Minette couldn’t stop caring about the princess.

“Did the princess say anything that could be a clue?”

“Well… I was drunk, so I don’t remember clearly.”

“Why were you drinking while talking to the princess? What if you slipped up?”

“I couldn’t help it. Yesterday…”

Minette’s lips trembled slightly. There was a trace of tears in her voice.

“A gift I ordered for Aria arrived…”

Nocturne quietly looked down at her. Her eyes were red.

A gift meant for the already-dead Aria had arrived. He imagined her standing there, helpless, with no one to give it to.

Still, what did that have to do with her visiting the princess?

“Lady Minette, as I’ve said before…”

Minette had once suggested they eliminate Padva and make the clone empress. She had called it the perfect revenge.

Nocturne had answered her then the same way he would now:

“That princess is not Aria.”

“…I know that.”

Minette mumbled. But her eyes didn’t show full understanding.