Chapter 33
“It would be better to talk after you’re sober.”
Nocturne left Minette behind and headed to the drawing room.
Minette was projecting Aria onto the clone. She used to be a smart woman, but ever since Aria’s death, she’d drowned herself in alcohol and her judgment seemed clouded.
When her longing for Aria grew, and that identical face was right in front of her breathing, it must have been confusing. Even knowing it wasn’t real, she probably just wanted to feel that lost warmth again.
A foolish act.
Because no one could replace Aria.
The clone resembled Aria, but there were tiny differences in every aspect—handwriting, walk, habits, even fingerprints.
It was like a poor copy, trying to mimic the original and failing. That imperfection was irritating.
With these thoughts, Nocturne entered the drawing room.
His gaze stopped on a contract placed on the desk.
He had sent it through Willow. It was no longer needed.
Unlike Aria, the clone didn’t have empathic abilities. If he found that weak being outside the palace, there was no need for formalities.
“Duke.”
One of his knights entered the drawing room just then. In his hand was a familiar necklace.
It was the ruby necklace Nocturne had once gifted the princess. It had a tracking device. She must’ve discarded it.
“It was found near the palace gate.”
Nocturne took it and quietly looked down.
One corner of the ruby was broken.
At that moment, another knight approached with something else. A strong smell of blood made Nocturne frown.
“What’s that?”
“We believe it’s the princess’s dress.”
He thought it was a red dress at first—but no.
It was completely soaked in blood.
Looking closely, he recognized the dress. It had originally been white, now dyed red with blood.
His grip tightened around the fabric.
Why was there blood?
How had it been soaked to this extent…?
Was there external force?
“Was she kidnapped?”
His voice turned icy.
The chill that filled the room made the knights hold their breath, but Nocturne didn’t even notice the shift.
“Y-Yes, that’s what it appears to be…”
One of the knights answered in a small, nervous voice. A scene played out in Nocturne’s mind.
The woman with Aria’s face resisting, struggling, being dragged away.
Perhaps it was his fiery nature, but just imagining that familiar face filled with fear made his insides burn.
Nocturne ordered the knight who brought the necklace:
“You said it was found near the palace gate. Take me there.”
He had to find that being who looked like Aria.
No matter what—it had to be before Padva did.
Clatter, clatter.
The last thing I remembered was Willow’s face as I passed out. When I woke up, I was lying on a cot inside a moving vehicle.
What’s going on? Am I in a carriage headed for the kingdom?
Then I heard Tita’s voice nearby.
“Your Highness!”
“Quiet, she’s lost a lot of blood. She needs a transfusion first.”
Someone lifted my body into their arms. But just as I was coming to, my consciousness faded again.
When I next opened my eyes, I felt a stinging sensation in my arm. This time, I wasn’t in a vehicle. I was lying on a bed with a needle in my arm.
A man, who seemed to be a doctor, spoke beside me.
“Leaving in this condition would be dangerous. It’s better to depart after some rest.”
He wasn’t speaking to me. I rolled my eyes around and saw Willow. He stood with a tense expression, one hand on his waist.
“If we stall, the pursuit team will catch up. We’ll rest after crossing the border.”
“Where exactly are you taking Her Highness without permission? This is basically kidnapping!”
Tita’s sharp voice rang out, but Willow remained calm.
“The princess wants this too. Right, Your Highness?”
He turned to me. Everyone suddenly realized I was awake, and all eyes turned to me.
My head was still hazy, but one thing was clear—I had to avoid being caught and dragged back to the palace.
I nodded.
Tita shouted in surprise. I wanted to focus on her words, but once again, a wave of drowsiness pulled me under.
When I came to for the third time, I was back in the vehicle.
Tita noticed my small movement and leaned in to meet my eyes.
“Your Highness! You’re awake?”
“Where are we…”
“We’re in the eastern region of the Kingdom of Elysia, in the city alliance of Tesran.”
I turned my gaze to the window. Under a gray, cloud-filled sky stretched a dirt road. Small houses were scattered around, and people walked between them.
Their eyes were filled with suspicion. A woman holding a child pulled them into her house the moment she saw our vehicle. Some people even carried guns.
“Look at those scary faces. Feels like home,” Tita murmured quietly.
She was right—this place reminded me of the harsh, barren North.
The Tesran city alliance was a collection of independent city-states, similar to the northern region.
I felt a bit relieved. If we were here, we wouldn’t run into Imperial forces.
Most of the Empire’s neighboring countries hosted imperial troops, but not the Kingdom of Elysia and this city alliance.
The kingdom avoided intervention because it had enough military power on its own. As for Tesran, it was left alone because the Empire didn’t want to lose precious soldiers to the region’s magical contamination.
My gaze stopped on the metal ring around Tita’s neck. Shocked, I cried out.
“Tita, that’s…”
It was a suppression ring used to restrain Eshafain abilities. Tita noticed my gaze and pointed ahead with her finger.
“That man put it on me. I guess he was scared of my A-rank mental empathy that I once used on the Duke.”
I turned to look, and saw Willow sitting across from me with a gentle smile.
“Good morning, Your Highness.”
“Sir Willow…”
“I told you to just call me Willow.”
He spoke kindly and handed me a canteen.
“You must be thirsty. Please drink this.”
“I’m fine—cough…”
“Oh dear, you’re coughing. Don’t refuse.”
With his continued urging, I sat up with Tita’s help.
I took the canteen and drank. I expected water, but it had a nutty taste. Willow saw my expression and explained.
“It’s a nutritional drink. A meal replacement for patients.”
I glanced around the vehicle as I drank. It looked like a military vehicle, modified with heavy armor and large wheels. No wonder the villagers found it threatening.
As I stared out the window, Willow spoke.
“You’re not going to ask anything?”
I turned my head. He raised one eyebrow, puzzled. I looked confused.
“Aren’t you curious why I’m not in the kingdom, or why I brought you here…? There’s a lot to ask.”
“Ah…”
I thought for a moment, then asked:
“Can you take the suppression ring off Tita?”
“…That’s what you choose to ask?”
Willow sighed and shook his head.
“That’s not possible. A-rank mental users are too dangerous. Your maid is extremely hostile toward me.”
“Of course she is, you kidnapper!”
“You see?”
