HDBMTD 47

Chapter 47

Nocturne ran up to the lodge and first checked the window of the princess’s room.

She was staying on the third floor—not too high to reach.

But as soon as he got close, a shield activated.

“What the…?”

Nocturne landed on the ground and looked up.

The shield surrounding the princess’s room flickered briefly before disappearing.

‘A B-rank shield.’

It was the power of an Eshafae on the rooftop.

Nocturne had told the knights to protect the princess but hadn’t ordered a shield around her room.

‘What on earth is going on?’

He had brought only his most loyal subordinates.

One of them had broken the order to guard the princess by leaving their post.

‘What is happening?’

A vague anxiety grew inside him.

Breaking the shield wasn’t difficult, but since Nocturne couldn’t fly, breaking the third-floor shield required a long-range fire attack.

Doing that might put the princess and the building at risk.

Without a clear threat, he couldn’t recklessly do that.

It took less than two seconds for him to decide to enter the building and climb the stairs.

“Your Grace?”

Knights on patrol approached, noticing Nocturne’s sudden urgency.

He didn’t have time to explain and rushed to the third floor.

Once there, he headed straight to the princess’s room.

But a knight guarding the door stopped him.

“Who do you think you’re blocking?”

“Sorry, Your Grace. The princess ordered that no one enter for the next 30 minutes.”

“What nonsense…”

Nocturne was about to retort, but noticed an unnatural glow in the knight’s eyes.

The knight drew his sword.

“Please step back.”

“Jason? Are you crazy?”

Another knight who followed Nocturne asked.

Others were gathering, sensing the disturbance.

‘Both knights guarding the princess have gone mad.’

One B-rank defense Eshafae had placed the shield and gone to the rooftop.

One A-rank attack Eshafae was guarding the room.

This kind of behavior required at least an A-rank psychic.

So the princess really does have psychic powers.

‘What are they doing inside?’

Nocturne felt his anxiety turn into anger.

“Jason.”

“No matter how much you call, the princess’s orders come first…”

Bang!

Flames flickered before Jason’s eyes.

As he lost his balance, Nocturne snatched his sword and kicked him in the abdomen.

“Ugh!”

Jason collapsed before others could react.

Nocturne wrapped his sword in flames and destroyed the shield around the room.

Then he pushed the door open roughly.

I drank all the poison and lay down straight on the bed.

Then I stood up again.

“It hurts too much.”

Had it been less than three minutes? Why?

The thought barely came when I remembered something.

This poison could cause pain for up to ten minutes before death.

I cursed silently.

“Such Cambiata…”

I should have remembered this important fact before drinking it.

If I had, I would have numbed my pain earlier.

I grabbed the wall with one hand and covered my mouth.

My vision blurred, and I felt like vomiting.

Suddenly, the window shook.

“Cough.”

What was happening?

I almost coughed up blood.

“Was the shield shaking?”

I remembered the knight had put up the shield before leaving the room.

To avoid side effects from total mind control, I had only implanted a suggestion for him to obey me.

But he had been too loyal and placed the shield on his own.

Now the shield was reacting.

Why? Was there an intruder?

No, more than that—

“Ugh…”

The pain was unbearable now.

Nocturne’s silhouette appeared before my eyes.

“This poison has hallucination effects…”

I reached out to him.

My hand passed through him as expected.

The vision trembled and disappeared.

“I felt sad somehow.”

I couldn’t even see his expression properly.

Had I failed to imagine him well enough?

“What kind of expression would Nocturne have when he sees me dead?”

Would he be a little sad?

“No, no way.”

I liked him, but he hated me.

Maybe he would feel relieved.

“That’s a little sad.”

Suddenly, the sound of a door opening echoed.

“What are you doing?”

I heard Nocturne’s voice too.

Hallucinations followed by voices?

I sweat nervously and turned my head.

This time, the vision stood at the door, clearly showing his face.

Nocturne looked angry.

“Can’t you at least smile kindly at Ari in your visions?”

This was my last moment.

My voice barely came out, but I forced my mouth open.

“Cough.”

Instead of words, blood came out.

Nocturne’s eyes in the vision widened in surprise.

I staggered toward him.

“Don’t…”

My ears were deaf, and I wasn’t sure if my voice was even coming out.

I reached for Nocturne’s collar.

My weak hand pulled on his clothes.

“Don’t hate me.”

Why would he even be angry in my last vision?

I was already in pain and close to death.

Tears welled up from sorrow.

Of course, I’m Cambiata, and seeing my past means I deserve to die…

But I wanted him to remember I had some good in me.

“Because… because I…”

I had drunk the poison.

For you.

Nocturne, you don’t know what it’s like for your insides to melt.

It feels like a fire is burning in my stomach.

I hate burning.

It hurts so much.

It feels like my cells are being crushed one by one.

You wouldn’t know.

Nocturne, you don’t burn.

So please…

“Don’t hate me too much.”

“Huff.”

Suddenly, my vision cleared.

I realized the sensation in my hand was too vivid.

I pulled my hand back, startled.

“What have I done?”

When had Nocturne come here?

I didn’t want to show him this side of me.

As the pain eased and reason returned, guilt flooded in.

I looked at Nocturne with shaky eyes and barely whispered:

“I’m sorry…”

After saying that, my knees gave out.

I saw Nocturne reaching out desperately to me.

“How can you do this twice in front of me…?”

I thought I heard a faint voice above.

After that, I lost consciousness.

“What are you doing?”

Nocturne was furious when he opened the door.

The princess was leaning against the wall, not even looking at him though she must have heard his voice.

He took a frustrated step forward.

“Cough.”

Blood poured from her mouth.

Dark red liquid ran down her pale skin.

Nocturne froze, seeing something that shouldn’t exist.

The princess’s reddened lips moved.

“Don’t…”

She staggered forward and grabbed Nocturne’s collar.

Her hand tugged weakly but irresistibly.

When she was close enough to feel his breath, she said:

“Don’t hate me.”

Nocturne’s eyes widened.

What was she saying in such a state?

“Did I ever hate you?”

Yes, he did.

“But you never cared.”

No matter his attitude, she always responded with a warm smile.

“Every time, I…”

I faltered.

I hated you more when you never faltered.

But why, now?

Lately, you had been kind enough.

We had almost cleared misunderstandings and were about to face the truth.

Why now…?