HDBMTD 48

Chapter 48

“Because… because I…”

She seemed to have many things to say, but she couldn’t continue.

Her voice was weak, and her consciousness looked unclear.

Nocturne’s gaze quickly scanned the room and landed on a glass bottle beside the bed.

He gave orders to his subordinates while the princess held his collar.

“There is a glass bottle there. It looks like she drank poison. Take it and show it to the healer, then bring the healer here. Hurry.”

“Yes!”

The subordinate rushed into the room, grabbed the bottle, and ran out.

After the subordinates left in a hurry, Nocturne looked down at the woman still holding onto him.

She was trembling in severe pain but was desperately murmuring something.

Nocturne wanted to understand the whole situation. As he read her lips, he became increasingly confused.

Did she really drink poison because of me?

“Gasp.”

At that moment, the princess’s eyes lost focus suddenly.

She let go of Nocturne’s collar and stepped back.

Nocturne looked at her in surprise.

Strangely, the princess also had a startled expression.

It was like someone who accidentally spoke a truth they never wanted to say.

Cold sweat appeared on her pale forehead, shown through her messy blonde hair, and tears gathered in her red eyes.

With the face he had dreamed of even in his sleep, she painfully opened her mouth.

“I’m sorry…”

That was her last word.

As her thin body leaned, Nocturne instinctively stretched out his arm.

The body that fell into his arms was too light, with no sign of life.

‘What is this?’

Cold sweat formed on Nocturne’s forehead.

‘She said sorry?’

Could it all be over just with that one word?

“How could you try to do this twice, right in front of me…”

How could she try to die in front of me, wearing Ari’s face?

Confusion and anger mixed inside him, rising to the point of explosion.

Wasn’t this like stabbing a wound and spitting on it?

To tear a person apart so badly inside…

‘Trying to die?’

What exactly are you?

And what is this boiling feeling inside me?

I still don’t even know its name.

‘No, I can’t let this go.’

I cannot leave it like this.

Nocturne looked down at the princess in his arms.

Though his whole body trembled with anger, his hands holding her had no strength at all.

“This time, I will definitely save you…”

He muttered through clenched teeth.

4. What Death Does

Love changes people.

Since falling in love with Aria, those words had never felt truer to Nocturne.

For example, now he could swim — just like Aria.

But when he first met her as a child, it wasn’t like that.

“Puhah, mmph…!”

So when young Nocturne fell into the lake, he was full of anger. Anger was fuel for fire. Even in this icy water, he could probably burn endlessly now.

As the surface above him grew farther away and the water turned a deeper blue, Nocturne clenched his teeth and fists. He thought about evaporating the entire lake and burning the ones who had pushed him in.

But just as he was about to use his ability, a small, pale hand suddenly reached through the dim sunlight.

A girl?

The one who grabbed his wrist was a blonde-haired girl.

A slender figure, clear skin, delicate features, and a round forehead. Slightly drooping eyes gave her a gentle impression.

At the time, he didn’t know her name, but now he could pronounce it more smoothly than his own.

Ariadna.

“From now on, I’ll be watching over this boy, so don’t you dare touch him!”

Aria, who had saved Nocturne, turned to threaten the ones who had pushed him in, then left. Only then did the boys around them start murmuring.

“Why is Her Highness the Princess defending you so much?”

But Nocturne had known nothing about Aria until then. From the boys’ words, he learned she was a princess — and that was it.

There was only one person called princess in the Empire. Something about being S-rank… he didn’t know exactly, but she was clearly famous.

Even drenched, she still seemed special, and judging by how the boys reacted, she must have been very popular.

Still, he wasn’t interested. She was from another world, unrelated to him.

“I saved you, so you have to play with me.”

But somehow, that princess from another world started hovering around him after that day.

At the time, Nocturne found all other kids annoying, but for some reason, he felt like he had to be kind to her.

“That was unnecessary. If you hadn’t stepped in, I could have beaten them all up.”

…The problem was, back then Nocturne didn’t even know what kindness was.

Looking back now, he thought, What kind of rude way is that to talk to someone who saved you and treated you warmly? But that was just how he was.

His uncle’s control had kept him from meeting many people, and he didn’t like people anyway. Everyone he’d met since his parents died had been garbage.

If I talk without cursing or hitting, that’s kindness, right? — that was his level.

Still, he knew he was clumsy with people, so after speaking bluntly, he secretly watched for Aria’s reaction.

“I know.”

“…What?”

But she gave an unexpected answer. What did she mean by I know?

When he asked again, puzzled, Aria smiled, her eyes curving.

“But if you had done that, you would have been in even more trouble. To get revenge, you need strength. If you caused a scene at the academy and got expelled, you’d have to go back to the duke’s estate — and you’re not ready yet.”

“What…”

“See? I helped you.”

She said it with a smile as bright as sunlight.

Aria is beautiful.

Aria is a princess.

Those were the only two things Nocturne knew about her, until getting closer taught him a third.

Aria is smart.

“If you take my hand, I’ll help you get your revenge successfully.”

Back then, Nocturne had planned to return to the duke’s estate at the end of the term, take revenge on the uncle’s family who had killed his parents, and then be executed or imprisoned.

But Aria told him not to. She said that if he took her hand, she would ruin them while making sure he benefited.

Half-doubting, he accepted her offer — and then her actions went far beyond his expectations.

First, she pretended to be interested in his cousin to visit the duke’s estate and check for hidden evidence.

When she found that all proof of the Bendrix estate fire six years ago had been perfectly destroyed, she created evidence instead.

After reading the minds of those involved, she tracked down people connected to the incident and acted as though she held all the proof, forcing them to confess.

Then, after dragging them into court, she exposed all the other crimes she’d uncovered during her investigation — taking down his uncle, aunt, and cousin all at once.

In the end, his uncle was exiled, his cousin imprisoned, and his aunt, though spared direct punishment, couldn’t bear public scorn and went to a mental hospital.

Once it was over, Aria connected him to the necessary people, including a steward for the territory, and even handled the details so he could continue at the academy.

Finally, she made sure the entire process was reported in big articles, clearing his name and restoring his honor.

…Is she really the same age as me?

It was a meticulous, perfect revenge — something he could never have done. Watching her accomplish it so swiftly made Nocturne feel awe.

But…

“Young Hero Who Overcame Trials: Nocturne Bendrix Becomes Duke”
“Truth of the Bendrix Family Tragedy: Six-Year Blood Revenge”
“Heir of a Fallen Noble House Regains Dukedom”
“Feat of a B-Rank Flame-Type Eshape: Youngest Duke in the Empire”

Closing the newspaper filled with praises he’d never heard in his life, Nocturne frowned.

“Isn’t this over the top? You’re making me sound like some hero.”

Aria chuckled.

“It might feel a bit much, but this way is safer.”

“…Why?”

“When you’re young, with no adults to protect you, power attracts flies. A scary image, like someone who’s taken bloody revenge, keeps them away. And also…”

She lowered her book and leaned closer.

“You’re going to stay by my side from now on, right? Then you might become the subject of gossip. Better to be famous.”

“….”

That, he could understand.

Ever since he’d started hanging around her, people had whispered, Who is that kid always with the princess? But after the articles about him, all that talk disappeared.

So she’d even thought of that… But still—

‘You’re going to stay by my side from now on,’ huh.

He glanced at her face out of the corner of his eye.

What was with that casual talk about the future?

From the moment they met, she’d helped him in every way… maybe…

Does she like me too?

While Aria wasn’t looking, Nocturne’s ears turned red.

Outside, insects chirped. It was the season when he learned that embarrassment could make your body feel warm.