HDBMTD 76

~Chapter 76~

Our lips touched.

His tongue slipped between my teeth, exploring my mouth. It was a gentle kiss, yet filled with thirst.

“Mm…”

Watching Nocturne with his eyes closed and so absorbed, I closed my eyes too. For some reason, I felt like crying.

It was like watching two perfect lovers, together for a long time, finally parting ways.

Was Ari inside me disappointed? Or was it simply sadness over such a rare and beautiful love breaking apart?

Nocturne… in the end, you accepted Ari’s death.

Him calling my name meant he had completely given up the possibility that I could be Ari.

I was not his “Ariadna, finally returned.” And Nocturne was no longer “a man who would only love one person forever.”

He lost his first love, Ariadna, and then met his second love, Vis.

If he endured the first breakup, the second would be easier. Then the third, the fourth…

Someday, to comfort a new lover, he might even say all his previous loves were meaningless.

Through many meetings and partings, Nocturne would realize one truth—that life is lived alone, and all bonds pass by like seasons.

And then, maybe one day, he would meet his last love.

If not, it didn’t matter. By then, Nocturne would be strong enough to stand alone without relying on anyone.

“For that wholeness someday, I will give you the rest of my life. My life, my death, my first love, and my last love.”

“Nocturne.”

The moment I called his name, our lips met again. Even though no distance remained between us, he kissed me desperately, as if trying to fill some gap.

Unable to bear his weight, I fell back. Nocturne followed, pressing me down.

The small bed creaked. I knew I should stop him, but I didn’t feel like it. Instead, I wrapped my arms around him.

His body, thinner than I remembered, felt precious to me. I thought I would sacrifice anything to protect this weight. Yes—anything.

When I learned in the lab that I was Cambiata, I thought I could never live such a life. That I couldn’t survive as such a terrible existence.

But now… even that seemed possible.

Nocturne, I could die for you. And I could even live as this kind of being—for you.

I’ll stay by your side. At least until you are completely healed.

Ch 3.

Cambiata

I felt a faint presence and opened my eyes.

Turning my head, I saw Nocturne reading a book under the bright morning sun.

“Nocturne…”

“Yes.”

When I murmured sleepily, he reached out naturally and held my hand, as if it were as easy as breathing.

Relaxing, I closed my eyes again, but then a sudden thought jolted me awake.

“D-Duke?”

Nocturne looked up from his book and smiled softly. Bathed in sunlight, he looked like a beautiful painting.

“You’re awake?”

“…Why are you here like this?”

I forced myself to focus, though my mind had wandered at his beauty. Nocturne tilted his head curiously, and even that small gesture made my chest ache.

“Is it a problem that I’m here?”

“No, it’s just…”

I wanted to say of course not, I’m grateful, but instead I shook my head politely. Nocturne smiled meaningfully, like a gambler holding a winning card.

“Why not? We’re not strangers anymore.”

Right. That was true.

As of yesterday, Nocturne and I had become a Pair.

It didn’t feel real yet. From how he acted before, I thought it would take much longer.

Really… this man is my Pair now…

Staring at him in wonder, I said:

“By the way… you must’ve taken it to heart when I once said we were nothing to each other.”

“I didn’t take it to heart. I just remembered because you said it.”

That’s the same thing…

As I thought about it, Nocturne asked, watching me carefully:

“How’s your condition? You seemed to sleep well.”

“I’m fine.”

Condition? Why? Then I remembered yesterday.

During the day, he visited my hospital room and talked with me—until I fell asleep mid-conversation. Later that night, he called my name for the first time, we became a Pair, and then…

Thinking of what happened after, my face grew hot. Nocturne caught my expression and smirked.

“Thinking about last night?”

“N-no, I just…”

“There’s not much to remember anyway.”

He teased. Then I understood.

After he kissed me, my memory cut off. I must have fallen asleep in the middle of our first kiss.

Even if I was tired, sleeping during a first kiss is too much…

I muttered, embarrassed:

“I-I’m sorry.”

“…You don’t need to apologize. I should.”

Nocturne sighed lightly.

“I think I pushed you too much, even though you’re not well.”

I froze, looking at him. His worried face made me frown.

Last night, he called my name and kissed me. That meant he had decided to accept me as someone separate from Ari.

But still, it was true that his coldness began to change only after I drank poison.

Triggering his trauma of almost losing Ari—that was the turning point.

Could Nocturne’s affection for me just be his desire to protect?

This Pair was only temporary.

The official goal was to end the Cambiata Club, but I also wanted to free Nocturne from Ariadna’s shadow.

He chose to Pair with me to overcome his loss of Ari, but as long as I was her copy, I would always remind him of her.

So the best ending would be Nocturne no longer needing me—and choosing to part with me himself.

Nocturne must become independent from me.

Honestly, once he recovered, he had no reason to cling to someone like me.

He was the continent’s only remaining S-class psychic. Young, handsome, and a duke.

Some might think being tied to one woman too long was a flaw, but others would find it romantic.

As long as he regained his mental health.

And to help him, I first had to ease his protective instincts.

“You think you pushed a sick person too much… just because of a kiss?”

Nocturne paused, then nodded.

“…Yes, that’s why.”

I sighed.

“I think you’re misunderstanding. I’m not such a fragile patient. I’m not weak enough to faint from just a kiss.”

If I showed him I was stronger than he thought, maybe he would feel less burdened. So I spoke calmly.