HDBMTD 77

HDBMTD | Chapter 77

Posted by Ruby, Released on August 24, 2025

~Chapter 77~

If I showed him I was healthier than he thought, maybe he would feel relieved. I spoke calmly on purpose.

“Actually, I think I’m healthier than before I drank the poison. Maybe it’s thanks to the Empire hospital’s advanced treatment. As expected, northern medicine is the best.”

“No, then yesterday when you fell asleep…”

“Yesterday, I was just too sleepy.”

As soon as I said that, I regretted it.

‘This might sound like… “Your kiss was so boring it made me fall asleep.”’

Nervously, I watched Nocturne’s expression. He leaned back in his chair with arms crossed, gazing at me with those deep, dark eyes.

Even though I knew he was observing me, I didn’t dislike the fact that his eyes were fixed on me.

‘Why does he look even more handsome today?’

Even if this was only temporary—me, a Cambiata, becoming his Pair was only possible because Nocturne was mentally unstable. For him it was tragic, but for me it was unbelievable good fortune.

The more perfect he looked, the less I could believe what I had done.

‘…How could I fall asleep in the middle of my first kiss?’

Yes, it was my first kiss. My first kiss with Nocturne.

Of course, in my head I carried memories of kissing Nocturne tens of thousands of times as Ari. Even after I woke in the palace, when he was lost in madness, we had shared lips.

But that was all as Ariadna. As Vis, this was the first time. So it was my true first kiss.

My heart had been racing so hard—yet I fell asleep? It must have been a side effect of the medicine they gave me in the morning. Or maybe fainting from arrhythmia.

As a Cambiata, I worried if I had hurt Nocturne’s pride. To fix things, I decided to say something nice.

“Maybe your kiss made me feel so calm. I think we match well.”

“…Really?”

Nocturne’s gaze slowly drifted down to my lips.

I quickly turned my head away.

“Right now… not really…”

“You’re right. We shouldn’t push it.”

But because he pulled back so fast, I suddenly felt rebellious.

“I’m really fine, you know?”

“…I wish you’d just tell me clearly what you want. Whether I can, or can’t.”

“….”

Heat spread across my cheeks. Looking away, I whispered:

“…First… go wash up.”

“Want me to help?”

“….”

I stared up at my newly formed Pair.

I knew he meant it kindly. He often carried Ariadna to the bath before. But if anyone else heard him say this, they’d misunderstand.

“…Why?”

But Nocturne’s face looked so innocent it was almost ridiculous.

Why do beautiful things always look harmless?

Artists were to blame, for painting good things beautifully and bad things ugly. At last, I muttered weakly:

“No, it’s fine. I can just call a healer.”

Then I asked, curious:

“By the way, when did you come here? Don’t tell me you’ve been watching me sleep the whole time?”

“….”

“…Right?”

“Of course not. I went to sleep too.”

Yes, that’s normal. Though… were his clothes different from yesterday?

Or maybe not. My observation skills had become dull since I started using Ariadna’s body.

“You should’ve woken me. You must have been bored.”

“Not really. Just watching you sleep was fun enough.”

“….”

Such kind words.

But remembering how he had once acted toward Ariadna, I couldn’t help mixed feelings. He had been gentle with her, too.

The morning after they spent the night together, he always stayed by her side, never leaving her alone.

‘Ah, really.’

Do I really need to know every detail of my Pair’s old love life? This was too much information.

When the healer came in, I said quickly:

“Then I’ll go wash now.”

“…Alright.”

Nocturne’s eyes swept over the cramped hospital bed.

“And it’s time to leave here.”

“Today?”

“Yes. I wanted to watch your progress longer, but…” He looked at me seriously.

“Someone overturned a whole village. The prince noticed something. Lucien can’t cover it anymore. Now the prince is openly demanding I hand you over.”

“….”

I had no words. Honestly, it was amazing the Imperial Army hadn’t stormed in already.

“I thought about moving you to another hospital, but they say your condition is fine enough for discharge. Strangely enough.”

So surprising I could be discharged? Just how weak did I look to him?

“Yes, I think I can leave.”

“No dizziness or nausea?”

“Not at all.”

“…Good.”

His expression softened as he studied me. That faint smile held affection.

Strangely, it embarrassed me even more than when he offered to help me wash.

Standing, Nocturne brushed my hair back from my forehead.

“Then we’ll move you to the Graymos estate outside the city. I’ll make sure plenty of healers are there.”

“Alright.”

“See you later.”

“…Yes, see you later.”

It was only a bath, yet he still said goodbye. Wasn’t it unfair for a grown man to be this cute?

It made me feel like a teenager in first love, fluttering with excitement.

When I returned, the healers I had grown close to came quietly to say goodbye.

Rina and those from the Golden Butterfly group even gave me gifts: a butterfly-shaped brooch and a handmade recovery potion.

“We’ll never forget the time we spent with you, Princess.”

“Thank you. I’ll miss you too.”

I hugged each one with affection. They cried, saying they’d never wash these clothes, until I reminded them gently that as healers, they should wash for hygiene.

“Thank you for saving us, Princess.”

Even the villagers recovering in the hospital came to thank me. Among them were Marta and her son, Cain.

I only remembered Cain lying unconscious in the fire. Seeing him healthy now made me happy. The boy handed me a gift.

“It’s a lucky stone.”

It was a small stone shaped like a four-leaf clover.

“I kept this and survived. Then you came and saved me. So I want you to have it.”

Cain was small for his age. He was twelve but looked more like eight. His tiny hands offering the gift moved me deeply.

I patted his head gently.

“Thank you, Cain.”

Marta bowed deeply beside him.

“Truly, thank you, Princess.”

“Marta, you look well. I’m glad.”