Chapter 02
Even with her eyes closed, Azrael could feel a strong light. She shifted slightly, then opened her eyes. Slowly, a familiar view appeared before her.
“My room from before I became the Crown Princess?”
She looked around in a daze, confused by the situation.
‘What is going on?’
Just then, the door burst open.
“Annie! How can you still be sleeping? Today’s a busy morning!”
It was her younger sister, Lea, running in loudly.
“Lea?”
“Yes, it’s me! Come on, wake up! You have to get ready!”
“Are you Lea?”
“Annie, did you have a weird dream? Why are you acting like this?”
Azrael reached out and touched Lea’s face. It was her.
“Where are Mother and Father?”
Lea tilted her head, wondering why her sister was acting so strange. But seeing the desperation in Azrael’s eyes, she answered honestly.
“They’re having breakfast in the dining room. Since you’re busy today, they said to bring your breakfast to your room.”
Tears welled up in Azrael’s eyes. Her family was alive.
“Lea What day is it today?”
“Um it’s March 5th, Year 421 of the Empire.”
That meant it was less than a week before the royal debutante ball Azrael’s debut ball, when she had just turned sixteen.
‘So I came back three years ago?’
How?
Then the voice she heard in her mind before dying came back to her.
‘Was that God’s voice? Did I come back in time?’
It was hard to believe, but it didn’t matter how or why. What mattered was that she was back.
‘Dear God thank you. This time, I will protect my family, no matter what.’
Lea looked at Azrael with worry. Her sister seemed different.
‘And I will get revenge on Patrick and Angela. I swear it.’
Azrael held back tears and pulled Lea into a tight hug.
“Lea, I promise I’ll protect you. I really will!”
Lea, confused but kind, gently patted her sister’s back.
“Did you have a nightmare, Annie? It’s okay now. I believe you’ll protect me. So don’t cry, and let’s get ready. The dress fitting is today, remember? And the jewelers are coming this afternoon too!”
Azrael wiped away her tears and took a deep breath.
“Right. Let’s get ready.”
After a light breakfast, Azrael went down to the sitting room on the first floor with Lea.
The room was filled with seamstresses, and on the sofa sat the Duchess, her mother gracefully sipping tea in a beautiful dress.
“Come here, my lovely daughters,” she greeted them warmly.
Azrael’s heart ached. This mother who once could barely move from the torture—was now smiling and alive. Tears almost came again, but she held them back.
Lea sat next to the Duchess and whispered something. The Duchess looked at Azrael, eyes wide in surprise.
“Azrael, is it true you promised to protect Lea? You’re a grown-up now, ready for the debutante ball, but… since when did you get so mature?”
“Yes. As the older sister, I should protect my little sister. And I’ll protect you and Father too. So please don’t feel left out.”
Azrael smiled brightly, repeating the vow she once made to God.
“See? I told you she’s acting strange today!” Lea teased. “She used to be such a troublemaker, and now she’s all grown up just because of the debutante ball!”
“Goodness, you’re right. Did the sun rise from the west today?” the Duchess joked.
They laughed and teased Azrael, who still had watery eyes but finally smiled.
Before marrying Patrick and moving into the palace, Azrael used to live like this laughing and joking with her family, without politics or fear. She had missed these simple, happy days so much.
She sat beside Lea with a smile.
“Alright then shall we begin?”
The seamstress clapped her hands.
“Let’s start fitting!”
Her assistant brought forward a rack full of beautiful dresses.
All morning, Azrael tried on dress after dress. By noon, she was exhausted.
Then, a group of jewelers arrived, laying out accessories and explaining everything in detail. With her mother and Lea’s help, she chose what to buy but by the end, she felt like her soul had left her body.
It was only the first day after her return, and she was already worn out. She hadn’t had time to reflect on anything.
Dragging her tired body to her room, she lay on the bed but not for long.
The whole house suddenly became loud. The knights had returned from fighting monsters near the capital’s outskirts. Among them was the Duke her father.
Azrael jumped up and ran.
She was tired, but her body moved on its own. She couldn’t wait to see her father again. If her mother saw, she’d surely scold her for being unladylike, but Azrael didn’t care.
Her maid, Yuriel, chased after her.
“My lady, how many times have I told you not to run in the hallways? The Duchess will scold you again!”
But Azrael didn’t hear anything. Seeing her father alive again was more important.
As she reached the stairs, she saw the Duke walking in through the front door. Their eyes met.
Tears immediately filled Azrael’s eyes.
Without thinking, she ran down the stairs.
Everyone was shocked by her father, the Duchess, and even the butler. Azrael wasn’t known for being a quiet, proper lady, but even so, no one expected this reaction.
She jumped straight into the Duke’s arms.
“Father!”
The Duke smiled warmly and hugged her back, glad he had taken off his blood-stained armor.
“You look much happier now than when you were pretending to be all proper for the debutante. This suits you better,” he chuckled.
Azrael felt his warmth and finally believed he was alive.
“If someone saw this, they’d think you hadn’t met in months,” the Duchess shook her head in disbelief.
She scolded Azrael a little for being too emotional but soon smiled seeing the loving reunion.
Then Lea came running and hugged them both, turning the scene into one big family hug.
The butlers and maids nearby all smiled too. The Nocturne family had always been known for their warm and free-spirited ways, unlike other noble families obsessed with political marriages.
They valued love over power, and their home was truly filled with joy.
