IHYWRM l CH 12

Chapter 12

‘Did she die craving madeleines or what? Why buy that many?’

Noctum wondered if a woman could even carry that much, and why a noble lady was paying herself without any attendants.

‘What is she doing out here alone?’

No wonder bad people swarm around her like flies.

He clicked his tongue as Charlotte came out holding boxes of madeleines in both hands, not knowing she’d just been prey for slavers. He looked around for a guard who might have looked away for a moment—but there was no one. Not even close.

‘Fine.’

A noble lady of the Empire must not get attacked in the middle of the capital’s street.

Muttering excuses to himself, he followed her. He happened to pick up the handkerchief she dropped—that really was an accident.

The more he saw her, the less he understood her. For a so-called villainess, she was a scatterbrain who left things everywhere.

‘No wonder I end up guarding her.’

With that flimsy excuse, he shadowed her naturally. He called it “guarding,” but Charlotte had no idea.

Thankfully, her carriage was nearby.

‘So she’s going home?’

He relaxed—until the florist handed her a bouquet full of white flowers. His face stiffened again.

Noble ladies don’t give bouquets. Gift-giving is a man’s role, and a noble girl would be mocked for doing it.

But she took the bouquet anyway, ignored the looks around her, hugged it to her chest, and climbed into the carriage.

His eyes followed the carriage. It was heading straight toward her estate. He should look away now…

‘Who is that bouquet for?’

The question ate at him. With that Charlotte Dapshine, it was bound to be some crazy stunt. Maybe she planned to stir up society again. Or maybe she noticed him and bought it on purpose.

Given how she’d pestered his house about marriage, that guess wasn’t crazy.

He nodded to himself, a faint smile tugging at his mouth… which he quickly wiped away.

‘Tch. Did someone curse me with dark magic?’

He knew it wasn’t that. He’d gotten checked at the temple—purified, even. Still, whenever he saw her, strange feelings bubbled up.

“Pointless,” he cut himself off. She was from the rival faction, and he was engaged now.

He decided not to go straight home; in this restless mood he’d only destroy a few dozen training dummies.

“Hmm. I’ll visit that place.”

He chose a destination: a quiet mountain on the edge of the capital where no one went—his private spot, and where the only creature he cared for lived.

He thought of Kai, whom he hadn’t seen in about a year, and headed for the mountain—never imagining someone else would greet him there.

***

Charlotte bought a bouquet and madeleines to go to where Noctum’s grave would have been. She returned to the duke’s estate for one simple reason:

‘This way is faster.’

It wasn’t that his grave was on the grounds. Her room had a hidden portal that led to the place.

She sent Anna away and ordered everyone not to enter unless called. In this world, no maid had the guts to question her. Faces went pale; heads bobbed desperately. Good. They wouldn’t barge in even if she screamed for help.

She entered her room. Same room, completely different decor—gaudy where her taste was plain.

She pulled aside a heavy red curtain studded with gems and crouched to feel behind the bed. After only a few presses, her hand sank into the wall.

A simple magic trick.

“At least this is the same.”

She’d found it at six years old: a secret passage not on the blueprints. Likely an emergency escape route, given that the portal opened to a mountain near an outpost. The duke must not even know it existed—why else give her this room?

She stood, gathered the madeleines and the bouquet, and walked straight through the wall into a long tunnel.

Five minutes later, light gleamed ahead. She poked her head out.

The exit was inside the trunk of a giant old tree in the middle of a field. She brushed off dirt and smiled at the view.

Her eyes sought someone dear, then she shook her head.

“…Of course he wouldn’t be here.”

In this world she hadn’t helped, and in truth, that child was dead in every world.

“It’s just a lingering attachment.”

Even if she did meet her here, this Charlotte had lived differently. She’d be wary, not welcoming. In her dream, Charlotte never came to places like this.

She sighed and walked on. Noctum’s grave site lay deeper.

Grass brushed her calves. Her skin might get irritated, but she kept walking.

She reached a small, open field.

“It’s been a while, dear.”

There was nothing there—but she acted as if a grave stood before her.

“I should clear the grass. It’s too long. It wasn’t like this in spring.”

She set down the bouquet and madeleines and pulled weeds. Her soft hands turned red and itchy, but she cleared it all. She smiled at the neat patch, then sat and gently brushed the bare ground.

“I read your last letter. I still haven’t found the answer.”

…

“I tried to look for it here too, but that’s not easy. Feels like you hid it on purpose. Right?”

…

“How did you know… I even thought that if I finished the letter, I’d go to your side. Is that why I was sent here? So God could still use me?”

Her calm face crumpled with tears.

“But Noctum, you know…”

…

“Before, destiny scared me. Now that I have a wish, I… want that destiny.”

If that meant ending as the vilified villainess—or being burned as a witch—she could accept it.

If only she could see him once more.

She gave a dry, brittle laugh.

“Even that wish is too much for me.”

She wasn’t a shining heroine—just a passing villain.

She gazed at the empty ground, then covered her face with both hands. She didn’t want to cry, but her palms grew wet.

She missed him so much.

“I can’t go where you are… I’m so lonely. I said I’d come tomorrow.”

If only she hadn’t slept after reading the letter.

“I’m sorry. I love you. I’m sorry, Noctum.”

All of it was her fault. Everything.

She swallowed the urge to apologize again. Not today.

She wiped her eyes and talked about ordinary things—answering questions he’d asked in his letters.

After a long while, she felt the sun dipping and stood.

She bowed to the empty space, pulled on her hood, and turned—

“…!”

Noctum Afros was there. In a place where no one should be.

“H-how… did you…?”

Her voice caught. How could he know this place? Hope flickered despite herself.

Maybe, like her, he had memories. Maybe he would remember, like in a story.

“Why were you saying my name out here?”

Her hope vanished.

“Answer me, Lady. Why were you calling my name?”

He frowned, impatient. She looked at his face, then back at the ground where the grave would be.

‘Ah…’

Third meeting—now she knew for sure.

The sound of his steps. The sharp tone, the low, rough voice. Most of all, that cold gaze from the very first moment.

In the husband she knew, his eyes had always held the same feeling for her—even after he met the heroine. She pretended not to notice, but she knew better than anyone.

It was love. Endless affection.

But now?

Love? She let out a weak laugh.

Whatever filled his eyes now, it wasn’t love.

She’d hoped he might have come with her—just without his memories. But—

‘You’re not the Noctum Afros I know.’

Just as Anna wasn’t Anna, and Adrian wasn’t Adrian.

You’re a different person.

“Your Grace… no.”

She forced herself to speak. It was hard to be firm with a man who wore her husband’s face.

“What?”

He sounded offended.

She clenched her fists.

“The person I was talking to… isn’t you.”

Her voice was steadier now. He laughed, then his face hardened.

“So you’re saying there’s another Noctum in this Empire?”

“…”

“One you call ‘dear’—who looks like me?”

He gave a short, disbelieving laugh. Her face went still, like a doll’s.

“…Just think of it as the ravings of a mad villainess.”

That was the easiest answer—delusions of a deranged noble girl.

Noctum’s frown deepened. He raked a hand through his hair.

“Ha. Right. Sure.”

He didn’t buy it. Then—

Whip—!

He yanked her hooded cloak toward him. Her pinned-up hair tumbled down.

Their eyes locked.

“Stop this unpleasant act here, Lady.”

“…I’m sorry.”

She bowed her head.

“It won’t happen again.”

“…”

“I won’t mistake you anymore.”

Why did her heart crash to the floor at that?

His grip loosened. She glanced at him, pulled her hood tight, and stepped past.

“Excuse me.”

Again, Noctum didn’t stop her.

In the wind, the white camellias in her bouquet trembled sadly.