~Chapter 33~
As I recognized each familiar face, my hands trembled just a little.
There was the nanny who raised Aria from the day she was born, the head attendant who always kept her chambers immaculate, the close maids and knights who once shared every moment by her side.
When I first woke up in the imperial palace, I wondered what happened to all these people.
Padva had told me then that, since I was unconscious and they were left without work, he’d arranged better jobs for them.
On paper, there were even real recommendation letters… but in truth, they’d simply been forced out.
I tried reaching out, just hoping for any word, but no one ever replied.
Maybe my messages didn’t reach them, or maybe someone made sure they wouldn’t. Either way, I always worried, and had promised myself I’d find them if I ever left the palace.
But after I actually left… there was never a chance to look for them.
Eventually, I’d convinced myself we’d never meet again.
“It’s such a relief to see you healthy, Your Highness.”
“We missed you so much, Your Highness.”
One by one, my people came forward. Dazed, I hugged them or took their hands as they reached out.
It all felt unreal.
“How did you all end up here…?”
At my question, everyone instinctively glanced at Nocturne.
That’s when I realized who’d brought them all together.
“Nocturne, did you find them?”
“I didn’t do it alone,” he said with a small smile.
As if on cue, footsteps echoed from the stairs.
“Your Highness!”
“Count Arten.”
A sharply dressed gentleman came almost running down the stairs, warm brown eyes shining and his round face bright with a smile.
When I returned his smile, he nearly rushed to embrace me—only for Nocturne to step between us just in time.
Count Arten hesitated when he noticed Nocturne.
“Duke Bendrix.”
“Let’s mind our dignity, Count.”
A graceful voice floated from behind the count. When I turned, I greeted her:
“Countess.”
She was both Countess Arten and the princess of Arten—the real reason this borderland enjoyed such autonomy.
Normally, when a kingdom is annexed by the Empire, the old royal family is stripped of power, left with only ceremonial titles, and the real authority goes to an imperial governor. It’s a setup that keeps nobles and royals balanced and unable to threaten the imperial family.
But here in Arten, the count had married the princess and even taken her family name, making the two power bases one—and leaving no room for the Empire to interfere. Arten now held both local authority and a vote in choosing the emperor. No one dared touch them.
All of this was thanks to Aria. She’d approved Count Arten’s posting back when he was still the princess’s lover.
She wanted Arten focused on protecting its borders, not getting caught up in imperial politics.
Arten saw this as a tremendous act of grace. The whole family became Aria’s most devoted supporters—the “Golden Butterfly Group.”
“We greet the sleeping light of Ramsar.”
“It’s such a relief to see you well, Your Highness.”
And now, I was reaping the loyalty Aria had sown.
They must have seen Padva’s broadcast, yet all I saw in their eyes was unwavering kindness.
They really did trust the princess that much.
I looked at them, heart tangled up with mixed emotions.
“We’ve heard about your heroic deeds in the north.”
The count and countess greeted me warmly and led me inside.
“This way, please. There are others waiting to see you, too.”
“…There are more?”
At those words, my heart started to race.
I could guess who would be waiting for me now.
As I followed the count, I could hear a ripple of excitement somewhere nearby.
Finally, we arrived at the main hall—and there they were, even more than I’d expected.
Survivors of the war.
Old comrades who’d shared every hardship with Aria.
“Your Highness!”
“You really came, Your Highness…”
“At last, we’re together again…”
Voices called from every direction, making my vision blur with tears.
Many looked worse for wear. Some bore the scars I remembered.
I caught my breath, turning to take them all in.
They all had different wounds, but every eye looking at me shone with the same thing:
Trust. Loyalty.
Padva’s recent accusations meant nothing here.
“You survived all those trials and came back to us.”
“It’s such an honor to see you again…”
What do you even call this feeling, when your heart is twisted up with so much joy and pain at once?
The count’s voice was thick with emotion.
“These people were scattered everywhere. After your accident, Prince Padva found any excuse to push your closest people out to the provinces.”
“To the provinces…?”
“The maids were sent across the desert with letters of recommendation, the knights were either brainwashed or threatened.”
“He threatened veterans who survived the war?”
My voice was sharper than I meant. The count nodded gravely.
“That’s right. But Duke Bendrix found them. Before he left the Empire, he asked me to take care of them.”
“Nocturne did?”
He’d done all this for Aria’s people, on top of everything else he was already handling?
When I looked at him, Nocturne just smiled gently.
“I know you. I figured you’d be worried.”
“Oh, Nocturne…”
“It got a little chaotic with that strange announcement from the prince when you arrived,” he added, his eyes glinting.
“But as you can see, these people aren’t so easily swayed by nonsense.”
“Of course not!” boomed a voice, and everyone laughed and nodded in agreement.
A rush of emotions swept over me.
But Nocturne doesn’t really know me.
And these people… aren’t actually mine.
Padva’s words weren’t all lies.
But right now, none of that mattered.
“Thank you for taking care of them.”
Nocturne’s face lit up with a satisfied smile.
Count Arten organized a banquet in Aria’s honor.
She laughed often, sometimes even cried, as she was reunited with old friends after so long apart.
Nocturne stayed by Aria’s side, quietly watching over the moving reunions.
‘We’re almost there.’
The hall glowed softly with hundreds of candles. To Aria, it was just ordinary party décor—but it was actually Nocturne’s plan.
Tonight, Aria needed her empathy powers restored.
Any other time, he’d have made sure to remove every spark, just for her safety.
It was only a few days ago that he’d almost lost her in Greymoss.
But tonight, letting her regain her abilities was what would help her most.
As Aria mingled and chatted, she unconsciously read the emotions and thoughts of those around her.
Reading them, she became part of them.
At a gathering made up entirely of people she cherished, the effect was even stronger.
No mental attack works on an S-rank Eshafe, but their heightened sensitivity means they’re just as easily undone without any attack at all.
While Aria made her rounds, Nocturne caught Minette’s eye.
The truth was, before the Cambiata Club raid, Nocturne had already told Count Arten to begin the move for a coup—any means, any method, a big enough incident to change everything.
But before the count could act, Minette tried her own assassination attempt.
He’d been surprised when he saw the news, but in the end, it all worked out.
Aria hadn’t broken ties with him and had come back to the Empire.
As the banquet drew to a close, Aria stepped out onto the terrace for some fresh air. Nocturne followed and offered her a glass of water.
“Ah, thank you.”
“How are you feeling?”
Aria leaned on the railing and let out a long sigh.
“It’s hard to even describe, honestly. I’m just… overwhelmed.”
“Nocturne spoke softly.”
“Let’s take Padva down.”
