~Chapter 127~
The group was shocked when they saw the dramatic headline.
Now, everyone probably understood why I suddenly wanted to buy a newspaper while we were running from the search party.
The article that followed was even more shocking.
“According to a source inside the royal family, Prince Padva showed symptoms of poisoning while meeting Lady Minette in private yesterday afternoon. The prince is not in danger, but Lady Minette was immediately arrested on suspicion of attempted poisoning.
Lady Minette is the eldest daughter of the famous Meyer Duke family. She recently admitted to a romance with Prince Padva. The prince was engaged to someone else, but after meeting Minette, he ended the old engagement and chose true love with her. This story was seen as very romantic…
The royal family hasn’t made an official statement yet. Political experts think this poisoning wasn’t personal, but political. Since Princess Ariadna suddenly disappeared, people think there are fights over who will be the next ruler.
Society circles also say that Lady Minette is known as the princess’s close friend. They think this event is part of a political plot about the royal succession. One royal insider said, ‘Lady Minette is one of Princess Ariadna’s closest friends and a key supporter. She probably acted for the princess.’”
Tita, the only foreigner in our group, looked very serious and asked,
“What is happening in the Empire…?”
I quietly agreed.
“Yeah…”
We thought the Empire would be peaceful now that the war was over. But while we were gone, the Empire was suddenly in chaos.
I watched Nocturne’s reaction. He frowned as he read the newspaper.
Even Nocturne, who usually knew everything about the Empire, looked worried. That made me even more nervous. Wasn’t Nocturne working with Minette? Or did Minette do this alone, without telling him?
If it was a plan with Nocturne, maybe he had a way to help her. But if she acted alone, it would be much harder to save her.
Minette was the last person I talked to before leaving the palace. I remembered her as she was in the palace.
‘Ari, I missed you so much, I just couldn’t wait, so I came to see you. Didn’t you miss me at all? I feel sad…’
‘Even when I’m annoyed, I feel better when I see your expression.’
‘This is a present for our 20th anniversary.’
Back in the palace, Minette was not doing well. She was struggling with depression and drinking because of the war and her best friend’s death.
And now, she had become a criminal—someone accused of trying to kill the prince.
Padva was now almost like the Emperor of the Empire.
To be caught trying to kill the Emperor is a crime that could not be forgiven. Even the powerful Meyer family might lose everything and be labeled traitors.
I remembered Minette as someone very ambitious, always caring about her reputation.
Now, to think she would fall so far because she tried to kill Padva, who sided with Cambiata, made me feel strangely empty.
After a long silence, I finally spoke.
“We have to go back to the Empire.”
4. Ari
I played with the earring in my hand.
It was a fancy earring with a red jewel and red feather—Minette gave it to me just before I left the palace.
“Nocturne,”
At that moment, Nocturne came from behind and hugged my waist.
I looked up at him. He was being so natural with me again.
We were now in the city alliance of Tesran, near the border of the Empire. It had already been five days since we left Greymoss.
During these five days, we traveled the same path back to the Empire. Nocturne fought off chasers and monsters several times. I helped calm him whenever his madness flared up.
When we first came to Greymoss, I planned to end everything with Nocturne after we destroyed the Cambiata Club. But since we were returning to the Empire so suddenly, my temporary partnership with Nocturne just continued.
Nocturne took my hand and spoke softly.
“Ari, were you looking at that earring again?”
“You call me ‘Ari’ so easily these days.”
“It would be strange to call you Sera or Vis now.”
He was right.
The name “Vis” was almost like a curse, and after destroying the Cambiata Club, using my code name “Sera” didn’t make sense. People called me “Ariadna” anyway, so using that name in private felt natural.
I hesitated for a moment, then said,
“How about making a new name?”
“How about Iris?”
“Iris? That’s a pretty name.”
“Yes. And I’ll call you Ari as a nickname.”
“Hmm…”
“If you don’t like it, we can use Ariadna too.”
“So the nickname is always ‘Ari,’ right?”
Nocturne smiled. His sharp jaw didn’t match his delicate eyes that curved nicely when he smiled.
“It’s fine. Even Lucien calls you Ari.”
“Well, that’s true…”
“You also keep using polite language with me lately.”
“Oh.”
I realized I kept breaking promises with Nocturne without meaning to.
Normally, I keep my promises, but for some reason, I always end up ignoring the ones I make with Nocturne. I think it’s because I can’t keep my distance from him.
I wanted to set some boundaries for Nocturne since our relationship wouldn’t last forever. But every time I tried, we’d end up spending the night together because of his madness, and I’d be back to where I started.
Strangely, Nocturne always seemed to lose control whenever I tried to keep my distance from him.
“Let’s just do whatever feels comfortable for each of us,” Nocturne said, ending the conversation.
It sounded like he meant we shouldn’t worry about the other person’s opinion—just do what we wanted. I wasn’t sure if that was a mature solution, but I couldn’t think of a better compromise.
“By the way, Ari, do you know a girl named Laila?”
Nocturne now called me “Ari” all the time. I frowned a little, but nodded.
“Yes, I met her at the theater.”
“She joined the later group and followed us here.”
“Laila did?”
I was surprised, but Nocturne nodded.
“The knights asked the bishop to come to the Empire with us, but he refused and asked us to take Laila instead.”
“The bishop…”
I thought about Laila. Her parents forced her to come to the theater, and her family didn’t seem normal. I felt relieved that she was coming with us.
“That’s good news,” I said with a warm smile.
“Did you just come to tell me that?”
“…No.” Nocturne hesitated, then continued.
“They set Lady Minette’s execution date.”
The smile disappeared from my face. It felt like cold water was poured on me.
Padva’s power was still unstable. If he hesitated or showed mercy now, people would think he was weak.
By punishing a great family like the Meyers, he could warn all the other nobles.
I hoped that Padva would think carefully and not execute his lover so quickly, but it looked like he chose political power over love.
“When is the execution?” I asked nervously.
“In one week,” Nocturne answered calmly.
