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Chapter 14
After hearing Aria’s explanation, the first thought that crossed Tita’s mind was, “Her Highness truly loves the Duke.”
If she had been in Aria’s position, she wouldn’t have cared one bit about the Duke’s circumstances.
“Maybe the one who loved the most wasn’t the Duke, but the princess herself…”
Still, Tita didn’t believe Aria was simply denying reality because she couldn’t accept a lover’s betrayal.
So she carefully asked:
“May I ask what made you arrive at that conclusion?”
“Hmm, to explain it simply…”
First: Nocturne pushes me away and treats me coldly.
Second: Nocturne loves me.
These two seemingly contradictory facts could be bridged by one truth:
“Some external force is making him push me away.”
Once Aria reached that point, identifying the culprit wasn’t hard. Calmly, she named him:
“Padva.”
“How well I control the Duke will reflect my competence. If I want to train him into a loyal beast, Aria must marry him. She’ll be his leash.”
Padva had a clear motive to manipulate Nocturne.
“I see… It does all fit together,”
Tita nodded. She didn’t know about that specific secret conversation, but she was well aware Padva was capable of such schemes.
“The reason I disguised myself as coming from a family hostile to Your Highness was because the prince himself was against you. Outside, he acts like a loving prince, but in truth, he’s someone who’d sever even the limbs of a comatose sibling to gain power.”
“Sadly, you’re right. But if he wants to fully secure the throne, he needs Nocturne’s support. To do that, he has to use me. So Nocturne’s rejecting me to keep Padva from using me against him.”
“…You really trust the Duke, don’t you?”
Tita, who had spent all this time badmouthing the Duke, suddenly added a polite “sir” to his title. Aria smiled.
“Of course. He’s my bonded pair.”
“…Still, there’s something odd. If the Duke didn’t truly betray you, why didn’t he tell you the truth when you were alone? Wouldn’t marrying you and bringing you to his estate be the best way to protect you? Why declare a breakup instead?”
“When we were alone, he did show me the truth.”
Aria remembered how Nocturne had held her tenderly the night before. That moment had spoken more than any words.
“He was consumed by madness, so we couldn’t talk properly. But it was enough to convince me that he didn’t betray me. And marrying me… that’s not easy. He needs imperial approval.”
“Right… and it’s possible the prince already made an unreasonable demand in exchange for that marriage.”
Tita nodded, satisfied.
At first, she had wondered if Aria had lost her objectivity when it came to the Duke. But after hearing the full picture, Aria’s logic was sharp and well thought out.
Then something occurred to Tita, and she murmured:
“If the Duke didn’t betray you… then maybe that incident, too…”
“What incident?”
“Actually… while you were still in a coma, someone tried to poison you. Multiple times.”
Aria froze. Tita was referring to the very attempts Padva had made on her life.
So Padva didn’t just try to kill me once…
“I expected something like that might happen and kept antidotes ready. But the poison used was unexpected—it barely affects Eshafes…”
Tita glanced at Aria carefully.
Had Padva already known she lost her powers?
If so, it had been a dangerous moment.
“But when I rushed in with an antidote, someone had already administered one. It happened twice.”
“……!”
“I always wondered who it was… Could it have been the Duke?”
Aria felt her heart stir at the thought.
“Maybe. But it’s clear now—I’ve had people helping me within the palace. Thank you for protecting me, Tita.”
Aria smiled warmly, and Tita beamed in return.
“It really wasn’t a big deal! I’ve yet to fully show what I can do. Speaking of which…”
Tita lowered her voice conspiratorially.
“If your guess is correct, the situation isn’t that bad. We just need to figure out why the Duke is acting that way. Should I try reading his mind with empathic power?”
“That’s very reassuring, thank you. But Tita, aren’t you specialized in defense?”
“Well, yes, but…”
Aria looked at her kindly.
“Ah. So your ‘helper’ is probably a skilled mental-type Eshafe, huh?”
Standing with the light behind her, Aria’s expression was unreadable. Tita gulped nervously.
Then Aria laughed.
“I’m kidding. Let me investigate Nocturne first. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll ask for help then.”
“Understood. In the meantime, I’ll try to gather some useful information.”
“Thank you. I’d like to understand how palace politics have shifted. And while you’re at it… could you look into the last war I fought in?”
The war against Cambiata—Aria had won, but at great cost. She’d lost everything and still didn’t fully understand what had happened.
“I want to know how I survived… and what happened afterward. Also, what became of the key figures in the palace while I was unconscious.”
As Aria listed names, Tita nodded resolutely.
“Yes, leave it to me.”
She bowed deeply one last time.
“Thank you for giving me the chance to serve you, Your Highness.”
Tita was grateful Aria hadn’t tried to end her life.
Even in such extreme conditions, Aria’s unwavering love for her people and her strength of will moved Tita deeply.
If I want to be worthy of serving her, I need to work even harder…
Just then, the head attendant arrived, and Tita respectfully excused herself.
After dismissing all the servants under the excuse of needing rest, Aria shut the bedroom door and slid down to the floor.
In the darkness, the serene smile she’d worn disappeared, replaced by fatigue and anxiety.
She pulled out the matchbox the attendant had given her.
Strike— A small flame flickered to life, casting a soft glow on Aria’s face. Her crimson eyes shimmered in its reflection.
She murmured to herself:
“Stay calm.”
“Don’t lose reason.”
“Have hope.”
With each word, her face grew steadier. With a breath, she blew out the flame and gave a bitter smile.
“…That’s a bit better.”
Mental-Type Eshafe Abilities
They’re divided into four main levels:
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Detection – A passive ability. Senses others’ moods and surface thoughts.
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Empathy – Reads emotions and thoughts.
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Influence – Alters emotions and thoughts.
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Domination – Reads all memories and manipulates the deep subconscious. Can force instincts or even suicide.
It sounds terrifying, but mental-types rarely harm others.
As soon as a connection is made, their minds synchronize with the target—any harm causes backlash.
Many Eshafes who attempted to kill monsters through mental domination ended up brain-dead.
From the Influence stage onward, personalities may be altered or damaged—so it’s rarely used.
Tonight, Aria planned to use Stage Two: Empathy on Nocturne.
She glanced at her mana core, still gray and lifeless. It worried her, but…
“I can still do this.”
She had just used Stage Three: Influence—on herself.
The sensation of her emotions being manipulated was almost nostalgic.
Before the accident, this was just part of my routine…
With that familiar calm returning, she finally felt sure—her powers were coming back.
The confidence of her former self returned, boosted by both her belief and her own induced hope.
Aria waited until midnight.
Even those without trained mental defenses had innate walls. In an S-rank like Nocturne, those defenses were even tougher—and he could sense when someone tried to probe his mind.
So it was best to strike when he was most vulnerable: sick, insane, or asleep.
He always falls asleep right before midnight…
She checked the clock and struck another match. Fsshh—the scent of sweet-burning wood filled the room.
As the smoke stung her eyes, the flame turned into a butterfly and fluttered toward her.
“At last… I’ll know your true heart.”
Her mind leapt across the imperial palace, over the vast capital of Partikal—until it reached the Bendrix estate.
