Chapter 32

TL:Zimming

Just as my scar was treated as an infectious disease, the heir to the curse was treated as such too.

People say they hate the ‘heir of the curse’ because the curse looks ominous and the heir is a depraved soul that was cursed by the goddess. But in the end, I think that the emotion that lurks at the root is fear.

I don’t think the feeling for the Roums are any different. In the end, there is more of fear than contempt.

A mixture of fear that a cursed person abandoned by the goddess might harm them, led to a cruel hatred.

However whatever the cause, even human instincts, could not tolerate actions that hurt others and even led to death.

“I don’t want to run away from the fear. I don’t want to ignore or hurt anyone.”

The strength drained out of Richard’s hand that held me. I finished tying the handkerchief tightly.

“What an unusual girl.”

He burst into laughter. It wasn’t his usual artificial smile, he looks sincerely amused.

Did I say something funny? Anyway, I felt a little relieved, so it was all fine.

I looked at the camellia swaying in the wind. Richard said that after his mother passed away, he lost his laughter. He never showed a sincere smile in a novel either. There would have been nothing more to laugh to in front of his mother’s grave.

So his smile now would have been a great gift to Richard’s mother, who passed away.

But that’s that, and I had something to say to Richard

“Isn’t it past the age of learning basic etiquette, sir Cassil?”

“Would you like to hear the title ‘Your Highness’ from me?”

The corners of his mouth went up leisurely. He’s back to his original state.

“It’s not what I want to hear, it’s what you should call me.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

“And apologize for your uncalled-for remarks about the crown prince.”

He called the Crown Prince a monster. No matter how hard the day was for Richard, I couldn’t let this go.

“I’m sorry. I’ve lost my temper for a moment and made a slip of the tongue. Please forgive me.”

“You should apologize to His Highness, not me.”

“How can I ask for his forgiveness?”

“Give your loyalty to His Highness.”

Richard’s expression hardened again. However, he quickly returned to his relaxed self as a person who had kept his true feelings hidden throughout his life.

“You want me to swear loyalty like the knights?”

“It means to remember that a man named Blake Larisch Geracillion is the crown prince of this empire.”

I warned Richard’s hidden ambitions.

To be honest, I didn’t really like him. Richard’s tragic past and family background are sad, but his moves were too mean. If the story had gone as it was, Richard’s evil deeds would have already begun. Using Blake’s maid to make Blake sick, and spreading all kinds of lowkey gossip to torment Blake and Tenstheon.

But the Richard now still attempted crime. He planted his own people in the palace and tried to spy on the palace with Count Bellacian, but failed.

Perhaps it was because of his weakened mind that was different from the original, I thought that maybe this tricky man could change.

Richard’s eye gazed at me sharply when he heard my warning.

“…Okay. Is there anyone in the Empire who doesn’t know that?”

“I’m glad to hear that. sir Cassil, you’re a talented person. If you use your abilities in the right place, you’ll have a glorious blessing.”

The Duke of Cassil’s family is full of greed. But, only Richard is competent.

Richard uses and sacrifices countless people to become emperor. Some of them sincerely followed him and loved him.

I thought of the original story. Richard who had become an emperor longed for many things, and is buried in an endless emptiness, even though he takes many things from innocent people.

If Richard is satisfied with his position as a Duke and does not indulge in vain greed, everyone will be happy.

“Blessings,…Are you saying you’ll stay with me?”

But instead of listening to me, he played around by taking advantage of the fact that the Crown Princess is called the “Blessing of the Empire.”

“Sir Cassil certainly needs to study etiquette.”

“If you teach me, I can learn it.”

Now that he’s starting to sound cheesy again, he seem to have completely recovered from his sadness.

“I’ve been taking up your time.”

Richard bowed his head when he conveyed his intention to leave.

“I’m looking forward to seeing you again.”

“I wish you good manners by then.”

I looked at the camellia tree and bowed briefly before heading to the carriage.

Did Richard listen to my warning?

It would be nice for him to change even a little bit, but given his reaction, chances are low.

If Richard continues his evil deeds as he originally did, I’ll stop him thoroughly. Today will be the last day to have such a leisurely conversation with him.

The footstep to the carriage grew faster and faster. My outing was too long. I wanted to see my little groom as soon as possible.

***

Ancia left with the carriage, never looking back.

Richard looked at the white handkerchief tied to the camellia tree. It was a luxurious silk with a blue embroidery.

“It’s the first gift you received.”

His mother has lived in pain all her life.

Born as a child of a Roum, she was enslaved and had a child from a bad man. In the end, the child’s stupid mistake cost her life.

Her son was stupid. He completely hid the existence of her and hesitated to plant a tree where she was buried. Yet Ancia put out her handkerchief without a moment of hesitation.

When Richard said the Roums were buried here, Ancia asked.

“You knew her?”

Richard looked at the handkerchief for a long time, and greeted quietly.

“I’ll be back next year. Mother.”

Richard went to the western island where Gilbert Bellacian was exiled and returned to the duke’s residence within a month. To visit his mother, he couldn’t sleep and was in a hurry, so the accumulated fatigue came out all at once.

He was about to enter his bedroom, but the butler rushed after him.

“Where have you been, my lord. We’ve been looking for you.”

Richard’s forehead narrowed. Today, I didn’t want to see the disgusting Duke of Cassil.

He should have come a day later. He turned to the office with belated regrets.

“You useless bastard! Where did you just come from?”

As Richard entered the office, the duke of Cassil said in an angry voice. And before Richard could say anything, Frank said to him sarcastically.

“You’re a stupid man, is it the only thing you learn from your mother?”

“Stupid guy, as expected of a slave’s blood.”

Richard gritted his teeth. No matter what they say, it was Richard who didn’t show his feelings, but it was hard for him to put up with the growing insult.

They didn’t know her exact illness. He drove an innocent woman to death as if she was a plague, killed her brutally, and erased her from everyone’s memory.

But it was not the time to show resentment yet. He smiled leisurely as usual.

“I went back from the Duke’s mine on the west. Your excellency and me are out of town so I told my brother to manage the finance.”

Richard can’t share information about Gilbert Bellacian with the duke’s family, so he gave a fake answer.

“Yo, you did?”

Frank blinked his eyes. Come to think of it, when he was hanging out with his friends and high on drugs, Richard seemed to have said something.

“It’s nothing important! It’s natural that I can’t remember!”

“You made a mess and went on a leisurely trip?!”

Frank blamed his mistake to Richard, the Duke was mad and threw the ledger.

He always blamed Richard. The duke can’t bear a slightest revelation of Frank’s flaws.

Richard unfolded the ledger that fell on the floor.

Arnold left some of the management run by him to Frank. However, he was obsessed with gambling, so it was Richard’s job to manage it. Before Richard left to the west, he ordered his subordinate to prepare a list of Frank’s transactions. His transaction was full of useless items at ridiculously high prices. There was no need to find out how it happened or whose job it was.