Chapter 43

It’s all because of me. All because of me.

Come to think of it, ever since Diana entered school, Blake’s condition began to deteriorate.

In the novel, Blake was seriously ill in the year he turned 11. But it was after the Festival of Lights. It wasn’t this early.

It’s all because of me. All because of me.

I held Blake’s hand tightly. His left hand was always cold. Perhaps because the sentence of the curse, it was cold and often numb.

I used to hold Blake’s hand when he fell asleep. But no matter how hard I tried, the place where the curse spread did not get warm.

“I’m sorry. Your Highness, I was greedy.”

Diana is the only one who can lift Blake’s curse. I knew it, but I was greedy because I want to stay by his side.

I don’t know if the person who showed me the past and led me to Tenlarn Palace is really the goddess or someone else in charge of this world, but I thought I knew the reason why they showed me the golden door that had nothing to do with solving the curse by using Macul.

Phillip is much worse than I think, and the Goddess of Light will not forgive him. It is to stop my false hope.

“I won’t be greedy. So please, please don’t let Blake get sick…”

I prayed. I couldn’t tell whether I was praying to the goddess of light who cursed him or to the god who was in charge of the world in this novel.

In the original novel, I could see why Tenstheon was deceived by Richard’s black magic.

“It’s my fault. I’ll leave as soon as Blake wakes up. So please…”

“….Don’t go.”

I looked up in surprise. Blake’s crimson eyes were looking at me.

“Your Highness, are you awake? How are you feeling? I’ll call the doctor right away!”

As I rushed out of my chair, Blake grasped my hand tightly.

“Ancia, don’t go.”

“Your Highness.”

“You can’t go…Don’t leave…”

“Ah, I’m not going. Where am I going?”

I couldn’t tell him I was going to go away in front of his desperate eyes. I shook my head reflexively.

“Promise me…”

His voice sounded weak. Then he closed my eyes again.

***

Blake didn’t wake up the next day. He opened his eyes for a while last night, but only told her not to go, and he lost consciousness again.

His breathing was feeble and his body temperature kept rising.

“He has never pass out for this long. He still unconscious for 4 days?”

“Shh. Her Highness might hear you.”

Outside the door I could hear Hans and Melissa’s voice. Now they could no longer pretend to be calm.

I held Blake’s hand tightly. I wish I was Diana. Blake might not be ill if I am her.

She is the heir to the light. Even if she hadn’t done many things, she would be much more helpful than me.

“Your Highness, I’m sorry.”

I apologize to him again. Suddenly, the door opened.

It was Tenstheon.

For the first time since Blake was cursed, the emperor came to see him. I had been looking forward to it so much, but my heart sank as soon as I saw Tenstheon.

I asked the emperor over and over again to meet Blake, even for once.

But Tenstheon didn’t do the request. But I thought it was the only way to protect Blake.

Tensteon did this on his own accord. It meant Blake’s condition was serious.

“Father…”

After patting me on the back, he approached the bed where Blake lay. And after three years, he touched his son’s face.

“I’m sorry. This father is too late…”

Tenstheon apologized to his son. But even though his father came, Blake didn’t open his eyes.

I approached the emperor.

“It’s not too late. This is the beginning.”

“He’ll be all right. He’ll wake up soon.”

I answered valiantly, clearing his anxiety.

There was only one time in the original novel when Tenstheon visited Blake. It was after he decided to move his son’s curse on him.

I was worried that it might be like that again this time.

“So don’t think about anything weird. You have to protect him for a long time.”

“I have two children to protect. There’s no way I would do anything strange, right?”

“You shouldn’t believe in dark magic, just in case.”

“Why are you saying that again?”

“Somehow I’m nervous.”

“Don’t worry because I don’t want to be scolded by you, and I’m not interested in that kind of trick.”

Tenstheon held my hand firmly.

Yes, I told him that for three years, so he won’t be fooled by black magic like the original.

I believe in Tenstheon. He can’t leave Blake’s side in vain.

“Yes, I’ll believe you.”

***

Tensteon stepped into the Crown Prince’s room. It was the first time since Blake was cursed.

News of Blake’s critical condition spread quickly.

But Frank, the eldest son of Duke Cassil and the most likely candidate for the next crown prince, was full of complaints.

“What if the Emperor went to find the monster? Does this make sense? We should take this opportunity to send the monster to the southern island! What the hell are the other nobles waiting for?!”

Frank raised his voice in anger. When Richard saw his half-brother and clucked his tongue, Frank notices him.

“Slave, did you just laugh at me?”

“That’s not going to happen. I just wondered why you’re going to exile someone who might die today.”

“I’ll tell the monster to die on the southern island! The monster’s presence in the Imperial Palace itself is gruesome!”

Frank is stupid, simple and had to do whatever he wanted to do to relieve his anger. That personality of his got worse as he got older.

Unable to tolerate Blake’s presence, Frank was obsessed with kicking him out of the palace.

The crown prince is going to die. Is that a problem? Richard looked at Frank with a look.

“Is the Crown Prince really going to die?”

After hearing the news that Blake was sick, the third child, Neon, who had been quiet, asked him.

“You idiot. That’s why I’m going crazy. I can’t wait to find out. He’s going to die anyway. But, before that, kick him out of the palace. It’s where I’m supposed to be, but if the monster dies, it will be a bad luck for me.”

Frank was excited at the thought of becoming a prince. When Blake dies, he’s going to be the new crown prince. Ah, there is the Duke of Cassil, but he is only a year younger than Tenstheon. It was more likely to be himself.

But Neon had a different view from Frank.

“Is there any cure or something? Our father has a lot of precious medicines. Why didn’t he send it?”

“Neon, what the hell is wrong with you? Are you jealous of me being the crown prince? Or are you trying to take my place ?”

Even his own brother could not be forgiven if he wanted to take his place. Frank shouted. But Neon shouted louder.

“Of course I’ll save him! If he dies, it’s our turn!”

“Our turn?”

Frank blinked slowly through his small eyes. Weirdly, he seemed to be shocked.

Richard glanced at his half-brother.

How stupid is he? He’s not even a nine-year-old.

“If the Crown Prince dies, as Neon said, the curse will be passed on to one of the royal families. We don’t know who will take over the curse, but given the history, the blood of the imperial family is strong, and those who are not yet of age are more likely to be cursed.”

Frank’s expression, excited at the thought of becoming the Crown Prince, was quickly covered with fear.

“What? Then he can’t die now! I need a year before I become an adult! Tell him to live longer in the meantime!”

“Brother, what if I’m cursed!”

“Ah, why ask me that!”

Frank was irritated. It would be nice to be safely crowned without being cursed.

Neon was greatly disappointed by his brother’s cold hearted answer.

“You think you can be the Crown Prince just because the monster dies?”

“What?”

“If Blake dies, the Emperor will adopt the Crown Princess as the empire’s princess.”

“Are you a fool? Do you believe that crap? How can an unrelated child be a princess!”

“Why doesn’t it make sense? The emperor cherishes the crown princess more than his own child. Then, someone just have to marry Ancia as the princess. Then her husband might become the emperor in the end.”

“Hey, slave! Is this true?”

Frank looked at Richard. He always ignored his half-brother, but when something important happened, he would check it out.