Chapter 44

“There’s a story like that. The duke also went to see the Chancellor to get to the bottom of the rumor.”

“Slave! Why would you say that now!”

“The story was delivered in the morning.”

“You should have said that!”

But Frank is rather angry. Richard kept his mouth shut because this always happens. Even though Richard didn’t say anything, Neon who was angry with his brother, said to him instead.

“If Ancia becomes the princess, the crown prince position might not be yours.”

“What are you talking about!”

“Brother, are you stupid? Wait, Huh? You’re already engaged. How could you marry Ancia?”

“Ah…”

Frank, who had just figured out the situation made Neon’s mouth sneer.

“I think the next emperor will be me. I’ll also get a pretty bride. I hope that Blake will die soon and the curse will go away.”

“You bastard!”

Frank punched Neon.

“Why do you hit me! You said you didn’t care if I was cursed!”

“Don’t even call me brother, you bastard! Since when have you been after my place!”

Frank kept swinging his fist at his brother. Richard look at them indifferently and left the room.

***

The fight between the brothers was not surprising. Richard went back to his room.

He stood on the balcony and looked down at the palace. Originally, the duke was part of the imperial palace. It is said that the Empress’s son, Arnold Cassil, was very dear to her.

Unless he is the crown prince, the prince must leave the palace when he became an adult. She wanted to keep her son close to her so she made a tower near the palace and gave him the duke title.

Originally, it was like living in a palace because there was no fence. However, when Tensteon was crowned, a tall wall was built between the duke and the palace. Now, even if I went up to the top of the duke’s place, I could not see the palace.

Even now I could only see the desolate fence, but Richard glanced. Ancia must be there.

How does she feel by now? Would she be happy as a princess when the Crown Prince dies? Or will she be sad? Now that she’s finally out of the monster’s grasp, did she feel better?

If Ancia is the light, Blake is the darkness. They were so different.

At ten o’clock on the dot, a man in a black robe appeared. It was Domiram, Richard’s wizard.

Richard asked him the same question as yesterday.

“How was it?”

“There was no response.”

Tenstheon is a great emperor. His brother, Duke of Cassil, had been expected as the next crown prince, but Richard had a different opinion.

Even if Blake dies, Tenstheon will not take the greedy Duke of Cassil, the stupid Frank, or the weak Neon as the crown prince.

For Richard, the Duke of Cassil is his enemy, but at the same time he’s a stepping stone to make himself the emperor.

If there’s another Crown Prince, the authority of the Duke of Cassil will fall indefinitely. Richard’s chances of becoming an emperor are also a little.

Richard was told that Blake was in a critical condition, and came to a conclusion.

‘Let’s get rid of the Tenstheon.’

Let’s kill Tenstheon, and make the Duke of Cassil an emperor.

If Tenstheon chose an outstanding person among the royal family, it was difficult to be chosen no matter how excellent Richard was. But if Duke Cassil became emperor, it will be easy.

Frank’s arrogance has reached the point where even his father, the Duke, would be slighted.

The Duke of Cassil, who cherished him as his eldest son, was also gradually disappointed and began to show interest in Neon. If I provoke Frank to self-destruct himself and kill Neon for opportunity, I can easily become an emperor.

Even the Duke of Cassil who hates Richard would prefer to pass the throne on to his own child rather than to someone unrelated.

Richard decided to do so and ordered Domiram and to secretly spread the word.

‘There is a wizard among the Roums who uses ancient magic. They can even transfer the curse of the goddess.’

I thought the emperor would definitely show interest. But Tenstheon didn’t take the bait Richard threw.

Rather, he called people in to discuss the appointment of Ancia as a princess. Upon hearing the news, the Duke of Cassil hurried to meet the Chancellor. It’s high likely that it’s true.

Tenstheon chose Ancia as his successor, not his own brother or others in the royal family.

“Should I throw more bait?”

Richard shook his head at Domiram’s question.

“Enough. Stop the plan.”

When Ancia becomes a princess, her husband will be an emperor.

I need to make her mine, I had a chance to be taught by Tenstheon. I can become a family with them and achieve my dream. Isn’t that the perfect ending?

Tenstheon was the only one Richard recognized. This time, the situation was unavoidable, so I tried to kill him, but I wanted to save him if possible. Moreover, if he had Ancia, he had no reason to kill him.

“Rather, I should get a present for Ancia. Something very precious and hard to refuse.”

Richard’s red eyes flashed with desire.

***

Blake had been unconscious for ten days. The palace doctor said that it would be hard to live normally if he didn’t wake up today.

Dark clouds hung over the crown prince’s palace.

Eunhan tried to use the magic, but he was blocked by the strong force that flowed over Blake’s body and eventually gave up.

Inside Blake, a huge force is blowing up like a whirlpool. Under these circumstances, forcing magic could be toxic to Blake.

I urgently contacted the Knights Academy and tried to call Diana, but I couldn’t reach her because they had left for training near the Valley of Chaos.

His condition was much worse than in the original novel.

It’s because of me. It wouldn’t have happened if I had left the story untouched.

Changing the original story for him might have caused a butterfly effect and caused Blake pain.

‘Get up, Your Highness. Goddess of light, please don’t cause Blake any pain. Blake didn’t do anything wrong! He didn’t choose to be born as a descendant of Phillip. Please release the curse!’

Tenstheon consoled me with a soft voice while I was holding Blake’s hand and praying earnestly.

“Ancia, it’s not your fault.”

“What?”

“It’s not your fault. So don’t blame yourself.”

“I’m not blaming myself.”

I shook my head in a hurry.

“More than that, father, you should eat. You haven’t eat anything today.”

“You call me a father again? You only call me a father when you ask for something. I’m disappointed.”

He said to me warmly, unlike his words.

“In the end, I couldn’t lift Blake’s curse. I’m too shameless to call you a father.”

“Why do you have such a ridiculous thought?”

“But…”

“Ancia, if I knew you were under such pressure, I wouldn’t have allowed you to go to Tenlarn Palace. No, I should have stopped you when you said you wanted to find a way to lift Blake’s curse. Blake’s curse stems from the sins of Geracillion’s ancestor, and I am incompetent. You have no responsibility over it.”

“But if only I had the power to lift Blake’s curse…”

“You’re our present. Your existence alone is precious. So, never think like that again.”

Tenstheon held my hand tightly.

“If this child dies, I swear I will make you a princess.”

“What? What do you mean?”

I look at Tenstheon in surprise.

“I thought I wouldn’t have any children. But I met my beloved woman. It’s all my fault that Blake was cursed.”

“It’s not father’s fault.”

“No, it’s my fault. I really want to pass Blake’s curse on me instead. I don’t want Blake to feel any pain.”

“……”

“The goddess of light cast a curse on Phillip Geracillion, who used her to become an emperor. If his descendant abandon the throne the goddess may release her anger. If Blake couldn’t survive, I’ll make you a princess. And I will pass the throne to you.”

Tenstheon spoke tome as if he is prepared for his son’s death.

Tenstheon. He cared for me and treated me like a biological child. It was something I was grateful for. But right now, I am angry at him for thinking like that.

“Don’t say that. He’ll get through it! I’m going to lift his curse.

“Yes, of course. But if…”

“Don’t say ‘if’! It won’t happen anyway, so don’t think about it.”

I hug Blake’s body. It was scary to think that Tenstheon might give up on Blake.

“Blake will wake up! I’ll make sure of it. He’ll get thorugh it!”

I screamed at Tenstheon. I couldn’t stand it because I thought that Blake might really die if his loved ones give up on him. At that moment I could hear a small voice.

“…Ancia.”

Blake called my name as I looked at him in astonishment. His crimson eyes are staring at me. Unlike his tired eyes a few days ago, his eyes are lively.

“Your Highness!”