/
My name is Ha Sohee.
After I lost my parents, who I don’t even remember, when I was very young, my grandmother raised me. I was kindly adopted by my grandmother.
She didn’t have a lot of material possessions, but she gave me love and care.
When my grandmother died, I was told at the funeral that I was an unlucky child with cat eyes.
Nobody wants to take me in. Eventually, I went to my aunt’s house who had no choice but to take me.
I grew up with a cousin who despised and discriminated against me. I eventually learned to accept that. My cousin said she had to give up a lot of things because of me.
Auntie also claimed that if it weren’t for me, she could have provided Seulbi with better food and clothing.
I knew my aunt and uncle had taken me in because of the insurance money I had, but every time I heard them complain, I felt sorry for them.
Sometimes I wish I could live alone rather than being treated like a burden.
I was referred to as the “cursed child” by my aunt and uncle, who held me responsible for their woes.
Perhaps they were correct. I’ve lost every person I ever loved.
My name is Mary Conler.
I am the only daughter of the Grand Duke of Conler.
I was raised in an orphanage at the peak of the mountain after being abducted as soon as I was born.
Many people were shocked to find an orphanage in such a remote, undeveloped area.
The director of the orphanage was not a nice person, which is not surprising.
He was forced to watch over a girl, so he was stuck there. No, maybe the orphanage itself was there because of me.
There, I made some wonderful friends. Although I disagreed with the majority of them, I felt it would be distressing if they grew up, entered society, and were shunned.
I tried to help them because if there was no one to be on their side, they would need money.
Everything was for nothing.
As if it were a lie, my father saved me when I was in danger.
When he said I was going back home, I was nervous that he might not love me, but contrary to what I thought, they all cared and loved me.
But I was still suffering from an unidentified anxiety.
I am a cursed child. Everyone I love is…….
I was nine years old in my dream. In the pitch black, I was tightly embracing a black plush cat. I tried to bite my lip to hold it together, but I couldn’t help but burst into tears.
I didn’t know why I was crying, and I thought it would make me feel better, but no matter how much I cried and cried, it only made me feel more frustrated.
Crying doesn’t solve anything.
As I hugged the doll tightly and cried, someone put a hand on my shoulder from behind. The touch was soft and loving. I felt a strange sense of anticipation in my chest.
Is it my dad?
But I couldn’t look back for fear of disappointment. It couldn’t have been my dad.
The what-ifs wouldn’t leave me alone. No, I’m pretty sure that’s my dad.
I had to turn my head to confirm, but I couldn’t move, as if my neck was stiff and rigid.
“Sohee.”
Someone called my name from behind. The moment I heard the voice, the tension in my neck loosened like a lie, allowing me to turn around.
I stumbled and landed in the person’s arms behind me.
“Grandma!”
My grandmother also gave me a tight but gentle hug.
“I’m so scared. What should I do?”
“It’s not your fault.”
Grandma consoled and reassured me, but her affectionate voice somehow made me resentful.
I stepped out of her warm embrace and looked at her with tear-stained eyes.
“It’s not my fault?”
“Sohee.”
“If it’s not my fault, who is it? I am a cursed child.”
Grandma’s deeply creased eyes appeared dejected. She wiped my tears and gently brushed my hair away from my face.
I wonder if having to care for me all of a sudden in her later years was difficult for her. She wouldn’t have to work in her senior years or struggle to raise me if she didn’t take me.
I think it would have been easier for her to say it was all my fault.
My father, my grandmother, my parents are all of them…because of me. Everyone will be happy if I’m gone.
They always said I was a burden.
“It’s not your fault.”
“Grandma….”
“I was happy to meet you.”
Although it was a dream, it seemed real.
Grandmother’s face became increasingly younger. It appeared as though her gray hair was turning red.
“I should have protected you a little longer.”
She was holding me tightly, and I could feel her arms getting stronger. She smelled like sunshine. It was a familiar grandmother’s embrace.
It made me wish this dream was real.
Even in the darkness of this place, if I was held in such a loving embrace, everything would be okay.
“Mary.”
Then my grandmother called me by an unexpected name. Being Ha Sohee in her arms, I became Mary Conler like a homing instinct.
Just as I was about to panic after being called by a name I never thought I’d hear from my grandmother…
“You have to overcome it.”
“…….”
“No matter how hard it is.”
My face twisted in despair. Waves of hopelessness deeper than this darkness rushed over me.
Grand Duke Estin killed the cursed beast on my behalf and collapsed.
Yes, I would prefer it to be a dream.
Let’s not wake up. Never.
Even though I thought so, I couldn’t hold back my tears from flowing.
If all of that were actually a dream, I would immediately wake up, run to Grand Duke Estin’s bedroom, act like a baby, and claim that I had a terrifying dream.
He would gladly lift his blanket and let me in. I would collapse into his broad arms and feel as though everything would be fine.
I could feel comfort from the person who is by my side, not the person who is not there.
I didn’t want to wake up from this dream.
“Protect Estin.”
How could I, when I was the reason Grand Duke Estin collapsed?
“Yes. It’s your turn to protect him this time.”
I nodded.
“Don’t think you’re alone.”
Then I woke up.
My face was damp with tears. Rex, who was next to my bed, confirmed that I had woken up and gently patted my face.
“Sister, I thought you’d never wake up…….”
“Oh….”
“You were asleep for nearly two days.”
Rex’s voice was trembling. I’d been asleep longer than I thought.
“…What about father?”
I asked Rex in a voice that feigned calm, not wanting to get my hopes up and then be disappointed. Rex’s pupils fluttered wildly.
My head was hurting. I’m sorry Rex was concerned about me, but I needed to get back to sleep. I’d rather have that merciless darkness.
“Brother Gilbert has been worried about you. I know he’s busy taking care of the business, but why don’t you go show him your face?”
At Rex’s suggestion, I paused. It was difficult for me to see Gilbert’s face.
He looked so much like Grand Duke Estin, and for some reason, looking at his face made me feel like guilt was going to strangle me. It wasn’t just Gilbert, I feel the same with Aiden and Theodore too.
He said that Grand Duke Estin had the face of a man in a peaceful sleep.
Every physician and healer on the continent came to see how he was doing.
However, none of them were able to wake him up from his protracted sleep. Everyone who cared about him was understandably on edge. Particularly Lucas. He had a hard time looking at me.
Lucas clearly knew that I would become a threat to Grand Duke Estin’s life. I remembered the details of my dream. It was now my duty to protect Grand Duke Estin.
Is it really true?
They say that dreams are a manifestation of the subconscious, but maybe what I want is coming out of my dream.
“Sister, eat this first.”
Rex held out to me the porridge he had put next to him. Looking at the porridge, I didn’t have an appetite. I was about to shake my head when..
Bang!
Gilbert burst through the door, not even bothering to knock.
“Mary, you’re awake?”
Not having the energy to be surprised, I nodded cautiously at him. Gilbert sighed and stroked my head before placing his hand on Rex’s shoulder and speaking slowly.
“Rex, you’ll have a visitor today.”
Why are you the one telling me that? Could it possibly be……”
Rex’s surprised expression as he stared at Gilbert gradually hardened. Even I, who had been lying on the bed, took notice.
Gilbert did not send a servant and just rushed over to where Rex was just to tell him he’s going to have a visitor.
Rex cleared his throat.
“Uncle is coming.”
Yes, the visitor was Rex’s father.
Duke Bluea.