"There's news 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 news was delivered in the morning."

"You should have said it before!"

But Frank was rather angry. Richard kept his mouth shut because this was nothing new. 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..."

Seeing Frank only just figure out the situation, Neon sneered.

"The next Emperor will probably be me. I'll get a pretty bride too. I hope that Blake dies soon and the curse goes away."

"You bastard!"

Frank punched Neon.

"Why are you hitting me? You said you didn't care if I was cursed!"

"Don't ever call me brother, you bastard! Since when have you been after my place?!"

Frank swung his fist at his brother. Richard glanced at them indifferently and left the room.

***

Richard was not surprised in the least by the fight between the two brothers. He went back to his room.

He stood on the balcony and looked down at the palace. Originally, the Duke used to stay in the Imperial palace. Arnold Cassil was very dear to his mother, the Empress.

But other than the Crown Prince, the other princes had to leave the palace when they became adults. She wanted to keep her son close to her, so she made a tower near the palace, and gave him the title of a Duke.

Originally, it was like he still lived in the palace because there was no fence. However, when Tenstheon was crowned, he ordered a tall wall to be built between the Duke's estate and the palace. Now, even if someone went up to the top of the Duke's place, they would not be able see the palace.

Even now Richard could only see the desolate fence, but he still glanced at it. Ancia must be there now.

How was she feeling at this moment? Would she be happy to be the princess when the Crown Prince died? Or would she be sad? Did she feel better now that she'd finally be out of the monster's grasp?

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

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

Richard asked him the same question as yesterday.

"How was it?"

"There was no response."

Tenstheon was a great Emperor. It was expected that his brother, the Duke of Cassil, was next in line to be the Crown Prince, but Richard had a different opinion.

Even if Blake died, Tenstheon would not crown the greedy Duke of Cassil, the stupid Frank, or the weak Neon as the Crown Prince.

For Richard, the Duke of Cassil was his enemy, but at the same time, he was a stepping stone for him to make himself the Emperor.

If there was another Crown Prince, Duke of Cassil's authority would fall indefinitely. Richard's chances of becoming an Emperor would also become little.

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

'Let's get rid of Tenstheon.'

He decided to kill Tenstheon, and make the Duke of Cassil the Emperor.

If Tenstheon chose an outstanding person among the royal family, it would be difficult for Richard to be chosen no matter how excellent he was. But it was another matter if Duke Cassil became the Emperor.

Frank's arrogance had reached the point where he'd even slight his father, the Duke.

The Duke of Cassil used to cherish his oldest son before, but now he was also gradually disappointed in him, and began to show more interest in Neon. If Richard provoked Frank to self-destruct and kill Neon for opportunity, he could easily become the Emperor.

Even if the Duke of Cassil hated Richard, he'd prefer to pass the throne 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 mage among the Roums who uses ancient magic. They can even transfer the curse of the Goddess onto someone else.'

Richard thought the Emperor would definitely show interest in it, but Tenstheon didn't take the bait.

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

Tenstheon chose Ancia as his successor instead of 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 the princess, her husband would become the Emperor.

Richard needed to make her his, He had a chance to be taken in by Tenstheon. He could become a family with them and achieve his dream. Wouldn't that be the perfect ending?

Tenstheon was the only one Richard acknowledged. This time, the situation was unavoidable, so he tried to kill him, but he wanted to keep him alive 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 crimson eyes flashed with desire.

***

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

Dark clouds overshadowed 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.

There was a huge force blowing up like a whirlpool inside Blake. 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 was all because of me. This wouldn't have happened if I had left the story untouched.

Changing the original story for him might have caused a butterfly effect, so now Blake was in pain because of it.

'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 lift the curse!'

Tenstheon consoled me with a soft voice as I held Blake's hand and prayed 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.

"That aside, father, you should eat something. You haven't eaten anything today."

"You're calling me father again? You only call me a father when you need something. I'm disappointed."

In contrast to his words, his words were warm.

"In the end, I couldn't lift Blake's curse. I'm too ashamed to call you a father."

"Why would 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've 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 because I am incompetent. You have no responsibility over it."

"But if only I had the power to lift Blake's curse..."

"You're a gift to us. Your existence alone is precious. So never think like that again."

Tenstheon held my hand tightly.

"If this child dies, I swear to make you the princess."

"What? What do you mean?"

I looked at Tenstheon in surprise.

"I thought I wouldn't have any children, but I met a woman I loved very much. It's all my fault that Blake was cursed."

"It's not father's fault."

"No, it's my fault. I really wish I could transfer Blake's curse to me instead. I don't want Blake to feel any pain."

"......"

"The Goddess of Light cast a curse on Phillip Geracillion because he used her to become the Emperor. If his descendant abandons the throne, the Goddess may release her anger. If Blake doesn't survive, I'll make you the princess. And I will pass the throne to you."

Tenstheon said as if he was prepared for his son's death.

Tenstheon. He cared for me and treated me as if I was his biological child. It was something I was grateful for. But right now, I was 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, so don't think about it."

I hugged Blake's body. It was scary to think that Tenstheon could give up on Blake.

"Blake will wake up! I'll make sure of it. He'll get through 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 heard a small voice.

"...Ancia."

I looked at Blake in astonishment when he called my name. He was staring at me with his crimson eyes. Unlike his tired eyes a few days ago, his eyes looked lively now.

"Your Highness!"