Chapter 44: What does the cat likes? (12)

“There's news like that. The Duke even met the Chancellor to find out what the rumor was about.”

“Slave! Why would you mention that now?!”

“The news came this morning.”

“You should have told us earlier!”

Frank was furious. Richard stayed silent because he’d heard it before. But Neon, angry with his brother, spoke up:

“If Ancia becomes princess, you might lose your chance to be Crown Prince.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Come on, brother! You're already engaged. How can you marry Ancia?”

“Ah…”

Only then did Frank begin to understand, and Neon sneered:

“The next Emperor will be me. I’ll even get a beautiful bride. I just hope Blake dies soon and the curse is lifted.”

“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 did you start chasing my place?”

Frank swung his fist at Neon. Richard just looked at them and walked away.

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***

Richard wasn’t surprised by the fight. He went back to his room, stepped onto the balcony, and looked down at the palace. In the past, the Duke had lived in the Imperial palace because his mother, the Empress, loved him so much. But besides the Crown Prince, all the other princes had to leave once they grew up. She built a tower near the palace for her son and made him a Duke. It was almost like he still lived in the palace, since there was no barrier. However, when Tenstheon was crowned, he ordered a tall wall to be built between the Duke’s estate and the palace. Now, even from the top of the Duke’s place, you couldn’t see the palace. Richard could only see the empty fence, yet his eyes still lingered on it. He wondered how Ancia was feeling. Would she be happy to become princess if the Crown Prince died? Or would she be sad? Did she finally feel free from the monster’s grasp? If Ancia was like light, then Blake was like darkness—they were so different.

At exactly ten o’clock, a man in a black robe appeared. It was Domiram, Richard’s mage. Richard asked, “How was it?” but received no answer.

Tenstheon was a powerful Emperor. Everyone expected his brother, the Duke of Cassil, to be next in line as Crown Prince. But Richard disagreed. Even if Blake died, Tenstheon wouldn’t choose the greedy Duke of Cassil, the foolish Frank, or the weak Neon. To Richard, the Duke was his enemy and a barrier to his own ambition. If someone else became Crown Prince, the Duke’s power would shrink, and Richard’s chance to become Emperor would vanish.

When Richard heard that Blake was in critical condition, he made up his mind: “Let’s get rid of Tenstheon.” He planned to kill Tenstheon and install the Duke of Cassil as Emperor. If Tenstheon chose a strong candidate from the royal family, Richard would never have a chance. But if Duke Cassil became Emperor, it would benefit Richard. Frank had become so arrogant he even insulted his own father, the Duke. The Duke of Cassil used to adore his eldest son, but now he was starting to favor Neon. If Richard could push Frank to self-destruct—maybe even kill Neon—he would have his chance. Even if the Duke hated Richard, he would rather pass the throne to his own son than to someone else.

Richard then ordered Domiram to quietly spread a rumor: “There is a mage among the Roums who can use ancient magic to transfer the Goddess’s curse to someone else.” Richard thought the Emperor would be interested, but Tenstheon ignored the bait. Instead, he gathered his advisors to discuss naming Ancia as princess. When the news reached the Duke of Cassil, he hurried off to meet the Chancellor. It was very likely true—Tenstheon had chosen Ancia as his successor instead of his own brother or other royal family members.

“Should I throw more bait?” asked Domiram.

Richard shook his head. “Enough. Stop the plan.”

If Ancia became princess, her husband would become Emperor. Richard needed her for his own ambitions. He saw a chance to join the family and achieve his dream. Wouldn’t that be the perfect ending? Tenstheon was the only person Richard respected. This time, he planned to kill him if necessary, but he wanted to keep him alive if possible. After all, if he had Ancia, he had no reason to kill Tenstheon.

“Instead, I should get a gift for Ancia—something precious that she cannot refuse,” Richard thought, his crimson eyes flashing with desire. Thanks for reading on ManaNovel!

***

Blake had been unconscious for ten days. The palace doctor warned that if Blake didn’t wake up today, he might never recover fully. Dark clouds loomed over the Crown Prince’s palace. Eunhan tried using magic on Blake, but a strong force surrounding his body blocked it, and eventually, Eunhan gave up. A massive force churned like a whirlpool inside Blake. Under such conditions, forcing magic could harm him even more.

I urgently contacted the Knights Academy and tried to reach Diana, but she couldn’t be reached because they were away training near the Valley of Chaos. Blake’s condition was far worse than in the original story—all because of me. This wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t changed the story. Altering the original plot for him might have caused a butterfly effect, and now Blake suffered.

“Get up, Your Highness. Goddess of Light, please don’t let Blake suffer. He hasn’t done anything wrong! He never chose to be born as a descendant of Phillip. Please lift the curse!”

Tenstheon consoled me softly as I held Blake’s hand and prayed earnestly.

“Ancia, it’s not your fault.”

“What?”

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

“I’m not blaming myself,” she insisted, shaking her head.

“Anyway, father, you should eat something. You haven’t eaten today.”

“Calling me father again? You only call me that when you need something. I’m disappointed.”

Yet, his words were warm. “In the end, I couldn’t lift Blake’s curse. I’m too ashamed to call you father.”

“Why would you think that?”

“But...”

“Ancia, if I had known how much pressure you were under, I wouldn’t have let you go to Tenlarn Palace. I should have stopped you when you wanted to lift Blake’s curse. His curse comes from the sins of Geracillion’s ancestor—and my own incompetence. You aren’t to blame.”

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

“You're a gift to us. Your very existence is precious. Never think otherwise.”

Tenstheon squeezed my hand tightly. “If this child dies, I swear I will make you princess.”

“What? What do you mean?”

I looked at Tenstheon, shocked.

“I thought I would never have children, but I met a woman I truly love. It’s all my fault that Blake was cursed.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“No, it is. I wish I could take the curse instead. I don’t want Blake to suffer.”

“…”

“The Goddess of Light cursed Phillip Geracillion because he used her to become Emperor. If his descendant abandons the throne, she might unleash her anger. If Blake doesn’t survive, I’ll make you princess and pass the throne to you,” Tenstheon said as if he expected his son to die.

I was grateful that Tenstheon cared for me like a real son, but I was also angry at him for thinking so bleakly.

“Don’t say that. Blake will get through this! I’m going to lift his curse!”

“Yes, of course. But if—”

“Don’t say ‘if’! It won’t happen. Don’t even think about it.”

I clutched Blake’s body, terrified at the thought that Tenstheon would give up on him.

“Blake will wake up! I promise he will!”

I screamed at Tenstheon, unable to bear the thought of Blake dying because everyone had lost hope.

And then, I heard a small voice: “…Ancia.”

I stared at Blake in astonishment as he called my name, his crimson eyes now bright and full of life instead of the weariness they had just days before.

“Your Highness!”