Chapter Twenty Three - The caster of the curse

„So you're telling me I am cursed?" My father asked thoughtfully, looking at Mr. Prodettier and raising his eyebrows.

„No, I can't say that for sure." He shook his head. „That's why I'm here to investigate." He added.

„Did Maglene point out a disease?" I intervened because I wanted to know first.

„No, she said she had never seen anything like this before." My mother answered. „But she is doing everything she can to keep your father strong and as healthy as possible. I offered her a job, but she said she was going back to Persiana." She looked mournful, but she accepted it

„Then we should…" Mr. Prodettier was about to say something, but my father cut him off.

„First of all, I would like to know who this guy is." My father glared at Eiran, who had been in the background all along but now stepped forward.

„That's right! I want to know too!" My brother supported my father's insanity. Is it the most important thing right now? Seriously, where are your priorities?

„I'm Eiran Marchette from Aracia." He bowed respectfully. „I apologize for the late introduction. I plan to marry your daughter in the future." Did you have to say it? Right here? Right now? I wanted to suffocate him, but I just put on a placid smile.

„That's not important now." I stepped in front of him to shield him from the eyes of my father and brother. Only my mother seemed delighted. I will deal with this later. „We'll talk about it when you're better." I gave him a stern look and he sighed in defeat. Good. I shoot Eiran a quick glance, promising retribution.

„Fine. Is there a surefire way to determine if it's a curse or not?" He finally decided to focus on Mr. Prodettier.

„I have something. It took me 10 years and a lot of help to make it, but I have a device that can show the face of the curse caster if there really is a curse."

„And if not?" Rihian raised the question.

„Then it will remain blank." He took something out of his pocket that looked like a necklace with a medal, but the chain was much shorter, so I guess it looked more like a bracelet. It seemed a little irresponsible to just keep it in a pocket to me, but perhaps just to make it appear insignificant. „If you could put this on…" He offered it to my mother, who took it and went back to my father.

„Here, my dear." She helped put it on his wrist, but nothing happened. Everyone turned to him in confusion and he laughed a little.

„It would be very simple if it just worked that way. Few people know about the existence of this device, but I want to avoid exploitation if it falls into the wrong hands. Please open the lid." He stood up and walked over to my father's bed. „Reveal the truth unseen to the eye." He whispered softly, touching the 'medal', The white background inside began to stir.

„Wow, an incantation!" Rihian said impressed. Well, yeah, magic was something foreign to us.

„No, I just put on a show." He smiled at him. „I am an ordinary person, it doesn't matter what I say. I apologize, but I can't reveal exactly how it works.

Before anyone could answer him, an image appeared. It was a young woman with jet black hair adorned with a jewelled crown. Her eyes were a beautiful lapis lazuli, but they lacked any emotion. She looked regal and someone with great authority.

„Princess?" My father muttered and my eyes automatically fell on him.

„Do you know her? Don't tell me you had a girlfriend before mother?!" Well, it wasn't in the original story, but I am sure not everything is written down. Although I can't imagine my father being sweet to anyone other than my mother.

„Have you lost your mind, my daughter?" My mother put her hand on my forehead to check my temperature. „Your father's every first time was with me, of course." TMI. Mother, TMI. My father cleared his throat.

„She was Princess Eulidanne, sister of the current Emperor." He explained it to us. She died before I was born, so it's no wonder I didn't recognize her.

„Wait…" It suddenly clicked to me. „Is she the princess who betrayed us and attacked the country?" I was flabbergasted. Why would she curse my father?

„Yes, that's right." My father nodded. „Princess Eulidanne had a brilliant mind and she was talented in so many things. She would have been a great ruler, except that she didn't see the value of individual human lives. She sacrificed people without batting an eye if she thought it was for the greater good. The country may have prospered under her rule, but no one would be happy. So, although our current emperor was less talented in diplomacy and management, he was chosen by the former emperor because of his ability to recognize and use skillful people well. And he cared about the people and wanted to create a country where everyone could be happy."

„Mainly because his wife is a commoner." My mother mumbled.

„It's a state secret." My father warned her, but there was a forgiving smile on his lips. „And she is your friend, or am I wrong? Did you argue again?"

„She refused to admit that you are more handsome than her husband." My god.

I hope I will never be as hopeless as my mother. Does it even matter who is more handsome? Both were good-looking, but of course, Eiran was the best.

„Back to the topic…" My father cleared his throat before continuing. „She felt betrayed by her family and country and felt that all her effort and hard work were being looked down upon. She lived for her country and I pitied her because she was unable to understand that the heart of a kingdom is its people."

„I can't feel sorry for her." My mother shook her head. „In the end, her personal interests were more important to her than her home. She endangered it and…She proposed to you in front of me!" Huh?

„I am sure she didn't know you were hiding in the bushes."

„That is beside the point. Anyway, I wasn't even hiding, I was looking for you. And she knew I loved you."

„So she cursed you because of her unrequited love?" I interjected with raised eyebrows.

„That woman had no idea how to love anyone." My mother's response was swift and cruel."

„That's right." My father agreed.

„Then why?" My brother said for the first time in a while.

„She wanted to use me. She wanted an alliance with me to help her take over the country and in her mind, marriage was the most effective way. I refused her and she resented me for it." He explained with a sad smile on his lips, but my mother was burning with anger. Well, I always thought my father had the more forgiving nature.

„She blamed you for her loss. I will never forget the raging hatred in her eyes on the day of her execution. Her action led to her downfall, but she simply refused to take responsibility and…" Her face turned red.

„It's okay." My father put his hand on hers.

„Then at least we know the motivation." Mr. Prodettier broke the sudden silence. „And considering her connection to Bermilian, it's no suprise that she knew about curses. Now we have to figure out why the curse was activated so late and how to break it."