The Youngest Son of the Northern Grand Duke Wants to Break Off the Engagement

Chapter 29

"......"

Even as Alter maintained a tense expression, he did not avoid Brillie's gaze.

He had anticipated the possibility, but, as expected, Brillie's pride was unwavering.

If she could not accept something herself and didn't want to give in, she always asserted her firm will.

That was why she could prove her own potential with the sword, and did not lose out even to Duke Illenat.

"A curse? What about it? Are you saying it can be passed on to someone else? If it were that kind of curse, the grand duke's family would have been wiped out long ago."

"......"

"The Radiant Duchy is still defending the northern region even now. I heard the eldest son and the second daughter are active at the front... Or am I mistaken?"

"... No, it's true that my older brother and eldest sister are contributing to the defense lines."

"If they had the same curse as you, they wouldn't be able to fight, right? Am I wrong?"

"Your words are correct."

"So what are you worried about? Are you saying my family and I should be swayed by such silly rumors?"

"There's no reason to be swayed."

"I understand what you mean. But you don't need to worry about things like that. You just have to remain as my fiancé. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Yes, I understand well."

Alter recognized he had been complacent and answered humbly.

From the start, it was a mistake to assume Brillie would behave according to his wishes.

Brillie rejected the act of being constrained, and only moved according to her own convictions.

So even the suggestion of breaking off their engagement likely felt to her like another form of constraint, causing her to instinctively resist.

"And... Didn't I tell you not to bring up breaking off the engagement?"

"... You told me not to bring it up."

"So why are you talking about things related to a breakup?"

"It wasn't so much related to that... I was just mentioning problems that might arise because of it."

"You may not have said the exact word, but it's no different from saying we should break up, right?"

"I was thinking of you and your family..."

"Hoo... Do you want to see me get angry?"

"......"

Brillie spoke coldly, her sharp eyes glaring at him.

Following the bleak atmosphere, Alter lowered his gaze slowly.

"We could get along just fine, so why must I hear about such things as breaking up our engagement? Do you dislike the idea of marrying me that much?"

"Uh... it's not like that..."

"Then just say it clearly if you don't like me. What could possibly change by making various excuses?"

"... I'll be careful from now on."

"Don't you think you did something quite wrong? Don't you think you should reflect on it?"

"I... should, right?"

Alter matched her tone and slyly glanced at Brillie.
Brillie seemed to flinch at first, but soon softened her expression.

"Don't do that anymore. I appreciate you thinking about me, but your way was mistaken, wasn't it?"

"Yes. I understand."

"And... About the curse, I'll tell my father myself. That's how it should be."

"... Yes."

Brillie could only relax once she had received his confirmation.

Surely her father would be sensitive about this matter.

If her fragile fiancé went to see him, he would only be suppressed, so she had to handle it herself.

'I wanted to say a few more things, but he looks so pitiful I can't.'

Brillie had planned to lay things out properly this time, so that the word "breakup" would never come up again.

But seeing Alter making such a gloomy expression, her heart was naturally swayed.

Moreover, since he had recognized his mistake with good sense, she couldn't help but let it go.

'He's kind of cute, too...'

Brillie found herself unable to press Alter too hard.

He was so frail and showed such thoughtful consideration.

He must have tried to be considerate of her in his own way; she ought not to lecture him without cause.

'So if the curse is lifted, that means his body will become healthy, right?'

Brillie was, in fact, looking at new possibilities because of the curse.

His frail body, frequent illnesses, and even coughing up blood after using magic power—all these were misfortunes caused by the curse.

So if the curse could be broken, he would be free from all those misfortunes.

'If it can be fixed, that's all that matters. I won't have to take care of him for the rest of his life.'

Of course, considering the location where the curse was engraved, it wouldn't be easy to treat.

But since the capital of the empire was full of outstanding mages and clergy, a solution might be found if they kept searching.

'My fiancé just worries too much. He could stand to think a little more simply....'

* * *

Brillie immediately went to Cadeon and explained Alter's situation to him.

Cadeon was a little surprised to hear the word 'curse', but didn't offer much of a response.

Instead, he simply listened intently to Brillie, lost in thought.

"... You're not offended that we didn't inform you sooner, are you? My fiancé just wanted to tell me first because he was thinking of me."

"He must have worried about it. He couldn't just not say anything, but if he told, that would cause problems too."

"I'll tell you in advance. No matter what you say, father, I won't be breaking off the engagement. You may consider the family, but I dislike being irresponsible even more."

"......"

Cadeon fell silent and looked at Brillie.

She was as stubborn as he was, and perhaps because she resembled his late wife, she refused to relinquish what she held.

Maybe that's why his wife gave her life to deliver Brillie into the world.

"And you're saying you'll marry him even knowing he's cursed?"

"It was your decision, father. But I'm the one getting married. Didn't you get what you wanted? Then, shouldn't I be able to do what I want?"

"I can find a way around things for myself and for the family. But you're different. You'll have to live your whole life with this... Can you bear it?"

"If I couldn't, I wouldn't say such things in the first place. I'll take care of it myself."

"You make things more complicated. Choosing the difficult road when an easy one is right there?"

"It's my responsibility. It's also your ambition, father. I'm different from you."

"My ambition... Yes. I suppose I did get greedy."

Cadeon did not particularly deny it.

He prioritized the family's prosperity over his daughter's happiness, and also sought to satisfy his lust for power.

That was why he considered an engagement to the crown prince—but now things were beginning to change in many ways.

"Brillie. I promised to give you one year. Until that time is up, I won't interfere."

"Does that mean you'll treat breaking off the engagement the same way?"

"It's your marriage, isn't it? So for now, I'll simply watch."

"......?"

Brillie was left speechless at such an unexpected answer.

Normally, he would have disregarded his promise and pressed on forcefully.

But now Cadeon was uninvolved, as if nothing had happened.

"I told you, didn't I? A flower cannot live by sunlight alone. Only when it has water and earth as well will it bloom beautifully. So... we must be patient until the flower blooms, mustn't we?"

"So you intend to wait a year?"

"It's a little disappointing, but... I should at least do that much. All you have to do is achieve a title befitting a Sword Saint. Who knows? Maybe your fiancé will break his curse within the year."

Cadeon was already considering every possibility.

If his daughter could achieve Sword Saint–level prowess, she would bring the family great benefit in any case.

And if her fiancé overcame his curse, there could be results even greater.

'He's already been acknowledged by the great mage, even while cursed. But if he could free himself from the curse...'

Cadeon evaluated Alter's potential very highly.

A handful of mages' opinions paled in comparison to that of a great mage.

When the field's highest authority said he wished to take him as a disciple, that alone was immense praise.

'Having a great mage as a son-in-law wouldn't be bad at all. If I can also maintain ties with the grand duke's family, what could be more advantageous?'

Cadeon had already finished his calculations and clearly distinguished the benefits and losses.

Just being cursed would spark all sorts of wild rumors, but that didn't mean he could disregard the Illenat ducal house.

In fact, if he went through with the political marriage rather than breaking it off, his own reputation would only soar.

'I don't want to quarrel with my daughter, and there's much to consider regarding the marriage to the crown prince. Maybe sticking with the current engagement is best for now.'

Cadeon was putting off a final decision.

It was practically a gamble, but the circumstances were not truly lacking.

Since there might be unexpected, better results, he intended to wait and see for a while.

'A marriage between a Sword Saint and a great mage... Yes, it should be at least this much.'

* * *

Alter was receiving a guest alone in the drawing room.

The guest had insisted on seeing only him, and Brillie, though a little worried, had reluctantly gone to work.

This visitor was someone whom even the Duke of Illenat did not dare treat lightly, but since this was the ducal mansion, she would not act recklessly.

"You said you'd never see me again, but here you are, meeting me anyway."

"You must have your reasons for coming all this way."

"So you couldn't bear to turn me away?"

Yuria retained her composure, speaking with a subtle sneer.

At the social gathering, she hadn't intended to pick a fight with Alter.

She'd only wanted to observe his reaction, but had ended up getting swept up in an unexpected result.

"So, are you hoping I'll just leave now?"

"Are you going to do that again? Isn't once enough?"

"I also hope it ends with just once."

"So, does that mean you're going to keep this up until you get an apology?"

"I already made up my mind, so how could I go back on it?"

"Hmmm..."

Yuria hesitated briefly, then showed a faintly ambiguous expression.

It seemed she had no intention of continuing the conversation until she received an apology.

Just how much did he care for his fiancé to persist like this?

"Fine, I'll apologize. I shouldn't have spoken of your fiancé. It won't happen again."

"... I'll accept your apology, taking it as sincere."

Only then did Alter erase the memory of that event from his mind.

If he didn't tie things up here, Yuria would try to belittle Brillie again and again.

So he stood firm and made her acknowledge her mistake.

"So there's nothing between us now, right?"

"It's not that there isn't a problem. Didn't I already say I was cursed?"

"Oh, that? I'm not sure that's something worth worrying about."

Yuria had already heard about the curse before meeting Alter.

If the imperial royalty were prone to avoiding people with a curse, she would probably have been warned in advance.

But she herself wasn't stupid enough to be swayed by such superstitions, and was instead only growing more interested in Alter.

"There are rumors that the curse is contagious, or that your body will deteriorate, aren't there?"

"Pff! Only clueless nobles would let themselves be swept up by such rumors. I know everything I need to know."

"... But if it becomes known later, it could cause you some trouble."

"That's something I'll deal with. I'll keep it secret until then. I don't particularly want to torment you."

Yuria spoke kindly, but her gaze was mysterious.

If she tried to provoke Alter, he would only respond seriously, so she couldn't make reckless comments.

It would be better to choose her words with restraint and probe calmly.

"Instead, shall I make you an offer?"

"I don't think there's much I can do for you."

"It's not hard. How about you break off your engagement and get engaged to me instead?"