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

Chapter 34

Even in the original work, there was hardly any description regarding Radiant's mother.

It was only known that she was a mage with the frost attribute and a noble lady from a count's family.

There was a brief mention that she was acquainted with the emperor, but even that seemed to be merely treated as an additional setting.

'She couldn't have much importance, right? After all, the story progresses after I die.'

From the beginning, Alter Radiant's value was proven through his death.

Therefore, people related to Alter Radiant inevitably had little presence.

In other words, in the current situation, he had to make appropriate assumptions based only on partial information.

'There are many secrets about my mother. Is that curse mixed in with those secrets?'

The Grand Duke of the North would probably know well about Alter's mother.

After all, to get married, even secrets must be revealed to each other.

But there might be secrets one doesn't want to divulge, even after death, so he shouldn't be too certain.

'If this is the type of curse it is, it would get a bit more complicated.'

If the target of the curse was specified as him, it would be a simple matter to approach.

But if the curse was activated through his mother, even identifying the cause wouldn't be easy.

Perhaps the curse that targeted at his mother was transferred through a specific process.

'Maybe that's why the curse was engraved on my heart. They didn't use a conventional method.'

Continuing his speculation, Alter showed a peculiar expression.

While it was important to remove the curse, he also had to clarify the identity of the caster.
If the caster was still alive, they might attempt harm again.

'Is the one who cursed me still hiding in the northern lands? If so, I need to learn more about mother.......'

* * *

Upon reading Alter's letter, Zair was considerably shocked.

He had assumed Alter was simply frail, never suspecting he was repressed by a curse.

Above all, he could hardly believe such an incident had occurred in his own inner castle, and he had never noticed it until now.

'Who would commit such an act? Thinking about possible suspects.......'

Zair reviewed his memories and immediately singled out some suspects.

Two wives, the closest knights and advisors, butlers and maids stationed within the inner castle.

Of course, with more than a dozen years gone by, the personnel coming and going had inevitably changed.

'So...... that was why she said those things.......'

With a bitter look, Zair recalled his legitimate wife's dying words.

Even on the verge of death, she had refused to deliver the baby prematurely.

Since she had little time left, she couldn't say much.

That was probably why she asked him, above all else, to protect Alter before passing away.

'What happened to you, Uriel.......'

Uriel Astille.

The first and last woman he ever loved, his one and only legitimate wife.
She had swept across battlefields with her frail body, and was the heroine who brought peace to the north.
He had promised to spend a lifetime with her, but in the end, she had left him, leaving only a single child behind.

'You could have told me......why.......'

As a mage of exceptional skill, Uriel must have figured out the caster's identity.

But she did not reveal it, not even at the very end.

Perhaps she prioritized protecting Alter over punishing the caster.

'Did she wish I wouldn't dwell on regret?'

Zair understood Uriel's intentions, yet he couldn't quite accept them wholeheartedly.

Uriel had probably wished that he would not become obsessed with revenge, but would instead take good care of Alter.

Yet Alter had suffered ever since he was born, while Zair himself forever looked back at the past in longing.

'Your death is my greatest regret.......'

Immersed in emptiness, Zair slowly closed his eyes.

Uriel had thought only of their child, covering up her own unnatural death.

But now that he knew the truth, he needed to deal with it properly.

'Uriel. That fiend cast a curse on Alter. Harming you alone was not enough.'

Only then did Zair open his eyes, revealing deep murderous intent.

He would find the culprit, whatever it took.

Even if they had escaped the castle, this could not be left unresolved.

The one who assassinated his wife and harmed his youngest son must be utterly crushed.

'I will not just stand by and suffer. I will see to it personally that justice is done.'

* * *

Alter visited the Lebhardin Magic Society to have his own body examined.

He couldn't summon the great mage to his mansion every time, and most of the apprentices and mages had gathered at the society.

Above all, to successfully finish the examination, it was necessary to have the proper environment and conditions established beforehand.

"Uh...... there seem to be quite a lot of people here."

As soon as Alter entered the laboratory, he came face to face with outsiders.

There were no young people among them; most were veteran mages.

Alraune glanced around and spoke to Alter with caution.

"Hmm hmm...... I summoned the heads of the societies. It is such a grave matter that multiple opinions are needed."

"The society heads? I thought you were going to confirm it alone, great mage."

"That was my original intention...... but with a matter like this, one should be prudent, shouldn't one?"

After receiving Alter's letter, Alraune did not hesitate for an instant.

If a curse was involved, and it was fundamentally built on magic, then analyzing it as a mage was possible.

However, with the curse engraved on the heart, the risk was much greater, so it could not be handled alone.

"...... Do you remember our promise?"

"Yes. I said if I'm cured, I'll become your apprentice, great mage."

"That promise is what I'm counting on. I will spare no effort, so I hope you will also cooperate, young master Alter."

Alraune was already eyeing Alter as the formal successor to the title of Great Mage.

The other heads had examined the specimens generated by Alter's magic, and all agreed he possessed extraordinary talent.

Normally, most would come up with any trivial reason to voice a negative opinion, but as far as frost magic was concerned, he'd received recognition from the majority.

'Before I die, I must make you my apprentice. How could such talent be neglected!'

After being bestowed the title of Great Mage, Alraune had continued to hone his craft.

The so-called peak of magecraft meant little outside the circle of officially recognized mages.

There were always those out there, acting in secrecy, who might surpass even a great mage, and failing to keep up would tarnish that title.

Therefore, Alraune needed to take someone like Alter as his successor and further solidify the legacy of the great mage.

'The removal method can be found. But since it was cast on the heart.......'

Alraune was more sensitive to the location than the curse itself.

Although some curses might be hard to dispel, with enough time and effort, a method could usually be devised.

But it was uncertain whether the heart could withstand the shock caused during the curse removal.

The caster must have considered this exact aspect as the weak point and engraved the curse on the heart.

'A truly vile criminal. Such a person deserves severe punishment!'

Alraune intended to reveal the caster's identity during the removal process itself.

A curse carried the magic power and spirit of the caster, so it could be traced back to a degree.

It might not be a perfect trace, but at least they could deduce a general location.

"Now then. Since young master Alter has arrived, let us perform the oath ceremony."

"...... Do we really have to perform the oath?"

"Did I not tell you? This case directly relates to your honor, young master. If anyone attempts to tarnish that honor, the oath will bring accountability, don't you agree?"

The heads glanced at each other as if gauging the mood but eventually accepted it.

Since the subject was the child of the grand duke, it was certainly intertwined with the household's honor.

Moreover, if things were resolved well, they would gain the grand duke's favor—there was nothing to lose.

"As of this moment, everything any of us learns about young master Alter will be declared a secret. Anyone leaking this secret betrays the mage's trust and commits a crime against those involved in the oath. All who agree to the oath, engrave your magic power upon the tablet."

Finishing his words, Alraune immediately poured magic power into his index finger and wrote his name at the very top of the tablet.

The tablet interacted with magic power, so it clearly displayed the writing even with no physical pressure.

"...... All done? If word of these proceedings leaks out, the society's funds will be given to the less fortunate."

After confirming the enchanted tablet, Alraune placed it in a corner of the lab.

Alter quietly watched the process, finally understanding the necessity of the oath.

Even mages representing societies would want to live well, and could hardly be immune to a desire for money.

So Alraune used that psychology to help ensure strict observance of confidentiality.

"Hmm hmm...... I will now explain young master Alter's situation. Currently, a curse is engraved upon Alter's heart."

"What?"

"A curse on the heart? Is that even possible?"

"Oh dear...... what a dangerous world......"

"So that was the reason for the oath."

Only then did the heads accept the reason and turn their attention to Alter.

There were plenty of rumors about curses that hadn't been proven, and many avoided dealing with them.

Casting one on the heart indicated the involvement of a very powerful mage.

"This fact was discovered by the Third Holy Apostle, so I judge the reliability to be high. I ask that you examine it and, if possible, find a solution."

"If it's the Holy Apostle, we can trust the diagnosis."

"So even a Holy Apostle can't provide treatment for this?"

"It is in the heart—the risk is why no one dares touch it."

Alraune moved closer to Alter and stopped right beside him.

If a problem arose during the examination, she would have to intervene herself.

Not that it was cause for major anxiety—the society heads were nearly as skilled as the great mage.

"Though the mage's verification differs from the priest's, I ask that you proceed with utmost seriousness. And do not forget—the subject is a grand duke's child."

"Hmm...... I'll start."

"I'll go next."

"These folks are really eager today."

The society heads gathered around Alter and began their checks.

Alter, surrounded by several magic powers, quietly remained in place.

'That was quicker than I expected. Is it really over this fast?'

He looked around, feeling no particular change.

The society heads were discussing their opinions with grave expressions.

Alraune simply observed while eavesdropping on their conversation.

"So the impurity originates from the curse, I see?"

"If the curse is interfering with his magic power, then it's definitely intentional."

"This isn't any ordinary curse. Engraving it on the heart makes typical removal impossible."

"They tried to mask the attribute, but there are traces leaking from the impurity."

"Frost attribute."

"No doubt about it. It's frost attribute."

"The curse is specialized in earth attribute magic. Using frost for the curse would inevitably create a flaw."

"Even with my skills, I couldn't easily engrave a curse on the heart. Are we sure the caster is human?"

"With a curse of this scale, we ought to consider a dragon."

"What would a dragon gain from doing this? Aren't dragons extinct? The previous great mage, and all the heroes......"

"Um...... if I may interrupt for a moment?"

Listening closely to the discussion, Alter finally spoke up.

The society heads looked at him, puzzled.

"What about the Frost Witch? There are rumors she's staying somewhere in the north, and she uses frost magic, right?"

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】