The faintly rippling curse disappeared through Diana's hand. After absorbing a certain amount, she let go, and Declan's eyes widened.
"How do you feel? Hasn't your physical condition improved?"
Indeed, his body felt lighter. It was the same as when Diana had held his hand in the study. The pressure weighing on his shoulders was gone.
"Did you just absorb the curse?"
"Yes."
"Then, are you also removing Rodrick's curse?"
Good. Now you seem to believe me. Diana said with a gentle upturn of her lips.
"Yes. So please don't say your son will die. I'm going to save him."
At her confident words, Declan had no choice but to believe. Indeed, there had been no reports of seizure symptoms since Rodrick had brought her to the castle.
Ha. Declan let out a hollow laugh as he ran a hand over his roughened face.
Hope. It had fallen like this, out of nowhere. Whether it was true or not would be known by watching Rodrick.
If he died, that would be the end of it. But a glimmer of hope had arisen that the family curse could be removed.
"Do you know what you've done?"
"Hmm, saving your son?"
As Diana lightly retorted, Declan hardened his expression again and spoke seriously.
"If what you say is true. The succession structure will change. A discarded card will become the greatest weapon again."
Diana looked at the duke with surprise. She thought he disliked Rodrick because he disparaged him as cursed.
The greatest weapon. It still seemed like he wasn't being treated as a person. But at least the recognition of being the greatest was attached.
"When the curse disappears, many things will change."
She understood the implied meaning. Rodrick held powerful strength just by his existence. It meant he could build up his influence.
In fact, before her death, with Rodrick's death, the military power of the North was reduced by half.
If the curse disappeared and Rodrick exerted his full power, the confrontation with the imperial family would likely grow larger. That was what she wanted. A strong card was needed to deal with the crown prince in the future.
"I know, Father."
At the returned form of address, the blue eyes narrowed.
"Are you perhaps afraid?"
At his prospective daughter-in-law's provocation, Declan burst out laughing. Ha! What a cheeky one. That was the look in his eyes.
"Rodrick will live. I'll make it so. So, Father. Live long. It's still far too early for you to hand over the position of family head."
A strange light flickered in his blue eyes. How on earth did she know?
With each passing year, along with fatigue, his body weakened, and he sensed his own impending end was not far off.
When the duke dies, the curse will be fully passed on to the next generation. If that happens, the curse weighing on Rodrick will intensify and go berserk. He will self-destruct.
That's why he was hurrying to prepare Felice to take over as family head. In other words, Declan was preparing for his own death.
To ensure that the second son, though inferior to the eldest, could lead the family perfectly.
"Your Grace. I've brought the court physician."
There was a knock, and at Declan's permission, the door opened.
The duke ordered the elderly physician to be in charge of Diana exclusively from now on. Despite this unprecedented treatment, the court physician bowed his head without any objection.
As Declan was about to leave after giving the order and telling her to rest, she stopped him.
"Father!"
At his expression asking what else she had to say, Diana smiled brightly and said.
"I have a favor to ask. Would you be willing to grant it?"
Diana's words once again shocked those around her. What was most surprising was that the Duke of Schwartz readily agreed to that request.
Diana, who dealt with the fearsome Duke of Schwartz so casually, gradually became the center of the castle.
As she visited the duke's study every day as if going to work, even the servants came to accept it as a matter of course.
All of this happened while Rodrick was absent.
[This is the timeline separator]
While Diana was struggling in pain at Schwartz Castle,
Rodrick, who had been accumulating curses, was also in a very foul mood.
He led only a small elite force, riding horses day and night without rest to the northwest region.
There was a reason he couldn't return immediately even after easily resolving the conflict that had arisen in the northern border area.
Boom. Boom.
The sound of drums rang out as a mock battle began. Weapons clashed, and the thunderous shouts of soldiers erupted between the high and low rock formations.
He dismounted from his black horse just as the battle was starting. As he was about to head towards the makeshift tent after handing the reins to a subordinate, that's when it happened.
"Well, well, who do we have here?"
At the fierce, wild voice, Rodrick's indifferent gaze turned to the man emerging from the tent.
With his muscular body trained to the extreme and wild red hair in disarray, he looked like a raw beast straight from the wilderness.
"What brings the Black Reaper of the North all the way here?"
"That unfunny nickname. Aren't you embarrassed to say it yourself?"
"What?"
That emotionless face irritates me every time I see it. The corners of the man's mouth turned up fiercely, his mood twisted.
"Nathan Beatus."
As Rodrick called out his name, red eyes filled with killing intent gleamed.
Search "seduce" at redcatty [.] com to read ahead up to chap 70.