The weight of countless eyes pressed down on Leon. He could hear the whispers—low, poisonous hisses that slithered through the grand throne hall like snakes.
"Look at him… the cursed one."
"Pathetic. He can barely stand."
"The Curse Dog of Salmara dares to show his face before the King?"
Their laughter stung more than daggers. Leon clenched his fists, but the body he now wore trembled uncontrollably. His chest ached as if his ribs would shatter with every breath.
So this is Ryo Asskar's curse… Leon thought, his vision blurring. His body… it's falling apart just from standing here.
A booming voice silenced the hall.
"Stand straight, Ryo!"
Leon's eyes darted toward the throne. The man sitting upon it glared down at him—King Deros, ruler of the Salmara Empire, Ryo's father. His broad shoulders bore the weight of a warrior-king, his crown gleaming like the sun, but there was no warmth in his gaze. Only disgust.
"Even a cursed dog should have some pride before his Emperor!" the King roared.
The nobles erupted into laughter. Some covered their mouths mockingly, while others let out cruel chuckles without restraint. The sound was deafening.
Leon's blood boiled, though his weak body betrayed him, forcing him to sway on his feet. He bit his lip until it bled.
So this is what you endured, Ryo. Every day. Every moment. And they never once saw you as human…
The memory of the book's words rang in his mind. The "Curse Dog," despised by family, mocked by subjects, fated for ruin.
One noble stepped forward, a tall man with a sharp beard. He sneered at Leon as if he were stepping on dirt.
"Your Majesty, why allow this wretched boy to remain in the palace? He is a disgrace to the royal bloodline. Each time I look upon him, I see weakness."
Another chimed in, a woman draped in silks. "Indeed. The Eternal Sickness eats at him every day. He is neither fit for the sword nor the staff. What value does such a creature bring to the Empire?"
The King said nothing. His silence was worse than words—it was agreement.
Leon's heart pounded, fury mixing with helplessness. His throat felt tight. He wanted to shout, to fight back, but the curse made every breath a struggle. His knees buckled, and he fell to the cold marble floor.
The nobles sneered louder.
"Pathetic."
"Crawl like the dog you are."
"Such weakness in a prince? The gods themselves mock the royal bloodline."
Leon's fingers curled against the stone. His reflection stared back at him from the polished floor: a pale boy with dark hair clinging to his face, eyes sunken, lips trembling.
It wasn't Leon. It wasn't Ryo. It was both.
And in that moment, something inside him hardened.
No. I won't let this end the way it's written. I won't let this curse decide who I am.
Slowly, painfully, he pushed himself up. His arms shook, his knees screamed, but he refused to collapse again. He lifted his head, meeting the mocking gazes of the nobles. For the first time, he glared back.
The laughter faltered. Just slightly.
"Ryo," the King's voice thundered again. "You shame this throne every day you draw breath. Do not think for a moment that your birth entitles you to the love of your Emperor. You are my son in blood only, not in worth."
The words cut deeper than any blade. Leon felt Ryo's heart shatter within his chest, memories of years of rejection bubbling to the surface. Birthdays forgotten. Lessons denied. Brothers and sisters celebrated while he was hidden away like a blemish.
The King's voice dripped with finality. "Remember this, boy. You live in my empire by my mercy alone. One misstep, and even that mercy will vanish."
The nobles bowed their heads in mock reverence, though their smirks betrayed them.
Leon lowered his gaze. Outwardly, he remained silent. But inside, his soul burned.
This is it, isn't it, Ryo? This is where they broke you. Where you lost all hope. Where you surrendered to the fate the book wrote for you.
But Leon was not ready to surrender. Not again. Not in this world. Not in this body.
He clenched his teeth, tasting blood. If destiny says you'll bring ruin… then I'll change it. If this curse wants to chain me… then I'll fight it. If they see me as a villain… then I'll become one on my own terms.
A faint smile crept onto his lips. It wasn't joy. It wasn't peace. It was defiance.
The King narrowed his eyes. "Why do you smile, boy?"
Leon lifted his head slowly. His weak frame trembled, his voice cracked, but his words carried something the hall hadn't heard before—from Ryo Asskar or anyone like him.
"…Because I won't break. Not today. Not ever again."
Gasps filled the throne hall. Nobles exchanged shocked glances. Some scoffed, others frowned.
King Deros's expression darkened. He leaned back against his throne, studying the boy with cold calculation. "Bold words from a cripple who cannot stand without trembling."
Leon's fists tightened. His body was weak, yes, but his spirit blazed. For the first time, he felt alive.
The hall erupted into noise once again, but this time Leon barely heard it. He wasn't listening to them anymore. He was listening to his own heartbeat, steady and unyielding.
As he stood beneath the weight of the empire's scorn, a single thought crystallized within him:
This world thinks I am a curse. Then let them think so. I'll take this curse… and turn it into my strength.
That night, long after the throne hall had emptied, Leon found himself in Ryo's chamber. The walls were bare, the bed modest compared to the lavish quarters of his siblings. A reminder that even within the palace, he was treated as lesser.
He sat at the desk, staring at his frail hands. The curse gnawed at him again, sharp pangs of pain running down his arms. He clenched his jaw, riding the wave until it dulled.
"So this is my reality now…" he murmured. His voice was quiet, but his eyes burned with determination.
He remembered his grandmother's words from long ago: Leon, no matter how cruel the world is, never stop walking forward. Even if it's painful, even if it's lonely… keep walking.
Tears threatened to fall, but he wiped them away.
"This time, Grandma," he whispered, "I'll keep walking. Even if this body breaks a thousand times, I'll keep walking. I'll rewrite Ryo Asskar's fate… and mine."
The moonlight spilled through the window, casting his shadow against the floor. A fragile shadow, trembling, but standing.
And thus, the cursed prince who was never meant to rise took his first step toward defying destiny.