“At this moment, a curse that shortens your lifespan has been placed on you. You have about one year left.”
In the appraisal chamber of the church, the saint calmly delivered this verdict.
“Oh my, how surprising.”
As though it were someone else’s problem, Sophie, the eldest daughter of a duke’s family, tilted her head gently. She was the one who had just been told she had only one year to live and was also the fiancée of the Second Prince, Lorenz.
“‘Oh my,’ is not the right reaction! This is about you, you know?”
“Yes, it is. But making a fuss won’t undo the curse, will it? Besides, I somewhat expected this outcome.”
Sophie had come to the church precisely because she had a feeling. Ever since she had been engulfed in a black mist a few days prior, she had felt her magical energy become turbulent, as though something had possessed her.
Lorenz sighed softly at Sophie’s detached attitude, then turned to the saint.
“Is there a way to lift the curse?”
“It’s not impossible, but it would be extremely difficult. The curse must be undone step by step, in reverse order. Do you have any idea who might have cast it?”
The saint’s question prompted Lorenz to glance at Sophie for an answer.
“I can’t think of anyone specific. However, there are plenty who might covet the position of being your fiancée.”
“So this is my fault…”
“Oh dear, that was poorly phrased. This isn’t your fault, Lorenz. But I believe there are many who would find it convenient if I were no longer around. Perhaps I unknowingly earned someone’s hatred.”
“Either way, it’s not something we can figure out immediately.”
The saint explained that undoing the curse would require both the blood of the caster and the “core” of the curse. The curse’s core is an object formed during the casting process, designed to absorb the backlash of the curse. Without it, the curse would rebound onto the caster. Therefore, it is highly likely that the caster keeps it carefully hidden.
Curses are, of course, forbidden arts. Performing one requires advanced skill, limiting the number of potential casters. Much like how medicine and poison are two sides of the same coin, so too are curses and healing arts. Most practitioners are registered as clergy members within the kingdom. However, not all practitioners are accounted for in the registry.
“The first step is to find the person who cast the curse.”
* * *
A month passed.
Sophie and Lorenz were sitting in a gazebo in the castle’s garden, drinking tea as they discussed the progress of their investigation.
“No leads, then…” Lorenz muttered bitterly.
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