“By me. I told you to trust me and wait. Did you not?”
“That’s a bit unreasonable. I wasn’t conscious.”
“Fair enough.”
Something about Lorenz seemed off—almost broken. His behavior was stranger than Sophie’s, even though she had just woken from years of sleep.
“Are you alright?” Sophie asked.
“That’s supposed to be my line,” Lorenz replied.
“…That’s true. But I’m not sure if I’m alright.”
“I see. Well, for now, I’m fine.”
“Are you really? You didn’t do anything dangerous, did you?”
“I won’t say I didn’t, but it’s fine. I’m safe.”
Sophie wasn’t entirely convinced that “it’s fine” was accurate.
“For now, could you loosen your grip?” she asked.
“No.”
Even as he said it, Lorenz eased his hold slightly. Despite the lingering discomfort in her body, Sophie found Lorenz’s warmth so comforting that it overshadowed any pain.
“Could you tell me what’s going on?” she asked.
“Where do I even begin?”
Without changing his position, Lorenz began explaining bit by bit.
It was Juliana who had cast the curse. Though skilled in magic, she had secretly studied forbidden sorcery as well. Her close relationship with Sophie allowed her to acquire the necessary materials for the curse, such as Sophie’s hair or blood. Sophie vaguely recalled being treated for an injury by Juliana.
“I can’t believe it was Lady Juliana. But why would she…?”
Apparently, Juliana had admired Lorenz deeply. Despite her efforts, she had been chosen as Marius’s fiancée instead. Unable to object, she also watched as Sophie became Lorenz’s fiancée.
Perhaps, if Sophie had been more capable, things would have been different. But Sophie was not. No matter what she did, Juliana easily surpassed her. Adding to her frustration was the fact that Lorenz was far more accomplished than Marius.
“Juliana even used sorcery on my brother. She believed that I becoming king and her becoming queen would be the best way to govern the kingdom.”
“Well… I suppose that does make sense.”
“It does not,” Lorenz shot back.
Sophie had momentarily agreed. She believed Lorenz would make an excellent king and felt unfit to be queen. Politically, Juliana’s reasoning wasn’t entirely wrong.
“Why didn’t you go along with it, Lorenz?” Sophie asked.
For someone who supposedly admired Juliana, this shouldn’t have been an inconvenient outcome for Lorenz.
“Why? Because I don’t want the throne, and I’m not interested in Juliana.”
“…What?”
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