~Chapter 122~
“Leonie is chosen as crown prince.”
The emperor spoke in a dry, plain voice.
It sounded as casual as talking about what to eat for dinner, even though someone’s whole life was about to change forever.
Even Leonie, who should have been the happiest, just nodded his head. He knew better than anyone that he shouldn’t show his happiness in this place.
“So that’s how it is. You should know that.”
“Yes.”
Leonie bowed his head and answered.
On the other hand, Lennard, who realized he had lost, couldn’t say a single word.
He just stared at the floor with wide, trembling eyes and clenched fists.
Leonie, standing right next to Lennard, saw him, but no one else noticed his state.
“You may go now.”
“Yes.”
Leonie glanced at Lennard, then turned and walked toward the door.
Even after Leonie left, Lennard kept staring at the floor, standing still.
Now, only the emperor and Lennard remained. Silence filled the room.
“…Is it really over like this?”
Gritting his teeth, Lennard finally couldn’t hold back.
His voice shook with emotion.
“Isn’t this much earlier than planned? Why end the competition and announce the result now?”
The emperor answered, still with his back to Lennard.
“Because I saw no reason to continue the competition.”
Lennard’s heart dropped.
“Also, the people will feel safer if there’s a clear successor. I don’t know how much longer my body will last.”
The emperor was just being practical—he needed to stabilize the country by announcing a successor, and Leonie’s achievements made it an easy decision.
But Lennard still couldn’t accept it.
“So you’re saying the conclusion was already decided?”
The emperor didn’t answer.
“Then why did you let me compete? Why did I hope and then be disappointed—”
“You were the one who wanted to compete.”
At last, the emperor looked at Lennard.
“If you had been better than Leonie, I really would have given you the throne.”
Even though Lennard was given a chance, he couldn’t beat Leonie.
Hearing this, Lennard’s eyes widened in shock.
“You may go.”
At the emperor’s final words, Lennard bit his lip and stormed out of the room.
It was over.
Everything was over.
It wasn’t just that he couldn’t get what he wanted—he might even lose what he already had.
‘If he becomes crown prince, he could search my palace anytime.’
He had to act fast and hide anything dangerous.
The emperor’s words echoed in his ears:
“I don’t know how much longer my body will last.”
‘Wait a minute.’
The emperor, who once seemed like he would live forever, was now getting old and ready to give up the throne.
Suddenly, a terrible thought crossed Lennard’s mind.
‘Maybe… I could make him step down just a bit sooner.’
Dark ideas filled his head.
“So Leonie became the crown prince after all.”
Damien looked at the letter with a black seal and spoke.
“Oh, that letter is from Prince Leonie, isn’t it?”
If Leonie used the royal seal on his letters, someone might steal them. That’s why he always used a different mark when sending us letters.
I moved closer to Damien, who was looking at the letter.
“You learned it from this letter? What does it say?”
Nobody had announced Leonie’s crown prince status yet. If Damien knew, it must have been in the letter.
“Look at this.”
Inside the black-sealed envelope was black stationery.
There was only one sentence written:
[I keep my promises.]
But both Damien and I immediately knew what it meant.
“It’s true. He really is the crown prince…”
Leonie had promised us: if we finished the soul contract, he would release Damien from the duties of the Maledictus family.
Now, by sending this letter, he meant he had the power to keep his promise—as crown prince.
Of course, as crown prince it might still be hard, but if he became emperor, he could truly change everything for the Maledictus.
“This is good news.”
Damien said softly as he looked out at the purple moon.
“And tonight is the night of the ritual.”
The promised time arrived.
Damien and I stood together, hand in hand, in front of the magic circle at the west tower.
A bright purple full moon greeted us.
“This is really the last step now.”
“Yes, it is.”
I suddenly remembered the time before I came to this mansion.
Back then, except for reading about curses or ghost stories, every day was the same, dull and dark.
It was so miserable, it felt like I could have died any day.
I didn’t have a single person on my side, and even the curses I cared for didn’t welcome me.
‘The old me could never have imagined this moment.’
Now, someone stood by my side.
We were about to join our souls, each trying to help the other.
Maybe for some people, tying souls together would be too much.
But for me, having someone connected to me so deeply made me secretly happy.
“Damien, if…”
I squeezed his hand and started to speak.
“Yes, Ruby?”
Damien turned and looked at me.
His amethyst eyes, glowing in the purple moonlight, looked more mysterious and beautiful than ever.
I could see myself reflected in them.
“If we finish this ritual, will things get better for us?”
Suddenly I worried I sounded ungrateful, so I quickly added,
“Of course, I love my life now. But still…”
I turned and saw Damien looking at me with his steady gaze.
“You’ll be freed from your duties with the curses.”
“Yes.”
“And if my lifespan gets longer…”
I suddenly felt overwhelmed and stopped talking.
“We could live like this for even longer…”
I was so happy with my life now.
Maybe I should just be grateful I could enjoy this for seven years.
But I kept wanting more.
I was just so happy—especially when I was with Damien.
“It will happen.”
Damien turned toward me and took my hand with his other hand too.
“I will make sure it does.”
His eyes were unwavering, full of strong determination just for me.
“Damien…”
A familiar scent filled my nose.
His long, strong arms wrapped around me.
As always, he trapped me in his embrace.
He whispered softly in my ear,
“Ruby, when this ritual is over—”
My heart pounded wildly.
It wasn’t just because of the ritual.
“Let’s become true husband and wife.”
