Chapter : 80
Truly, he was grateful.
The fact that there were people at her side who cherished Cassiopeia so deeply that they would rage on her behalf—it was something to be thankful for.
“It was for Cassiopeia’s sake.”
Yulia’s and Cassian’s brows twitched at the same time.
What is he talking about?
Just as Yulia was about to shout, Regis suddenly lifted his shirt. She frowned at the abrupt action.
“You saw it back then. The wounds on Cassiopeia’s body disappearing.”
“…!”
Yulia’s eyes shook violently when she saw the scar at Regis’s waist.
The same place.
It was the exact spot where her lord had once been pierced by a spear on the battlefield of Belmoria.
“Every wound that appears on Cassiopeia’s body is transferred to me.”
“……”
She wanted to ask if such a thing was even possible.
Rationally, realistically, she knew it shouldn’t be.
But she had seen it with her own eyes—a wound that could never have healed so quickly vanishing without a trace. And so Yulia couldn’t say a word.
“Help me. If you help me, I can bear everything in her stead.”
“……”
“If you don’t, Cassiopeia will die. No—she’ll try to die.”
Yulia’s gaze wavered violently.
“The imperial family of Clemens is cursed. A curse that drives its bearer into madness, and in the final stage strips them of reason until they turn into a monster.”
These were truths he had never even fully revealed to Cassiopeia herself.
“Originally, Cassiopeia was meant to bear it all, but—”
“Are you bearing it instead, Duke?” Cassian cut in. “By stealing the throne from my lord?”
Regis smiled faintly.
Correct.
The moment they realized his smile was affirmation, the color in their eyes shook violently.
“Then… when you say my lord is trying to die—”
“Cassiopeia knows about the curse placed on me. Soon, she’ll realize that I’ve taken the throne and am bearing it in her stead. And when she does…”
Regis trailed off, but neither of them failed to understand what came next.
If it were the lord they knew—
She would inevitably reclaim that fate and willingly shoulder it herself.
Cassiopeia Clemens was that kind of person.
Someone who believed it natural to be hurt for others, yet could not tolerate even the slightest injury inflicted on others in her place.
A rigid woman who never once considered her own safety.
Yulia had thought Cassiopeia’s recent behavior was excessive—strange, even.
Saying she needed friends all of a sudden.
Telling her to find a lover.
When in truth, having only her at her side as a vassal had always been enough.
So my lord had already made up her mind.
Looking back now, she realized Cassiopeia had already resolved to leave her behind.
The fact that she only understood this after hearing everything from Regis filled Yulia’s face with distress.
This could not be allowed.
She was not someone who should lose her life over a curse like that.
Watching their expressions, Regis spoke quietly.
“I need your help.”
That was why he had revealed the entire truth to Yulia and Cassian.
Because if it were those two, they would stop Cassiopeia from reclaiming her fate—no matter the cost.
If forced to choose between Regis Euriel and Cassiopeia Clemens—
They would choose Cassiopeia without hesitation.
This was his last chance. He had to try everything he could.
He would never allow Cassiopeia to meet such an end again.
“Please help me protect Cassiopeia.”
A man’s knees were weightless when it came to protecting the woman he loved.
Enemy or ally—he would kneel without hesitation, even to those beneath him.
Watching Regis sink to his knees, Yulia spoke coldly.
“Please stand.”
“……”
“Even without the Duke asking, this is something we would have done.”
When she first heard his story, she had already resolved to help him.
And yet—why did Cassiopeia’s face, so happy when she was with him, suddenly come to mind?
“If you die, my lord will grieve.”
As if thinking the same thing, the words spilled from Cassian’s mouth.
“Is there no other way? For instance, placing someone else—someone expendable—on the throne.”
Regis shook his head.
He had already tried that method in previous cycles.
Bearing fate in another’s stead was not so simple.
The only one who could do it was himself.
“Me… or Cassiopeia. One of us must inevitably—”
Die.
They understood without him needing to say it.
Their heavy expressions made that clear.
Yulia was just about to speak when—
KWA-KWANG—!
A thunderous roar echoed as the ground shook violently.
Something was approaching.
The three drew their swords almost simultaneously.
Three to the north, four to the south, two to the east, three to the west.
Bestial presences surged from all directions.
…Were they really just beasts?
As Regis readied his stance, a sense of déjà vu washed over him.
Grrrr—!
A predator’s roar rang out, and in an instant they burst from the undergrowth that hadn’t so much as trembled before.
Regis locked eyes with one of them.
Blood-red eyes.
…Almost identical to those seen during a berserk state.
“Kill them in one strike!”
If—just if—
They were in the same state of frenzy as he had experienced, they wouldn’t feel pain.
Simply cutting them down wouldn’t be enough.
Regis did not hesitate. He severed the charging beast’s neck.
The blade, infused with aura, cleaved clean through bone, sending the head flying.
By the time seven beasts lay dead,
Regis came to his senses and saw blood flowing from their bodies like a river.
“Are you all right, Captain?”
“Would I be dead if you’re still alive?”
Yulia replied curtly, flicking the blood from her blade.
Unlike Cassian’s, her cuts were impossibly clean—an impressive skill no matter how many times one saw it.
This is no time to admire skill.
It was the same form of madness as the curse.
But why now…?
Before he could think further, the blood drained from his face.
“Lope—Cassiopeia!”
In his focus on persuading the two of them, he had forgotten.
Where they were.
“Find Cassiopeia immediately!”
“What is it? Has something happened to my lord?”
“We can’t stay here.”
There was no time for calm explanations.
They had to find Cassiopeia and leave this land at once.
Sensing the urgency in Regis’s voice, the two stopped asking questions.
Only one thought burned in their minds.
Cassiopeia must not remain here.
The moment that thought crossed her mind, Yulia headed northwest, while Cassian went southeast.
Mounting his white horse once more, Regis spurred it forward without hesitation.
Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.
He should never have let them come here in the first place.
This was a place they should never have entered.
Arcadon—territory of the fallen kingdom of Delua.
This was where the body of Delua’s last princess lay buried.
And that princess was none other than—
The one who had cursed the imperial family of Clemens.
There was no way her curse had driven the forest beasts mad on its own.
Someone had definitely disturbed the princess’s remains.
But how…?
Over dozens of cycles, he had searched endlessly—yet never once found her body.
Who had done it? And by what means?
There was no time to dwell on questions without answers.
If someone had truly tampered with the princess’s remains and dispersed the accumulated curse—
The redirected curse might eventually return to its original target.
And if that happened…
…If that truly happened—
Regis squeezed his eyes shut.
That could not be allowed. He had to stop it, no matter what.
Even if it meant dying here today.
