Chapter : 11. The Cursed Young Noble (7)
‘First, let’s stop him from self-destruction.’
Elia nodded to herself.
“Marriage might be difficult.”
Elia immediately understood what Aksion meant.
‘Of course… he’s a duke, and an emperor at that. He wouldn’t give permission easily.’
But there was always a way. Elia grasped Aksion’s hand tightly and smiled confidently.
“Prince, from now on, just trust me.”
Aksion’s eyes widened at her words.
Elia tugged his hand.
The two of them avoided the increasingly heavy snowfall as they returned to the castle.
‘Seems like it doesn’t hurt.’
Elia glanced back at Aksion, who was walking slightly behind her.
Fortunately, it seemed that no factional conflicts would arise inside Aksion’s body today.
‘Good.’
If his condition had been poor, she would have postponed this for a few days, but today seemed to be the perfect opportunity.
“Prince, would you come to my room for a moment?”
“To the princess’s room, you mean?”
Aksion repeated her question, but Elia didn’t give him a chance to hesitate.
“Come on, hurry. We’re a couple about to share passionate love, aren’t we?”
The servants’ eyes nearly popped out at her words. Satisfied, she linked arms with Aksion and led him to her room.
“Come in.”
The door closed, leaving only the two of them inside.
‘First, I need to grab the book.’
Elia briefly looked away from Aksion to find the book she had placed under her pillow.
“Here… got it… Prince?”
After finding what she wanted, she turned around. Aksion was still standing in the same spot, like an old tree.
“You’re not in pain again, are you?”
When Aksion didn’t answer, lowering his head, she recalled the first time she had witnessed his suffering.
“Do you have a fever?”
Her concern took over. She placed her hand on Aksion’s forehead.
“I’m fine.”
Aksion withdrew from her touch.
“What’s wrong?”
Elia looked puzzled. Aksion lowered his eyes.
“…Because the princess suddenly invited me to her room after proposing marriage.”
Ah, so he’s just embarrassed.
Elia smirked and shrugged.
“It’s fine between partners, isn’t it?”
She casually helped him sit on the bed, which made him even more confused.
“Sit here. Actually, I plan to… do a bit more.”
“…Understood.”
Still, he nodded obediently, willing to follow her lead.
‘Let’s see.’
While Aksion waited, Elia confirmed the content of the book she had read many times.
“Good.”
After checking the section again, she stood in front of Aksion.
“I’m about to do something important now.”
“What is it?”
Aksion rolled his eyes gently, looking submissive.
Elia restrained the urge to pat his head and instead explained the process ahead.
“The Resonance Ritual.”
Elia had heard that the bloodline of her magic clan followed a matriarchal system with very unique customs.
‘Men handle direct combat. Women use magic in resonance with them.’
Only women were born with special powers, but men could still receive protection through the Resonance Ritual.
“If we perform the ritual together, it might no longer hurt. The force tormenting you isn’t a curse.”
Aksion’s eyes wavered at her words.
‘Then even just touching will no longer hurt.’
Since the magic was woman-based, Elia would become the center for Aksion.
Simply being in contact would stabilize his mind and body, and injured parts would recover quickly.
‘At first, I’ll need to touch directly, but eventually, just being near me will prevent pain.’
The two forces living within Aksion’s body would stabilize because of her.
‘In simpler terms… a human talisman.’
One important note: only the woman conducting the ritual could perform or break it.
“If we stay together for just one year, it won’t hurt anymore.”
Aksion listened intently to Elia.
“Are you really saying… my power isn’t a curse?”
“Yes. I possess a power more special than a curse. That’s why I know.”
Elia’s eyes gleamed. Aksion stared at her, mesmerized.
“Shall we do it together?”
The shock in his eyes seemed to lighten slightly.
Aksion took her in, slowly nodding.
“…Please, then.”
Her heart pleased, Elia eagerly opened the book.
“…!”
As she infused the book with magic, the ordinary-looking old book glowed purple.
Aksion couldn’t take his eyes off the mystical sight.
“…What is this?”
The purple light split into several lines.
The beautiful lines formed small symbols on the backs of both their hands.
A long thread ran between the two symbols—a ritual linking them.
The delicate strands of light faded.
The markings on their hands sank slowly beneath the skin and disappeared.
The mysterious light and the self-glowing book returned to ordinary objects.
It was unbelievable.
Yet Aksion clearly felt something within him had changed.
Elia’s bright smile was dazzling.
“The pain is gone.”
In fact, he had experienced minor pain even in everyday life, not just during severe attacks.
He had grown accustomed to it, but it wasn’t that it didn’t hurt. Now, it was completely gone.
‘Elia, who are you?’
Aksion’s eyes asked, and as if reading his thoughts, Elia reached out her hand.
“I’ll tell you slowly.”
Aksion blankly took her hand.
Her small, soft hand radiated warmth, warmer than anything else in the world.
That night, Elia fell asleep by Aksion’s side.
Watching her, he turned his gaze to his own hands.
‘This is the first time I’ve had such perfect control.’
He had been able to use part of the black magic as an adult.
Yet, unlike when he was a child, he couldn’t fully control it.
But now, things were different.
The black magic obeyed him like a well-trained dog.
Elia’s magic was layered on top of the darkness. If it disappeared, the darkness would run wild, aimless.
He could suppress it, but it was still too early to fully command it.
Aksion thought of the Resonance Ritual.
‘I can’t believe a magic clan still exists.’
The clan had been exterminated long ago under the emperor’s orders.
Yet here was a descendant within the royal family.
Aksion couldn’t help but scoff.
‘Ridiculous.’
While he was lost in prophecy, other matters were dismissed as sorcery. The old man must have been utterly senile.
‘Why is the princess going to such lengths with me… or is there another reason?’
Perhaps he would gradually find out.
“First, let’s get married.”
That seemed to be her first wish.
Aksion looked down at the fearless princess.
Was she not afraid of men? Or did she trust him?
Either way, he couldn’t help but smile.
“Be careful. You never know what mask someone is wearing.”
A brief warning. Her steady breathing still echoed across the bed.
After the ritual, Aksion wanted to stay by Elia’s side.
But they couldn’t always be together.
“I have a bit of business to take care of.”
“I see.”
Though her tone was calm, there was an undertone of unease.
The situation was the opposite of the banquet hall.
‘What should I do with this man?’
It was fortunate the ritual went smoothly, but now he wanted to stay too close, which was a problem.
“I’ll come back later. Don’t stay alone in the forest—use your room, okay?”
“I’ll wait.”
Aksion nodded obediently.
Glancing at him, she noticed he looked pleased.
