Leon stood by the window, reading the letter over and over as the sun slowly set. Until the room was finally plunged into complete darkness.

Servants came up in turn to light the magic stone lamps and bring trays with dinner, but he remained motionless like a statue.

‘Kasha… is the wicked woman who broke the seal on the magic stone that plunged me into the curse.’

He was not a person given to emotional swings, except when gripped by the curse. But now, the turmoil of emotions swirling in his heart was enough to blur his judgment.

Inside Leon, an optimistic self that dismissed the letter’s contents as mere conspiracy fought against a cold, rational self that pointed out it was a perfectly plausible possibility.

What was disconcerting was that, unlike usual, the optimistic self’s voice was unnaturally strong.

‘Kasha couldn’t have done that.’

The optimistic self insisted stubbornly, without offering any valid reasons.

It called to mind things completely unrelated to the letter’s contents – Kasha’s delicate, soft forehead, her direct and intense gaze, her intellectual yet quirky look when wearing glasses, her flushed eyes when they kissed.

And despite being contextually irrelevant information, it made a rather strong appeal to Leon’s judgment.

Leon rubbed his face wearily.

‘Didn’t I initially suspect that she might be the caster of the curse as well?’

Moreover, regardless of whether or not she was the curse’s caster, it was clear that she had approached him intentionally.

However, despite the letter’s accusations fitting all the context, his instincts refused to accept it.

His instincts sharpened in an entirely different direction.

‘Who on earth sent this letter?’

He knew that as long as there was someone who cast the curse, there must be at least one other person besides Kasha who knew about his curse. But this was the first time that person had directly revealed themselves.

And they used the word “warning” behind the plausible rhetoric of “for your sake”.

I know you are a fallen holy knight under the curse of lust. I, who know this fact, have the power to destroy your life.

It was the complete opposite attitude from Kasha, who had blurted out “I hope you’ll be happy” the moment they first met.

Knock knock.

Just then, there was another knock at the door. When Leon didn’t respond, the door soon opened and Anthony poked his head in.

“Elder brother.”

“Anthony.”

Leon collected himself and greeted his younger brother. Anthony approached with his usual relaxed and calm gait.

“You said we’d have a meal together after so long, but something came up again? Eve was very disappointed. Comfort her later.”

At Anthony’s words, Leon finally came to his senses.

“Right. I understand. Tell her I’m sorry.”

“Alright.”

As Anthony answered readily, his gaze suddenly fell on the letter Leon was holding.

“…What are you reading?”

“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

Leon hurriedly put the letter down on the desk. But in his haste, the envelope underneath it fell to the floor.

Before Leon, who was somewhat tense, could move, Anthony quickly picked it up and handed it to him. Anthony’s gaze briefly touched on the word “Urgent” on the envelope before looking away.

However, before Leon could mention anything, Anthony changed the subject first.

“I heard Lady Kasha is visiting tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

“You’re still close, I see.”

“……”

“You know, there are a lot of rumors about that woman.”

“Oh?”

“If rumors have reached even me in my seclusion, it seems the whole capital must be abuzz with talk about her.”

Leon remained silent, but Anthony continued speaking.

“That woman developed a lethal magic tool, didn’t she?”

“…Yes.”

“That’s impressive. Even magicians who spend years rotting away in magic towers can’t accomplish that. Well, it has been hundreds of years since a proper magician appeared after the end of the Great Magic Era.”

“Yes. It’s a remarkable feat.”

“I wonder how it’s possible?”

“What?”

At the question with unclear intent, Leon briefly retorted. Anthony looked at him with gentle eyes and calmly continued speaking.

“In this age where countless magicians can’t even properly grasp magical theories developed hundreds of years ago, I find it curious that she accomplished such a thing alone. Don’t you?”

“Well…”

“Moreover, I heard that Lady Kasha has been holed up in the mansion for years since her adoption, not even attending the academy or having a tutor.”

Leon’s gaze, which had been relaxed towards his brother, suddenly sharpened.

“You seem to know quite a lot about Kasha.”

“Well. Shouldn’t I know at least this much about the lady who has become my elder brother’s public lover?”

Anthony mentioned it lightly as if joking, but Leon sensed a barb in his tone.

It probably wasn’t his imagination. Anthony had consistently shown a sensitive attitude regarding Kasha.

“Anthony.”

“Yes, elder brother.”

“I witnessed Kasha researching magic tools. There’s no doubt that she’s a capable person.”

“Well. If you say so, then it must be true.”

Leon looked into Anthony’s eyes as he spoke.

“It’s true that our relationship progressed suddenly, but you don’t need to be so wary. She and I… are merely in a relationship of mutual necessity.”

His throat felt oddly dry despite clearly stating the facts.

Hearing his words, Anthony smiled faintly.

“I see. Still, she’s clearly important to you, and I can’t keep acting aloof. I was thinking of joining you for dinner when Lady Kasha visits tomorrow, if that’s alright, elder brother?”

Tomorrow was one of Leon’s two monthly days off. Kasha was scheduled to visit in the afternoon to examine Leon’s bedroom and other personal spaces in search of the curse’s medium. She had insisted on finding the medium as soon as possible before Leon’s curse worsened.

Of course, the official excuse was that she was coming for lunch as thanks for the previous sick visit with Eve.

Eve would naturally join them, but Leon hadn’t thought to invite Anthony, assuming he would find it burdensome. The Grand Duke, their father, said he would be out all day tomorrow, which was why they had chosen tomorrow as the visitation day.

“You?”

At Leon’s puzzled retort, Anthony gently replied.

“Yes. Is that alright? Don’t worry, I’ll be on my best behavior, elder brother.”

Leon hesitated. Of all times, he had just received a suspicious letter and was in a state of confusion. He couldn’t even predict how to face Kasha, let alone how a meeting with Eve and Anthony in attendance would unfold.

However, he couldn’t find any particular reason to object, and Anthony was patiently waiting for his answer.

“…I suppose there’s no reason why not.”

“That’s great.”

“Don’t forget your promise to be polite to Kasha.”

Anthony’s eyes shimmered a deep teal in the light of the magic stone lamp.

“Of course. I’m looking forward to it, elder brother.”

Leon met his beloved younger brother’s smile with somewhat troubled feelings.

The next day at noon.

Ding dong.

As soon as the Lyuschino family’s coachman rang the doorbell, Eve ran out.

“Elder sister! Kasha elder sister!”

“Eve.”

With an armful of flowers, Kasha tightly hugged Eve who clung to her.

“This is, a present for you.”

As she handed over a small wrapped box, Eve jumped up and down with joy.

“What is it, elder sister?”

“It’s a secret. Open it later.”

“I’m so excited!”

“Eve. You shouldn’t cling to guests like that.”

Leon, who had followed shortly after, scolded her, but Eve pretended not to hear and expressed her joy while hugging Kasha tightly. Her expression as she looked back, as if to say “Kasha elder sister is on my side,” was so triumphant that Leon could only chuckle.

“Thank you for inviting me.”

Finally released from Eve’s embrace, Kasha handed the bouquet to Leon.

“Thank you.”

Leon briefly greeted her as he accepted the bouquet.

Kasha noticed that despite his polite tone, he wasn’t making eye contact with her.

‘Why is that? Is he feeling awkward?’

This was their first meeting since the Crown Prince’s wedding reception. In other words, it was the first time they faced each other since their first kiss that day.

‘…He might feel awkward.’

Even Kasha herself had been worrying all along about what expression and tone to use for her first greeting today.

‘Of course, I’m not attaching any meaning to the kiss. It was an unavoidable act because of the curse.’

Kasha muttered what felt like an excuse to herself several times.

If she didn’t, it was difficult to shake off the lingering impressions of that kiss that kept coming to mind since that day.

“I’m going to put the gift in my room and come right back down!”

As Eve fluttered away up the stairs, Kasha followed Leon’s lead to the dining room. Throughout, Kasha had to struggle not to be captivated by Leon’s side profile.

His sturdy build and tall stature, his sharply handsome side profile – these were all too familiar now, yet today her eyes kept being drawn to him more than usual.

Kasha tried hard to find a topic of conversation to shake off the awkwardness.

“Those are lisianthus, tulips, and lavender.”

“…You mean the bouquet.”

“Yes. I put in extra lavender especially. It has… a calming effect on the nerves.”

“I see.”

Leon, continuing to give short replies, still wouldn’t turn to look at her.

Was it her imagination that his eyes seemed to have a hint of coldness in them?

Despite coming with no expectations, solely for the purpose of finding the curse’s medium, Kasha felt a sharp coldness in one corner of her heart, as if cut by a knife.

‘What did you expect like a fool? Leon and I are just using each other.’

Kasha bitterly mocked herself as she walked on, looking straight ahead. Throughout their walk side by side, only a bleak silence lay between them.

Just as they reached the dining room.

An unpleasant voice burst out from the reception room.

“What? Who did you say is here?”