Only then did I realize that he had been anxious all along. From the moment he started the story, he had been constantly observing my reactions.

Perhaps he was worried that knowing the truth would make me dislike him, find him repulsive, or something like that.

That wouldn’t happen, though.

“Fool.”

“…Yes?”

“You’re a fool. This idiot.”

Because of this person, I had only experienced joyful and exciting things so far.

Even before confirming each other’s feelings, deep down, I was glad he was my husband.

He was precious to me. I was drawn to him.

But you were afraid, weren’t you?

The fact is too painfully heartbreaking.

“Look at me, Gréan. Do I look like I’m lying?”

As I held his cheeks with both hands and asked, Gréan hesitated for a moment before tilting his head.

“I don’t find you horrible.”

“…”

“I haven’t grown to dislike you, not at all.”

“…”

“I’m just sad. It’s so sad why you have to bear such a curse… It’s too sad.”

“…”

“I’m sad that you’re begging me as if you’ve committed a crime. Please, don’t do that.”

When you come to like someone, thinking that you’re lacking compared to that person becomes poison.

The reverse is also true.

“How about curses or whatever. Maybe there’s a way to solve it. Finding that sorcerer and eliminating them… Let’s think of a solution together. I won’t give up. Never.”

Upon hearing this, Gréan smiled sadly and gently pressed his lips against my forehead. For a very long time, until warmth deeply permeated.

When he pulled away, there were transparent tears flowing from his eyes.

Whether it was gratitude, sadness, or regret, it was hard to tell.

“Yes, Gloria.”

In a locked voice, he said, “I won’t give up either.”

Gréan finished the story, and I learned some new facts about him.
First, his mother was a human.

Second, the blood of his human mother slightly mitigated the curse, slowing down Gréan’s rate of being consumed by the curse compared to the original.

Third, Gréan has approximately 15 years left. However, if the rate of being consumed by the curse accelerates, it could be reduced to 7-10 years.

“…So that’s why you maintain the human form? When in wolf form, the rate of being consumed by the curse accelerates…”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“…Your mother being a human is truly unexpected. I’ve never heard such a story anywhere.”

Even in the original work, which I thought contained all the information, there was no such description.

I suddenly had this thought. Perhaps the original work is not an encyclopedia but rather a collection of information ‘the author intended to show me.’

“My father concealed the existence of my mother. He disguised her as a werewolf who lived in a rural village, not as a human, and welcomed her as his wife. Perhaps it was to hide the fact that I am half-human and half-beast.”

“But the members of the Solzberrys must know…? About the fact that the former Duchess was a human.”

“…That’s correct. They are all deeply loyal and keep their mouths shut.”

As if that fact was a relief, Gréan smiled softly. I nodded in agreement with his thoughts.

“You’re really fortunate to have only good people around you.”

“I think so too.”

After that, we continued to exchange various stories and eventually went to bed.

However, I couldn’t easily fall asleep. My head was complicated with various thoughts.

So, pretending to be asleep for a while, I quietly opened my eyes when I sensed Gréan’s presence fading.

Gréan was lying neatly beside me, already asleep.

Soft, even breathing could be heard. I looked at his sleeping face with deep contemplation.

‘The way to lift the curse of the Solzberry family… If I think about it carefully, isn’t there a way? The author may have given me hints.’

I recalled the last year-end notice from the author. I didn’t understand what it meant at the time, but looking back now, it was truly a strange story.

It was undoubtedly a message conveyed to someone. At that time, someone who was reading that novel… Perhaps, to me. But was thinking that too self-conscious?

‘But I read that novel and was incarnated into the Gloria of this world. So, it might not be unreasonable to think that the message was sent to me.’

Let’s assume that the person the author sent the message to was me.

Then, we can deduce three facts.

The author wanted the contents of the novel to be helpful to me.

For some reason, the author couldn’t finish writing the novel. What could have happened to the author?
The author wanted to bless me. In other words, they wished for my success… for me to become happy.

In summary, the author wrote the novel to help me, but due to some circumstances, they couldn’t finish it… and that’s how I ended up being incarnated as Gloria, having only read the incomplete novel.

‘The author is on my side. If that’s the case, there must be hints about how to lift the curse of the Solzberry family somewhere in the original work…’

{Gloria, shall we help you?}

At that moment, the voices of the butterflies were heard.

{We’ll help you. We’ll read the novel again.}

{We’ll read it slowly and carefully. Or you can use the search function.}

Looking at the empty space, I blinked my eyes and asked.

‘Search function… you mean searching the main text? Is it in the e-book?’

{Yes, we can do that!}

It was a welcome sound. I nodded my head, thinking once again that butterflies were indeed quite useful.

‘Then search for me. The keyword is… curse.’

{Okay~. Wait a moment!}

And after a while, the voices of the butterflies were heard again.

{Found it! There are a few results, but this is probably the information you’re looking for.}

Following that, a light blue system window appeared in the air.

{‘…He spoke. His voice was still calm, but there was an inexplicable hostility in it.’}

{“…And in my blood, there is a powerful purifying force that can heal any disease and even lift the most wicked curses. Aren’t you here to target my blood? Or perhaps, do you desire my scales or horns? Maybe you came for my flesh and bones.”}

‘Ah, this…!’

I remembered.

The scene where Candidate 3 misunderstands April!

‘It was shortly after we first met… Anyway, the important thing is not that—.’

Thanks to that, I found it. The way to lift the curse of the Solzberry family.