How can Dante’s curse be lifted?

Despite mulling over it repeatedly, no clear solution came to mind.

Even trying to gain hints by recalling the original work until my head felt like it was going to explode, there were no significant results.

Well, the original work was incomplete, so it’s unknown whether Dante died or lived.

In the end, is the only thing that can be used as a hint the Hosan fruit?

Since it’s the fruit that the original female lead, Flora, fed Dante to treat his severe cold hands and feet, perhaps it may also be effective against the curse of the icy land.

1. It’s the fruit discovered by the female lead.

2. The cold hands and feet and the curse of the body freezing seem to be somewhat related.

3. It’s something the female lead feeds the male lead for his sake.

With these reasons, could the Hosan fruit possibly be the real answer?

For now, I felt an immense possibility from reasons 1 and 3.

If the female lead does something for the male lead’s sake, there’s no way it wouldn’t be effective, right?

Thinking this way, I was about to actively begin researching the method of consuming the Hosan fruit again when, with good timing, news about the Hosan fruit arrived from Heterson.

“You figured out how to consume the Hosan fruit?”

“Yes. It’s this.”

What he handed over was a red, round pill.

“It’s a pill made by roasting the Hosan fruit over a strong fire once and then grinding it, seeds and all. Consuming it this way avoids side effects.”

“The effects?”

“They’re amazing. I tested it on an employee who was sweating profusely on their back even in summer while their hands and feet were like ice due to cold sensitivity. After consistently taking it for about a month, their cold sensitivity greatly improved. Moreover, their intestinal health improved, chronic headaches disappeared, eyesight brightened, and mind cleared. Wow.”

Wow. He really sounds like a medicine peddler.

Suddenly, a documentary I saw in my past life flashed through my mind.

An episode about medicine peddlers ripping off desperate people with incurable diseases.

“…Madam? Your eyes seem a bit…”

“Huh? What about my eyes?”

“No, it’s just… for a moment, I felt like I had become a swindler. I guess it was a misunderstanding.”

“Yeah, must be a misunderstanding. You know how much I trust you, Heterson. We’re colleagues, after all.”

It sounded like empty words, but I meant it sincerely. There’s no doctor as trustworthy as Heterson.

Of course, absolutely.

“You really worked hard. I’ll properly take care of your compensation.”

“Hahaha. No need. As a doctor, it was a very interesting study. By the way, what will you do with this medicine now? Are you thinking of selling it?”

“No. It’s not even enough to feed my husband, what are you talking about?”

Although we succeeded in germinating Hosan fruit seeds and have four more saplings sprouting besides the one tree in the garden…

If we wait for them to grow, it seems like he’ll run out of breath.

…Literally. My husband will really run out of breath.

“Heterson.”

“Yes, Madam.”

“From now on, I’ll entrust you with the Hosan fruit medicine for Dante to take. The future of the Richter family, the North, and the entire empire rests in your hands.”

“…It rests on my fingertips?”

Heterson glanced at his fingertips with a doubtful look.

“Yes. So I’ll be counting on you from now on.”

“Well, alright. I’ll do my best.”

With that, Heterson and I joined hands once again.

“Do we really have to do this?”

“Yes. You need to wear it properly before going out, or else you’ll freeze to death.”

Ah. Maybe that expression isn’t great in front of the person afflicted with the curse of freezing to death?

Well, what can I do? I already said it.

After lightly absolving myself of guilt, I finished wrapping the scarf around Dante’s neck several times.

“It seems like this is something the wife should do, not me.”

“Tsk. Just listen to me… Ah, ah, achoo!”

As I was wriggling my itchy nose bridge, Dante gazed at me with adoring eyes.

No, isn’t it a crime to look at someone like that while they’re sneezing?

Regardless…

Dante unwrapped the scarf from his neck and wrapped it around mine instead.

“I don’t get cold easily. Don’t catch a cold unnecessarily, the wife should do this kind of thing.”

“No, that won’t do.”

I had to refuse, but I missed the timing because it felt like my nose was running.

In the end, the passionate red scarf became mine.

Sigh. Can’t be helped.

Having no choice, after meticulously dressing Dante in his winter work clothes, I also bundled up tightly so he couldn’t say anything else and went outside.

“You’re here, Madam.”

“We’re ready too.”

Those lined up in a row greeted us with sparkling eyes.

After roughly checking the number of people, I asked Markops, who was leading at the front:

“You prepared enough trowels for everyone, right?”

“Of course. Heh. I, Markops, properly prepared them, so you have nothing to worry about.”

If that’s the case, I can rest assured.

I raised my specially made trowel high and shouted vigorously:

“Alright then, let the winter potato harvesting event begin!”

Woohoo!

Soon, a roaring cheer erupted.

That’s right. Today was the day to harvest the potatoes planted in early autumn.

Just like the 1st tree-planting event and the 2nd potato-planting event, we recruited volunteers this time as well.

By the way…

“Why does it seem like there are even more participants than last time?”

At my mutter, Siena, who had quietly approached, revealed the truth.

“There are rumors among the servants that the events you initiate are fun, Madam. Plus, it’s a day they can legally take off from work.”

Aha. In short, rumors spread that it’s not only fun but also a day they can legally slack off.

It wasn’t wrong, so I didn’t feel particularly offended.

“Did you harvest a lot, Siena?”

“Well, for me…”

Siena shrugged her shoulders as high as possible and slightly revealed the basket tucked under her arm.

“Wow.”

“Ahem.”

Indeed, the amount justified her proud look.

Her self-introduction when we first met suddenly came to mind.

She said she was confident in field work since she was the daughter of a farming family, and it seems that wasn’t just a bluff.

“If I monopolize all the potatoes, others won’t be able to enjoy harvesting them. So I’m taking it easy.”

“Yeah. That’s quite admir… Ah, achoo!”

“Eek. Are you alright, Madam? You’re not catching a cold again, are you?”

At Siena’s concern, I took off my dirt-covered gloves and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe my nose.

“No. It’s because of the changing seasons. I’ve always been like this during seasonal changes since I was young.”

In the past, I was embarrassed to show my runny nose, but now I don’t even think about it.

It means everyone has become that much more comfortable.

Still, unable to erase her worry, Siena went into the manor saying she would bring a cup of warm tea.

Hmph. Acting all touching.

I rubbed my stinging nose bridge and smiled slightly.

Dante approached and stood by my side.

Without a word, he stood next to me, took off his dirt-covered gloves, and put my hand in his pocket, wiggling it.

“What is it?”

“I saw from a distance that your hands looked cold.”

“Liar. You just wanted to hold hands and came over, didn’t you?”

“Wow. Correct answer.”

Giggling at his straightforward affirmation, I pressed my forehead against Dante’s arm.

At that moment, the door to the manor opened and something pitch-black scurried out.

Mari followed, sweating profusely.

“Choco, Choco! Don’t go that way!”

It seemed that pitch-black thing moving swiftly was Choco.

Perhaps feeling stuffy in the manor, Choco ran around here and there in the potato field, meowing.

“Just leave her. She’ll come back to the manor eventually anyway.”

“…But is it okay?”

“Yeah. Maybe Choco wanted to harvest potatoes too.”

At my words, Mari sighed and trudged over to sit on a garden chair.

With the person chasing her gone, Choco leisurely rubbed her cheeks against people’s legs as she passed by.

“Eek! So cute.”

“Oh my, so adorable.”

“Is she really a leopard? She’s like a cat.”

Listening to the squeals coming from all over, I smiled contentedly.

It was truly so peaceful.

The sky was blue, and the air of early winter was chilly.

Everyone’s cheeks were flushed red from the cold, but they kept bursting into laughter as they harvested potatoes. These scenes…

“Ah. It’s so nice.”

It was so peaceful and beautiful that I felt like I might cry for some reason.

I wish this peacefulness could be maintained for a very long time.

Curse or short lifespan or whatever, I wish I could just throw away all those damn settings and simply enjoy this peace at the Richter manor in the North for a long, long time.

With that earnest wish, I tightly grasped Dante’s hand.

“Dante.”

“Yes, wife.”

At his instant response, I bit my lip hard before releasing it.

“I heard about the Richter curse from Barhan.”

“…”

“If your body ever feels unwell, you have to tell me too.”

It was something I had always wanted to say to Dante someday.

“Because we’re a real married couple.”

The reason I brought this up today was because I wanted the sorrow to be hidden by this relentless peace.

Dante fell silent for a moment, then rested his head on top of mine, as I often did.

“Yes. I will.”

His soft voice didn’t sound sad.

It seemed my plan to hide the sorrow in peace had worked.

We tightly squeezed each other’s hands.

Hoping my body heat would be conveyed to his hands that were a bit colder than others’.