Ugh. A hand shot up from the blanket like a zombie, moving stiffly.

“Sister! Are you in pain?”

“…..”

I feel like I’m going to die. Suddenly, I remembered Vanessa’s habitual words.

‘Worthless Diana, what am I to do with you?’

You’re right, sister. This body is too inefficient.

Rodrick was urgently needed. It had been several days since Rodrick left for the commotion at the northern border.

Could her physical condition deteriorate this much just from a few days without contact with Rodrick?

“Sister, your mana is leaking out again.”

“Mmm. I can see that too.”

The fortunate thing was that Noel, who could properly diagnose her, was with her.

If Noel wasn’t here, she would have probably died slowly taking medicine given by doctors who knew nothing.

“Let’s go out.”

Noel nodded at Diana’s determined gaze.

After struggling to get out of bed, his feet not quite reaching the floor, Noel turned around and climbed down with difficulty, then ran pitter-patter and jumped to grab the doorknob and open the door.

“Give me our sister’s clothes!”

The maid and knight waiting outside the door lowered their gaze following the small child.

“Pardon?”

“I said, give me our sister’s clothes.”

As the child tugged at the maid’s skirt, the maid quickly entered the room.

“My lady, you don’t look well. Shall I call for a physician?”

Diana, who was sluggishly putting on the dress the maid was helping her with, had her eyes almost closed.

“It’s alright. Soon. I’ll be alright soon.”

A strained voice leaked out between her dry lips.

It was unclear whether she was talking to herself or to the maid. Leaving behind worried gazes, Diana stepped out.

“My lady, where are you going?”

As she went out into the hallway holding Noel’s hand, a knight followed.

She was in no state of mind to respond, with her heart feeling like it was being torn apart in pain. As she ignored the knight’s words and kept walking…

“Hey.”

The irritated voice of an unfamiliar woman was heard. Ignoring it and walking on, suddenly a woman jumped out and blocked her path.

“Hey! Who do you think you are to keep ignoring me?”

Tap. As the woman reached out to grab Diana’s shoulder, the knight stepped forward to block her.

“Step back.”

“Ha, they even assigned you a knight? Hey. Do you know who I am?”

“I do. Lady Irene of the Count’s family.”

“You know and you’re still this rude? You, which order do you belong to?”

“Daren Rauf, vice-captain of the Duverque Knights.”

“…..”

The woman was speechless at the unexpected big shot.

“Won’t you… move aside…?”

“What?”

The woman, intimidated by the vice-captain of the representative knightly order of the North, looked at Diana with renewed interest at her dying voice.

“Hey.”

She thought this was going well. This woman of unknown family background must not be much.

Though she didn’t know how she managed to secure the position of the first young master’s fiancée.

“Did you just tell me to move aside? I think I’m the superior here, so shouldn’t you state your name first?”

Buzz— The voices around her sounded muffled, as if underwater. So noisy. The high-pitched voice grated on her ears.

“Are you listening to me… Hup!”

Diana, who had been behind the knight, was suddenly in front of the woman. It happened in the blink of an eye.

The woman’s slender neck was in Diana’s hand. Just a little more pressure and she could block her airway.

Squeeze— The woman’s eyes widened at the pressing sensation.

“My lady!”

The knight quickly pulled Diana away. Diana, who stepped back easily, wiped the cold sweat from her brow.

“Cough— Gasp—”

The startled woman clutched her throat and took deep breaths.

“Ah, I almost killed her.”

A monotonous voice spread calmly among them, sending chills down their spines. The woman and the knight froze.

With the noisy voice gone, Diana walked past them.

Noel, who was following Diana, didn’t forget to stare intently at the woman’s face, memorizing it.

Those left behind remained in shock for a while.

[This is the timeline separator]

The door of the study opened with a bang, without warning.

“What’s the matter, young lady.”

“Young lady?”

The door that opened as if it would break. I don’t know where this strength came from. It seemed that unconscious power had welled up as I reached my limit upon limit.

As the study opened, everyone stopped in surprise.

“Sister-in-law?”

Diana, who had stridden across the vast space to the desk, muttered.

“I’m… sorry.”

Grab. The Duke, who was in the middle of work, froze with his hand clutching the quill pen.

Diana, who had collapsed onto the wide desk, remained still as if she had fainted.

“…..”

“…..”

Although Duke Schwartz had told Rodrick he was cursed, he himself had not escaped the family curse.

Though not as much as Rodrick, the family curse was subtly accumulating in his body. Its direction was limited to physical effects, draining fatigue and lifespan. The Duke was also destined to die in the original story.

“Si-sister-in-law, what’s wrong? Are you alright?!”

As she absorbed the curse of similar nature to Rodrick’s, albeit less concentrated, she felt like she could breathe again.

“My lady.”

Dark purple hair with thick waves spread all over the desk where she had collapsed.

Declan used his free hand to brush away the hair wet with cold sweat.

At that gentle sight, Felice shuddered and stepped back. It was a side he had never shown to his own child.

“Father. No, Your Grace.”

“Are you ill?”

Diana desperately gripped Declan’s rough, calloused hand.

Everyone in this family has large hands. Caught up in such an unnecessary thought, Diana suddenly came to her senses.

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

As she let go and stood up, the ink bottle toppled over, causing a disaster.

“I am.”

Diana closed her eyes tightly and wiped her sweat. Scrape— The chair was pushed back and Duke Schwartz rose from his seat.

The aura emanating from his tall, muscular body was so dignified that it was hard to believe he was a retired knight.

The Duke cast an indifferent gaze at the servant standing nearby.

“Clean it up.”

“Yes? Yes! I’ll tidy it up right away.”

Declan looked at Diana indifferently and then picked her up. Diana was slow to grasp the situation that unfolded so quickly.

“Uh, Father?”

“You’re quite troublesome, my lady.”

Haha, that’s what I said to your son. Diana awkwardly smiled as she was carried like a princess.

“What is all this about.”

Felice muttered in the study, which seemed to have been bombarded once again.

As Felice was about to pick up a paper that hadn’t been soaked in ink, it happened.

Tug tug— Feeling a tiny hand pulling at his pants, Felice’s gaze lowered.

He frowned as he met the bright red eyes looking up at him. He hadn’t noticed the presence. And that, against a child.

“Mister.”

Felice hid his true feelings and bent down with a smiling face to meet Noel’s eyes.

“Hey, little one. Couldn’t you call me brother? When your sister marries our brother, we’ll eventually become family, right?”

Noel glared at Felice with a disgusted expression, as if he had tasted something bad.

“My family is just my sister.”

Does he not understand the concept of marriage yet? Felice shrugged and spoke kindly. He had to humor the sister-in-law’s brother, even if he was illegitimate.

“Alright, alright. So, little young master. What do you want from me?”

“Lady Irene of the Count’s family.”

“Hm?”

“Who is she?”

“How do you know about her?”

Sigh, this mister. He doesn’t answer in one go. Noel just wanted to ask about the woman and leave quickly.

He needed to go to Diana’s side soon. He didn’t like that the mister who looked exactly like Rodrick was by her side. He didn’t like anyone in this family.

“She’s a lady who came to our house two years ago. Well, I’ve known her since she was young, but after her parents passed away, she sought refuge in our family. She had a letter from our late mother. So father decided to support her.”

Though he heard unnecessary details, Noel nodded and ran out of the study.

“Hey! Little one.”

Not even a goodbye? Why are kids these days so ill-mannered? Felice shook his head, thinking like an old fogy who wasn’t one.

[This is the timeline separator]

Duke Schwartz’s imposing figure created an optical illusion that made the wide corridor seem narrow.

One could see the servants passing by receding like the tide just from his presence.

Where am I? Who am I?

Why was she being carried by someone else’s father?

Eek. A startled sound was heard from somewhere, but she ignored it.

Don’t think about anything. It’s comfortable if you let go. Diana remained still, carried by Duke Schwartz with a transcendent expression.

“Daren.”

At the deeply resonant voice, Daren, who was following, bowed his head.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Did you allow the princess to come out despite her serious condition?”

“I apologize.”

The brief joy at seeing a familiar face was short-lived. She later learned that Daren had been constantly by her side during Rodrick’s absence.

The knight Rodrick left behind was none other than his right-hand man and vice-captain, Daren.

“I wonder if Rodrick is overestimating you.”

No, you don’t have to go that far.

“I will rectify it.”

“Tell the head butler to schedule a sparring session.”

“…Understood.”

The response was delayed. Daren felt like dying.

Sparring with Rodrick was already tough, but sparring with the Duke was even more severe. Cold sweat was pouring down his back like rain.

“Any other notable incidents?”

“Nothing except encountering Lady Irene of the Count’s family.”

“I see.”

Daren didn’t fully report that Diana had threatened the Count’s daughter. He would report the details to his lord later.

Count’s daughter? Come to think of it, someone seemed to have spoken to her, but she couldn’t remember.

“Father, I think I’m feeling better now and can walk on my own.”

Declan looked down and spoke gruffly.

“I see, you do look better.”

She didn’t look better at all.

Her appearance, sweating profusely, was like a drenched baby rabbit. Her pale face looked like she might die at any moment. The earlier defiant spirit was gone, making her look quite pathetic.

“Call my personal physician.”

“Understood.”

“No! There’s no need for that! Sir Daren!”

Diana couldn’t stop Daren who quickly moved ahead. Even if a doctor came, she would just end up taking bitter medicine endlessly.

“My lady, it seems you have something to tell me.”

Declan said as he carefully laid her down on the bed. Covering her up to the neck with the blanket was perfect treatment for an invalid.

They’re really the same. That tone. When is Rodrick coming back? I’m sick, you man.

Come to think of it, Rodrick seemed to have keenly noticed that she absorbed the curse.

The Duke seems to have caught on too. At times like this, the first strike wins! It was going to be revealed anyway.

“Father.”

Diana took a deep breath and dropped another bomb.

“I can remove this family’s curse!”

“What?”

Huh? Isn’t this what you wanted to hear?

“…..”

“…..”

In the frozen space, the Duke’s expressionless face crumpled nicely.

What nonsense is this now. That was exactly the expression he wore.