“By the way, you almost misunderstood the situation this morning.”

“You were the one who came in uninvited.”

The Duchess was quiet for a moment as if she lost her words. Then she opened her mouth again.

“Having spoken to Nelia, it seems you two have not promised to marry yet……”

“Not yet.”

The Duke gave an ambiguous answer, but the Duchess seemed to know the ending.

That it would go as her son wished.

Because she knew the Duke Hart’s obsession.

After her husband’s death, Sillian became a child who had no interest in anything and did whatever he pleased.

Perhaps that’s why she insisted on his marriage. With the weakness of a curse and no particular interest in marriage, she feared he might grow old alone.

She was pleased to hear about Nelia.

That there is a woman his son is interested in, no, that such a person exists!

But soon the Duchess’s face darkened.

On one hand, she was worried.

Sillian’s obsession had always been directed elsewhere. It was dark and damp, and she, as a mother, dared not discourage it.

But seeing Nelia, who emits a bright aura, she realized it was time to speak.

The Duchess looked at Duke Hart with a very serious expression.

“Sillian.”

The Duke met the Duchess’s gaze.

“Isn’t it time to stop that thing?”

The Duke, understanding what the Duchess was saying, hardened his expression.

“……So you knew.”

“You’re my son. I had no choice but to notice when life returned to my dying son’s face.”

The Duchess spoke flatly, but her feelings were far from it.

The ‘thing’ she mentioned was Sillian’s revenge against the emperor. She knew how much Sillian’s father meant to him. He was a benevolent and strong father.

When her husband faced a miserable death, she was as sad and angry as Sillian, if not more.
However, she soon attempted to comprehend the situation calmly. If even the mother lost her senses, there would be no one to raise the young son properly.

Regrettably, Silian did not appreciate her efforts. The child’s face became increasingly lifeless, as though the world was crumbling down.

Then she remembered what her son, who had recovered his spirits, said one day.

“Mother, I will gather strength.”

It was a welcome declaration of war, but there was a thirst for life in her son’s eyes.

Not long after, she realized. Her son was preparing to take revenge on the Emperor.

Even so, knowing that it was the driving force that allowed her son to live, she couldn’t easily dissuade him.

“And…… I also made mistakes.”

The duchess closed her eyes momentarily. Her eyelashes trembled slightly.

But now it was time to stop her son.

In fact, she had been hoping for the Duke to find a mate, thinking that it might control his twisted desires. Today, seeing her son treating Nelia with care, hope had sprouted.

The Duchess opened her eyes which she had closed.

“If you want to have a deep relationship with Miss Nelia, you should be upright first, wouldn’t you know that?”

The Duke averted his eyes for a moment and closed his mouth. His mind was probably complicated.

“So now is the time not to linger on revenge.”

As the Duchess added more words, a faint crack appeared on the Duke’s forehead.

In fact, this thought had troubled the Duke ever since he met Nelia. Recently, it became worse.

Revenge was the reason that kept him alive until now, but a new existence had appeared.

The existence was as warm and cozy as the gentle sunshine.

He liked how her thoughts were surprisingly flexible, how she delicately ate the dessert he offered, and how she silently swallowed her sighs. They were all too lovable.

He felt a love last night that he had never felt before.

It was not simple lust, but a burning heart of loving someone.

This is it. That’s why people are so obsessed with this act.

Of course, he could not be sure if Nelia felt the same way. The chances were high that she did not.

However, if he continued to make an effort, he was confident that he could change Nelia’s mind.

But it was as his mother had said.

His will was crumbling due to Nelia’s appearance, after living with the determination to take revenge on the Emperor.

He really didn’t know. His determination, which would crumble down like a sand castle if he gave up, was hard to abandon.

Indeed, it was a difficult decision to make in one go.

“……I’m not sure.”

The Duke spoke his heart out with a pained expression. Seeing this, the Duchess gave a bitter smile.

“Silian. You’re a wise child, so you’ll soon understand what I’m saying.”

She spoke softly, seizing the opportunity, but seeing her son’s expression, the Duchess realized that it was still early.

However, seeing the lovely Nelia, she had hope that her son would someday be able to let go of his pointless obsession and live like others. For now, she would have to be satisfied with that.

The Duke of Hart closed his eyes momentarily, as if organizing his thoughts. Then, after a while, he opened his eyes and looked at the Duchess.

“What I can certainly tell you is that I will break this ageold curse.”

The Duchess raised her head abruptly.

To break the curse that had been passed down for centuries was an almost impossible task.

It was not that the Hart family had not tried it before. What hadn’t they tried with their immense wealth?

However, no matter what they did, the curse could not be lifted.
Earlier, it had been mentioned that, due to Lady Nelia’s influence, the serpent Sillian had reverted to his human form. However, it was not expected that the curse could fundamentally be lifted.

So, there was simultaneous worry. Perhaps Sillian would harbor vain hopes and end up more disappointed.

Yet, Duke Hart, despite seeing the Duchess’s complicated expression, gently smiled.

“I understand what you’re worried about, Mother. But it won’t take long.”

The Duke’s words, that it wouldn’t take long, were not a prediction, but more of a determination.

The Duke recalled Nelia’s small face.

‘It must be so.’