Just as my scar was treated as an infectious disease, the heir to the curse was also treated as such.

People said they hated the 'heir of the curse' because the curse looked ominous and the heir was a depraved soul that had been cursed by the Goddess. But at the end of the day, the emotion that lurked at the root was fear.

Their feelings towards the Roums weren't any different either. In the end, it was more about their fear than contempt.

It was the fear that the person who had been abandoned by the Goddess and cursed might harm them that led them to develop their cruel hatred.

However, whatever the cause, even human instincts, I could not tolerate actions that hurt others and even caused their death.

"I don't want to run away from the fear. I don't want to ignore or hurt anyone."

The strength drained out of Richard's hand that was holding me. I finished tying the handkerchief tightly.

"What an unusual girl."

He burst into laughter. It wasn't his usual artificial smile. He looked sincerely amused.

Did I say something funny? Anyway, I felt a little relieved, so it was all fine.

I looked at the camellias swaying in the wind. Richard said that after his mother passed away, he lost his laughter. He never smiled sincerely again in the novel either and he definitely wouldn't have laughed in front of his mother's grave.

So his smile now was probably a great gift to his mother, who had passed away.

But other than that, I still had something to say to Richard

"Aren't you past the age of learning basic etiquette, Sir Cassil?"

"Would you like to hear the title 'Your Highness' from me?"

The corners of his mouth went up leisurely. He was back to his original self.

"It's not about what I want to hear. It's what you should call me."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"And apologize for the uncalled for remarks that you made about the Crown Prince."

He called the Crown Prince a monster. No matter how much of a hard time Richard was having, I couldn't let this go.

"I'm sorry. I lost my temper for a moment and made a slip of the tongue. Please forgive me."

"You should apologize to His Highness, not me."

"How can I ask for his forgiveness?"

"Pledge your loyalty to His Highness."

Richard's expression hardened again. However, he quickly became relaxed, no different from his usual self that had kept his true feelings hidden throughout all his life.

"You want me to swear loyalty to him like the knights?"

"I mean you should remember that the man named Blake Larisch Geracillion is the Crown Prince of this Empire."

I warned Richard against having hidden ambitions.

To be honest, I didn't really like him. Richard's tragic past and family background was sad, but his moves were too cheap. If the story had gone as it was, Richard's evil deeds would have already begun. He would've used Blake's maid to make him sick, and spread all kinds of gossip to torment Blake and Tenstheon.

But the Richard now still attempted to commit such crimes. He planted his people in the Palace and tried to spy on the Palace using Count Bellacian, but it failed.

Perhaps it was because of his weakened mind that was different from the original, I thought that maybe this deceptive man could change.

Richard's gaze on me sharpened when he heard my warning.

"...Okay. Is there anyone in the Empire who doesn't know that?"

"I'm glad to hear that. Sir Cassil, you're a talented person. If you use your abilities in the right place, you'll receive many glorious blessings."

Everyone in the Duke of Cassil's family was full of greed, but only Richard was competent among them.

Richard used and sacrificed countless people to become the Emperor. Some of them sincerely followed him and loved him.

I thought of the original story. Richard longed for many things even after he became the Emperor, but he couldn't climb out of the endless emptiness no matter how much he took from the innocent people.

If Richard was satisfied with his position as the Duke and did not indulge in vain greed, everyone would be happy.

"Blessing...Are you saying you'll come to me?"

But instead of listening to me, he joked using the fact that the Crown Princess was called the "Blessing of the Empire."

"Sir Cassil certainly needs to study etiquette."

"If you teach me, I can learn it."

Now that he was starting to act cheesy again, I guessed that he had completely recovered from his sadness.

"I've taken up your time."

Richard bowed his head as he conveyed his intention to leave.

"I'll look forward to seeing you again."

"I hope you develop good manners by then."

I looked at the Camellia tree and bowed briefly before heading to the carriage.

Did Richard listen to my warning?

It would be nice if he changed even a little bit, but given his reaction, the chances of that happening were low.

If Richard continued committing evil deeds like he did in the original story, I'd thoroughly put a stop to it. Today would be our last day having such a leisurely conversation together.

My footsteps grew faster and faster as I went towards the carriage. My outing had gone on for too long. I wanted to see my little groom as soon as possible.

***

Ancia left in the carriage without looking back.

Richard looked at the white handkerchief tied to the Camellia tree. It was made of luxurious silk and had a blue embroidery on it.

"It's the first gift you received."

His mother had lived in pain all her life.

Born as the child of a Roum, she was enslaved and had to bear a child for a scoundrel. In the end, the child's stupid mistake cost her her life.

Her son was stupid. He completely hid her existence and hesitated to even plant a tree where she was buried. Yet, Ancia took her handkerchief out without a moment's hesitation.

When Richard said a Roum was buried here, Ancia asked, "Was it someone you knew?"

Richard looked at the handkerchief for a long time, and then said quietly, "I'll be back next year, Mother."

Richard went to the Western Island where Gilbert Bellacian was exiled and returned to the Duke's residence within a month. To visit his mother, he didn't sleep a wink and rushed back in a hurry, so the accumulated fatigue came out all at once.

He was about to enter his bedroom when the butler rushed after him.

"Where have you been, my lord? We've been looking for you."

Richard's brows furrowed. He didn't want to see the disgusting Duke of Cassil today.

He should've come a day later. He turned to the office with belated regrets.

"You useless bastard! Where did you just come from?"

As Richard entered the office, the Duke of Cassil shouted angrily. And before Richard could say anything, Frank said to him sarcastically, "You're so stupid. Is that the only thing you learned from your mother?"

"Stupid guy. As expected of someone with a slave's blood."

Richard gritted his teeth. No matter what they said, Richard didn't reveal his true feelings, but it was hard for him to put up with the increasing insults.

They didn't know her exact illness. They drove an innocent woman to death, treating her as if she had the plague. They killed her brutally, and erased her from everyone's memory.

But it was not yet the time to reveal his resentment. Richard smiled leisurely as usual.

"I came back from the Duke's mine in the West. Your Excellency and I were out of town so I told brother to manage the finances."

Richard couldn't share information about Gilbert Bellacian with the Duke's family, so he made up a fake answer.

"Y-you did?"

Frank blinked his eyes. Come to think of it, when he was hanging out with his friends and high on drugs, Richard seemed to have said something.

"It was nothing important! It's only natural that I can't remember it!"

"You made a mess and went on a leisurely trip?!"

Frank blamed his mistake on Richard. The Duke got mad and flung the ledger at Richard.

The Duke always blamed Richard. He couldn't bear even a slightest mention of Frank's flaws.

Richard unfolded the ledger that fell on the floor.

Arnold Cassil had left some of the management run by him to Frank. However, he was obsessed with gambling, so it was Richard's job to manage it. Before Richard left for the West, he ordered his subordinate to prepare a list of Frank's transactions. The list was full of useless items that were bought at ridiculously high prices. There was no need to find out how it happened or whose doing it was.