Did he believe me?

I hoped he wouldn't be too worried in the future.

"Okay, I'll believe in you."

"Really?"

"Who else would I trust if not my own daughter?"

Tenstheon smiled.

"Thank you for coming today, father."

"No need to thank me. I've already burdened you with taking care of Blake."

"Blake's not a burden! He's my treasure! Even if you're his dad, I'll be mad if you say that again!"

"I'm sorry. I said the wrong thing."

He stroked my head with a smile.

"If you're really sorry, you'll have to come tomorrow and play with Blake."

"Even if you told me not to come, I'd come everyday. Don't worry."

Something had changed in Tenstheon. He didn't worry about a lot of things like before.

"You can even move to the Amoria palace."

I grinned broadly.

***

I looked at Blake's face as he slept soundly.

As promised, Tenstheon visited Amoria Palace everyday to teach Blake swordsmanship.

Edon was acknowledged for teaching Blake swordsmanship as well and bestowed with an expensive sword. Tenstheon rewarded the other servants too.

Blake and Tenstheon's relationship was getting better as the happy days continued, but I couldn't relax.

I was completely preoccupied by thoughts about Blake's curse.

Even though I had the method to break the curse, the problem still dominated my mind.

Why did it have to be a R-19 novel?

There was actually an R-15 version of the novel. But even in the clean version, there wasn't much of a difference other than some scenes not being explained in detail.

Then again, why was Blake acting different from the novel?

Was it when Blake grew up?

Once he grew up, would he really become a handsome man who oozed sexiness?

Would the rabbit really turn into a wolf when he became older?

A rabbit would stay as a rabbit, and a wolf would stay as a wolf.

Still...

I checked whether Blake was really asleep or not, and then I touched his cheeks.

It was very soft.

Oh, I thought too much.

Besides, I couldn't wait for Blake's curse to be lifted.

Baekhan said that the power of light I had was preventing the curse from spreading any further.

But that didn't mean the pain would go away.

The curse still haunted Blake and he was still suffering just as much as he did many years ago.

Blake would continue to be in pain unless his curse was lifted.

I decided to do what I could do first. I would cook for Blake.

Baekhan said that the food I cooked had the power of light in it.

Then wouldn't eating more of the food I made prevent the curse from spreading?

I began to cook three meals a day for him.

"Blake, eat this mushroom egg."

"Yes! It's delicious!"

"Have more soup."

"Okay!"

"There is milk pudding for dessert. I made it from the milk father gave me."

I didn't know why, but Tenstheon had been sending milk to the Crown Prince's Palace these days.

Wait...was it because I said Blake needed to grow up?

"Your Highness, what do you want to have as a snack?"

"Ancia, my stomach is going to burst."

Blake touched his plump belly.

"Don't worry, your stomach is very cute."

"....."

"What would you like for dinner?"

"Nothing."

"Why nothing? Are you feeling sick?"

"I don't want to have a big tummy," he murmured.

"What?"

"I eat so much everyday. My belly has gotten a lot bigger."

"Oh!"

I looked at Blake's belly.

He had been eating a lot, so his belly had become big.

I had been putting in a lot of effort so he could grow up sooner, but seeing him now, I felt a little sad.

I felt like I understood how my grandma felt when she said I had grown up.

"Don't worry. You'll grow up to be just as handsome as His Majesty."

"Will I?"

"Of course! You're my husband after all."

"Hehe."

Blake laughed at my praise. I also laughed in response.

I was the happiest when Blake laughed.

It had always been like that.

***

—The Goddess of Light sent a girl. The girl brought light to Asteric, and the Curse of the Goddess will be lifted by her.

Richard read the report that Domiram gave him, and then crumpled it up.

Since Blake and Ancia got married, there were rumors saying the Crown Prince's curse would be lifted.

"Emperor Tenstheon didn't commit any sin. He brought glory to the land instead. His son can't be evil. The Goddess must've made a mistake. I'm sure she'll lift the curse."

"Crown Princess Ancia is sent by the Goddess. The Goddess realized her mistake and sent Ancia to release the Crown Prince's curse."

"The Crown Princess always smiles brightly around the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince really was a monster, the Crown Princess wouldn't be that happy."

"The Crown Prince is blessed. I'm sure the curse will be lifted soon. Ancia will release the curse."

"There must be a reason why His Majesty didn't send the Crown Prince to the Southern Island.

"The Curse of the Goddess will be lifted in the thousandth year."

Even though the cursed Crown Prince lived in the palace, most of the people now believed that the curse would be lifted, so they didn't protest anymore.

rumors about the Curse of the Goddess being lifted after the 1000th anniversary of the Empire began to spread rapidly.

When first Richard heard the rumors, he did not pay them any mind.

They were stupid and absurd.

The Crown Prince didn't have to leave the palace because of Tenstheon's influence. In front of the powerful Emperor, the nobles were forced to shut their mouths. Tenstheon was good at persuading.

Richard thought about the rumors, especially the ones that said the curse would be lifted because Tenstheon was Blake's father, or because of Ancia and the 1000th anniversary of the Empire. He thought they were all very stupid.

It was the 993rd year this year.

Blake would turn 18 years old in the 1000th year.

But what was the difference? Richard thought it was all just stupid superstitions.

He only laughed when he heard the rumors. It wasn't just the commoners, even some of the noble believed it.

By the time some people realized that those rumors were fake, they would've already spread far and wide. For now, he'd just wait and see.

The rumors had originated from the people's wishes. It was annoying to see those fools talking about it in such a serious manner. The curse wouldn't be lifted anyway, so the rumors would naturally disappear once Blake died.

However, there was another strange rumor that had been spreading since last month.

"The Goddess of Light was angry and cursed Phillip's descendants because he sinned greatly. Over the years, Asteric Empire flourished and was blessed abundantly. The earth bloomed with flowers and the people were full of laughter. The Goddess of Light decided to lift the curse, so she sent a girl to the Imperial family. The curse will be lifted by Ancia, in the 1000th year of the Empire. Together, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess will bring glory to the Asteric Empire."

Richard ordered Domiram to collect the rumors that had spread, but he was convinced of one fact.

'Tenstheon has begun moving.'

The rumors had been spread ahead of time. Anyone could tell that those fairytale-like rumors had been spread intentionally.

"It is the work of the Emperor."

Richard gritted his teeth as Domiram carefully opened his mouth.

"Maybe it's because of the Festival of Light."

Every June, the Festival of Light would be held in order to commemorate the day the Goddess of Light gave her power to Phillip.

It was the second largest festival after the festival to commemorate the founding of the Empire. The whole country would be in a festive mood for many days.

There would also be various exchanges between different regions, so food, fashion and culture which were popular in other regions would be spread throughout the country.

"No, this is Tenstheon's doing."