Richard came to that conclusion after agonizing over how to deal with the situation for a long time. If he killed Tenstheon and got rid of Frank, the next Emperor would be Arnold Cassil.

It would be easy for him to become an Emperor if he controlled the incompetent Arnold Cassil from the shadows and took care of Neon.

As the Duke of Cassil said, Tenstheon's weakness was Blake. If there was a way to solve the curse, Tenstheon could be easily controlled.

Tenstheon spread the rumor that the curse would be lifted. The nobles who were protesting didn't believe it either.

But Tenstheon's words were a double-edged sword.

If the Crown Prince's curse was not lifted in time, there would be a backlash. There was no way Tenstheon was not aware of that. He still spread the rumor even though he knew it. Blake was obviously in a critical condition.

Richard thought of Blake.

Although Blake was cursed, Richard still envied him a little. Afterall, he was loved by Tenstheon and Ancia.

I must kill him this time.

"Domiram."

"Yes, master." Domiram answered as he stood with his head lowered.

"We should create another rumor then. This time the rumor should enter the Emperor's ears. Spread it all over the square."

"Is it okay?"

Domiram noticed that Richard seemed anxious unlike his usual self.

"It's alright. I was too careful last time. Besides, it's the perfect time right now. There's many people who have entered the country from outside to enjoy the festival, so it wouldn't be easy to track the source of the rumor."

"Still, it's a bit dangerous."

"It doesn't matter. I'll kill the Emperor soon anyway."

Richard had to get rid of Tenstheon. He respected Tenstheon, but Tenstheon interfered with his goal, so he couldn't keep him alive.

The door burst open and Richard's servant rushed in.

"Master!"

"What's the matter?"

"The Crown Prince's curse has been lifted!"

"What?"

Richard doubted his ears. The Crown Prince's curse had been lifted?

No way!

Wasn't his curse supposed to be lifted 7 years later according to the rumors?

"It hasn't even been 7 years but it's already lifted?"

"There's a message from John. The Crown Prince's curse has been lifted, so the palace is in a festive mood."

John was a spy that Richard had planted in the Crown Prince's palace.

He was not the type to talk nonsense.

Was it really true then?

What happened?

The curse had been there for many years, but no one was able to lift it.

But now it was suddenly lifted?

Was the rumor that Ancia was sent by the Goddess of Light true?

While Richard was in turmoil, the sound of horses came from outside.

Richard looked at the window immediately.

The knights of the Imperial palace were rushing inside the Cassil's mansion. They were led by Collin, the Emperor's aide.

Frank, that moron, spilled everything in less than a day.

"Master, let's avoid them for now."

"No, I'll go to them."

If I run away right now, it'll be over for me.

The moment the Cassil family collapsed, he would also be dragged down with them.

It was better to die than to live as a fallen noble, a commoner, or a Roum slave.

The Duke of Cassil and Frank were locked up in prison, while the Duchess and Neon hid in the bedroom in terror.

Richard greeted the knights alone as the representative of the family.

"What brings you here?"

Richard decided to buy some time first. They wouldn't be able to investigate him based on Frank's words alone anyway. Of course, it'd happen eventually, but he needed to buy time to hide the evidence left in the mansion.

However, the leader immediately ordered his subordinates without even greeting him.

"Arrest Richard Cassil."

"What is the meaning of this?!"

Richard was very shocked.

Collin, who was standing next to the leader, said, "A report arrived this morning saying that Richard Cassil bribed the guards and attempted to contact a criminal."

Richard saw a smile on Collin's mouth. He had fallen into Tenstheon's trap.

He thought Tenstheon deliberately trapped Frank to get Arnold Cassil. But it was him all along.

Tenstheon set up a trap to capture him, the real mastermind.

He realized it too late.

The Cassil family was done for. Richard closed his eyes tightly.

***

I looked at Blake's face.

The cursed inscriptions were completely gone so my heart was filled with joy.

I spent many days agonizing over the reason why the curse was suddenly lifted.

As a result, I found the answer I was looking for.

It was the kiss.

He kissed me when we were watching the fireworks. Maybe that was why the curse was lifted.

'The Beast and the Lady' was an R-19 novel that was based on the story of Beauty and the Beast.

The story of a cursed prince or princess and their lover was very common in fairytales.

To lift the curse, they needed a kiss of true love.

The kiss could bring the beast or frog back to their former handsome self in the fairytale world, and even wake up the beautiful princess.

The answer was a 'kiss'

Why did I realize it just now?

The original novel was also the problem!

But there was no point in being angry now.

I held Blake's hand firmly and kissed his hands.

"A-Ancia, what's wrong?"

"My husband is so beautiful that I couldn't help myself. Why? Do you hate it?"

"No! I'm just a little embarrassed..."

Blake's face turned red.

He looked even more cuter.

"What are you embarrassed for?"

"You're looking too closely..."

"We see each other everyday though?"

"So it's embarrassing everyday..."

Blake rubbed his cheeks against my hand and looked at me.

He said he was embarrassed but his behaviour indicated otherwise.

I already had a feeling about it, but I realized that my husband's personality might be different from what he showed me.

"...I'm embarrassed ."

I smiled and rubbed his red ears.

Ah... nevermind what I said before. He really is an innocent rabbit.

I lightly patted his fluttering silver hair.

However, there was one thing that was strange.

Before Blake's curse was lifted, I had a dream.

A dream where I was walking into the woods with Blake, who had already become an adult.

His hair was black there.

Why did I dream about that?

It may not mean much because it was just a dream, but somehow, I felt very bothered by it.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and Melissa came in.

"Your Highness, Viscountess Perion has arrived."

"Okay. Blake, come on. We'll have to get dressed."

Ten days later, a ball would be held to celebrate the lifting of the curse.

There was a lot to be prepared because it would be Blake's official debut into society.

"I greet His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Crown Princess."

Next to the Viscountess stood a little child.

She was styled extravagantly, as if ready to attend the royal ball.

Who was this?

As I stared, Viscountess Perion smiled brightly and introduced the girl.

"This is my daughter, Sharon. Sharon, go ahead. Greet them."

"H-hello."

Sharon bowed briefly and seemed as if she was unable to take her eyes off of Blake.

Viscountess Perion scolded her, "Sharon! Be polite!"

"Huh?"

"Haha, I'm sorry. Sharon is still young, so she's a bit hard to control."

Sharon would be 10 years old this year. Although she was obviously young, she was old enough to greet us properly.

Moreover, this was the age at which they'd usually get married off.

I was 10 years old when I married Blake.

"When Sharon heard the Crown Prince's curse had been lifted, she wanted to congratulate him. So I brought her here."

Oh my, is that so?

The Viscountess had never brought her daughter even once before.

Although she was a wealthy woman with many social connections due to her beautiful appearance and excellent social skills, according to the rumors, she had spared no efforts in trying to marry her daughter to Neon, Duke Cassil's third son.

But now that Blake's curse had been lifted and the Cassil family was facing a crisis, it seemed as if she had completely abandoned the idea.

She was thinking of getting her daughter involved with Blake.

The nobles once despised Blake for being a cursed monster, but now, Blake's status had changed.

He was now the imposing Crown Prince of the Asteric Empire.

"My Sharon is one year younger than Your Highness. Your Highness, isn't it your first time seeing a girl younger than Her Majesty? Isn't she old?"