I Became the Cure for the Cursed Prince - Chapter 42

“Then, I’ll just have to work even harder. Earning your recognition is always difficult, Lucas.”

Leon’s shoulders drooped in disappointment. Despite being fifteen now, in front of Lucas, he still remained the same bright and pure-hearted child.

Lucas sighed, meeting Leon’s gaze, now nearly at the same height as his own. His dazzlingly fair skin and clear golden eyes were unchanged, but his features had grown sharper, making him look more like a young man.

“It’s best not to rush. A sword can be both a remedy and a poison handle it with care.”

“You always nag me, Lucas.”

The contrast between Leon’s sulky expression and his deepening voice felt odd, making Lucas awkwardly turn away. But Leon quickly followed him, grabbing his hand. At moments like these, he was still unmistakably a child, which made Lucas chuckle.

“Let go while we walk. You’re not a kid anymore. How long do you plan on holding hands?”

Instead of letting go, Leon laced their fingers together and tightened his grip.

“I’ll hold it forever. This hand is mine alone to hold.”

“You were at least cute when you were little. Now, you’re too big—it’s unsettling.”

“Unsettling? Are you trying to make me transform into a tiger right now?”

Lucas bit his lip, suppressing a laugh. Every time Leon pouted like that, his flushed cheeks were too endearing to resist teasing.

“Go ahead and transform. If you do, you’ll be sleeping in the Thinking Room with Rai.”

The Thinking Room wasn’t meant as a punishment. It was a space Lucas had arranged for Leon, knowing he was getting older and would need time alone. However, Leon called it that because it reminded him of the Thinking Chair his mother used to make him sit in when he misbehaved.

“Wow… All that just for one little comment?”

Leon looked at Lucas with an exaggeratedly shocked expression. But when Lucas offered no reaction, he huffed, let go of his hand, and stormed ahead with clear irritation.

Sion, who had been quietly observing from behind, closed the distance slightly and asked,

“Your Highness, why do you always tease the boy?”

“He’s too big to be called a boy anymore.”

“Are you disappointed?”

“…A little.”

They always said children grew up fast, but Lucas hadn’t expected to experience it firsthand. He never thought he’d understand the sentiment of a parent watching their child grow, but seeing Leon mature so quickly left him feeling both proud and wistful.

“Still, I don’t think he’s completely grown just yet.”

Leon, who had been marching ahead, subtly glanced over his shoulder when he realized there was some distance between them. Sion, amused, made a casual remark, and Lucas’s lips curved into a smile.

“You’re right. I shouldn’t tease him too much.”

“Indeed. Also, there’s something I need to discuss with you. I’ll meet you in the study after I wash up.”

“Understood.”

Lucas arrived at the study first and placed logs into the fireplace. As he did, the door suddenly swung open. Only one person would enter so abruptly—Leon.

Sure enough, when Lucas turned, he found Leon standing there, his hair dripping wet.

Lucas picked up a towel and said, “Come here. Dry your hair first.”

“Che.”

Leon crossed his arms and turned his head away. But when Lucas didn’t react, he gradually inched closer on his own.

Lucas, already familiar with his antics, simply smiled and placed the towel over Leon’s head.

The moment his hand made contact, the sharp tension in Leon’s eyes softened, and his stiff shoulders relaxed. As Lucas gently dried his hair, Leon suddenly looked up and met his gaze.

“Lucas… Am I really that bad at swordsmanship?”

Since he was bringing it up again, he must have been genuinely upset about it. Watching his slightly flushed cheeks, Lucas shook his head.

“You’re doing well. You’re strong enough to protect yourself.”

In truth, he was much stronger than that—but Lucas wasn’t ready to tell him yet.

“Then….”

Leon hesitated, lowering his gaze. Lucas knew exactly what he was about to say and swiftly cut him off.

“You can’t join me on hunts. Not yet.”

Leon sighed, clearly frustrated at being so easily read. Before he could argue further, there was a knock at the door.

Sion entered, his gaze briefly flicking to Leon’s pouting lips before turning back to Lucas.

“Your Highness, how shall we proceed with this patrol?”

At the simple question, Leon’s golden eyes gleamed sharply.

“It’s already time for the patrol again, huh?”

Lucas studied Leon’s face before responding.

“This time, Leon will accompany me.”

Sion’s eyes widened in surprise. Every year, whenever Lucas left for his patrol, Leon had persistently pleaded to go along. But not once had Lucas granted his request—until now. And to think that Lucas himself had made the offer first!

As Sion processed the situation, Leon latched onto Lucas’s arm.

“Really? This time, I’m really going?”

“Yes, this time, we’ll go together.”

This was a real invitation! Lucas was finally acknowledging him!

Overjoyed, Leon threw his arms around Lucas’s neck. Though Lucas grumbled about the fuss, he still patted Leon’s head as he thought to himself.

He still had concerns, but Leon was growing rapidly. He couldn’t keep treating him like a child forever.

On the day of departure, Leon remained watchful of their surroundings.

He had assumed that, since this was just a routine patrol and not a hunt, they wouldn’t be accompanied by many knights. But there were quite a few.

As his gaze drifted across the knights, his eyes landed on Lucas. His pale skin stood out starkly against the snowy backdrop, and his lips, red like blooming camellias, added to his striking appearance. The thought of Lucas, looking like this, among a group of Alpha knights unsettled him.

Leon maneuvered his horse closer, positioning himself right next to Lucas.

His horse neighed in protest at the sudden movement, and Rai growled lowly. Lucas gave him an exasperated look.

“Your horse seems uncomfortable. You don’t have to ride so close.”

“But, Lucas, this is my first patrol. And we’re heading somewhere where monsters occasionally appear, right?”

“So?”

“What if a monster suddenly attacks?”

Lucas nodded slowly.

He had deliberately kept Leon from participating in any hunts, wanting him to grow up without witnessing such things. Since Leon had never encountered a monster before, it was natural for him to be wary. Understanding this, Lucas adjusted his pace to match Rai’s.

“I’m here. What are you so worried about?”

Leon beamed, saying that having Lucas by his side made him feel safe.

In truth, dealing with a sudden monster attack wouldn’t be an issue—he could simply rip them apart. What truly concerned him was the presence of Alpha knights near Lucas.

As they traveled through the snow-covered terrain and passed several villages, Lucas and Sion busied themselves inspecting each settlement. They ensured no monsters had appeared unexpectedly, checked that the food storage remained sufficient, and assessed any potential risks.

Meanwhile, Leon never took his eyes off Lucas.

Or, more accurately, he focused on everything Lucas saw and heard. It was almost exhausting, trying to keep up.

As a child, his heart had been captivated by the endless snowy mountains and the vast blue sky stretching above them. But as a teenager, his attention was no longer drawn to such things.

Now, the only thing that held his interest was Lucas—and everything that Lucas focused on.

“So, there have been occasional monster sightings?”

“Yes, Your Highness. But thanks to the defensive walls we built last year, there have been no casualties.”

“That’s a relief.”

Lucas smiled in satisfaction at the village chief’s report.

Though they had only visited a handful of villages, the sun was already beginning to set. Noticing the fading light, Lucas turned to Sion.

“We should stay here for the night. Set up camp near the defensive wall and unload the supplies.”

At Lucas’s command, the knights moved swiftly. Before long, their camp was set up, and Sion personally inspected the tent that Lucas and Leon would be staying in before leading them inside.

“I’ll take a few knights and patrol the perimeter.”

“It’s our first night out, so don’t push yourself too hard.”

Leon narrowed his eyes at Sion.

Ever since learning that Sion had feelings for Michelle, his wariness toward him had lessened. However, seeing Lucas be gentle with Sion still made him uneasy.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Are you feeling unwell?”

Leon quickly adjusted his expression.

This was all because of those knights who kept sneaking glances at Lucas. He had been so focused on keeping an eye on them that his nerves were wearing thin.

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