I Became the Cure for the Cursed Prince - Chapter 60

Lucas’s hand hovered awkwardly near Leon’s back. It twitched as if to offer a consoling pat, but he instead clenched his hand tightly and used it to push Leon away.

“So let go. What kind of disgrace is this from a prince of an empire?”

But Leon lifted his head and looked directly at him. His golden eyes gleamed with a fierce light.

“No, I can’t live without you. That’s why I’ll grow stronger, stronger than anyone so that I’ll never…”

So that I’ll never leave you again.
Even if he didn’t say the last part aloud, Lucas could hear it clearly in his heart.

A teenage boy’s love would fade with time. It was a fleeting fever of youth or perhaps the struggle to detach from affection, disguised as conviction. Slowly, Lucas unraveled himself from Leon’s embrace, turning the thoughts over in his mind.

“…All I can offer you is my support, and those two over there, Raila and Jerry. You’ve endured enough, growing up under such strict discipline.”

Leon bit his lower lip hard, as if rejecting the reality set before him. He turned briefly to look at Raila, then met Lucas’s eyes again, speaking with careful enunciation.

“Right now, I may only be leaving with Raila and Jerry but someday, I will return to bring you with me. Until then…”

Leon paused mid-sentence.

He wanted to say: Don’t fall for anyone else. But seeing how resolutely Lucas left no space for hope, the words changed.

“…Please, don’t get sick.”

Lucas responded with a faint smile. It had been so long since he’d seen him smile that Leon stared at him, as if spellbound.

“Yes. I’ll be well.”

The escort knights from the Theian Empire had arrived. At the castle’s hidden rear gate stood Lucas, Michelle, and Sion. From within the group of knights, Leon looked out at them.

For a long moment, Leon stared at Lucas as if trying to say something—then finally turned his back. And in that moment, even in the darkness of a sunless night, Lucas could still read the shape of his lips.

But Lucas didn’t answer. He simply stood there, silently accepting the growing distance between them.

Even after Leon’s shadow had vanished completely, Lucas remained in place alone.

The castle felt hollow with Leon gone. Just one person missing, and the space felt utterly empty. Strangely, the very next day, Lucas came down with a persistent high fever. His body felt as heavy and hot as a slab of molten iron.

And the more it hurt, the more desperately Lucas threw himself into his work. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t concentrate.

To think he was bedridden over a simple farewell. How weak I’ve become.

He had lived bearing the curse that haunted his body, the pressure of being responsible for countless lives, the debt he felt toward Michelle, and the constant threat of monsters that could invade at any moment.

He had even endured the sudden loss of his parents.

And yet… why did this one parting sting so deeply at the corners of his eyes?

Through blurred vision, the documents in front of him were hard to read. In the end, Lucas rose from his seat, thinking a bit of fresh air might help. He passed through the cold corridors and stepped into the training yard. As he turned his body out of habit, the words slipped out:

“Leon, bring your sword and come he—”

But no one was there.

“……”

Lucas stood frozen for a moment, then let out a hollow laugh. And then, almost in panic, he began moving—trying to avoid any trace of Leon.

But no matter where he went, Leon’s presence lingered.
The pillar where they’d measured his height as he quickly grew.
The kitchen where he’d been caught stealing cookies.
The greenhouse where he’d spun around joyfully after giving Lucas a flower.

There was nowhere that wasn’t filled with Leon.

In the end, Lucas returned to his office as if fleeing.

And only then did he realize, Leon had taken up almost the entire space in his life.

He missed that clear voice that used to read books out loud, the small body that had clung to his arm, the way he would chatter endlessly about every single event of his day.
He missed… his child.

Leon, who had once been the only one to lean on him, who had shared his warmth.
Was now gone.

He remembered something young Leon had once said:

“I love it so much that you and I are the same, Luca.”

“The same? How so?”

“You’re the Duke of the North, and I’m the prince of the Empire. You’re a complete human, and I’m a half-human who can turn into a tiger. You have cool black hair, and I have golden hair…”

“But everything about us is different.”

“Still, we’re the same. We both have warm hearts. I’m glad we’re alike.”

“Haha, Leon is far more wonderful and lovable.”

“No way! Luca is way prettier! I want to be like you, but there’s nothing about me that’s the same—and that makes me sad.”

At the time, Lucas had simply laughed it off, not thinking much of it.

But now, just recalling those words made him feel like he might cry. Perhaps those small, innocent remarks had carved themselves into his heart more deeply than he’d realized.

Lucas looked down at his own hand, clad in a black glove. He remembered when Leon’s tiny hand used to fit snugly into his own—and how, over time, Leon’s hand had grown large enough to cover his. He recalled the quiet pride he’d felt in that moment.

The thoughts didn’t stop there; they continued, one leading into the next.

He remembered how Leon had beamed with joy over growing taller, and the day they’d shared a celebratory drink after Leon’s first successful hunt. How sweet that first sip of liquor had tasted, shared in triumph.

The longing hit him so fiercely he couldn’t make sense of the words before him. Lucas shut the file in front of him and opened the lowest drawer of his desk, pulling out a rolled-up parchment.

It was a portrait Leon had drawn of him long ago.

A simple image, Lucas sitting at his desk, working but he could tell. In the drawing, he was smiling.

He gently unrolled the portrait and held it against his chest, leaning his head back. The memory of Leon banging on his easel with a brush, begging him to look, flooded his mind. Tears, long held back, finally spilled down his cheeks, soaking the edge of the paper.

For several days, Lucas remained secluded, speaking only to Sion to relay the most urgent matters. Even today, he sat in a daze in his chair when someone knocked on the door. It was Michelle, her face filled with concern.

“Lucas, you didn’t come to the dining hall again.”

Lucas forced a smile.

“Since when have I ever eaten there? The office suits me fine.”

Michelle’s eyes flicked to the tray on the table. The soup had gone cold, not a wisp of steam remained, and the bread had hardened. It was clear he hadn’t touched it.

“Lucas.”

“There’s no need to worry. I’m doing my job just fine.”

“You think that’s why I’m here? I know you’re working harder than ever—more than you should. That’s exactly why I’m worried.”

“……”

“Throwing yourself into work won’t make the pain disappear. It’s not something you can just fix like that.”

Today, even listening to her felt difficult. Words that normally would have slid past him pricked like thorns against his heart.

“Then what do you expect me to do? What more can I possibly do?!”

His words weren’t harsh, but the sharpness in his voice was unmistakable.

“Lucas, my dear brother…”

You’re hurting so much.

Michelle couldn’t bring herself to say the rest. No words could soothe him now. It was the first time he had ever given his heart to someone and so, the pain of losing that love must be unbearable.

Suppressing her own feelings, Michelle said calmly, as usual.

“I’m just saying,  don’t overdo it. The harder you fight it, the more it’ll wear you down. Try to go about your days as usual, and let your heart settle slowly.”

Lucas replied weakly.

“…Yes.”

Michelle quietly studied him, the deep shadows under his chin, his slumped shoulders, and how much thinner his face had become in just a few days. Her feet began to move toward him on instinct, but something about the heaviness around him held her back. Instead, she simply reached out a hand from where she stood.

Lucas looked at her hand and gave a lonely smile. Michelle, Sion, the knights and servants of Rion Castle, everyone must have realized he hadn’t been able to let go of Leon.

More than their pitying gazes, it was the castle itself, filled with Leon’s presence, that had become unbearable. Lucas knew he couldn’t go on like this. He needed to turn his focus elsewhere.

“…I’ll try, just as you advised, Sister.”

At last, Michelle gave a sorrowful nod and quietly stepped out.

After taking a moment to drink tea and calm his thoughts, Lucas immediately called for Sion. As soon as Sion arrived, Lucas spoke without hesitation.

“I’m going out. Alone.”

“In your current condition, sir?”

Sion’s widened eyes scanned Lucas from head to toe. It was exactly that gaze that Lucas wished to avoid. He concealed his thoughts and answered dryly.

“What’s so wrong with my condition? This is something I can’t overlook.”

“…Then at least tell me what it is you’re planning. Lady Michelle personally asked me to watch over you. And now, in this state, you’re talking about going out alone? Please reconsider.”

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