I Became the Cure for the Cursed Prince - Chapter 64

“Such stubbornness.”

Michelle clicked her tongue and placed the letter on the table. Even if she left it there, Lucas would never read it. Breaking his stubbornness was no easy task.

Sion followed Michelle outside, and Lucas lay back down on the bed.

The blizzard that had been pounding the windows since last night, as if trying to break them, had finally eased a little. As Lucas turned his head without much thought, his eyes fell on Leon’s letter.

Written in neat, upright handwriting — just like Leon himself — the letter was probably filled with deep longing and raw emotions. Or maybe, after all this time, it simply contained concern for a guardian who no longer replied. Or perhaps it was overflowing with resentment that had built up over the years.

There were feelings he wanted to know, feelings he wanted to turn away from. Feelings he didn’t want to avoid, yet was afraid to face. Standing before this painful contradiction, Lucas felt a growing heaviness in his chest.

“Ugh…”

A sharp headache sliced through his head like a blade.

He feared that staying inside would only make his barely-recovered headache worse. Pushed by his own illness, Lucas forced himself to sit up. He pulled a thick cloak and hood tightly over himself before stepping outside. Strangely, his body felt lighter than usual.

As he walked into the courtyard, the icy wind hit him like knives. The snow had stopped, but the wind still howled fiercely. Step by step, Lucas walked into the wind, thinking of Leon dressed in the clothes of the Crown Prince.

You are more precious than anything — more precious to me than anything else. That’s why the decision I make today is the right one.

His heart ached deeply.

As he walked, Lucas thought about the ordinary, peaceful love that other people had. To love someone freely, to build a family, and to spend a lifetime together within that bond — what must that feel like?

A deep, painful envy welled up inside him. To Lucas, those people seemed blessed with something he would never have.

What blessing could someone like me, cursed as I am, ever hope for?

Smiling bitterly at himself, Lucas suddenly sensed movement in the bushes. Instantly, he tensed and crouched low. If a monster appeared while he was still feeling weak, it would be a problem.

Just as he was about to turn back and call for the knights—

“Whimper… whimper!”

Hearing the soft crying, Lucas quickly turned around — and saw a familiar figure. It was Rai. Lucas’s eyes widened in shock.

“How are you…?”

As Rai approached him, Jerry fluttered in and landed nearby, making a flapping noise. Lucas stared back and forth between them, completely confused. Rai’s fur was frozen in places and clumped together, and his eyes looked exhausted.

“You… you came all this way without stopping.”

Rai nodded, then turned sideways, as if showing Lucas something. A piece of paper was sticking out of a small pouch next to the saddle. Lucas recognized it immediately.

“So… because I didn’t reply, they sent you instead. What a foolish thing to do.”

At Lucas’s words, Rai snorted and gently nudged Lucas’s body with his head, clearly urging him to read the letter. With no other choice, Lucas picked it up.

Was this just a trick to exploit his weakness for animals? Or… was something really wrong?

The determination he had made — to simply pray for Leon’s health from afar — began to crumble. Lucas gripped his fading resolve tightly and spoke to Rai.

“Go back. Tell Leon… I’m too busy with matters in the North to attend the coming-of-age ceremony—”

But before he could finish, Jerry suddenly cried out.

“Sick! Sick! Sick!”

“Sick?”

Lucas turned his head and looked at Jerry carefully. But there were no visible wounds on Jerry’s small body.

“You don’t look hurt.”

Rai shook his head firmly, as if frustrated.

“Leo! Leo! Leo sick!”

“Leon is sick?”

When Lucas repeated the words, Rai nodded fiercely.
At that moment, it felt like all the strength drained from Lucas’s body. Leon, who was about to celebrate his coming-of-age, was sick? It was something he had never even considered.

No matter how much he tried to hold himself together, his face twisted uncontrollably, and he struggled to stay on his feet. Rai moved close, pressing his body against Lucas’s side to support him. Leaning against Rai’s back, Lucas barely managed to stay upright.

“What do you mean he’s sick? Where is he hurt?”

Lucas asked Jerry, but the little bird only kept repeating “sick” over and over. It was the limit of what a half-monster could express.

“…I have no choice. I have to read the letter.”

Lucas mumbled to himself, almost as if making excuses, and pulled the letter from the saddle. He quickly began reading.

[Lucas, it’s snowing here in Theian.
The weather has turned cold.
But I am burning with a fever.
My chest feels like it’s been scorched, and it’s getting harder to breathe.
No matter how much cold water I pour over myself, the heat won’t go away.
I showed myself to the physician, but they couldn’t find the cause.

It feels just like when I was a child, struggling to control the curse.
What could this illness be?]

Lucas knew that pain better than anyone.
It was the same agony he himself had suffered just before he went for a walk.
The thought that Leon might be enduring something similar made an uncontrollable chill run through him.

What on earth is happening to him?
Could the curse be resurfacing?

One worry spiraled into another, tying Lucas’s heart in knots.

[My coming-of-age ceremony is approaching.
I want to attend looking healthy, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to.
No medicine has helped.
Every day, it feels like my heart is burning away.
I can barely keep myself from crying out like a wounded animal.

How much longer must I live like this?
If I could see you, even once, I feel like I could escape this pain.

I miss you so much, Lucas.
You are the only one who ever saved me.
Please, save me again.

I am waiting for you, just like I once counted down the days to visit the North.]

Every word was heavy with Leon’s longing.
Yet at the same time, there was a delicate carefulness, as if he didn’t want to pressure Lucas too much.

The longing Lucas had kept locked away now threatened to overflow.
Even more unbearable was the pain that seeped through Leon’s words.

Leon was someone Lucas simply couldn’t turn away from — no matter how much he tried to steel himself.

And now that Leon was suffering, Lucas couldn’t hesitate any longer.

He folded the letter and the invitation carefully and tucked them against his chest. Then he turned to Rai and spoke.

“Rai, could you go to the greenhouse for a little while? Warm yourself up and drink some water while you wait.
The delegation has already left — I’ll need you to travel with me.”

Rai nodded sharply.

An energy Lucas hadn’t felt in a long time surged through him.
Just a little while ago, he could barely stay on his feet — now he strode forward with a strong, steady pace.
He immediately made his way to Michelle’s office.

“I must attend Prince Leon’s coming-of-age ceremony.”

Michelle’s face lit up instantly.

“You’ve made the right decision.
There’s no need to rush back — stay there as long as you like.”

Lucas nodded.

“I’m planning to ride Rai and catch up with the delegation as quickly as I can.”

“Rai’s here? That’s wonderful! Then make sure you pack as lightly as possible.”

The gifts for the Theian Empire had already been loaded onto the delegation’s wagons.
Lucas only needed to pack a few clothes, so it didn’t take long to prepare.

After receiving the small bundle from the attendants, Lucas bowed to Michelle and headed to the greenhouse.
He loaded the luggage onto Rai’s back and mounted the saddle.
The moment he sat down, his heart pounded fiercely.

Was it excitement at the thought of seeing Leon again?
Or was it fear over Leon’s condition?

With a bitter smile, Lucas pulled on the reins.
Rai started to move.

The snow had stopped.
Sunlight broke through the once-gray sky, bathing Lucas and Rai in gentle warmth.
It felt as if the whole world was shining.

Meanwhile…

After sending Rai away, Leon hadn’t been able to calm down even for a moment.
Had Lucas read the letter yet?
What kind of expression would he have made?

If Rai had managed to get Lucas to read the letter, then Lucas would definitely come.
Leon tried to push away the flickers of anxiety and throw himself into his work, but it was no use.

His heart raced without a moment’s rest.

In just a few days, Lucas would be here.
When they met, should he ask why Lucas hadn’t replied to a single letter?
No — he decided against it.
He would smile, just like they did during happier times, and ask him how he had been.
And if Lucas said he missed him…
That alone would be enough.

Leon leaned his head back, then forced his attention back to the paperwork in front of him.
The letters blurred and twisted before his eyes.
He clenched his jaw, focused his mind, and had just signed his third document when a knock came at the door.

“Your Highness, it’s Ermon.”

There was something excited in Ermon’s voice.
Leon instantly sensed that it was good news.

He jumped to his feet and threw the door open.

“There’s news from Rion, isn’t there?”

“…How did you know, Your Highness?”

“And Lucas?”

Ermon’s face broke into a wide, joyful smile — clearly proud to deliver the news Leon longed for.

“He’s on his way.
He’s traveling here as the head of the delegation.
The messenger bird just arrived.”

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