I Became the Cure for the Cursed Prince - Chapter 69

The Emperor and Empress welcomed Lucas and Leon with warm, gentle smiles.
Lucas, as the former Grand Duke of the Rion Principality, respectfully greeted them before taking his prepared seat.

The Empress, Asili, frowned slightly for a moment, but then her expression quickly smoothed over.
Sensing the subtle shift, Lucas instinctively pulled back a little.
Even through several layers of clothing and gloves, his presence still had an effect.

While Lucas concentrated on containing the energy leaking from his body, the Emperor spoke first.

“Welcome, Lucas.”

Asili followed with a kind voice,

“We have been eagerly waiting for you.”

“It’s an honor to be invited,” Lucas replied. “The current Grand Duchess also sends her regards to Your Majesties.”

Frederick nodded approvingly.

“I don’t know all the details about the North, but I have heard that you passed the title to your sister.
Both of you have shown much goodwill toward the Theian Empire.
We are grateful.
Now, regarding trade—”

Before he could continue, Asili placed her hand gently over Frederick’s.
At her touch, he closed his mouth.

“Ah, I was about to get too political at a time like this,” Frederick said with a chuckle.

Asili smiled and took over.

“Today’s meeting was at my request.”

Hearing that, Lucas straightened, growing tense.
Throughout the years of raising Leon, Lucas had exchanged many letters with the Empress.
He knew she was a warm, thoughtful woman.

If someone like her had asked for a personal meeting, it meant there was something serious — likely something regarding Leon.

Could it be about Leon’s curse?

Or perhaps they had discovered some new information related to Kiltan, who once invaded Rion Castle…

Lucas’s expression grew serious, but Asili smiled softly and said,

“You don’t need to be so nervous.
I simply wanted to have a small conversation with someone who watched Leon grow up, before his coming-of-age ceremony.”

Lucas’s stiff shoulders relaxed a little.
He, too, had been overwhelmed with emotion when he realized Leon was about to come of age — surely, his mother felt the same.

“I’ll answer sincerely, to the best of my ability.”

A bright smile spread across Asili’s face.
Just the thought of her son’s childhood seemed to fill her with joy.

Lucas began speaking about Leon’s early years — how lovable he had been, how talented with a sword, how astonishingly quick he was to learn new things.
Asili listened intently, her eyes shining with delight as she absorbed every detail of the parts of Leon’s childhood she had missed.

As they sipped tea and talked, the sun slowly began to set.
Soon, it would be time for dinner.

After a thoughtful pause, Asili took another sip of tea and gently steered the conversation to its true purpose.

“Thanks to you, Lucas, our Leon has grown into such a fine young man and is now preparing for his coming-of-age ceremony.
I feel so grateful I could cry.
Everything is thanks to you.”

“…I am undeserving of such praise.
It is only because His Highness was willing to follow my clumsy guidance.”

“You are far too modest,” Asili said warmly.
“And so… I must ask, though it may be shameless of me — would you grant me one more favor?”

“If it is within my ability…”

“Now that Leon is grown, he must find a proper partner.”

Lucas’s heart sank — but he kept his face composed.

He glanced briefly at Leon.
As expected, Leon’s face had stiffened, his displeasure clearly showing.

But Lucas continued calmly, doing what he had to do.

“You are absolutely right.”

“There are many Omegas eagerly waiting for the chance to marry the Crown Prince,” Asili said.
“But Leon seems so indifferent, it worries us.
I wonder… does he already have someone he cares for?
I thought perhaps you might know.”

Lucas’s heart settled into a heavy, cold calm.
The painful reminder that Leon was meant to have someone else struck him sharply.

Before Leon could say anything, Lucas answered first.

“I do not know of anyone.”

He could feel Leon’s gaze burning into him — but Lucas stared ahead, unwavering.

“However, if Your Majesties wish, I can help find candidates from the North.
The Northern Omegas are strong and capable—”

“Lucas!”

The sharp sound of a hand slamming the table rang through the room.

Startled, Lucas turned to find Leon standing abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief and hurt.

But Lucas forced himself to finish.

“…We will surely find someone suitable for His Highness.”

Lucas gave a subtle gesture, signaling Leon to sit back down — but Leon completely ignored it.

Instead, he grabbed Lucas’s hand and pulled him up forcefully.

Still holding Lucas’s hand tightly, Leon announced clearly and without hesitation,

“I don’t need any other Crown Princess.
I have already made my decision.
The person I wish to spend my life with — is here, standing beside me.
Lucas Rion.”

Crash.

The teacup Lucas had been holding slipped from his fingers and shattered against the floor.

The Emperor and Empress froze, their expressions stiff.
The entire room felt frozen in place.
It was as if even the slightest sound could shatter the heavy tension that had filled the air.

Lucas’s heart felt like it had stopped.
But gathering every ounce of strength he had, he pulled his hand free from Leon’s grip.

“…In fact, the reason I wished to meet with Your Majesties today was to address this matter,” Lucas said, bowing slightly.
“I apologize, but His Highness has lost sight of his position and is speaking nonsense.
I humbly ask for Your Majesties’ help in guiding him back to his senses.”

“Lucas!”

“Leon!
How dare you behave so disgracefully!”

Frederick’s furious voice thundered through the room.

“Grand Duke, could you step outside for a moment?
It seems we need to have a word with Leon.”

“…Of course.”

As soon as Lucas left the audience chamber, the Emperor raised his voice in anger.

“Leon!
How dare you speak so disrespectfully in front of your guardian!”

Leon, unbothered, answered calmly.

“I don’t understand why you’re so upset.
Lucas Rion is someone I’ve loved since I was a child.
He is outstanding in every way, and being an Omega makes him a perfectly suitable candidate to become Crown Princess.
So—”

“Are you seriously saying this?”
Asili asked, her voice trembling in disbelief.

It was shocking enough that Lucas was an Omega — but Leon’s words were even more astonishing.
Leon, however, met his mother’s gaze steadily.

“I heard that His Majesty the late Emperor took an Empress nearly twenty years his junior.
The Empress manages the Empire’s inner affairs, so shouldn’t the most capable Omega be chosen?”

“Enough, Leon.
That’s enough,” Asili said, pressing her hand against her forehead to stop him.
Frederick’s face turned red with rage.

“Have you lost your mind?!
Go and apologize to Grand Duke Lucas immediately and get a hold of yourself!”

“I refuse,” Leon said firmly.
“I have already made up my mind.
Even if I die, I will marry Lucas Rion.
Now then, excuse me.”

Leaving behind the stunned Emperor and Empress, Leon strode out of the audience chamber without hesitation.

Meanwhile, outside the audience hall, Lucas stood for a moment, bracing himself against a wall.
Everything that had just happened felt unreal, like a dream.

No — you did the right thing.

The image of Leon’s shocked face flashed through his mind, but Lucas shook his head firmly.
Even though his heart ached, what he had done was necessary.

Now that Leon’s parents knew the truth, surely Leon would come to his senses.
A former Grand Duke of a newly allied country becoming the Crown Princess?
It was absurd.
Especially for someone like him — a recessive Omega.

“Are you alright?
If you need support—”

Hearing Ermon’s worried voice, Lucas shook his head.

“I was just startled, that’s all.
I’m fine — I can walk on my own.”

Despite Lucas’s pale, almost sickly face, Ermon hesitated to follow — but the moment he stepped closer, he began coughing violently, likely affected by the curse.
Lucas gave a bitter smile and said,

“Ermon, I appreciate your kindness, but it wouldn’t look good for the Crown Prince’s secretary to personally escort me.
I’ll go alone.”

Leaving Ermon behind, Lucas walked toward the Crown Prince’s Palace by himself.
Wherever he passed, even people who had been standing far away instinctively coughed and backed away from him.
As they should.

He thought the dizziness would pass if he just kept walking — But the farther he went, the worse it became.
Before long, his vision blurred like a misty fog, making it impossible to clearly see ahead.

Realizing he couldn’t make it back to his room like this, Lucas quietly turned toward a secluded garden within the Crown Prince’s Palace to hide and recover.

Fortunately, this was a little-used path.
Lucas leaned against a wall to rest, hoping no one would find him.

He tried to keep his mind sharp but slowly, his eyes drifted shut, and all the strength drained from his body.

Support